Glasten has experienced a lot of ups and downs both in life and in the saddle, but he never gave up. That might arise from that simple rule his parents told him. Try for yourself twice and then ask for help, so you can learn to do it yourself. 

"I have always had a lot of people in my sports career to help me out. One thing I learned is that you can never do it alone. It is important to have a good team around yourself and your horse. The vet, the farrier, trainers, the physiotherapist, and the grooms for the horses. I have always had my parents to support me with the training and the competitions – and I have had some really good trainers, such as Coby.

In my younger years, I thought I could do this alone, but Coby taught me that you cannot. You have to have a great team behind you." 

A future full of dreams   
Glasten started his social media platforms early and here he shares his life with the horses.  

"I get messages from followers who tell me that I make them smile and that I helped them get into horses. It makes me happy to inspire other people. Every day I wake up and think how amazing it is that I can do the things I love.” 

In many ways, Glasten is living the life he always dreamed of. So, what is the next goal? "I have one really big dream: The Paralympics – with a medal." 

It will require a lot of time in the stable and the saddle, but for Glasten, everyday training is essential. Even though the dream of the Paralympics might come true, he will probably never stop working the horses and setting new goals.  

"That is the nice thing about horses. You are never done, and you can always make yourself better. You can always learn more about horses and training. I thought I had learned it all in my younger years, but now I know there is still so much more to learn for the next many years. It is nice to help younger riders to achieve the same dreams that I had myself. Every time I achieve a goal – I find a new one. That makes me who I am."

A dream came true – again – when the coach of the Netherlands put Glasten on the shortlist for the Paralympics, but once again, an injury crushed the dream. This time it was not the horse but Glasten himself.  

"I had a serious accident with a horse. I fell off and broke my leg in two places. It took me a long time to become fit again. I was in bed for eight weeks, and walking took three or four months. 10-14 weeks later, I tried to sit on a horse again, but my legs were weak and not strong enough anymore. I tried to be selected for Rio but was neither good enough or fit enough." 

The Thill family had another horse for Glasten instead of Wisconti, and this time he recognized something.   

"It was on Windhook, where I got the same feeling as I felt with my first horse, Matador. It was a special moment – and a big horse again. His trot was like flying, and he was so kind. I agreed to ride him, and we had an amazing time together." 

After being selected among the best eight riders for the Netherlands for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, the bonds coach decided to leave Glasten and Windhook at home. 

"This was obviously a huge disappointment! But after ten years, I was back in the Dutch team, and Windhook and the Thill family had made my dreams become possible again!” 

Due to the support and a lot of hard work, Glasten's goal remains to go to the Paralympic Games. 

"Hopefully, I can start competing again at the end of this year, follow my dreams, get back on the team, and see where it takes me. Now I am looking for a new horse to pursue my dreams and goals." 

"You can’t do it alone”  
Glasten's story is a great example of never letting anything, or anyone stop you from chasing your dreams. It was never easy growing up with no hands, being black, adopted and gay when all you want as a teenager, is to fit in. But Glasten did not try to fit in.  

"I am Glasten, and that makes me special. Nobody in this world is me. You take me as I am – and if people do not like me, it is fine. It has never been easy for me. I am a small boy, and I am adopted, I have a disability, and I am gay.

 A lot was going on from the age of 12 to 18, and it was difficult to handle, but the horses never judged me. I can be myself, and the horses do not have an opinion. I always thought I am good at what I do, which makes me strong in my personal life and sports career."  

Disabilities never held Glasten back - nothing did. "It has been a long journey and I have experienced a lot during my career for the last 17 years. But it all made me the person I am today. Riding is my passion and my dream. It is important for me to show other people what is possible with a disability - and that you can do what you want, as long as you work hard for it." 

Most horse owners know that it is not always easy to find the perfect horse – and it does not make it any easier when the horse has to be able to be ridden by a para equestrian, without hands and with short arms. 

"It was not easy at all! I was a small guy with short arms, and all the big horses were really strong, so we looked for a long time. Suddenly, I found one, and I just thought this was the one! I called the owner, and asked if we could come by and see him. I just wanted to come and see him right away."  

The horse was the one, the horse where you just instantly know it. About a week later, Matador was Glasten's very first horse of his own, and the journey could start. They were able to establish an amazing partnership and they have this special kind of chemistry. Matador still lives with Glasten at the age of 29 with grey hairs and teeth missing. 

"Matador made my dreams come true. That was when it all started. I would not have been so successful without him, and I would not have been the person and rider I am today."  

