Wellington, FL – January 21, 2016 –  Para-Dressage riders from around the country headed to Wellington, Florida, for the 2016 Para-Equestrian Dressage Tour. The first part of the tour was the $10,000 CPEDI3* held January 8-10, 2016 in the Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. This was the first time a CPEDI3* event was held outdoors in The Stadium, which is the main ring at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Equestrians were grateful for the opportunity to show in this prestigious ring that mimics the feel of other world class venues they compete in around the world. The athletes were also thankful to the sponsors The Reno Family of Mission Control, Rowan O’Riley representing Mane Stream,  Adequan®, and Nutrena. The sponsors, the FEI ground jury including President Kristi Wysocki (USA), Carlos Lopes (POR), and Marco Orsini (GER), the venue, the show management, the volunteers, and all of the show staff including show manager Monica Fitzgerald and the show secretary John Hoppman who added to a superb event as a Paralympic qualifier. Equestrians will continue to show at the second half of the 2016 Para-Equestrian Dressage Tour at the Week Two Adequan® Global Dressage Festival $10,000 CPEDI3* January 21-24 held in the Van Kampen Arena.

Before heading into the last week at the beautiful AGDF. U.S. Para-Dressage riders wanted to express their gratitude to everyone that has made these shows possible for them.

Rebecca Hart and Schroter’s Romani at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Grade II Paralympian and High Point Rider Rebecca Hart said, ” I would like to thank my  trainer Todd Flettrich, and my sponsor Margaret Duprey of Cherry Knoll Farm, my groom Fernando Ortega, Barbara Summer, and Bill and Sandy Kimmel. Without them I wouldn’t have gone to Europe this year or competed here in Florida.”

Margaret McIntosh and Rio Rio at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Grade Ib Reserve High Point Rider Margaret McIntosh noted, ”
I would like to thank the FEI stewards, Chris Porterfield, Sally Davenport, Denise Pool and Patty Sweeney. Denise and Patty attended CPEDI’s for years at their own personal expense before becoming certified. They are the most enthusiastic supporters ever and Chris and Sally are lovely. Also thank you to my trainers Missy Ransehousen and Jessica Ransehousen.

Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40 at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Grade III rider Kate Shoemaker expressed, “The popular saying, “It takes a village,” is an understatement when it comes to preparing a horse for international competition. It all begins with a dream years in the past. Instructors are watching and scrutinizing hour after hour to help a rider develop balance and feel on a horse. Meanwhile, a person is carefully selecting a stallion for their special mare and a whole team comes together to bring a one of a kind foal into the world. Years are spent developing horses and rider until their paths merge and new partnership is formed. I wish to thank the often unnamed, but never forgotten people whose years of dedication and hard work were an integral part of having the opportunity to compete on an international level. A particularly special thank you to my first instructors, Ernst and Janet Herrmann, who helped shape me into the person I am today, both on and off the horse. My horses’ teams including breeder Patty Broer, previous riders Sebastian Albers and Bart Veeze. Those that brought us together Rosanna Williams, Saskia Meijer, Nina Huber and Amy Dennison. A large thank for the dedicated care from our vet and farrier team, Idaho Equine Hospital, Brian Nelson, and Jeremiah Harris. Nadine Schwartsman for fantastic training and instruction even in the face of long distances and logistical challenges

Shoemaker continued, “A special thank you to the hard working show staff at Adequan Global Dressage Festival and those that took on the huge task of putting on a CPEDI for the massive benefit of the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican horse and riders. Thank you show sponsors, Mane Stream, a non-profit equine assisted therapy and adaptive riding facility in Oldwick, NJ and Mission Control, an award-winning, full service creative media and integrations agency. Also, Adequan for supporting my horses joints and supporting the Global Dressage Festival.”

Shoemaker concluded,”I would also like to thank Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine for allowing me the unique, and once in a lifetime opportunity to chase the dream of riding in Rio this summer. Without their support and commitment to top class education, I could not be competing in these qualifying events.”

