Mill Spring, NC – September 29, 2017- The 2017 US Equestrian Para-Equestrian

	USA Team (left to right) Michele Bandinu_ Annie Peavy, Chef d_Equipe Kai Handt, Katie Jackson, sitting Roxanne Trunnell. Photo courtesy of Hope Hand

Dressage National Championships and CPEDI3*, CPEDI1*, were one of the most successful Para-Dressage championships to date.  Held at the beautiful 1,400 acre Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, this international Para-Dressage show was a world-class event. This was also a fantastic opportunity for riders to test drive the facilities that will host the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Equestrians from the USA and Canada filled the FEI stables with their top mounts riding over the September 14-17, weekend. FEI Ground Jury included Elke Ebert (GER), Carlos Lopes (POR), Christel Carlson (USA), Kristi Wysocki (USA), and Adrienne Pots (USA). The National Show and CPEDI3*/CPEDI1** was presented by Adequan® while the US Equestrian Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships were sponsored by Deloitte. The United States Para-Equestrian Association would like to thank everyone involved with this outstanding event. That includes Mark & Katherine Bellissimo, Sharon Decker (COO) and the staff of the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). This was the first Para-Dressage event held at the TIEC. USPEA would also like to thank US Equestrian for their hard work to create a memorable Para-Dressage show and providing a Live Feed ofthe international show.

	U.S. Equestrian 2017 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion Annie Peavy and Royal Dark Chocolate. Photo by Lindsay Y. McCall

USPEA President Hope Hand acknowledged, “This was the largest CPEDI/National Championship we have ever had. We are so thankful to how US Equestrian has stepped up for our discipline providing superb staff, media, and marketing for us. We also want to thank the riders, coaches, grooms, ground jury, volunteers, and spectators that made the 2017 championships a top show. We are so proud of how everyone contributed to puttingour sport in the limelight.”

The United States Para-Dressage Team, led by Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt and Head of Para-Dressage Coach Development and High Performance Programs, Michele Assouline, garnered the win over Canada and the U.S. athletes continued to earn the blue in each grade. Both Michel Assouline and Kai Handt worked together in all aspects of theCPEDI3*.

Finally a special congratulations goes to the U.S. Equestrian 2017 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion Annie Peavy and Royal Dark Chocolate. The duo dominated the competition earning the tricolor ribbon and accolades. In Reserve Champion was Margaret McIntosh and her new mount Heros. Equestrians will next prepare for the winter season with shows in Wellington, Florida.

U.S. Equestrian 2017 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion Annie Peavy and Royal Dark Chocolate. Photo courtesy of Annie Peavy.

Margaret McIntosh U.S. Equestrian 2017 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Reserve Champion with her horse Heros. Photo of Margaret McIntosh and FEI Ground Jury Member Kristi Wysocki. Photo courtesy of Margaret McIntosh.

Results from the US Equestrian 2017 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and CPEDI3*, CPEDI1*, Sponsored by Deloitte are as follows:

US Equestrian 2017 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and CPEDI3*, CPEDI1*, Sponsored by Deloitte
September 14-17, 2017
Tryon International Equestrian Center
Tryon, NC

Team Overall
1. USA
2. CANADA

Team Test

Grade I Team Test CPEDI3*

1. Margaret McIntosh (USA), Heros, 70.476
2. Winona Hartvikson (USA), Ultimo, 69.226
3. Roxanne Trunnell (USA), NTEC Daytona Beach, 68.571
4. Jody Schloss (CAN), Lieutenant Login, 67.857
5. Robyn Andrews (CAN), Fancianna, 65.893

Grade II Team Test CPEDI3*
1. Laurietta Oakleaf (USA), Nickel Fan Busenitz, 69.899
2. Sharon Buffitt, (USA) Elektra II, 63.838
3. Jason Surnoski, (CAN) Bella de la Noche, 63.838
4. Deborah Stanitski (USA), Butterfinger Bonanza, 60.157

Grade III Team Test CPEDI3*
1. Rebecca Hart (USA), El Corona Texel 68.039
2. Riley Garrett (USA), Piston, 67.941
3. Meghan Benge, (USA) Zoey, 61.863

