Press release provided by USEF

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Roxanne Trunnell (Rowlett, Texas) has been added to the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian squad for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 7-18. Trunnell will be entered as an individual in the Grade Ia division with Royal Dancer, Julia Handt’s 2005 Westphalian gelding. As a result of a Danish athlete withdrawing from the Paralympics, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) allocated the U.S. an individual slot as a result of having the next highest ranked athlete on the FEI Paralympic Ranking List.

Trunnell joins the following combinations that will compete in the team competition in addition to competing as individuals:

Sydney Collier (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Grade Ib, and Wesley Dunham’s Western Rose, a 2003 Oldenburg mare

Rebecca Hart (Wellington, Fla.), Grade II, and her own Schroeters Romani, a 2002 Danish Warmblood mare

Margaret McIntosh (Reading, Pa.), Grade Ia, and her own Rio Rio, a 2006 Rheinland Pfalz-Saar mare

Angela Peavy (Avon, Conn. and Wellington, Fla.), Grade III, and Heather Blitz and Rebecca Reno’s Lancelot Warrior, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding

The 2016 U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team members earned their Paralympic Games berths following the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships presented by Deloitte and Selection Event for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in June. Further information regarding the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team selection process can be found on USEF.org. All nominations to the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members. Without the support of these organizations and individuals, it would not be possible to support U.S. athletes. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.

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.