Lee Pearson

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I wasn't criticising him - I'm from the same area.

Oh, never mind....

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The comment wasn't aimed at you!
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I agree that he is oviously a good horseman - but have to wonder why I just can't like the guy - every time I see him interviewed he seems to irritate the hell out of me! Apologies to all L.P. fans!!

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Funny you should say that, I can't get to like him either, but you cannot take away the talent he has, it is amazing to watch people like him ride, puts everything into perspective

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C'mon admit it, it's a class thing.

You don't like someone with a common, northern accent being brilliant at a middle-class sport.

Just imagine him sounding like Hugh Grant, then you'll appreciate him...

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LOL

Or perhaps you should call him Anky Pearson or maybe Lee Werth, or even Lee Hester Pearson,

I am sure Lee wouldn't mind being called any of the above, he'd have quite a giggle actually. I think his preference would be the last one though, knowing Lee !!!!!!!!

Would that help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I agree that he is oviously a good horseman - but have to wonder why I just can't like the guy - every time I see him interviewed he seems to irritate the hell out of me! Apologies to all L.P. fans!!

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Funny you should say that, I can't get to like him either, but you cannot take away the talent he has, it is amazing to watch people like him ride, puts everything into perspective

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C'mon admit it, it's a class thing.

You don't like someone with a common, northern accent being brilliant at a middle-class sport.

Just imagine him sounding like Hugh Grant, then you'll appreciate him...

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LOL

Or perhaps you should call him Anky Pearson or maybe Lee Werth, or even Lee Hester Pearson,

I am sure Lee wouldn't mind being called any of the above, he'd have quite a giggle actually.

Would that help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Lol
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Did say apologies to any L.P. fans - just a general comment relating to how I feel - not a criticism, am sure L.P. himself or anyone else couldn't give a monkeys whether I like him or not.I have no doubt he has overcome great difficulties to achieve his goals but there is a difference between admiration for a person and liking them.Can't help but wonder if this comment would have been construed as 'petty' if Lee had been an able bodied rider I happened to dislike? E.g if I said  I can't seem to like William Fox-Pitt for example would it provoke such a reaction? Just a thought.....
 
Well personally i think it would be unfair to make a judgement on anyone who you don't know, if you don't really know them surely you can't have a reason to dislike them?!
 
I just originally commented that I have seen him interviewed a couple of times and a bit of a lecture demo and I just couldn't get away with him. We all form opinions on those in the public eye without knowing them personally - take Katie Price for example........or maybe not!!!
 
Ashamed to say I had never really watched Lee before. Having watched these videos - the man is absolutely fantastic, what an inspiration! I promise to try and never say "I can't" again.
 
Have to give an opinion here and give a mention to Gentleman, he after all is part of team Lee Pearson and is a fantastic horse to achieve what he did - Gus gets mentioned loads but this horse is amazing as well and Lee is a brilliant rider on him, and always definately up for a laugh
 
QR - just another view point about the 'giving the disabled world a boost, proving disability can be overcome' - this attitude (either from Lee or his admirers) can do a lot of damage to other disabled people.

You see, when the non-disabled world see someone like Lee achieving so much, they can then start to think other disabled people just aren't trying hard enough. "Why aren't you in the paralympics/London marathon/on a catwalk/climbing Everest with your teeth? Other people 'like you' do it."

I point this out as I think it's good to keep a wider perspective on it, that's all.

On another note, I find Lee very amusing, he's obviously an extremely talented rider and is very caring and considerate to his fellow horsy people. However, he has been very dismissive in the past of other disabled people and other disabled riders. Again, not everything is as black and white as we'd sometimes like.
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I don't know about the opinion that people will think that:
""other disabled people just aren't trying hard enough. "Why aren't you in the paralympics/London marathon/on a catwalk/climbing Everest with your teeth? Other people 'like you' do it." ""
I think most people will agree that the respect for Lee is the fact that he has achieved so much with such a disadvantage compared to able bodied people, they don't generally think if he can do it why can't other disabled people? It is not achievable by all but is more of a symbol of if you want to do something, get out there and try your hardest to achieve it
I cannot comment on him being dismissive of other disabled people and other disabled riders as I have not encountered it but I've generally found him an amiable, funny guy who's very thankful to those that support him
 
Well, I'm commenting on what myself and others have experienced. I don't for one minute think everyone thinks that way, but certainly many do. It can be pretty discouraging
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I found the whole paralympics gripping viewing, would have loved to have seen more of LP, however as usual on the 'nomal' telly the minutes of equestrian coverage could have been counted on one hand.

