Para-Equestrians from the U.S. and Canada Earn Top Scores at Houston Dressage Society Spring Classic I & II CPEDI3*

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Donna Ponessa (USA) Grade Ia and Silvano. Photo © 2012 Lindsay Y McCall

Katy, TX – April 27, 2012 – Friday’s Para-Equestrian Dressage competition at the Houston Dress Society (HDS) Spring Classic I & II CPEDI3* included the Team Test competition. Each horse and rider combination put forward their best technical execution of their respective test in Grade Ia, Ib, II, III and IV. Friday’s FEI Ground Jury included Kathy Amos-Jacob (FRA), David Schmutz (USA), and Carlos Lopes (POR). For the United States the HDS Spring Classic I & II CPEDI3* is the last individual qualifier for the 2012 USEF Paralympics Selection Trials. For Canada, this is one more opportunity to gain international experience in a large venue such as the Great Southwest Equestrian Center under FEI judges and fellow competitors. The HDS CPEDI3* is sponsored by The COR Group and is running alongside the CDI3*and CDI1* sponsored by North Texas Equestrian Center and $10,000 HDS Dressage Derby.

With her qualifying score already obtained, Grade Ia rider Donna Ponessa (New Windsor, NY) has been focusing on her borrowed mount, Dr. Michele Miles’ horse Silvano. Ponessa’s ability to focus her athleticism and attitude without distraction has resulted in the top Grade Ia division score. Ponessa added, “I was thrilled with my overall performance Friday. With London on my mind, I am aiming for perfection so in my mind 70 percents are what I need to be pulling. However, I was thrilled with how the horse went and the way I was able to make the corrections that were needed. I am very appreciative of my trainer Wes (Dunham) setting Silvano up. He stayed nice and round and forward which is exactly what we wanted so all he had to do was his great walk. Now that I savored it, it is back to work for Saturday.”

Following Ponessa for the second place finish in Grade Ia is Laura Goldman (Highland Heights, OH). After a successful CPEDI3*in California, United States teammate Laura Goldman partnered up with Patrick Truxillo’s horse VPRH Pegasus VOM Niehaus-HOF. The pair will continue together through the weekend.

With a minor tempo change across the diagonal, Canadian Jody Schloss completed her test earning a 67.941%. Schloss dominated this winter while showing in Wellington, Florida and her success in the United States will hopefully translate to earning a spot on the Equine Canada Team that is headed to London.

Hometown Para-Dressage athlete Jonathan Wentz consistency in the Grade Ib division has net him top ribbons aboard Dr. Michele Miles’ horse Silvano and Rachel Zent’s NTEC Jabriel. Wentz executed his Team Tests showcasing freedom at each pace, the desire for his horses to move forward naturally, and technical accuracy. Under the tutelage of Kai Handt, Wentz is looking forward to preparing for the 2012 USEF Selection Trials.

In June, Wentz and his fellow United States Para-Equestrians will head to Gladstone, NJ where they will compete for the 2012 USEF London Paralympics Selection Trials and Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship. Olympian Courtney King-Dye will be joining the United States riders as a result of obtaining the score she needed to head to Gladstone as a Grade Ia Para-Equestrian. This has been a long journey for Courtney since her accident in 2010. “I am relieved that I earned my qualifying score,” smiled Courtney. “To be showing again feels like coming home. Today was accompanied by a bit of anxiety, but now that I’m qualified, the next two days will be pure joy!”

Andrea Hart from Katy, TX graciously allowed both Sydney Collier and Courtney King-Dye to rider her talented horse Nicolai. Courtney noted, “Nicolai is the absolute perfect horse for this. He is beautiful, built on the bit, good off the leg and has an unbelievable temperament. Like any ride, there are points in the test you know will be difficult, but Nicolai was extremely willing to be corrected. I had my working student, Koryn Staehling, warm him up for me and work on the problem points. Of course, my issues are still my issues! My two problem points with him are turning right off the centerline and free walk on the diagonal going from right to left, so I took advantage of the 10 minutes I gave myself before my Clonus kicked in and did that repeatedly.”

As with all international competition it takes a team to get to the show ring. Courtney agreed, “I want to thank so many people who been with me through this journey. I want to thank Kathy Jones from the Houston Dressage Society, Andrea Hart for loaning me the wonderful Nicolai, Lendon for coming and helping me, my working student, Koryn Staehling, and the numerous supporters who funded my trip here. This discipline is great. It gives all of us who have the passion and discipline for focused competition an avenue to enact our passion.”

One very talented duo in the Para-Equestrian discipline is Lauren Barwick who is a Four-Star Parelli Professional and earned Gold and Silver for Team Canada at the 2008 Hong Kong Paralympics. The Houston Dressage Society CPEDI3* will be Barwick’s last international horse show before heading to Canada for London preparation.

Barwick and the Equine Canada mare, Off To Paris, continued to impress the judges with their finesse and execution of the Grade II Tests. Barwick earned the overall top score of the day in the Team competition with a 72.776%. “I was very happy with the mare,” explained Barwick. “Paris went in and accomplished everything we were looking for her to do today. The basis of today was relaxation and Paris proved to do that really well. We now know what we need to add for the Individual competition tomorrow, so we will spice it up a bit.”

While in Houston Barwick’s team of support includes team mate and competitor Jody Schloss, Chef d’Equipe Mary Longden, coach Jessica Rhinelander, and groom Tori Murrly-Elley.

Off To Paris and Barwick have maintained a consistent training program throughout the 2012 year and after a quick trip to Washington for a demonstration she will head up to Canada to work with Equine Canada’s National Coach Andrea Taylor.

