Kim Decker
Born: May 20, 1968
Hometown: Centreville, Virginia
Kim Decker, of Centreville, VA, suffered a traumatic brain injury in an automobile accident in May 1986, two weeks before her 18th birthday. She was comatose for more than three months after the accident. After gaining consciousness, she underwent years of speech, occupational, vocational and physical therapy at various rehabilitation facilities in Virginia and Colorado.
Decker rode and showed in the hunter and jumper rings prior to her accident. Throughout her many years of therapy the one goal that always stayed with her was to once again be a competitive rider. In order to achieve this goal she rode with several therapeutic riding programs in Virginia and Colorado.
After 12 years of hard work, her goal became a reality in May 1998 when she rode in her first dressage competition at a Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia show in Leesburg, VA. In 1999, Decker represented the American Competition Organization for Riders with Disabilities at Dressage at Saratoga, NY, where she rode her musical freestyle demonstration.
Kim Decker and Dashers Destiny (Photo Provided by Kim Decker)
In 2004, Decker was selected by the National Disability Sports Alliance – Equestrian to represent the U.S. at the 2004 Canadian Open International Dressage Competition for Riders with Disabilities, where she place third in each of her classes.
In May 2007, Decker found her current mount, a Hanoverian gelding, Dashers Destiny. She and “Dasher” had a wonderful competition year in 2007. In May 2009, Decker and Dasher competed at the Cavalor/USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship and CDI3*/CPEDI3*events at Lamplight Equestrian Center. Decker and Dasher had a great competition finishing in first place in the Grade I and sixth in the nation out of 16 riders from all Grade levels.
In May 2010, the pair competed at the WindReach Farm International CPEDI3* in Ashburn, Ontario, obtaining two more qualifying scores.
At the USEF Selection Trial/National Championship for the U.S. Para-Equestrian Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Decker and Dasher finished the competition in 10th place overall. The pair completed their 2010 season by representing the U.S. at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY.
In November 2010, Decker will have lived in her own apartment and worked for the federal government for 20 years. In addition to riding, she enjoys shopping, football and antique cars.