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USPEA Acknowledges All Involved Who Made the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon a Success
By: Lindsay Y. McCall
Photos by: Meghan Benge
Mill Spring, NC – October 12, 2018- The U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Teampresented by Deloitte had an unprecedented four-medal win at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG), but it wasn’t without the support from everyone involved. Those include the medal winning riders and U.S. Team Rebecca Hart, Annie Peavy, Kate Shoemaker, and Roxanne Trunnell. Of course that includes their mounts and horse owners El Corona Texel, owned by Rowan O’Riley, Royal Dark Chocolate, owned by Rebecca Reno, Solitaer 40, Owned by Kate, Craig & Deena Shoemaker, and Dolton, owned by Kate Shoemaker. This list also
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Rebecca Hart. three-time Paralympian (2008, 2012, 2016) and three-time WEG athlete (2010, 2014, 2018), rode El Corona Texel, owned by Rowan O’Riley, to a bronze medal in the individual test and silver medal in the Grade III freestyle. Photo by Meghan Benge
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combines Chef d’ Equipe Kai Handt and US Equestrian Head of Para-Dressage Coach Development and High Performance Programs Michel Assouline’s expertise. Behind the scenes there were many supporters both groups and individuals that lent their assistance and expertise. The USPEA would like to acknowledge USEF International High Performance Programs including US Equestrian Staff Laureen Johnson, Will Connell, US Equestrian’s Director of Sports Programs, and President Murray Kessler. We would also like to thank the USET Foundation, USOC, Thomas Bauer, Monica Fitzgerald, the FEI WEG staff, and Mark Bellissimo with Tryon Equestrian Partners. There are so many to recognize that worked tirelessly to make this WEG amazing. USPEA would like to thank Deloitte, Adequan® and Allyn Mann, director of strategic partnerships for Luitpold Animal Health, Mission Control, Longines, Karin Flint, Stonegate Farms, Jennifer Brinkley, Jules Nyssen, Tina Wentz, Kate Ballard, Stanbridge Saddlers and Flying Changes, for the athlete’s coats, Jane Savoie, Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt for keeping the high performance horses fit, Janet Smaldone for keeping the athletes in their best shape, the sponsors, the support staff, and the many volunteers that helped the U.S. riders before, during, and after these Games. The United States and Tryon Equestrian Partners had less than two years to create a world-class event without any imperfection. Even with a hurricane sweeping through the area, the WEG adjusted and marched on. For the U.S. Para-Equestrian discipline these Games were a defining moment in history.
USPEA President Hope Hand explained, “The Para-Equestrian Dressage Discipline first debuted in 1996 using borrowed horses. Our riders were known as some of the best catch riders in the World and being that the Games were held in Atlanta, we had home-court advantage. The U.S. Para Dressage Team won Individual Gold, Freestyle Gold and Bronze. The US Para Dressage Team did not medal again until the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, where they earned a Silver Medal in the Freestyle event. The 2004 Paralympics were the first time Para Dressage competed on their own horses. We were lucky to have one horse that proved to be of competitive quality that year, but it was clear to us that we needed to do more work on developing our horse/rider combinations, if we wanted to stay competitive in the future.”
Hand continued, “Para Dressage, “Para”, meaning “Parallel” to able-bodied, meant that we needed quality horses to meet the various FEI Para Dressage grades to stay as competitive as our able-bodied U.S. Dressage Team. Para Dressage in the USA is still considered a sport in its infancy. The real beginning for us came in 2006 when the USEF included Para Equestrian as the 8th Discipline under its governance. It was still a very slow process in building our pipeline to field a Team and it wasn’t until 2010 World Equestrian Games that Para Dressage was included at the same event with able-bodied competitors. This “Landmark” decision made by the FEI to include Para Dressage at the WEG was a historic event that gave the sport credibility and opportunity. In the last 5 years, the Para Dressage Discipline has been steadily catching up with our European rivals. Quality competitions, training and coaching with our Chef, high level clinicians, the opening of several Centers of Excellences (COE’s), the sponsors, and the recent hiring of the Coach Development and High Performance Consultant have contributed greatly to our 2018 WEG success. We are so proud of all the U.S. has accomplished and look forward to adding to our medal list in the coming years.”
The. U.S. Para-Dressage rider will head to Wellington, Florida, for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CPEDI3* January 17-20, 2019 and March 7-10, 2019.
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United States Para-Equestrian Association Mission Statement
To Help Develop, Promote, Support, and Sustain all USA Para Equestrian Athletes for Regional, National, and International Competition with a focus on Paralympic Equestrian Sport.
United States Para-Equestrian Association Vision Statement
The vision of the United States Para Equestrian Association (USPEA) is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America for athletes with an eligible physical impairment, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots to the Paralympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national Para Equestrian Association in the world.
About USPEA
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.
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.
The USPEA is a USEF Recognized National Affiliate. The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members. For more information please visit US Equestrian at https://www.usef.org/compete/disciplines/para-equestrian.
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Photos and Articles Copyright(c) 2018 United States Para-Equestrian Association. All Rights Reserved.
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