Category Archives: Para-Equestrian

Record Interest in Hosting FEI World Equestrian Games 2018

Lausanne (SUI), 16 November 2011 – A record seven National Federations have sent in formal Expressions of Interest to host the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018.

Signed Expression of Interest documents have been received from the National Federations of Australia, Canada, Hungary, Morocco, Russia, Sweden, and the USA. The deadline for receipt of signed documentation was midnight CET last night, 15 November 2011.

“Having a record seven Expressions of Interest in hosting the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018 is the best possible endorsement of the FEI’s flagship event,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar de Vos said. “It also shows the value of the review that the FEI has commissioned of the bidding process for the FEI World Equestrian Games and FEI European Championships, which is aimed at raising the profile of these events and their associated revenues by creating a competitive, well-structured and transparent bid process.”

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United States Para-Equestrian Team Wins Gold at 2011 CPEDI3* in Mexico City

Jonathan Wentz on NTEC Richter Scale (2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion). Photos © 2011 Lindsay Y McCall

Mexico City, Mexico – November 15, 2011 – Sitting aboard a horse with unbelievable mountain views from all angles in a brand new facility was what eighteen para-equestrians experienced at the most recent CPEDI3* event. The red carpet was rolled out for United States Para-Equestrian Team at the 2011 CPEDI3* in Mexico City, Mexico at Rancho San Juan.  Eighteen Para-Equestrians competed under five stringent judges for their respective country November 10-12, 2011.  The five countries represented were Mexico, United States, Venezuela, Norway, and Argentina. The United States Team included Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt, Para-Equestrian Donna Ponessa (Grade Ia), Jonathan Wentz (Grade Ib), and Dale Dedrick (Grade III) who gave flawless interpretations of their tests to take home the Team Gold for the United States.

This competition was unique because they did not ride their own mounts, each of the para-equestrians rode a horse that was graciously donated by The Mexico Para-Equestrian Team.  The United States Para-Equestrian Team rode horses donated by The Baitenmanns (Erica Baitenmann is a Mexico Para-Equestrian rider).  Besides earning the Team Gold the United States Para-Equestrians excelled individually as well.  Donna Ponessa of New Windsor, NY captured gold medals in Grade Ia Freestyle, Individual, and Team competition while riding Gecko, USEF 2011 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion Jonathan Wentz from Tyler, TX also earned three gold medals in each Grade Ib test aboard Ariello, Grade II rider, Dale Dedrick from Ann Arbor, MI earned the Silver Medal on Bruno in Mexico City rounding out a spectacular weekend for the United States.

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United States Para-Equestrian Team Talks 2012 on Dover’s World November 15, 2011

Donna Ponessa on Otto. Photos © 2011 Lindsay Y McCall

Wellington, FL – November 15, 2011 – Premiering Tuesday, November 15, 2011, on Dover’s World will be the United States Para-Equestrian Team. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. two hours will be devoted to discussing the eighth international equestrian discipline, Para-Dressage. Anyone interested in calling in to the broadcast may call 561-844-6167 or 800-889-0267.

Three important Para-Equestrian organizers and one Para-Dressage rider will be on hand to answer questions and to discuss the sport of Para-Dressage.  Those four include USEF Director of Para-Equestrian Pam Lane, Chef d’Equipe of the 2010 Para-Dressage Team Missy Ransehousen, the President of the United States Para-Equestrian Association, Hope Hand, and Donna Ponessa who is a Grade Ia Para-Dressage equestrian.  Donna has had an exciting year with top results in California, New York, and recently she earned Gold in all three tests in Mexico City at the CPEDI3*.  Donna was also part of the United States Team alongside Jonathan Wentz and Dale Dedrick who recently won a Team Gold in Mexico City on November 12.

Listeners may call in around 7:20 p.m. to speak with Rober Dover, Pam, Missy, Hope, or Donna about the future of Para-Dressage.

Continue reading United States Para-Equestrian Team Talks 2012 on Dover’s World November 15, 2011

Appointments to FEI Technical Committees, Allocation of 2012, 2013, and 2014 Championships

Rio de Janeiro (BRA), 11 November 2011 – The FEI Bureau confirmed the following appointments to the FEI Technical Committees at its meeting held in Rio de Janeiro today (11 November):

Members of FEI Veterinary Committee

Dr Phillipe Benoit (FRA), Dr Sergio Salinas (MEX) and Dr Stephen Schumacher (USA) appointed. The terms of office for the three new Veterinary Committee members will be determined by draw to prevent a number of outgoing members at the same time. The terms will be communicated to the General Assembly on 14 November.

Gerit Mathesen (GER), Hallvard Sommerseth (NOR) and Kent Allen (USA) outgoing

Member of FEI Jumping Committee

Mr Marco Fusté (ESP) appointed (2011-2015)

John Madden (USA) outgoing as Member of the Jumping Committee

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FEI General Assembly Opens in Rio de Janeiro (BRA)

Rio de Janeiro (BRA), 11 November 2011 – The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) General Assembly opened in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) today with a meeting of the FEI Bureau, the first in four days of meetings culminating in the General Assembly on Monday 14 November.

At its meeting today, the Bureau unanimously agreed to a proposal from the Dressage Committee to withdraw the proposed addition to Article 430.7.6: evidence of blood in the arena, in order to allow the Veterinary Committee to study the issue from a horse welfare perspective.

