Verity is a blind international dressage rider, campaigner, singer, songwriter and author.

Verity ranked 12th in France at Able Bodied Elite Level.  She has also been selected to compete Internationally as part of the French Para Dressage Squad. Verity believes in advocating the ability in disability and relishes the challenge of defying convention and breaking down boundaries. She has represented Great Britain as part of Para Team GB and is currently competing at Able Bodied Prix St George and inter 1 dressage levels and winning. Her dream is to one day be on the Able Bodied Olympic Team.

Verity's only concession to her blindness is her labradoodle Guide Dog ‘ITV This Morning’ star Luna.

Uploaded by Verity Smith on 2018-09-30.

As a campaigner, Verity has:

  • Campaigned successfully for guide dogs to have the right to travel on commercial flights, Eurostar and SNCF.

  • Represented Guide Dogs in the House of Lords for the signing of the High Street Charter – regarding accessibility for disabled shoppers.

  • Campaigned for better awareness of disability in Sweden.

  • Creator and force behind the Beat The Blind Campaign, launched in 2015, in order to overturn the blindfold ruling for blind Para dressage riders.  Although the ruling was not changed in time for her to go to Rio, through her efforts it was changed and ratified in November 2016.

When I was told at the age of eight that I was going blind and would never be able to drive a car, I replied, “That’s ok my horse can see for me’’. So it was, as the world faded from my eyes, horses solidified in my heart, enabling me to ride the storm of my disability.