About the USPEA
The United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) in its beginnings included every recognized equestrian discipline that is practiced by athletes with an eligible physical impairment with a focus on the Paralympic Equestrian Sport of Para Dressage. 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.
Mission Statement
To Help Develop, Promote, Support, and Sustain USA Para Dressage Athletes along the pathway of Emerging, Developing and Elite with a focus on the Emerging competing athletes.
Vision Statement
The vision of the United States Para Equestrian Association (USPEA) is to provide leadership in the Para Equestrian sport of para dressage in the United States of America for athletes with an eligible physical impairment, promoting the pursuit of excellence along the pathway with a focus on emerging based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best Association for Para Dressage in the world.
Ellie Brimmer - President
Click to read about Ellie
Originally from Plymouth, Minnesota, now residing in Wellington, FL with rescue dog Timmy… Ellie is half of a set of twins. She was born prematurely and has Cerebral Palsy. She has a BA in American Culture and a minor in History from Randolph Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, VA. Ellie grew up riding hunters, she’s from a horsey family her mother competes in amateur jumpers and her family has been a part of fox hunts for at least five generations in Ireland and America. Ellie made the switch to para dressage after graduating from college in 2008 when she was no longer confident she had the balance for jumping. She had never done anything related to her disability before but has found para dressage be a unique outlet to share her passion for horses with people similar to herself. Ellie helps spread the word about the para-equestrian community and how empowering competition can be for someone with physical limitations. Para dressage is not a step down but rather a step sideways working to ride much the same as able-bodied dressage. Ellie was named to the U.S. Para Equestrian Association board of directors in 2022 and to the US Equestrian Board of Directors and Executive Committee in January 2023, and as President of USPEA in January 2024. She was elected into the first dedicated para equestrian athlete seat on the USEF Board of Directors. Ellie was USDF’s volunteer of the year in 2023 and received USEF’s Lloyd Landkamer Memorial Sportsmanship Award in 2021.
Carole Laulis- Vice President
Click to read about Carole
Married, mother of 3 & grandmother of 4 beautiful grandchildren, 4 dogs.
Lives in Malvern, Pa.
Hobbies :
Sailing, Cooking Reading, and Horses.
Employment:
Thorncroft Equestrian Center in Malvern, Pa. for the last 30 + years as A Senior staff Instructor/ Volunteer Coordinator/Path CRTI/USEF Para-dressage silver level coach/ Special Olympics Team Pennsylvania Head Coach/USEF Center of Excellence Coordinator.
Carole Laulis stated, "II met Hope Hand many years ago and was introduced by our former Founder Saunders Dixon & his wife Sallie Dixon. Hope watched me teach and in "True Hope style" asked me to get involved with Para which I declined but Hope was persistent. So 12 years ago she said she had a little girl she wanted me to work with, a friend's grandchild that was Riley Garrett ( now 22 years old ) now an internationally ranked Para rider."
"Hope and I traveled from Maine to Flordia together to horse shows, clinics and I listened and learned about the sport of Para-Dressage with every trip and numerous phone calls between us, With Hope's friendship and encouragement I was hooked to the Para World. I loved listening & laughing on our trips and cooking for the crowd which brought me much joy"
"Miss her every day but know she will always be with all of us. I point my finger to the heavens and say ' I know that was you !' I can still hear her giggling."
"I'm proud to surround myself with my family, my Thorncroft Equestrian Center family, and The Para community to keep Hope's dream going into the future with USPEA and serve as Vice-president of USPEA supporting COEs and riders of the present & the future."
Regina Cristo – Secretary
Bio coming soon
Natalie Boyko – Treasurer
Bio coming soon
Donna Ponessa- Athlete Representative
Click to read about Donna
Donna’s journey into the horse world began at age 10 when she exchanged work at a local barn for riding lessons, quickly developing a deep passion for horsemanship and riding. Despite being diagnosed with Neuro-myelitis Optica at 19, she pursued her dreams with determination, graduating with a nursing degree and acquiring her own horse to ride and show. However, by 1985, her disease progressed, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down and necessitating the sale of her beloved horse.
