An international athlete missing an arm and a leg showed the audience at the Bermuda Equestrian Federation's "Fun Show'' that physically challenged riders can rise to the top of the sport.

Holland-born Joop Stokkel is one of the leading physically challenged riders in the world.

Although Mr. Stokkel suffered an accident at the age of seven where he lost his entire right arm and left leg, he began riding horses at the age of 15.

This was Mr. Stokkel's second visit to Bermuda and he participated in a half-hour dressage demonstration on the horse Badger Bay on Sunday afternoon at the Botanical Gardens -- as well as riding Western-style for the very first time.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette , Mr. Stokkel explained the method behind his ability as a physically challenged rider.

Mr. Stokkel rides about twice a week, increasing his practice to four times per week before an international competition.

He is a member of the William Alexander Riding School for the Disabled, where able members are required to assist physically challenged members.

In a sport where controlling the horse is 80 percent legwork, Mr. Stokkel had to make some adjustments to become an effective rider.

"I have a long whip on the left side, and I use the whip to correct the horse,'' he said.

"You would ordinarily use the inside leg in order to get them to bend, but the signal of the whip is used as the signal of the leg,'' he added.

Mr. Stokkel said he uses a little screw on the reins to keep them at an even length so that he can hold both reins and the whip in his one hand.

Dressage -- English-style riding -- is easier for Mr. Stokkel than Western riding although he held his own quite nicely in Sunday's exhibition. "In Western riding, there is more riding on the horse's neck -- for me it's a little more difficult to get them to go backward,'' he said.

Although he can ride most horses, Mr. Stokkel said he usually prefers to practise with a new horse a few times so they become accustomed to his modified communication.

"It's not good for me to ride a `spooky' horse I don't know -- it's better for me to have a horse that's steady and quiet,'' he said.

Mr. Stokkel has very little trouble mounting the horse on his own. He noted that he can use a regular saddle, but prefers a "wintec'' saddle rather than the standard leather ones because it is lighter and easier to sit on.

Mr. Stokkel began his international athletic career first as a swimmer, having first represented Holland at the 1988 Seoul Paralypics -- winning two gold medals and one silver.

He later won four Dutch National Championships as well as three gold medals and two silver medals for swimming at the Barcelona Paralympics in 1992 -- the same year he received a Dutch knighthood.

Mr. Stokkel said that prior to 1990, horse riding was primarily a demonstration sport in Holland. But he participated in the first international competition in 1991 and placed seventh.

He continued his equestrian pursuits and emerged as the overall champion at the 1998 World Riding for Disabled Championships at Hartpury, England.

"I think it's doubly important for disabled people to start riding -- especially those who cannot walk -- because you go to places you never would've gone in your wheelchair. On a horse, you're mobile,'' he said.

"For young people who are not disabled, or young children who are rough with horses, you can show them that with one leg not a lot of force is needed.

"But mostly what's important about me being here is to tell disabled people, don't sit home -- go out and exercise because it's good for your body and your mind.''