Para-Dressage Riders Prepare Their Horses at Tryon Fall Dressage CPEDI3* Presented by Adequan® and the USEF Para Equestrian Dressage National Champion Award
Photos and article by Lindsay Y. McCall for the USPEA:
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Kate Shoemaker smiles after the jog
2019 Tryon Fall Dressage CPEDI3* Presented by Adequan® and the USEF Para Equestrian Dressage National Champion Award. Riders will compete over the weekend of September 13-15, for both international and national United States accolades. Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall
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Mill Spring, S.C.- September 12, 2019– Twenty-eight horses arrived at the Tryon International Equestrian Center at Tryon Resort in Mill Spring, N.C. Para-Dressage Equestrians from The United States of America, Canada, Mexico, and South Africa jogged their horses in preparation for the 2019 Tryon Fall Dressage CPEDI3* Presented by Adequan® and the USEF Para Equestrian Dressage National Champion Award. Riders will compete over the weekend of September 13-15, for both international and national United States accolades.
With the help of sponsors like Adequan® these international events would not be possible. Representing Adequan® is Director of Strategic Partnerships, Allyn Mann. “This is an amazing group of people and horses,” stated Mann. “It’s not so much what happens to you in life but what you do with what happens that matters. All of these athletes exemplify that. In all my years of being around the para-dressage teams there has never been so much energy and excitement. This is only the beginning. I am eager for the future with the partnership of the U.S. Para-Dressage program and Tryon Equestrian.”
Mann has enjoyed being involved with the para-dressage sport for over ten years.
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Allyn Mann, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Adequan® Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall |
He noted, “Thinking back to those days I remember listening to the athletes and their dreams. One was Jonathan Wentz. Jonathan was an amazing human being and we had the most enjoyable conversations about his journey and dreams. He thrilled me. Even though he is no longer with us his dream lives on. (International athlete Jon Wentz passed in 2012) I feel that many times you don’t know where your path is going to take you and as you journey on it becomes clear. It’s amazing to be a part of all this and I especially enjoy seeing all these new emerging athletes.”
New national rider Erika Wager of New York is an equestrian that has made her transition into the para-dressage world and will be riding this weekend. Wager rode race horses for a living (including at prominent tracks such as Saratoga and Belmont) but two years ago had an accident resulting in a spinal cord injury. Wager recalled, “I remember sitting in the hospital bed researching how I could start riding again. I found para-dressage, I found a barn to ride at, I got a lift to get on the horse, and I began to try and regain my balance. I am so thankful to my brother who has been my biggest supporter through beginning this process. I am thrilled to be riding at Tryon this weekend and working with my coach Susanne Hamilton (coach of international athlete David Botana) and I look forward to showing my horse Clifton Zander.”
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| Holly Bergay’s horse David Bowie owned by Maryanna Haymon Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall |
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Holly Bergay.
Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall
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| Rebecca Hart’s horse El Corona Texel owned by Rowan O’Riley |
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South African rider Cayla Van Der Walt and Daturo II.
Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall |
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| Deborah Stanitski and Barb Grassmyer watching the jog. Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall |
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| Katie Jackson and Laureen Johnson of USEF watching the jog. Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall |
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| U.S. Para-Dressage watching the jog. Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall |
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| Jody Schloss of Canada giving a thumbs up. Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall |
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| Tina Wentz. Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall |
