Tag Archives: Para-Equestrian

Para-Equestrian, USEF

USEF Announces Appointments of Para-Equestrian Committees

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has seated two new para-equestrian committees. The Para-Equestrian High Performance Committee and Para-Equestrian Eligible Athlete Committee are both pending approval of the USEF Executive Committee.

Para-Equestrian High Performance Committee (Pending approval of the Executive Committee)

Dale Dedrick
Barabara Grassmyer, Elected Eligible Athlete
Hope Hand
Rebecca Hart, Elected Eligible
Mary Jordan, Elected Eligible Athlete
Kim Kelly
Sandy Rafferty
Melissa Ransehousen
Sharon Schneidman
Lynn Siedemann
Hardy Zantke

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Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian

USDF Region 9 Dressage Championships Showcases Region’s Talent

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Claire Darnell and Calimar Photo (c) Susan Stickle

Houston, Texas – November 27, 2012 – The Great American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation Region 9 Dressage Championships brought forward the highest caliber of riders November 1-4, 2012. The Houston Dressage Society proudly hosted the USDF Region 9 equestrians at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas where the weather maintained warmer than average temperatures over the weekend except for a Saturday afternoon thunderstorm that disrupted the outdoor classes. Among the top performing riders were Professional rider Claire Darnell of Georgetown, Texas, junior rider Anna Campbell of Wylie, Texas, and Elizabeth “Bit” Fingerhut of Houston, Texas. In addition to the championship presentations, multiple riders were recognized for their accomplishments in 2011-2012. Para-equestrian Jonathan Wentz, who passed away at the end of September, was also recognized for the highest Region 9 honor. Wentz was recognized for his achievements during the year and his outstanding performance at the 2012 London Paralympics.

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Equine Assisted Therapy, Events, Para-Equestrian, Webinars

Horses Helping People Massachusetts Webinar October 22, 2012 at 7 PM

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Holly Jacobson. Photo by Cheryl Steinhoff

Thousand Oaks, CA – October 21, 2012 – On Monday, October 22, 2012 para-dressage rider and journalist Holly Jacobson will present a webinar through the Horses Helping People Massachusetts Webinar Series about the para-equestrian discipline. Horses Helping People Massachusetts is a not-for-profit website created to support the Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy (EAA&T) Industry in Massachusetts. The site provides answers to questions about the EAA&T industry, continuing education, and an educational webinar series. The webinar series targets an audience of Certified PATH International licensed instructors, volunteers, and community members interested in learning more about EAA&T. It also meets the needs of continuing education requirements for all certified instructors in every EAA&T certification. Holly Jacobson will be presenting a webinar about the highly competitive Para-Equestrian sport. Holly will talk about the recent 2012 Paralympics, the link between EAA&T industry and the Para-Equestrian sport, and how EAA&T centers can work with their students to crossover to Para-Dressage or Para-Driving.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Para-Equestrian

Watch the Full Video of U.S. Paralympian Rebecca Hart on ABC’s Good Morning America with Co-Host Ann Romney

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Lara Spencer, Ann Romney, Rebecca Hart, and horse Lord Ludger. Photo (C) ABC/Ida Mae Astute

New York, NY – October 10, 2012 – On Wednesday October 10th, U.S. Paralympian Rebecca Hart of Unionville, Penn. was showcased on ABC’s Good Morning America. Hart and horse Lord Ludger accompanied Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, in New York’s Times Square. Mrs. Romney and Rebecca Hart spoke about how horses have provided a unique form of therapy for each of them. Mrs. Romney co-hosted the news hour with George Stephanopoulos where she was filling in for Robin Roberts, who is on extended medical leave.

Rebecca Hart and horse Lord Ludger (owned by Jessica Ransehousen) presented a previously recorded segment from October 8th showcasing the Paralympic Dressage duo at Blue Hill Farm. The previously recorded segment featured Rebecca Hart explaining how equine therapy has improved her quality of life and how it has helped her work through Familial Spastic Paraplegia. Mrs. Romney, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998, began riding as a form of therapy and found equine therapy to benefit her life in many ways as well.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Para-Equestrian

Watch U.S. Paralympian Rebecca Hart on Good Morning America October 10th with Co-Host Ann Romney

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Rebecca Hart receiving 2012 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship Award from Ann Romney. (c) Sue Stickle Photography

New York, NY – October 8, 2012 – On Wednesday October 10th, U.S. Paralympian Rebecca Hart of Unionville, Penn. will be showcased on ABC’s Good Morning America. Hart will accompany Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, in New York’s Times Square. Mrs. Romney and Rebecca Hart will be speaking about how horses have provided a unique form of therapy for them. Both equestrians will also touch on the 2012 London Paralympics and the equestrian sport. Mrs. Romney will be co-hosting the 8 a.m. (Eastern Time) news hour with George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday where she is filling in for Robin Roberts, who is on extended medical leave.

Rebecca Hart, horse Lord Ludger (owned by Jessica Ransehousen), and U.S Parlaympic Chef d’Equipe Missy Ransehousen will present a previously recorded segment from October 8th showcasing the Paralympic Dressage duo at Blue Hill Farm. In addition to Rebecca Hart and Lord Ludger’s Times Square debut, Ann Romney will accompany Hart riding Ireland’s Bronze Medal Team horse, Orlando, owned by James Dwyer.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Dressage, Para-Equestrian

Jonathan Wentz 1990-2012: A Young and Inspiring Para-Equestrian

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Jonathan Wentz cheering on his team at the 2012 London Paralympics - photo by Lindsay Yosay McCall

Richardson, TX – October 1, 2012 – The equestrian community grieves today as we remember Jonathan Wentz who passed away over the weekend at the young age of 21. Jonathan was a delightful person and an inspiration to all. He will be greatly missed among his family and friends. Jonathan was in his final year at Southern Methodist University where he was well-respected among the staff and students.

