Joann has spinal cord and nerve damage, caused by an accident following an attempt to open a gate while she was riding a horse.

Joann started competing in dressage and showjumping in 1980 before her accident and now competes in para equestrian. As a 1B class competitor she is required to perform a “dressage test involving medium to collected walk, a quarter walk pirouette and a long rein walk, as well as working trot and lengthening in the trot.” She competes without stirrups as she does not have enough leg control to justify them.

Joann is coached by Manuela McLean and is based at the McLean’s Australian Equine Behaviour Centre at Clonbinane.

At the 2012 Olympic Games, Joann won a gold medal in the Mixed Dressage – Championship grade Ib event on Worldwide PB, a Hanoverian stallion that she acquired in December 2011.