By David Gold

New Zealand_Paralympian_Rachel_StockAugust 12 - Rachel Stock has warmed up for the London 2012 Paralympics with an impressive win at an unaffiliated dressage competition in Oldencraig in Surrey.

Stock, one of New Zealand's two representatives at the equestrian in the Paralympics, finished over two per cent ahead of second place on Bates Rimini Park Emmerich.

The 71.76 per cent result was her first competitive action since the New Zealand Horse of the Year show in March.

The result was all the more impressive as the event, which took place in Surrey at the Oldencraig Equestrian Centre, is an able bodied competition.

The venue is a 20 metre x 60m arena, which is larger than that which will be used for the Paralympic Games.

"I lost his attention a little in the free walk when a couple of swans arrived near the arena and had to really ride him to get that back," Stock told Horsetalk.

"We really needed a start to get an idea where we were at."

The 40-year-old mother-of-two broke her back while eventing in 1993, and during her recovery was diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease which has left her with no cartilage in her hands.

She won every title available to her in New Zealand in both 2010 and 2011, and came through the qualifiers for London 2012 in Hong Kong in style.

Stock will be joined by Anthea Gunner, the other equestrian competitor in London, for their final pre-Paralympic competition at Bishop Burton this weekend.

They will be New Zealand's first equestrian Paralympic competitors since Jayne Craike competed at Athens 2004.

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