Alanna Flax-Clark is a ParaEquestrian training for the Paralympics in 2020 with her Dutch Riding Pony, El Paso, or as she affectionately calls him, Taco.  She recently moved to New Jersey from Los Angeles to focus on her training after a successful Winter competition season in Florida.  After only competing for less than two years in her entire life, she is currently ranked 7th in the World for her classification.  Her days are surrounded by horses as she trains six days a week, works at a therapeutic/adaptive riding barn, is working towards her PATH Int’l certification, and also works part time at a rescue barn.

Diagnosed with a chronic neurological disease when she was 13years old and then further paralyzed from an infection in 2008, Alanna discovered her love of horses when she started riding for therapy. Alanna was never that girl running around in cowboy boots, playing with breyer horses when she was younger. She knew nothing about horses! They only came into her life at a time when she needed them the most.  Alanna discovered the sport of ParaDressage from her adaptive riding instructors. The sport, the culture, and the life at the barn has given her back her life and spirit. She’s truly grateful for all the horses and trainers that have been a part of her life, and to her family and friends who have supported her along the way.