Alanna Flax-Clark
“There’s no doubt that the horses in my life have changed me emotionally and physically.”
Alanna Flax-Clark has spent 17 years advocating for diversity and inclusion. As she adjusted to life with paralysis following a childhood virus, Alanna was introduced to equine assisted therapy. She would go on to become a national champion in para-equestrian competition.
Four things we learned from Alanna in a recent interview:
- Greater accessibility benefits not just people with disabilities but other members of the public, too, from parents with strollers to professionals wheeling luggage to joggers.
- The pandemic’s shift to remote work helped to underscore the potential for professionals with disabilities to be productive from home, opening new doors and reducing stress.
- Horse riding has improved multiple areas of Alanna’s life, including strength, balance, focus, self-confidence, self-advocacy, participation, and self-sufficiency.
- Alanna’s core event of para-equestrian dressage is accessible to everyone and can create special connections for participants: horses are forgiving and accepting, and they are creative communicators, all of which contributes to a highly unique bond and experience.
Written by Emily Progin“There is no challenge that’s too hard to overcome. As long as you put in the work, anything is possible.”
