Ninon Forget has been immersed in the world of equestrianism since childhood and has gradually been building her professional future in this direction. But in June 2020, while putting a boot on her mare, a horse struck her violently in the face with its hoof. This accident caused 27 maxillofacial fractures and the total, permanent loss of her sight. While this ordeal could seem traumatic, it was not enough to stop Ninon from pursuing her passion.
"I grew up surrounded by horses, and it became my passion" – Ninon Forget
Born into a family of athletes, Ninon Forget grew up inspired by her sister and mother, who both practiced horseback riding. Her earliest memories are of pony rides at the age of 2–3. She started lessons around 4–5 years old, twice a week, and gradually became passionate about the sport. By fifth grade, she began competing in show jumping and participated in the Lamotte-Beuvron Championship in the pony circuit. She explains that her competitive spirit comes in part from her father, who practiced athletics: "You could say I have competition in my blood."
In her sophomore year, Ninon joined a sports-study program at the Ecole Diagonale and turned her passion into her career. She rides three horses daily and competes at the amateur elite level.
In June 2020, while caring for her mare in the paddock, she was struck in the face by a horse’s hoof, resulting in 27 maxillofacial fractures and permanent total blindness. However, this challenge did not stop Ninon from continuing her passion. Just three months after the accident, she was back in the saddle.
Finding the strength to get back in the saddle after a horse accident
When asked how she overcame the fear of riding again, Ninon Forget calmly replies: "I always imagined myself back on a horse; I couldn’t abandon my horses."
After losing her sight, Ninon had to create new reference points to adapt to riding:
- How to navigate an arena without seeing it?
- How to jump an obstacle without knowing its location?
She sought answers through innovative methods: installing speakers at diagonal lines to navigate by sound, using Bluetooth-connected auditory glasses, and receiving guidance from her coach and team to indicate verbally when to turn or jump.
Today, she no longer needs reference points on the flat. For show jumping courses, she is guided by her coach, Virginie Isquierdo, and callers placed beside each obstacle. This teamwork and trust have allowed her to resume show jumping competitions as early as November 2021!
Her relationship with her horse has also evolved. "It’s as if he understands I can’t see; he listens closely to the callers and does it from the heart. On the ground, he doesn’t pay more attention to me than to anyone else," she shares with a laugh.
Meeting Roger-Yves Bost, Horse Pilot ambassador
Introduced through Horse Pilot, Roger-Yves Bost decided to follow Ninon’s extraordinary journey by advising her and allowing her to train at his facility. "Being coached by Roger-Yves Bost, whom I have admired since I was very young, is a dream." His wife, Cyrille, encouraged Ninon to try para dressage. Although there are no Paralympic show jumping events, para dressage is widely practiced. Very happy to start this new discipline, Ninon Forget even feels she has improved on the flat since her accident. Forced to use her balance more while riding, she explains that she now better senses her horse’s movements and the tension in the reins.
"We’ll see where it leads, maybe to the Olympics one day." – Ninon Forget
There is no doubt that with her strength of character, we will be hearing about Ninon for a long time. Today, she cannot imagine her life without riding; the sport is fully integrated into her daily routine.
"I can’t imagine my life without horses. They constantly push me to exceed myself. When you work hard and succeed, there’s no greater victory. Riding makes me feel alive; it is essential to my happiness." – Ninon Forget
And you, why do you ride?