Roxanne Trunnell and NTEC Royal Dancer at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Equestrian Dressage Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt for his help in coaching me at at North Texas Equestrian Center (NTEC) and making sure I had an adequate horse to ride during these competitions. Thank you to the owners of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival show grounds for letting the Para Equestrians have their CPEDI 3* Paralympic Qualifier be held at this stellar venue. Thank you to Mane Stream and Mission Control for sponsoring this wonderful event and to the show manager Monica Fitzgerald and the show secretary John Hoppman for working such tiresome hours too making this show a success It was exceptionally well run. Thank you to The United States Para Equestrian Association (USPEA) & United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) for organizing this show and bringing all of us Para-Equestrians (Canada and USA) together to enjoy each others company and competition. Thank you to the Chief Steward and the FEI Stewards for keeping up on the current FEI rules so that no riders and their horses were not in violation of them. Also the stewards who supervised the warm-up area and checked the rider’s equipment when they came out of the show ring. Thank you to the awesome CPEDI judges (Carlos Lopes, Kristi Wysocki, and Marco Orsini) for their helpful and insightful comments on my rides. Last but not least I would like to thank my awesome teammates Annie Peavy, Rebecca Hart, and Kate Shoemaker for their stellar rides over the weekend as well as all the other wonderful para-dressage riders from Canada and the USA. Finally, I would also like to thank my sponsor Toklat Originals for supplying me with the Irideon Riding Wear CoolDown IceFill Long Sleeve Jersey, Irideon Riding Wear Hampshire Breech, and the T3 Classic III saddle pads. Royal and I were prancing into the show ring in style thanks to this wonderful company.”

Annie Peavy and Lancelot Warrior at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Annie Peavy’s family of Mission Control were one of the sponsors of the $10,000 CPEDI3*. Peavy, a grade III World Equestrian Games rider noted, “Thank you to my trainer Heather Blitz, my parents who believe in all of us para-dressage athletes, and my groom Alexia. I also want to thank the Global Dressage Festival show grounds for hosting us over two weekends.”

Sydney Collier and Western Rose at the end of their test at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

World Equestrian Games athlete and Young Rider Sydney Collier applauded, ” I want to  thank USEF, USPEA, Global Dressage show management and judges, Mission Control and Mane Stream, Karen Ramsing-Bixler and KCR Dressage, Wes Dunham, Amy Mcllwham, Ontyte, Dressage Sport Boots, Success Equestrian, Choice of Champions, Equiotics, flexStick, Theraplate, Responds System, Nupafeed and Nupafeed Dog, Sporthorse Saddlery, De La Coeur, Kastel Denmark, Millbrook Physical Therapy.  My entire family and friends  for their endless support as well all the horses I am privileged to ride – I couldn’t do it without all of them on my team.”

Pam Hardin and Quaterjack at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Grade III rider Pam Hardin expressed, “I want to add my Thanks to both Kai Handt and  Carlos Lopes, USPEA, USEF, our fabulous CPEDI sponsors Becky Reno and Rowan o’Riley, my sponsors, my coach, Melanie Mitchell, all of our para-dressage supporters, and my fellow competitors. Feeling like a team can be a challenge with a small group but I feel that we are becoming closer, stronger, and better each time we compete together.”

Ellie Brimmer and London Swing at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Ellie Brimmer, also a Grade III international rider acknowledged, “I would like to thank the  Global Show Management team, Becky Reno and Rowan O’ Riley, our chef Kai Handt, and Hope Hand president of USPEA for being so supportive of all our riders. Personally I would like to thank my Mom, my coach Shelly Francis, my groom Angela Howell, and our whole crew at Roundabout Farm that have been so supportive of me as I keep picking away at these international tests.”

