DOUBLE Paralympic dressage champion Natasha Baker, from Cowley, says the building blocks are in place for a tilt at more glory at Rio 2016.

Three years ago, Baker, who suffers from transverse myelitis, a condition that has left her with permanent nerve damage and severe weakness in her legs since contracting a virus at 14 months, won Britain’s first equestrian gold of the London 2012 Paralympics in the individual championship test grade II event.

It was followed two days later with a second gold as she and her horse Cabral set another Paralympic record on the way to victory in the Freestyle event.

Since then, she has continued to accumulate the titles, taking treble gold at the 2013 European Championships and team gold and individual silver at last year’s World Equestrian Games.

While this September’s European Championships in Deauville, France, are the main focus this year, Natasha admits Rio is never far from her mind.

The 25-year-old is this year competing on two horses, old faithful Cabral and young mare Sooki.

“I’m definitely on target in terms of the road to Rio,” she said. “In fact, I’m in an even stronger position than before London because I’ve got an extra horse.

“Cabral, or JP as we call him, is obviously the one that got me two golds in London, but Sooki is now coming to the forefront.

“I’ve given JP a bit of quiet year, while Sooki is picking up experience. I’ve just got to keep up the good work and get myself selected for the Europeans..

“After that, it starts all over again with qualification for Rio at the start of 2016. It’s part of the reason why I went to Doha at the start of the year, to get the horses used to flying and the heat.

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t do even better in Rio. Other countries are catching us up, but we are in a strong position, and hopefully we can carry that forward to Rio.”

Next month, Natasha will take a quick break from trying to secure selection by joining in the celebrations for this year’s National Paralympic Day on July 26.

Designed to help continue the legacy of London 2012, the annual event at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will feature elite athletics and swimming - and promote disability sport.

“I’m so excited about this year’s National Paralympic Day. It does not feel like London was that long ago,” she said.

“Equestrian sport is not a part of National Paralympic Day but I’ll still be going down to meet the public and cheer on the athletes. Hannah Cockcroft is a great friend of mine.”

Tickets for National Paralympic Day are available at Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/npd2015/. #NPD2015 is supported by Spirit of 2012.