USEF Names Nominated Entry for U.S. Para-Equestrian Team

RELEASE: June 19, 2012
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Gladstone, NJ – Following the approval of the USEF High Performance Working Group and the USEF Executive Committee, the FEI Nominated Entry for the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team for the 2012 Paralympic Games is as follows.

Athletes and horse are listed in ranked order based on the results from the 2012 USEF Selection Trials & National Para-Equestrian Championship:

1. Rebecca Hart and Jessica Ransehousen’s Lord Ludger
2. Jonathan Wentz and Kai Handt’s NTEC Richter Scale
3. Donna Ponessa and Wesley Dunham’s Western Rose
4. Dale Dedrick and her own Bonifatius
5. Donna Ponessa and Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center’s PG Ganda
6. Jonathan Wentz and Michele Miles’ Silvano
7. Mary Jordan and Deecie Denison’s Sebastian
8. Rebecca Hart and Jessica Ransehousen’s Carlingfords Taldi
9. Wendy Fryke and her own Lateran
10. Elizabeth Pigott and Regina Cristo’s One Night Stand
11. Mary Jordan and her own P. Sparrow Socks
12. Robin Brueckmann and her own Radetzky

The four athlete/horse combinations comprising the team will travel to England to compete
in the 2012 Paralympic Games. Chef d’Equipe Missy Ransehousen will join the named
athletes when the riders enter a boot camp before London. The Paralympic Equestrian
events take place in London, England at Greenwich Park August 30-September 4, 2012.

ABOUT THE EQUESTRIAN PARALYMPICS (courtesy of FEI)

Host nation Great Britain, Germany, Denmark and Canada have qualified the maximum number of riders and will each be represented by a team of four and one individual.

Nine countries – USA, The Netherlands, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Belgium, South Africa, Australia and France – have qualified four riders.

The National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) of Singapore and Mexico, which had originally qualified four riders, returned one qualification slot each and will be represented by three-rider teams. The unused slots were re-allocated to Norway and Israel on the basis of the Individual Para-Equestrian Rankings of athletes not already qualified with a team. As a result, Norway, which had already qualified two individual riders, will be fielding a composite team consisting of three members.

New Zealand and Finland will be represented by two individual riders apiece. Bermuda, Argentina, Japan, Hong Kong and Austria have each been allocated one individual slot.
Three Bipartite Commission invitations have been issued to Thomas Haller of Austria, Lee Frawley of the Virgin Islands and Anita Johnsson of Sweden.

The nominated entries will be published on 18 June 2012 and definite entries on 6 August. A total of 78 Para-Equestrian riders will be battling it out for the 11 sets of medals available. The detailed list of qualified nations is available here.

SUMMARY:
26 nations – ARG, AUS, AUT, BEL, BER, BRA, CAN, DEN, FIN, FRA, GBR, GER, HKG, IRL, ISR, ISV, ITA, JPN, MEX, NED, NOR, NZL, RSA, SIN, SWE, USA

TEAMS

4 nations with 5 riders (team + 1 individual): CAN, DEN, GBR, GER
9 nations with 4 riders (team): AUS, BEL, BRA, FRA, IRL, ITA, NED, RSA, USA
3 nations with 3 riders (team): MEX, NOR, SIN

NATIONS REPRESENTED ONLY BY INDIVIDUALS
2 nations with 2 individuals: FIN, NZL
6 nations with 1 individual: AUT, ARG, BER, ISR, JPN, HKG
3 Bipartite Commission invitations: AUT, ISV, SWE

Photo Credit: Photographs taken at the 2012 USEF Paralympic Selection Trials and 2012 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage Natonal Championships in Gladstone, NJ.  The Trials and National Championships are scheduled June10-13, 2012 at the USET Headquarters. Photo © Lindsay Y McCall for the United States Para-Equestrian Association.

*All logos, phrases, and words representing the Paralympics, London 2012, London Olympics,
Olympics, and any combination referring to the Paralympics or Olympics are property of the United States Olympic Committee and the 2012 London Olympic Games.*

About the United States Para-Equestrian Association:

The USPEA is a network of riders, judges, national federation board members, and equestrian enthusiasts.  The association gives athletes the ability to get involved and expand their knowledge and experience in the Para-Equestrian sport. The USPEA encourages para-athletes to participate in all disciplines under the para-equestrian umbrella.

The USPEA is a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) which serves as the National Governing Body for the equestrian sport.  This relationship between the USPEA and USEF is to encourage para-equestrian competitors, leisure riders, coaches, fans and enthusiasts to network and get involved with the entire equestrian sport.

Ultimately the goal of the USPEA is to foster growth in the para-equestrian discipline.  From growth in the number of participants to growth as a team, and growth in the experience and knowledge of all involved.  From local horse shows to international Olympic Games, the USPEA will provide para-equestrians the knowledge of what they need to succeed.  The USPEA connects with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), and USEF which provides Para-Equestrians the top equestrian resources.

In June 2010, the USPEA earned its 501 (c)(3) status which has encouraged supporters to help supply funding to the Para-Equestrian Team as a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

For more information about the USPEA please visit www.USPEA.org or contact USPEA President: Hope Hand by e-mail: Wheeler966@aol.com or by phone: (610) 356-6481.