Gladstone, NJ – July 3, 2012 – It was a week to remember at the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. Dressage was thrown into national headlines and for the first time there were foam fingers waving “Dressage is #1” at the Olympic Dressage Selection Trials. For two weeks the United States Equestrian Team Foundation hosted the best in Dressage including the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 2012 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and Paralympic Selection Trials. The United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) would like to thank everyone involved for a successful week of Para-Dressage competition at the beautiful Pine Meadow location at the USET Foundation headquarters.
Just over the hill from Hamilton Farm at the USET Foundation’s headquarters is another historic equestrian location called Pine Meadow. For years it has been used for competition and training purposes especially for the Driving discipline. For one week Pine Meadow was transformed into the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and Paralympic Selection Trials. The USPEA would like to thank the USET Foundation for hosting the Para-Equestrians and providing the facilities for this event.
The USPEA would also like to express their gratitude to the United States Equestrian Federation. As the National Governing Body of the Equestrian Sport since 1917, they provide an organization to unite the equestrian community by providing licensed equestrian competitions to grow the equestrian sport and maintain a safe and level playing field for both equine and human athletes. The USEF is also crucial in supplying the funding for the United States Equestrian Team.
President of the USPEA and Paralympian Hope Hand expressed, “I would like to speak on behalf of all the Para-Equestrians and express my thanks to the many hands that helped transform the show grounds for this FEI event. In acknowledgement of the hours it took, the amount of people that dedicated their time, and the equipment to make this show possible, the USPEA is grateful. I would also like to express my thanks to the USET Foundation and President Bonnie Jenkins, for her kindness and support and for hosting the Trials at Pine Meadow; to USEF and their staff for their dedication to this sport, which has grown substantially over the last few years; to Kim Keenan-Stordahl and Evin Rattner for the many hours of hard work managing the show, the stables, the scoring, and every little question that any rider, owner, spectator, steward, or media person had; to the sponsors that make this show happen, the sponsors that help each rider succeed, the owners of the horses, the trainers, Chef d’Equipe Missy Ransehousen, the stewards, the spectators, the FEI judges, the volunteers and their coordinator Regina Cristo, the announcer Brian O’Connor, and so many more individuals. Thank you to everyone who has supported the Para-Equestrian discipline we are lucky to have a large network of individuals to help grow this high-performance discipline.”
For more information about the USET Foundation please visit www.USET.org.
For more information about Keenan Productions and Events please visit www.dressageevents.com.
For more information about the United States Equestrian Federation and the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions please visit www.USEF.org.
About United States Para-Equestrian Association:
The USPEA is a network of riders, judges, national federation board members, and equestrian enthusiasts. The association gives athletes the ability to get involved and expand their knowledge and experience in the Para-Equestrian sport. The USPEA encourages para-athletes to participate in all disciplines under the para-equestrian umbrella.
The USPEA is a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) which serves as the National Governing Body for the equestrian sport. This relationship between the USPEA and USEF is to encourage para-equestrian competitors, leisure riders, coaches, fans and enthusiasts to network and get involved with the entire equestrian sport.
Ultimately the goal of the USPEA is to foster growth in the para-equestrian discipline. From growth in the number of participants to growth as a team, and growth in the experience and knowledge of all involved. From local horse shows to international Olympic Games, the USPEA will provide para-equestrians the knowledge of what they need to succeed. The USPEA connects with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), and USEF which provides Para-Equestrians the top equestrian resources.
In June 2010, the USPEA earned its 501 (c)(3) status which has encouraged supporters to help supply funding to the Para-Equestrian Team as a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
For more information about the USPEA please visit www.USPEA.org or contact USPEA President Hope Hand by e-mail: Wheeler966@aol.com or by phone: (610)356-6481.