By: Eleanor R. Brimmer

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – September 13, 2016 –
On the third day of Para Dressage competition at the 2016 Paralympic Equestrian Games,  the United States finally got to see their anchor rider, Rebecca Hart of Wellington, FL head down centerline to ride the Grade II Team Test. Hart did not disappoint and rode Margaret Duprey and Cherry Knoll Farm’s Schroeter’s Romani to USA’s highest placing of 5th and highest percentage of 69.914%. Winning the class Tuesday, September 13, was Great Britain’s Natasha Baker riding Cabral to a score of 71.882%. Following in a close second was the Netherland’s Demi Vermeulen riding Burberry for a score of 71.824%.

In the afternoon session on Tuesday, the Grade III division competed for medals riding the Individual Championship Test. United States Team member Angela “Annie” Peavy from Avon, CT rode Becky Reno and Heather Blitz’s Lancelot Warrior to an 8th place finish on a score of 68.585%. Annie stated, “I have to first mention my horse Lance, he never fails to help me.  I entered the arena today with confidence. I am pleased with our relationship and want to thank my support group which is big, my parents, Heather Blitz, Alex Philpin, my fellow teammates and our team chef, Kai Handt. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful support the entire team received from the United States Equestrian Federation it is an honor to ride for the United States.”

Winning the Individual Gold was Norway’s Ann Cathrin Lubbe riding Donatello with a score of 72.878%. Earning Individual Silver was Denmark’s Susanne Sunesen riding Que Faire to a score of 72.171% Rounding out the medal podium was Louise Etzner Jakobsson and Zernard winning Bronze with a score of 70.366%.

Wednesday, September 14, continues with the Grade IV’s and 1b’s contesting Individual Medals. USA team rider Sydney Collier is scheduled for her Individual Championship test at 3:10 PM local time. The 2016 Paralympic Equestrian Games continue at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, through September 16.

Full results and live scoring can be found here: http://rio2016.live.fei.org/

Annie Peavy and Lancelot Warrior Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall
2016 Paralympic Equestrian Games Timeline
September 14

10:00 AM Grade IV Ind.

12:20 PM Grade IV Ind. – Victory Ceremony

2:00 PM    Grade Ib Ind. – Sydney Collier (3:10 PM)

5:05 PM    Grade Ib Ind.  – Victory Ceremony

September 15

10:00 AM Grade II Ind. – Rebecca Hart

1:00 PM    Grade II Ind. – Victory Ceremony

2:00 PM    Grade Ia Ind. – Margaret McIntosh, Roxanne Trunnell

4:55 PM    Grade Ia Ind. – Victory Ceremony

September 16

9:00  AM Grade III FS – Annie Peavy

10:10 AM Grade IV FS

11:16 AM Grade III FS – Victory Ceremony

11:31 AM Grade IV FS – Victory Ceremony

1:00 PM    Grade Ib FS – Sydney Collier

2:10 PM    Grade Ia FS – Margaret McIntosh, Roxanne Trunnell

3:10 PM    Grade II FS – Rebecca Hart

4:16 PM    Grade Ia FS – Victory Ceremony

4:31 PM    Grade II FS – Victory Ceremony

4:46 PM    Grade Ib FS – Victory Ceremony

5:01 PM    Team – Victory Ceremony
For more information about the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team please visit United States Equestrian Federation at www.USEF.org, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation at www.USET.org, or Team USA at http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Sports/Equestrian.

For more information about the 2016 Paralympic Equestrian competition please visit https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/equestrian

.

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.

To view an online version of this press release please visit: https://uspea.org/category/recent-uspea-press-news/