Martin on the road to Rio at Sydney CDI***

First-time Para Equestrian rider Lisa Martin has won the final Australian qualifying event for Grave IV dressage riders hoping to make it to the Rio Paralympic Games.

Martin was competing in her first Sydney CDI as a Para Equestrian rider and was nearly six per cent ahead of her competition on her Hannovarian mare, First Famous, in the Grade IV competition with 73.333 per cent.

It's now a tense wait for Martin to see if she will make it onto the Paralympic team, with qualifying events yet to be held in Europe for overseas-based Australian competitors.

“Winning my class at the moment is really exciting, we're all really thrilled that thet's happened of course, now we've just got to sit back and wait,” she said. “Even though Australia's finished their qualifiers, Europe is still just starting.

“Now becomes the most frustrating time of all. We've got to wait for these other top riders in Europe to go off and do what they need to do.

“They've got three qualifiers in May, so we have to wait until May 27 for the teams to be announced.

“It's now the waiting game and seeing where we all fit.

“I wish all of them the best over there because they are all just the most wonderful riders.”

Para-Equestrian Dressage is the only Equestrian discipline that is included in the Paralympic Games, where it has been a regular fixture since 1996.

Martin has had the support of her home town community of Scone in regional NSW behind her the whole way, and said she has appreciated all the good wishes.

“Scone is the most supportive town,” she said. “I've lived there now for 20 years, and the support in the town is incredible.

“I'm very proud to be a Scone girl.”

Sydney CDI*** continues tomorrow (Saturday) with the showcase event, the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music. The popular trade village will be operating all day, and tickets are still available to be purchased online.