LP is an exceptional olmpian, and the whole team GB did fantasticaly. I cant help thinking that they didnt get the 'bigging up' that they deserved. FGS the coverage of the able bodied team coming home on the plane went on forever.
 
Maybe it depends on your outlook...I have competed in both para and 'normal' dressage and find LP and the para team an inspiration...to be discouraged by such positive achievements as in LPs' case seems to be a pessimistic way of seeing things, imo. Life can be hard enough,especially if you aren't able bodied, and it's easy to be discouraged if you listen to the negative people in life. It's more difficult to look on the positive side but imo it's the only way and it makes life much more enjoyable.
Horses 'live in the moment' and certainly don't think about peoples' disabilities, I try to do the same
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Leah, I'm sorry, I didn't explain well enough. I have come across non-disabled people who have compared, unfavourably, myself and other disabled people to those disabled people who have made huge achievements.

I don't think many, if anyone at all, is discouraged by Lee's attempts, but more by the attitude shown by some non-disabled people.
 
Interesting point ripples.

Personally, I see Lee Pearson in action, and feel humbled as an ablebodied person. I would never dream of comparing him to other disabled people, infact I wouldn't compare him to anybody.

Each person should be judged on their own merits, regardless of race, sexuality, disability, or anything else.
(Blimey, that last sentence sounded like the bit at the end of a job advertisement.
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Lee's achievements do not detract from my opinion of other disabled people who have not, and never will, achieve what he has achieved.

There are many 'everyday' disabled people who I admire; be that for the obstacles they overcome each and every day or just simply for their spirit.
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It's a bit like saying I, as an able bodied person, should have no trouble completing a marathon.
If Paula radcliffe can do it, then so can I.

It's a ridiculous comparison to make, and I think very few people would compare Lee Pearson to other disabled people in those terms, unless their head was completely up their own arse.
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It's a bit like saying I, as an able bodied person, should have no trouble completing a marathon.
If Paula radcliffe can do it, then so can I.

It's a ridiculous comparison to make, and I think very few people would compare Lee Pearson to other disabled people in those terms, unless their head was completely up their own arse.
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Yeah, I totally see what you mean, but it really does happen. I think it's to do with some lumping all disabled people together, not seeing them as individuals like non-disabled people.
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If Lee were able bodied, he'd be at the top of his sport. As a para rider, he's at the top of his sport. He's an elite athlete. Lee should be admired as an athlete and sportsman, not as a "disabled person" IMHO.
 
Ripples really sorry you have experienced those kinds of comments. I personally haven't, but if I did it'd be water off a ducks' back..some people or their comments just aren't worth listening to.I have very selective hearing lol
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Next time you hear anything like that, my advice would be to not even register it..or like the previous poster says, ask them how often they run a marathon like Paula Radcliffe?!

Keep smiling
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I'm glad that you've never experienced that sort of comment and I'm also glad that you'd able to shrug it off if you were to hear it. However, not everyone is as resilient as you and there are many disabled people who feel undervalued and discouraged when they are compared unfavourably with high achievers by non-disabled people.

I'm sorry I gave you the impression I need advice on how to deal with those comments. I'm really not the fragile little thing that spends time feeling slighted and sorry for herself, that I've given the impression I am
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Sorry was just trying to be supportive.You don't come across as feeling sorry for yourself
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I am resilient as compared to the times I have been through courtesy of my broken neck injury, nothing else can possibly bother me in comparison. And to be walking around today, never mind being able to keep and ride my horses fills me with positivity.That Jesus bloke in your sig is well dodgy hey
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If you ever want to chat just pm me,I feel we may have some things in common
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I have been reading the last few entries and when I see Lee Pearson ride I see Lee a person who is an absolute pleasure to watch and is an awesome rider, the disability is not something I see first, it makes it even more awe inspiring when you then realise .
Yes we all know he is not able bodied but his personality (wether people like this or not), his true professionalism and expertise puts this on the back burner.

I think people with different races , creed, size, weight , I could go on are compared sometimes favourably sometimes not, its not nice buts that's life.

I speak from experience I have lost over 9 stone, the comments from my larger friends were very negative to the point I felt that they didn't want me to slim, other people who didn't really know me were brilliant, if I'd listened to everyone I'd probably made myself ill.