The Veterinary Committee has been asked to propose a general rule, in consultation with the various disciplines, that is valid and applicable for all FEI disciplines. This will be discussed at the FEI Sports Forum in April 2012 as part of the Veterinary Regulations revision, for adoption by the General Assembly in 2012 and implementation on 1 January 2013.

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2011 America’s Favorite Equestrians – and the Winners Are…

WESTPORT, CT – November 5, 2011 – Jenny Belknap Kees, Chairman of the Board of The EQUUS Foundation and John Long, President of the United States Equestrian Federation, announced “America’s Favorite Equestrians” for 2011representing the disciplines of Driving, Dressage, Endurance, Eventing, Jumping, Para-Dressage, Reining and Vaulting at their Victory Celebration on Friday, November 4, 2011, at the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky.

The program was established by the two organizations to recognize the heroes in our equestrian sport and to build grass roots support within the equestrian community for the many worthy causes supported by The EQUUS Foundation on behalf of horse welfare and the people who benefit from the horse’s unique ability to empower, teach and heal.

“One of the best actions we have taken in recent years is to partner with The EQUUS Foundation,” said John Long. “We look forward to continuing to build our relationship in the future.”

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International Dressage Trainer Sabine Rijssenbeek

Sabine Rijssenbeek coach of Para-Equestrian Eleanor Brimmer at the 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian National Championships in Saugerties, NY. Photo © 2011 Lindsay Y McCall

Tucson, AZ – November 3, 2011 – Warm winters, kind equestrians and the west coast competitions and clinics are what first attracted trainer Sabine Rijssenbeek to Tucson, Arizona.  In 2006 Sabine landed in Phoenix, Arizona to give a clinic at a Dutch breeding facility.  Her impressive background as a rider, manager, and trainer in Holland attracted many competitive equestrians to her clinic. Three months later Sabine was asked back for her second clinic where she met a rider looking for a horse from The Netherlands. It would not be long before Sabine landed in the United States with a horse in hand from the Netherlands and a suitcase to stay for three months in Tucson, Arizona. Sabine became popular for her training skills not only in Arizona but all over the United States including California, Texas, and Minnesota.  Since graduating with a Master’s degree from Deurne University in the Netherlands in 1975, Sabine has worked hard managing and training over 400 horses in Great Britain, Holland, and the United States. Her unique skills in both dressage and show jumping have created exciting professional paths for her including teaching a Para-Equestrian Dressage competitor in FEI events.

“What started as three weeks to help train this horse I brought to Arizona from The Netherlands, turned into a three month stay.  I loved Arizona, I was captivated by the equestrians, and I could not resist the horses; Of course I wanted to stay,” noted Sabine.

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America’s Favorite Equestrians to Be Announced at Alltech National Horse Show. Voting Closes on October 31st!

WESTPORT, CT – October 29, 2011 – America’s Favorite Equestrian will be selected based on the athletes with the highest number of votes on October 31, 2011 in each of the eight disciplines of Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Eventing, Jumping, Para-Dressage, Reining and Vaulting. The announcement will be made at a Victory Party hosted by the EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation on Friday, November 4, 2011, at 9:30 p.m. during the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky.

This is it! Keep Voting! All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation to insure that your favorite is America’s favorite. Click here to see the equestrian entries and to vote.

For information on The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., visit the EQUUS website at www.equusfoundation.org or contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at (203) 259-1550 or equus@equusfoundation.org.

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Who Will Be Inducted into the America’s Favorite Equestrian Hall of Fame? Voting Closes on October 31st!

WESTPORT, CT – October 21, 2011 – Who Will Be Inducted into the America’s Favorite Equestrian Hall of Fame? Voting ends on October 31, 2011. America’s Favorite Equestrians will be selected based on the athletes with the highest number of votes recorded in each of the eight disciplines.

The announcement will be made at the America’s Favorite Equestrian Victory Celebration on Friday, November 4, 2011, at 9:30 p.m., at the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky.

This is it! Keep Voting! All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation to insure that your favorite is America’s favorite. Click here to see the equestrian entries and to vote.

For information on The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., visit the EQUUS website at www.equusfoundation.org or contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at (203) 259-1550 or equus@equusfoundation.org.

Continue reading Who Will Be Inducted into the America’s Favorite Equestrian Hall of Fame? Voting Closes on October 31st!

Para-Equestrian Training Session to Host Eight Riders

Lexington, KY – Eight riders have been selected by Para-Equestrian High Performance Committee from an impressive group of applicants to participate in the upcoming Para-Equestrian Training Session to be held at USET Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ. This training session will take place November 5-6, 2011 and will be conducted by Robert Dover and Para-Equestrian Team Coach Missy Ransehousen.

The following riders have been selected to participate in the Para-Equestrian Training Session:

Erin Alberda (Woodinville, WA), Grade III
Charlotte Bathalon (South Burlington, VT), Grade II
Rebecca Hart (Unionville, PA), Grade II
Mary Jordan (Wells, ME), Grade IV
Margaret McIntosh (Reading, PA), Grade II
Elizabeth Pigott (Downington, PA), Grade II
Donna Ponessa (New Windsor, NY), Grade 1a
Freddie Win (Woodbridge, NJ), Grade IV

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