Parker, Colorado – July 5, 2016 – With only weeks before the 2016 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships provided by Gotham North (NAJYRC) taking place at the Colorado Horse Park July 27-31, in Parker, Colorado, the Para-Equestrian Dressage Young Rider Team and Individual Championships were cancelled. Although there was a considerable number of United States athletes looking to make the trip to Colorado, following the close of the Nominate Entry, the FEI requirement of at least two National Federations represented with teams was not met in order to run the para-equestrian division of a Continental Championship. The USPEA would like to thank the NAJYRC show management, sponsors, supporters of our athletes, and show volunteers who worked hard to try and make the Para-Dressage competition happen. The NAJYRC is considered the Junior Olympics and is a 4* competition. In 2015, the U.S. Para-Dressage Team made history at the Inaugural Young Rider Para-Dressage competition

Hope Hand of the USPEA commented, “We are very disapointed that we could not meet the criteria this year for many reasons beyond our control but we are thankful to the NAJYRC organizers for including us in this prestigious competition.”

Although the 2016 Para-Equestrian competition was cancelled, the Para-Dressage Young Riders look forward to participating in the NAJYRC in 2017.

U.S. Para-Dressage Team at the NAJYRC. Photo (c) SusanJStickle.com

The United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) includes every recognized equestrian discipline that is practiced by athletes with an eligible physical impairment with a focus on Paralympic Equestrian Sports. . The USPEA is a network of current and past athletes, owners, officials, event organizers, and equestrian enthusiasts. The Association assists athletes to get involved and expand their knowledge and experience in the Disciplines of Para-Equestrian.

USPEA was created to fill a need to assist Para Equestrian disciplines when they came under the governance of the FEI.  While Para Equestrian disciplines were originally segregated, they now are integrated in international sport.  As each individual Para Equestrian discipline develops, it is USPEA’s mission to always serve as an advisory resource with the ultimate goal that the established able-bodied discipline affiliate will integrate within their organization.

In 2010, the USPEA earned its 501 (c)(3) status and became a recognized International affiliate association of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) working together to grow the FEI recognized disciplines by helping to provide press, educational information, symposiums and competition opportunities for athletes with eligible physical impairments.