Kelly Boccia and Donauwalzer CSF at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Grade II Kelly Boccia recognized, “I would like to thank my coach and trainer for these  two CPEDI events, Susanne Hamilton and USEF, Becky Reno of Mission Control, all our sponsors and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival for allowing us to have our show in such a beautiful facility.”

Mary Jordan and Rubicon 75 at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

orld Equestrian Games rider Mary Jordan added, “I wish to thank all the sponsors of the  CPEDI3*s at Global (Mission Control, Rowan O’Riley, Mane Stream,  Adequan®, and Nutrena, and to all the Global management, officials, stewards and volunteers; USEF and our Discipline Director Laureen Johnson and our Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt. Riding in the big arena was fabulous.”

Jordan added, “I wish to sincerely thank my entire family and friends, including (but not limited to) my husband Alan and son Tristan; cousins Jennifer and Anne; Anna Kjellstrom and my friends at Kentucky Equine Research; Scot Arthur at Avalon Tax & Accounting; Kathleen Gilroy; my New York crew MacKenzie and Cody Waro and Anne Leavitt; and Sarah Armentrout and the entire group at Carlisle Academy Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports. Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center and their entire team; my coach George Williams and his family Roberta and Noel Williams and the entire team at Williams Dressage and Blue Marlin; Laura Noyes; Catherine Haddad Staller; my farrier Ben Fitzpatrick; Joseph DeSilva of Natural Fitness; Quest Fitness; Teva Neuroscience; my coworkers and customers at Panera Bread Platinum Cafe in Biddeford; friends and supporters within the MS Community.”.

Debbie Stanitski and Pilikua Koa at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Grade II rider Debbie Stanitski said, “Thank you to owner Michelle Folden for allowing me to borrow Pilikua Koa; USEF for allowing me a waiver to ride him while Biara G rehabs, Monica Fitzgerald and all the Global staff for the organization and for admitting us to the main arena for the first time; Kai Handt and Carlos Lopes for their wisdom and help in the symposium, Nicho Meredith for his announcing skills, my groom Angel Howell for all her help and cheerleading and the sponsors Mission Control and Mane Stream.”

Laurietta Oakleaf and Niekele Fan Busenitz at the $10,000 CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL January 8-10, 2016. Photo (C)Lindsay Y. McCall

Grade Ib rider Laurietta Oakleaf concluded, “Thank you to Laura McGinnis, James  Kimball-Davis – farrier,  Jackie Smith, Kendra and Robbie Kent of Caballo ranch, Horse Tech, Pat Myers, Cheval International,  Joan Fernandez of  Friesian Focus,  One K Helmets,  Equine Express, Miracle Music Freestyles, Equissentials, Kristen Maynard – dentist, Core Arena Pilates, and Animal Hospital of Palm beaches. A special thanks to my team for all their help at the show”

The USPEA is a network of riders, judges, national federation members, and equestrian enthusiasts.  The association gives athletes the ability to get involved and expand their knowledge and experience in the Para-Equestrian sport. The USPEA encourages Para-athletes to participate in all disciplines under the Para-Equestrian umbrella.

The USPEA is a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) which serves as the National Governing Body for the equestrian sport.  This relationship between the USPEA and USEF is to encourage Para-Equestrian competitors, leisure riders, coaches, fans and enthusiasts to network and get involved with the entire equestrian sport.

Ultimately the goal of the USPEA is to foster growth in the Para-Equestrian discipline.  From growth in the number of participants to growth as a team, and growth in the experience and knowledge of all involved.  From local horse shows to international Paralympic Games, the USPEA provides Para-Equestrians the knowledge and resources needed to succeed.  The USPEA connects with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), USA Reining, and USEF which provide Para-Equestrians the top equestrian resources.

In June 2010, the USPEA earned its 501 (c)(3) status which has encouraged supporters to help supply funding to the Para-Equestrian Team as a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation(USEF). 

For more information about the USPEA please visit www.USPEA.org or contact USPEA President: Hope Hand by e-mail: hope@uspea.org or by phone: (610)356-6481.