Undeterred by these challenges, Donna channeled her competitive spirit into wheelchair tennis and a career in public health administration. In 2010, her love for horses reignited after attending a para-equestrian training camp, where she was classified as Grade 1A and upon returning home, loaned a skilled dressage horse. Immersing herself in para-dressage, Donna achieved notable victories, including top finishes abroad and at the Para-Equestrian Nationals and Selection Trials. Her success culminated in representing Team USA at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, where she finished 7th in her grade and contributed to the team's overall 7th place finish. Subsequent health challenges including a C6-7 SCI in 2018 have put Donna’s riding aspirations on an indefinite hold.
Donna’s goal as the Athlete Member of the USPEA Board of Directors is twofold: (1) to use her professional experience to expand its funding base and (2) use the insight from her involvement in high performance sport to further the organization’s mission of developing, promoting, supporting and sustaining US Para-Dressage athletes along competition pathways with a focus on emerging competitive athletes.
Christina (Tina) Wentz
Click to read about Tina
Tina has been actively involved with USPEA since its start in 2009 serving as Secretary, Vice President, and currently Interim President. She has been involved with US Para-Equestrian Sport since 1997 first serving as a US National Classifier and a volunteer. Her involvement was precipitated by both a professional & personal interest to see the sport develop and excel at an International Level. She has served on the IDC, as an FEI International classifier and currently serves as a member of the USEF Para-Dressage sports committee, Head US Para Dressage Selector, and Head PCA for World and Paralympic Games. Her most cherished role was that of “chief assistant” to her son, Paralympian Jonathan Wentz (1990 – 2012). She continues to serve in his memory to continue his goals of advancing US Para Dressage on the world stage.
Barbie Roth
Click to read about Barbie
Barbie Roth is a home-schooling mom and riding instructor in the Central Valley of California. Barbie Roth lives in Sanger, CA, on their cherry farm and equestrian boarding facility with her husband, Drew, and two youngest kids, Andie Sue and Kaysie Li. We have 3 horses, 2 dogs, 3 cats, a goat, and a bearded dragon. Horses have always been in her life starting as a 5-year-old child and graduating as a young adult from USPC with the B Traditional Eventing Certification. For many years, she has piloted Pony Club locally and on the Middle California Regional Board. She lives on a cherry farm with her family and runs a small but active English riding program where she loves to shape young riders into conscientious horse people. Her daughter, Andie Sue Roth, an amputee, aspires to the highest level of the dressage disciplines which has opened up a whole new world for Barbie as she dives into other aspects of what the equestrian world has to offer. She noted, “I was honored to be asked to be part of the USPEA board. As a long-time equestrian myself though relatively new to para-dressage, and parent of a para-equestrian competitor, Andie Sue Roth, I believe that I will have some insight and input on the path and process of USPEA as the membership grows and the sport gains recognition.
Hope Hand - Founder
Click to read about Hope
Hand was the first alternate to the Atlanta Paralympic Team in 1996 and competed at the British Invitational in 1997, earning gold, silver, and bronze. In 1998, she was one of four disabled riders where each para-dressage rider competed on 4 separate teams with their able-bodied peers at the USEF Festival of Champions. Hope’s freestyle score broke the tie, earning her team the Bradshaw Challenge Cup. The following year, as a member of Team USA competing at the 1999 World Dressage Championships, she won a bronze medal. Hope also competed at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia finishing 5th in the overall standings.
In addition to Hope’s equestrian pursuits, she was the recipient of numerous awards for her leadership roles in promoting sport for athletes with disabilities. She was chosen by her community to receive the “Home Town Hero” award for her work in developing programs and opportunities for young equestrians in her home state of Pennsylvania. She is President of the “Reins of Life” therapeutic riding program located in Southern Chester County, PA, and President of the recognized national affiliate of the USEF, the United States Para-Equestrian Association.
Hope represents the United States Equestrian Federation as one of its Board of Directors. She is Chair of the USEF High-Performance Committee and has been a long-time supporter of the United States Pony Club.
Hope has been married for over 30 years and lives behind Radnor Hunt on their farm in Chester County, PA with her husband Stan, daughter Amy and son-in-law, Eric.
USPEA will be establishing a Hope Hand Memorial Scholarship fund in memory of our beloved Hope Hand to be used toward direct athlete grants for competition and education. Donations may be made to USPEA and earmarked for the Hope Hand Memorial Fund. Donations made be sent to: USPEA c/o Ellie Brimmer, USEPA Secretary, 12359 Westhall Pl, Wellington, FL 33414.