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Next month, Summerfield's Robin Brueckmann heads to Hong Kong to represent the United States in the Paralympic Games.

Brueckmann, who started riding horses at 7, was sidelined from competition for five years by a chronic pain condition. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, diagnosed in 1994, left her unable to use stirrups and forced her to completely readjust her riding.

"My riding was terrible, my balance was off, I was really asymmetrical, I was unfit to ride, and just horrible things," Brueckmann said. "It took a really long time to feel myself again."

When Brueckman began riding again, she had to borrow one of her student's horses, Laffin, as hers was in training elsewhere. After about three months, Brueckmann received her own horse, David, back. "(David) had to readjust himself because of my balance, and he was willing to do that, and I was so grateful to him for that. If he hadn't already been my horse, I don't think that he would have been able to do that."

Brueckmann has been chosen to be part of the US Paralympic Team-Equestrian, which will compete this September in Hong Kong. Para Equestrian is the sport for equestrians with physical disabilities.

Brueckmann has been riding horses for 43 years and judging horse shows for 30 years. "I am very fortunate to be able to make my passion be my living," she said.

Brueckmann will be competing in her second Paralympics. Her first was in Sydney in 2000. She also has competed in World Championships for Disabled Riders in Denmark and Belgium.

At 50, Brueckmann is the oldest rider on the U.S. team. However, she does not think that's a disadvantage.

"It's not like other sports -- youth isn't of value, it's knowledge," Brueckmann explained. "It takes many years to learn how to do this sport well. I'm at an advantage over younger riders."

One thing Brueckmann cannot control completely is her horse.

"I have plenty of control over my skill, training, thoughts and medal preparation. And I can do my best to control my horse," Brueckmann said. "As a trainer my goal is to expose my horses to as many different areas as possible."

This will be her 7-year-old horse's first international competition.

Brueckmann will leave North Carolina Aug. 5 to spend 10 days with her team coach in Pennsylvania. Her horse will fly to Aachen, Germany, Aug. 14, to spend two weeks in quarantine to make certain he does not have equine influenza. Brueckmann and her horse will fly to Hong Kong on Aug. 27.

Contact Lili Johnson at 412-5929 or lili.johnson@news-record.com.