Mill Spring, NC- September 19, 2018 –  United States athlete Rebecca Hart and El

	Rebecca Hart earns the Bronze Medal at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) Tryon. Hart, a three-time Paralympian (2008, 2012, 2016) and three-time WEG athlete (2010, 2014, 2018), secured the medal as her first ever medal in the Para-Dressage sport since her beginnings in 1998. Photo by Meghan Benge for the USPEA.

Corona Texel, owned by Rowan O’Riley, took home the Bronze Medal in the Grade III Individual Championships at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) Tryon. Hart, a three-time Paralympian (2008, 2012, 2016) and three-time WEG athlete (2010, 2014, 2018), secured the medal as her first ever medal in the Para-Dressage sport since her beginnings in 1998. Hart was ecstatic, “I have had this horse for just a year and he is incredibly talented and young so I am excited about my future with him. This was my career best at an international World Games.” Hart and her teammates Annie Peavy from Wellington, Fla. (Grade IV), Kate Shoemaker from Peoria, Ariz. (Grade IV), and Roxanne Trunnell from Rowlett, Texas (Grade I) each contested the individual championships with quality results. The FEI Ground Jury includes Kristi Wysocki (USA), Marc Urban (BEL), Marco Orsini (GER), Anne Prain (FRA), Sarah Leitch (GBR), Hanneke Gerritsen (NED), and Suzanne Cunningham (AUS). The 2018 WEG Tryon is held at the Tryon Equestrian Center in Tryon, NC, September 11-23.

Prior to the 2018 WEG Hart retired her mare Schroeter’s Romani, owned by Margaret Duprey and Cherry Knoll Farm, following the 2016 Rio Paralympics, beginning her search for a new partner, along with her friend and supporter Rowan O’Riley. Hart commented, “Rowan O’Riley has as been such a great horse owner/sponsor she is so supportive of not only me but the sport as whole. She really wants to help grow the Para-Equestrian sport in the US.”

Hart earned her medal in the presence of her family, teammates, coaches, and support team. “With the WEG in the United States my family was able to watch me at their first international Games. It was very emotional to not only have my test go so well but to be at our home-base representing the United States of America.”

Rebecca Hart earns the Bronze Medal  on El Corona Texel, owner Rowan O’ Riley, at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) Tryon. Hart, a three-time Paralympian (2008, 2012, 2016) and three-time WEG athlete (2010, 2014, 2018), secured the medal as her first ever medal in the Para-Dressage sport since her beginnings in 1998. Photo by Meghan Benge for the USPEA.

Hart was excited that her partnership with the nine-year-old bay gelding has gone so well over the past year. “Tex is a unicorn,” she stated. “He is incredibly talented and even through the transition period coming from able-bodied to Para-Dressage he was always there for me. He is not experienced in this atmosphere and I was proud of him during my WEG test because I was able to keep him with me from the warm-up through the tunnel and into the ring. He was fantastic.”

Hart scored a 72.235% for Bronze behind Natasha Baker(GBR) and horse Mount St John Diva Dannebrog at 72.471% and in Gold Rixt van der Horst (NED) and Findsley at 73.735%.

Hart’s teammates also had top results including Annie Peavy from Avon, Connecticut. (Grade IV) earned a 6th place with Royal Dark Chocolate, owner Rebecca Reno, scoring a 68.902%. Kate Shoemaker from Peoria, Ariz. (Grade IV) earned a 7th place with Solitaer 40, Owner Kate Craig & Deena Shoemaker, scoring a 68.707%. Roxanne Trunnell from Rowlett, Texas (Grade I) and Dolton, owned by Kate Shoemaker, earned a 5th place scoring a 72.143%.

Annie Peavy from Wellington, Fla. (Grade IV) earned a 6th place with Royal Dark Chocolate, owner Rebecca Reno, scoring a 68.902% in the Individual Championship. Photo by Meghan Benge for the USPEA.

Kate Shoemaker from Peoria, Ariz. (Grade IV) earned a 7th place with Solitaer 40, Owner Kate Craig & Deena Shoemaker, scoring a 68.707% n the Individual Championship n the Individual Championship. Photo by Meghan Benge for the USPEA.

Roxanne Trunnell from Rowlett, Texas (Grade I) and Dolton, owned by Kate Shoemaker, earned a 5th place scoring a 72.143% n the Individual Championship. Photo by Meghan Benge for the USPEA.

The U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team presented by Deloitte with Chef d’ Equipe Kai Handt and  US Equestrian Head of Para-Dressage Coach Development and High Performance Programs Michel Assouline, will continue to compete in the Team Test and Freestyle Test at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.

For more information about the results of the Individual Championship please visit:

Grade I https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-I

Grade II https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-II

GRADE III https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-III

Grade IV https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-IV

Grade V https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-V

For more information about FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, visit
Tryon2018.com.

Stay up to date on the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team presented by Deloitte by following USA Para-Dressage on Facebook and US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use #USAParaDressage and #Tryon2018.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.

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.