Born with Cerebral Palsy, he began riding horses as a form of therapy at age five at Equest Therapeutic Riding Center in Wylie, TX. His mother, Christina, was a Physical Therapist and knew in a short time that this sport would be more than just therapeutic. As Jonathan progressed he began to focus on competitive Dressage.

In 2008 Jonathan and his family moved to Richardson, Texas where he began training with Kai Handt at the North Texas Equestrian Center. In six months Jonathan competed at his first CPEDI3* and USEF Para-Equestrian National Championships. That same year, he earned High Point Individual Rider at the Region 9 Junior Team Championship and qualified for the 2009 Region 9 USDF Championships. Jonathan would continue to excel as a young rider in 2009 and continuously worked towards his goal to ride at the London Paralympics in 2012.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Dressage, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian, USEF

Jonathan Wentz 1990-2012

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Jonathan Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale at the 2012 Paralympic Games (Shannon Brinkman)

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation mourns the loss of a great competitor and advocate for para-equestrian sport. Jonathan Wentz passed away September 30, 2012.

Wentz had recently returned from London where he was a member of the U.S. Team that earned seventh place at the 2012 Paralympic Games. At those Games, Wentz also finished fourth in the Individual Test and fifth in the Freestyle Test in Grade 1b competition riding Kai Handt’s NTEC Richter Scale. These strong results earned Wentz the distinction of being the highest-placed American equestrian at either the London Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Wentz enjoyed an extremely successful career with NTEC Richter Scale a horse that carried him to the World Championships, Paralympic Games and a National Title. In 2010, the pair represented the U.S. for the first time at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the following year they claimed the USEF 2011 USEF National Para-Equestrian Championship. In 2012, the combination earned Reserve Champion honors at the 2012 USEF National Para-Equestrian Championships and Paralympic Selection Trials prior to travelling to London. Wentz also finished in sixth place with Silvano at the 2012 National Championship.

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Dressage, FEI, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian

FEI Celebrates Clean London 2012 Paralympic Games

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Lausanne (SUI), 14 September 2012 – Para-Equestrian at the London 2012 Paralympic Games has continued the clean sport success of the London 2012 Olympic Games with the news that all human and equine samples taken during the Para-Equestrian competitions at Greenwich Park have tested negative for prohibited substances.

Para-Equestrian Dressage, the only equestrian discipline included in the Paralympic Games, has been a regular fixture on the Paralympic event schedule since Atlanta 1996.

In 2006, the FEI became one of the first International Federations to govern and regulate a sport for para-athletes when Para-Equestrian Dressage joined the ranks of the FEI’s seven disciplines. All equine athletes competing in the Paralympic Games are now tested according to the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping Rules.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian

Ponessa Closes Out 2012 Paralympic Games for U.S.

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Donna Ponessa and Western Rose (Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – The Para-Equestrian Dressage portion of the 2012 Paralympic Games came to a close on Tuesday with Freestyle Test being ridden in Grades IV, III and 1a. Donna Ponessa was the lone U.S. representative on the day, performing her Grade 1a Freestyle in front of the Ground Jury of Kjell Myhre, Lilian Iannone, Gudrun Hofinga, Sarah Rodger and Freddy Leyman.

Ponessa (New Windsor, NY) closed out the 2012 Paralympic Games for the U.S. in fine style scoring 70.75% with Wesley Dunham’s Western Rose. The pair upped the difficulty in their test by including trot work. Ponessa also showed her New York roots selecting a medley of Broadway show tunes to complement the 9-year-old Oldenburg mare’s gaits.

The trot work not only added a degree of difficulty to the test but also helped keep Western Rose’s attention and allowed her to maintain a forward walk.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian

Freestyle Medals in Grades IV, III and Ia and the End of the Equestrian Events of London 2012

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The Grade III Freestyle podium: silver - Deborah Criddle (GBR), gold – Hannelore Brenner (GER), bronze - Annika Dalskov (DEN) © FEI/Liz Gregg

London (GBR), 4 September 2012 – Today was the last day of Para-Equestrian Dressage at the Paralympic Games with Grades IV, III and Ia competing for Freestyle medals.

It was an exact replica of the Individual Championship podiums on Saturday in Grades IV and III with Belgium’s Michele George and Rainman picking up their second gold medal at the Games followed by Sophie Wells (GBR) and Frank Hosmar (NED), whilst in Grade III Hannelore Brenner from Germany secured her fourth Paralympic gold (2 in 2008, 2 in 2012) ahead of Deborah Criddle (GBR) and Annika Dalskov (DEN). In Grade Ia, it was another foot-perfect performance from Sophie Christiansen and Janeiro 6 to the tune of Pink Floyd’s ‘We don’t need no education’ ahead of Laurentia Tan from Singapore and Helen Kearney from Ireland in Grade Ia.

The equestrian events of London 2012 are officially over…
The athletes, their stories and their sporting ability and ambition as well as the many individuals and volunteers working behind the scenes have made it an incredible Games and without a doubt the best Para-Equestrian Dressage has ever seen. The quality of the horses and the strong partnerships they form with their riders has been impressive across all the Grades, has produced lots of Paralympic records and seen new nations come to the fore in a sport that has been dominated for years by a select few.

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