From ponies to Paralympics   
During the next several years, Glasten and Matador went competing together – but it was not always an easy ride. 

"He was a great horse even though he was not easy to ride, but he really made me a better rider. I learned so much from him! He could be crazy at competitions, scared of the music, the people around the arena and when people clapped – he was just crazy! In my younger years, all my horses were very sensitive and sometimes a bit crazy at competitions – and I have no hands, I am really small, and I was not very strong at the time, so sometimes I thought to myself, why did I do this!?"   

But Glasten did it. He rode the sensitive horses, and he became a better rider. They had a fantastic journey together that most horse riders can only dream of – with or without hands. 

"I had the most wonderful time with Matador even though he was so sensitive; two times Dutch Champion, my first European competition at the age of 17 by the seniors, and my first World Championship at 18 also by the seniors." 

In 2010 they rode at the World Championship in Kentucky, and the coach of the Netherlands told Glasten that she would be happy with him if he were in top10. He ended up as number four, and they were selected for the Paralympics in London. Unfortunately, his horse got injured.    

"When we returned from the World Championship in Kentucky, Matador was injured and had to stop his sports career. It was really bad as we were selected for the Paralympics, but it was just not possible anymore."  

A second chance at the top 
But what to do when you have been competing worldwide, and suddenly, that is not possible anymore?   

"At that time, I thought about what I wanted to do with my life. I was 19, and I had many things I wanted to do besides horses. But on the other hand, if I wanted to, my parents were willing to purchase a new horse, so I could try out for the Paralympics, this time in London." 

The search for the perfect para equestrian horse began again, and it was not any easier this time. At Stal van Silfhout in the Netherlands, the owner at that time - Lotte Jansen, had the perfect horse; the white horse Picasso (Jazz x Volkmar). He was a dream horse for the young rider, and they competed immensely together. Due to different injuries, the equipage had to pause their riding for about two years, before Glasten again went looking for the perfect match. Giving up is not in his vocabulary. 

"One day, Coby van Baalen called me and told me she had the perfect horse in her stable. The owners where the Luxembourg Family Thill, and we agreed that I could ride the horse for them. He was a real Barbie horse. I trained a lot with Coby and Debora Pijpers, which resulted in us riding international and national competitions and we were shortlisted for Rio de Janeiro in 2016."  

Glasten Krapels is a 33 year old para equestrian for the Netherlands, since he has no hands. He can do everything at the stable by himself – or almost.  

“I cannot close my helmet or braid my horses – the rest I can do. I muck out stables, get on, ride my horses, wash my horses, drive the truck – basically everything around my horses. I want to do all the things myself. And that is what makes me capable of doing what I want to.”   

From a young age, Glasten was told by his parents when he faced some difficulties – in his personal life or at the stable – that he had to try twice before asking for help. Then his parents would assist him in finding a way to solve the task by himself. 

"I think I am so positive because of my parents. They have always been so kind to me since they adopted me from Sri Lanka. They have always shown me plenty of love even though I had no hands. It was not easy for them or me, but they have always supported me."  

His parents supported him when Glasten, at the age of 7, told his dad that he wanted to be a rider after watching a para equestrian at the showjumping event, Jumping Amsterdam. 

"The rider had one leg and one arm, and I saw it and said to my dad that this was what I wanted, I just wanted to do what he did. My dad told me it was a great goal, and if I worked hard, it could become reality."   

No one knew that Glasten’s reality would be to ride horses and compete among the best para equestrians in the world.   

How to hold the reins?
Due to his disabilities, Glasten and his family had to find a riding school where they were able to support this. 

"It was not easy to figure out how to hold the reins with my disabilities and to manage the horse overall. I went to a riding school in Amsterdam, who helped me figure out that I could put the reins behind my elbows, which was an excellent tip. That way, I could hold the reins, ride and manage the horse really well." 

For a couple of years, the riding school was sufficient, but when he was 12 years old, he had the feeling of wanting more. One or two times a week in the stable was not enough.   

"I wanted to compete, and I wanted to be better. It was really important for me to become a good rider with a lot of passion and feeling. We went looking for another stable and came by a friend who owned a small stable in the Netherlands. There I could ride three ponies – and more if I wanted to – three or four times a week." 

That was the beginning of Glasten’s competition career which included a lot of training and hard work. But Glasten wanted even more.  

"When I was around fifteen, my parents told me they thought I did well with the ponies and wanted to purchase a horse for me. A true child’s dream."