"Competitive Equestrian Mary Jordan: No Hurdle is Too High for This National Champion"
Mary’s passion for horses and riding began as soon as she could walk, talk and explore the dairy farms of her family’s native New York state. "From the time I walked I wanted to ride horses," she explains. For more than 30 years, she has competed in many aspects of the sport, including dressage, eventing and breed shows, and riding on a hunter/jumper team while at Kent School.
In 2002, however, tingling in her middle back, hands and feet caused concern that she would be forced to hang up her saddle. Mary was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), becoming the third person in her family to have multiple sclerosis (MS). Aggressive action by her neurologist led to immediate treatment with COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection). Although individual results may vary, Mary has been relapse-free since that time and has been able to continue riding her beloved horses Paxton Abbey and Clever. She has even picked up new sports, such as tennis. "My strongest message is to get diagnosed and on a drug therapy as soon as possible and stay on it."
Today, Mary and her husband live with their son in Wells, ME. She is a public relations coordinator, as well as a freelance journalist and editor. Mary loves raising and training her own horses for competition. In 2006, Mary finished second in the country at the American Eventing Championships in Raeford, N.C. out of a field of 72 competitors from around the country, and won the United States Eventing Association (USEA) New England Area One Championship and year-end titles aboard Paxton, adding to the numerous competitive riding awards this passionate horsewoman has acquired over the years.
In 2007, moving up to a higher level of competition, Mary and Paxton Abbey secured three USEA national year-end titles: Training Master Rider of the Year, Master Amateur Rider of the Year and Training Horse of the Year. In addition, they won two New England year-end titles, as well as the Maine Combined Training Association’s Danny Memorial Trophy and the King Oak Farm Master’s Trophy. Competing in nearly 15 events over the year, Mary and Paxton won a total of six first place awards, placed highly in the rest, successfully completed two Training Level Three-Day events (winning one), and were 2007 Reserve National Champions (Training Level Amateur Division) at the American Eventing Championships in Chicago, IL.
In 2008 Mary competed with not one, but two of her horses. Paxton once again moved up to a higher stage of competition, competing at both preliminary and training levels. Paxton’s younger sister Clever made her debut at the beginner novice level. Together Mary and Paxton successfully rode in the USEA Area 1 Adult Team Competition at Groton House Farm in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, winning the preliminary division with her teammates from New England. Later, the pair rode in The Chronicle of the Horse East Coast Adult Team Challenge, winning the team event in November with fellow riders from the Mid-Atlantic States; Mary also secured a second place individual win, contributing the best score to the team’s effort at the Virginia Horse Trials. Both of Mary’s horses were awarded New England year-end titles and Paxton was the recipient of the King Oak Farm Master’s Trophy for the second year in a row.
Mary is dedicated to sharing her experiences and the power of dreams. "I look at horse riding as a conduit to illustrate the point that a person with MS can achieve a lot. I ride for a reason now, to be a living, breathing example of what a person with MS can do," she says. "My riding used to be about winning ribbons. Now it’s to raise awareness, combat stereotypes and to defy the diagnosis."
Team COPAXONE®
Mary is sponsored in part by Teva Neuroscience as a member of Team COPAXONE®. Mary is just one example of someone who is living with RRMS and pursuing her dreams. Team COPAXONE® celebrates the accomplishments of people, such as Mary, who refuse to let MS stand in their way. Members are working to change the perceptions that society holds of people living with MS.
Advances in Medicine
Continuing research has led to treatments that can modify the immune processes thought to be responsible for RRMS. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved drugs for RRMS, such as COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection).
Call 1-800-887-8100 for more information about COPAXONE®, Team COPAXONE®, or multiple sclerosis.
097005404/090438