Sue-Ellen Lovett
Training
Dual Paralympian, Atlanta 1996 & Sydney 2000, Bronze Medalist at the 1999 World Dressage Championships in Denmark where she was ranked 4th in the World, Top 10% of Elite Dressage Riders in Australia, Cancer Survivor, Fundraiser of $3.2 million for various charities doing 10 marathon long distance endurance rides, Director on the Paralympic Games Committee Board, Author, Wife, Horse Addict.
Mudgee born Sue-Ellen Lovett lives with husband Matthew on a property in Dubbo. Sue-Ellen has had six Guide Dogs in the past 38 years. Always accompanied by one of her guide dogs, even when competing internationally at World Championships and Paralympics. Her most famous Guide Dog was Eccles, a creamy lab with golden spots on his ears who accompanied her to Denmark, Atlanta, and Sydney. Sue-Ellen endearingly refers to him as her Suit and Tie dog, always so professional.
She continues to overcome the limitations of total blindness after being afflicted by the hereditary disease Retinitis Pigmentosa. Sue-Ellen doesn’t let her condition stop her achieving her goals, on or off the saddle. Sue-Ellen ‘Lives to Ride’, competes at FEI Inter 1 level, and trains Grand Prix. As well as riding, Sue-Ellen’s life is devoted to helping and motivating people. During the marathon rides she raised the $3.2m, she spoke at functions in over 600 towns, and gave inspirational talks to thousands. One of her longest rides was Cairns to the Gold Coast in 1988, 2400 km, 54 days in the saddle, with the funds raised going to the RDA. Another was from Melbourne to Sydney in 1998 to raise money and public awareness for the Sydney Paralympic Games. At that time she was short listed to be competing at Sydney but still did the 38 days in the saddle and raised $1.1m.
In 2020 Sue-Ellen published a heart-warming story about love, achievement, overcoming adversity and daring to dream through the big brown eyes of her horse Johno
Visit Sue-Ellen Lovett at the following sessions
Details
Friday November 12th
4:00 pm to 4:45 pm
DEG Australia Demonstration Arena
Overcoming adversity
If you want to achieve your goals, buckle up!
The ride through life as uniquely described by Sue-Ellen Lovett is a wild ride indeed. She highlights ABILITY not Disability, and that VISION is much more than Seeing.
Being legally blind since birth, Sue-Ellen has overcome the magnitude of adversity that comes from a degenerative disease that caused her blindness since birth. She shares insights into how people make their own disability. How you need to make your own decisions about who you want to be and how you’re going to get there. Be bold, be game and be willing to put yourself out there sometimes. Be willing to fail, be prepared to brush yourself off and get going again. If you expect what you want to land in your lap, think again.
Listen to the incredible ways Sue-Ellen has overcome adversity. Some culminating in raising over $3.2 million dollars for various charities! This inspirational woman knows from experience that every cloud does have a silver lining – you just have to look for it. Let Sue-Ellen help you find your silver lining.
Details
Saturday November 13th
2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
DEG Australia Demonstration Arena
If it’s going to be – it’s up to me
If there isn’t a light at the end of the tunnel you’re looking down – bloody go down and light it yourself!
If you want straight talking, open, honest yet incredibly positive and inspiring, welcome to Sue-Ellen Lovett’s take on this wild ride we call ‘Life’. Sue-Ellen will share with you how to make a difference, even a small one. There’s no point talking about it – it’s ACTION counts. When you consider she’s done 10 long distance rides on horseback totaling over 16,000 km and raising over $3.2 million dollars – that’s a lot of ACTION. Listen to how such action turns into success, the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people, and how critical creating a Team around you is. The journey she will take you on is full of highs and lows. The most recent heart break being the passing of her magnificent mate, 18 3hh magical Johno. If there isn’t a light at the end of the tunnel you’re looking down – bloody go down and light it yourself. If you want there to be clarity and light in your life – join in and listen to Sue-Ellen.
