FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Welch and Guiteau Earn Hope Hand Memorial Festival of Champions Travel Grants

WELLINGTON, Fla. —October 29, 2026 –  Para-Dressage Intermediaire I Champion Elizabeth Welch and Reserve Champion Audrey Guiteau have received Hope Hand Memorial Festival of Champions Equine Travel Grants to help offset the cost of transporting their horses to and from the USEF Festival of Champions.

The grants honor USPEA founder Hope Hand and her commitment to supporting emerging para-equestrian athletes. Grant amounts are based on mileage. Welch, of Summerville, South Carolina, received $750 after winning the Para-Intermediaire I National Championship aboard her horse, Baltico BRH. Guiteau, of Houston, Texas, received $1,000 after earning Reserve Champion honors aboard her own, Don Silvano.

“Both of these athletes have received grant support from USPEA in the past, and I’m so pleased to see them have a successful championship experience,” said USPEA President Eleanor Brimmer. “We’re honored to be part of their para-dressage journeys and excited to see them grow as competitors.”

Welch said the grant helped with the costs of competing: “Horse-show expenses add up quickly, so it’s extremely helpful to have these grant opportunities through USPEA. I’m very honored and grateful to receive this support and was thrilled to compete at Para-Nationals at Lamplight Equestrian Center again this year.”

For Guiteau, the championship marked her first national competition. “I was honored to be invited, and the experience turned out better than I could have expected. Earning Reserve National Champion at the Intermediaire I level—and reaching a competition goal—felt amazing. I also gained valuable experience and met so many para-dressage riders, which helped me feel welcomed into the community.”

Brimmer noted that grants like these are made possible by donors. To learn more about supporting emerging para-dressage athletes, visit www.uspea.org.

About the United States Para Equestrian Association

The United States Para Equestrian Association (USPEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting and developing para-equestrian sport in the United States. The organization supports athletes through educational programs, grants, outreach initiatives, and partnerships that foster growth and opportunity in the sport.

Media Contact

United States Para Equestrian Association
Eleanor Brimmer, President
Email: elliebrimmer@uspea.org
Phone: (952) 258-9271
Website: www.uspea.org

 Para-Dressage Intermediaire I Champion Elizabeth Welch

 Para-Dressage Intermediaire I Reserve Champion Audrey Guiteau