If someone wants something bad enough with hard work its achievable regardless of disablity, some people are happy with their lot and don't strive foranything more, there's nothing wrong in that. Everyone is different.

Reading this back doesn't make a whole lot of sense but I hope you kind of get my drift.
 
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Yeah, I totally see what you mean, but it really does happen. I think it's to do with some lumping all disabled people together, not seeing them as individuals like non-disabled people.
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I'm afraid that ALWAYS happened - to a far greater degree than it does now. Just over 50 years ago, a very good friend of mine (although I didn't know her then) had one leg amputated at the knee for bone cancer. She had always been an active rider and had in fact got involved with RDA just before her diagnosis.

She used to tell how people who knew her well - after her op and when she was still in a wheelchair - used to ask her husband - over her head - "Would D* like a cup of tea?" Her response was always: "Yes, D* would - oh - and they cut off my leg, not my tongue!"

I also remember trying to persuade the Director of Orthopaedics at a large rehab unit in Melbourne to consent to paraplegic patients riding horses (we needed medical consent for insurance purposes.) He was very tricky! So I took along an RDA (UK) video to show him which included scenes of Lord Crawshaw hunting with the Quorn. Lord Crawshaw used an Australian stock saddle with a hand grip across the pommel. When he approached a big hedge, he dropped the reins and grabbed the handlebar.

His legs often flew out behind him and he always rode with a groom, who would ride alongside and shove him back in the plate. Ortho Consultant watched this video and half-dismissed it by saying: "Well THAT's the aristocracy - a NORMAL paraplegic couldn't do THAT!" But we got our consent! (Many years later I met Lord Crawshaw, who was an absolutely charming man, and told him the story - he nearly fell out of his wheelchair laughing!)

Things have changed - and over the last 50 years it has been people like my friend D* (now sadly deceased), Lord Crawshaw and many, many others with disabilities who have fought against the odds. And it hasn't JUST been the high achievers - every disabled person who gets out there and lives their life helps to educate the morons! Lee Pearson and his fellow team members are pushing the boundaries even further.

Yes, there may be some downsides - and some ignorant fools who use their success to dismiss the very real problems disabled people still face - but things HAVE improved! Hell, I remember when a friend of mine was sacked from the Spastic Society in Melbourne for allegedly "encouraging disabled people to have sex!" (He was re-instated after a public outcry - but even THAT was positive in its outcome. Two years later when he was encouraging them to try parachuting he got no argument from board members!!
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PS:

It's a bit like saying I, as an able bodied person, should have no trouble completing a marathon.
If Paula radcliffe can do it, then so can I.

It's a ridiculous comparison to make, and I think very few people would compare Lee Pearson to other disabled people in those terms, unless their head was completely up their own arse.
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Yeah, I totally see what you mean, but it really does happen. I think it's to do with some lumping all disabled people together, not seeing them as individuals like non-disabled people.
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There must be LOTS of people with their heads up their own arses then.
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Seriously though, I honestly didn't realise. Nowt as queer as folk eh?
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I agree that he is oviously a good horseman - but have to wonder why I just can't like the guy - every time I see him interviewed he seems to irritate the hell out of me! Apologies to all L.P. fans!!

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Funny you should say that, I can't get to like him either, but you cannot take away the talent he has, it is amazing to watch people like him ride, puts everything into perspective

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C'mon admit it, it's a class thing.

You don't like someone with a common, northern accent being brilliant at a middle-class sport.

Just imagine him sounding like Hugh Grant, then you'll appreciate him...

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LOL

Or perhaps you should call him Anky Pearson or maybe Lee Werth, or even Lee Hester Pearson,

I am sure Lee wouldn't mind being called any of the above, he'd have quite a giggle actually. I think his preference would be the last one though, knowing Lee !!!!!!!!

Would that help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Met him a few times and like him or not you cannot take away his achievments - the bloke is amazingly talented!!!

Changing the subject, love the horses in your siggy including the Gus lookalike
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Met him a few times and like him or not you cannot take away his achievments - the bloke is amazingly talented!!!

Changing the subject, love the horses in your siggy including the Gus lookalike
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He is indeed a superb rider, how many people on here ride GP movements on a daily basis, regardless of whether they are able bodied or not.

I am hoping that my Gus look-a-like will go as far as the original has done.

Thanks I love my boys too
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