Grade IV Team Test CPEDI3*

1. Angela Peavy (USA), Lancelot Warrior, 70.583
2. Angela Peavy (USA), Royal Dark Chocolate, 69.375
3. Michele Bandinu (USA) , Soulman 13, 66.750
4. Kate Shoemaker(USA), Solitaer 40, 66.417
5.Pamela Hardin (USA),, Quaterjack, 65.417
6. Laura Hall,(CAN) Odessa M, 64.833
7. Kebbie Cannon,(USA) Just In Time, 51.0

Grade V Team Test CPEDI3*
1. Katie Jackson (USA),, Royal Dancer, 67.093
2.Mary Jordan (USA),, Rubicon 75, 66.318

Individual Championship Test

Grade I Individual Championship Test CPEDI3*
1. Roxanne Trunnell (USA), NTEC Daytona Beach, 70.655
2. Margaret McIntosh (USA), Heros, 70.476
3. Winona Hartvikson (USA), Ultimo, 69.286
4. Jody Schloss (CAN), Lieutenant Login, 68.750
5. Robyn Andrews (CAN), Fancianna, 64.583

Grade II Individual Championship  Test CPEDI3*
1. Laurietta Oakleaf (USA), Nickel Fan Busenitz, 68.529
2. Sharon Buffitt, (USA) Elektra II, 66.225
3. Jason Surnoski, (CAN). Bella de la Noche, 64.755
4. Deborah Stanitski (USA), Butterfinger Bonanza, 61.392

Grade III Individual Championship Test CPEDI3*
1. Rebecca Hart (USA), El Corona Texel 68.275
2. Riley Garrett (USA), Piston, 66.716
3. Meghan Benge (USA), Zoey, 62.108

Grade IV Individual Championship Test CPEDI3*
1. Angela Peavy (USA), Royal Dark Chocolate, 70.122
2. Kate Shoemaker(USA), Solitaer 40, 69.350
3. Angela Peavy (USA), Lancelot Warrior, 67.480
4.Pamela Hardin (USA), Quaterjack, 65.191
5. Laura Hall, (CAN) Odessa M, 64.350
6. Michele Bandinu (USA) , Soulman 13, 64.106
7. Kebbie Cannon, (USA), Just In Time, 54.390

Grade V Individual Championship Test CPEDI3*
1. Katie Jackson (USA), Royal Dancer, 66.746
2.Mary Jordan (USA), Rubicon 75, 65.714

Freestyle Test

Grade I Freestyle Test CPEDI3*
1. Margaret McIntosh (USA), Heros, 72.889
2.. Jody Schloss (CAN), Lieutenant Lobin, 71.278
3. Winona Hartvikson (CAN), Ultimo, 70.778
4. Roxanne Trunnell (USA), NTEC Daytona Beach, 69.556
5. Robyn Andrews (CAN), Fancianna, 68.167

Grade II Freestyle Test CPEDI3*
1. Laurietta Oakleaf (USA),, Nickel Fan Busenitz, 71.389
2. Sharon Buffitt (USA), Elektra II, 67.556
3. Jason Surnoski, (CAN) Bella de la Noche, 61.500
4. Deborah Stanitski (USA),, Butterfinger Bonanza, 59.222

Grade III Freestyle Test CPEDI3*
1. Riley Garrett (USA), Piston, 69.778
2. Meghan Benge (USA), Zoey, 65.667
1. Rebecca Hart (USA), El Corona Texel ELIM

Grade IV Freestyle Test CPEDI3*
1. Angela Peavy (USA), Royal Dark Chocolate, 76.458
2.Pamela Hardin (USA), Quaterjack, 72.708
3. Michele Bandinu (USA) , Soulman 13, 67.042
4. Laura Hall, (CAN) Odessa M, 66.542
5. Kate Shoemaker(USA), Solitaer 40, 64.667

Grade V Freestyle Team Test CPEDI3*
1.Mary Jordan (USA), Rubicon 75, 70.458
2. Katie Jackson (USA), Royal Dancer, 70.167

CPEDI1*
Para Novice Test A Grade V CPEDI1*
1. Robert Bezzeg, Bedroom Pal, 60.156

Para Team Test Grade V CPEDI1*
1. Robert Bezzeg, Bedroom Pal, 60.934

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.