Rebecca Hart expressed, “It was such a great evening at the USDF convention.  I really enjoyed getting to reconnect and reminisce with my Rio teammates. The gala was a fun way to get together and thank all the wonderful people, horses, sponsors, grooms, and supporters who helped make Rio possible.  Without everyone’s help Rio would have never been possible.  It was a great to be able to share our experiences and passion for high-level sport with our fellow equestrians in a fun atmosphere.”

C. Mike Tomlinson DVM MBA, FEI veterinarian and USPEA board member, added “This was a fabulous night for Para being included for the first time as an equal. The USDF could not have been better to us. It was everything we could have asked for. Becca’s speech was articulate, concise, and moving. It was a game changing night for Para’s relationship with Dressage.”

Grade III rider Lara Oles earned the Reserve Champion with her mount Bella under Paralympian Annie Peavy who was Champion with Lancelot Warrior. For Oles this award was more than just honoring the year. She explained, ” “I am very grateful to the USDF for creating the Para Dressage Rider of the Year Awards.  These awards help put our sport on par with the other Dressage divisions.  However, to me the best part of the awards is that it allows Para-Dressage riders like me, who cannot afford to participate in all the CPEDI3* events, to use scores earned at more local USDF shows to compete for a National Award.”

She continued, “On a personal note, this award means so much to me because my beautiful mare, Bella, died on October 20, and I will never have the chance to compete with her again.  Attending the banquet was bittersweet for me, but I felt I had to go in remembrance of Bella.”

(Left to Right )Rebecca Hart, Annie Peavy, Lara Oles, and Margaret McIntosh, Photo by C. Mike Tomlinson DVM MBA

2016 Adequan®/USDF Para-Dressage Rider of the Year Grade Ia

(Horse, Median Score, Rider)
1    Royal Dancer, 71.377, Roxanne Trunnell (USA)
2    Rio Rio, 70.261, Margaret McIntosh (USA)

2016 Adequan®/USDF Para-Dressage Rider of the Year Grade Ib

1    Western Rose, 73.0, Sydney Collier (USA)

2016 Adequan®/USDF Para-Dressage Rider of the Year Grade II

1    Wolkentanz Onyx, 73.99, Lauren Barwick (CAN)
2    Schroeter’s Romani, 73.143, Rebecca Hart (USA)
3    Donauwalzer CSF, 68.382, Kelly Boccia (USA)
4    Firewalker, 68.0, Charlotte Merle-Smith (USA)

2016 Adequan®/USDF Para-Dressage Rider of the Year Grade III

1    Lancelot Warrior, 71.360, Angela Peavy
2    Bella, 70.732, Lara Oles
3    Solitaer 40, 69.385, Kate Shoemaker
4    QuaterJack, 68.035, Pamela Hardin

2016 Adequan®/USDF Para-Dressage Rider of the Year Grade III

1    NTEC Wembley, 68.071, Katie Jackson
2    NTEC Giovanni, 65.238, Katie Jackson
3    Rubicon 75, 63.611, Mary Jorda

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.