Following Barwick for the second place position is Kim Jones (Georgetown, SC) and Nancy Hinz’s horse Madoc Dylan. In third was Sydney Collier (Ann Arbor, MI) and Nicolai, followed by Californian Barbara Adside and NTEC Manchada.

Grade III winner was Wendy Fryke of Parker, CO and her Westphalian Stallion Lateran who earned a 64.259%.

In the Grade IV division Jennifer Baker (Loveland, OH) and Kathy Jones’ horse Rondo Del Rey earned the first place finish with newcomer Para-Equestrian Iana Gonzalez and her mounts Farol and Isleno Arm owned by Raul Armendariz of Montebello, CA.

Saturday will be the final day to qualify as an individual for the United States Para-Equestrian riders. Saturday begins at 8:00 a.m. and will continue through 11:00 a.m. On Sunday, April 29, 2012 the Freestyle Test competition will occur with the awards ceremony to follow.

About the Para-Equestrian Discipline:

Each of the Para-Equestrian athletes have amazing stories to tell and have achieved much success despite the many physical challenges they incur in everyday life. The range of disabilities and diagnoses include Multiple Sclerosis, limb loss, Lupus, Cerebral Palsy, brain and spinal cord injuries, and many other diagnoses. Due to the range of disabilities, Para-Equestrians are divided into five grade levels including Grade Ia, Ib, II, III, and IV. Grade Ia is the most severely impaired while Grade IV is the least impaired. Each grade competes alongside riders that have comparable inabilities. The Grades are not determined on skill level but are determined by an international classification process. Classifications are performed at each international competition by trained physical therapists or physicians who perform strength, range of motion and/or coordination tests on the athletes to assess their functional ability and approve them for adaptive equipment. Adaptive equipment is allowed as needed such as modified saddles, additional whips, rubber bands, looped reins and other aids to help compensate for a rider’s disability.

To compare each Para-Equestrian Test to able-bodied Dressage levels Grade 1a is equivalent to Introductory Level, Grade 1b is equivalent to Training Level, Grade II is equivalent to First Level, Grade III is equivalent to Second Level and Grade IV is equivalent to Third Level. Competitions continue to be made possible for riders in each of the Grades through sponsorship and large financial dedication.

Results Team Test Competition Friday April 27, 2012

Grade Ia:

Name, Horse, Owner, Country,Score%

1. Donna Ponessa, Silvano, owned by Dr. Michele Miles, USA 69.706%

2. Laura Goldman,VPRH Pegasus Vom Niehaus-HOF,owned by Patrick Truxillo, USA,68.235%

3. Jody Schloss, Inspector Rebus, owned by Jody Schloss, CAN, 67.941%

4. Courtney King-Dye, Nicolai, owned by Andrea Hart, USA, 62.747%,

5. Laura Goldman, NTEC Manchada, owned by Kai Handt, USA, 62.159%

Grade Ib:

1. Jonathan Wentz, Silvano, owned by Dr. Michele Miles, USA, 69.241%

2. Jonathan Wentz, NTEC Jabriel, owned by Rachel Zent, USA, 68.409%

Grade II:

1. Lauren Barwick, Off To Paris, owned by Equine Canada, CAN, 72.776%

2. Kim Jones, Madoc Dylan, owned by Nancy Hinz, USA, 65.319%

3. Sydney Collier, Nicolai, owned by Andrea Hart, USA, 63.81%

4.Barbara Adside, NTEC Manchada, owned by Kai Handt, USA, 61.033%

Grade III

1. Wendy Fryke, Lateran, owned by Wendy Fryke, USA, 64.259%

Grade IV

1.Jennifer Baker, Rondo Del Ray, owned by Kathy Jones, USA, 59.791%

2.Iana Gonzalez, Farol, owned by Raul Armendariz, USA, 59.375%

3. Iana Gonzalez, Isleno Arm, owned by Raul Armendariz, USA, 57.397%

For more information about the Spring Classic I and II CPEDI3* Hosted by Houston Dressage Society please visit www.HoustonDressageSociety.org. To view the prize list or show results please visit www.ShowSecretary.com or contact the Show Secretary Susan Peacock phone (405) 749-9777 or email susan@showsecretary.com.

Fast Facts: Spring Classic I CPEDI3* Hosted by Houston Dressage Society

What: Spring Classic I and II CPEDI3* Hosted by Houston Dressage Society
CPEDI3* Name Sponsor: The COR Group – Leslie Rohrer

Where: Great Southwest Equestrian Center
2501 South Mason Rd.
Katy, TX 77450
281-578-7669
www.gswec.com

Schedule:

Thursday, April 26, 2012 – 4:00 p.m. F.E.I CPEDI3* Jog
Friday, April 27, 2012 – 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Para-Equestrian Team Competition
Saturday, April 28, 2012 – 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Para-Equestrian Individual Test
Sunday, April 29, 2012 – -9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Para-Equestrian Freestyle Test
Awards Ceremony will occur after Sunday’s Freestyle Competition

Contacts at Show:

Show Secretary: Susan Peacock, 837 Glenlake Drive, Edmond, OK 73013, Phone: (405) 749-9777, susan@showsecretary.com, Fax: 866-487-6624
Assistant Secretary: Chris Federer, (513) 833-5081, chrisfederer10@gmail.com
Show Manager: Ed Lavallee, 300 Cedar Ridge St., Wylie, TX 75098, (214) 336-7125, ejlava@sprynet.com
Licensee Contact: Kathleen Jones, Houston Dressage Society, kkj3156@sbcglobal.net

About the FEI:

International level competition is governed by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. Both able-bodied and Para-Equestrian riders compete under special FEI rules. Judges are licensed by the FEI to officiate at international competitions around the world. Equestrian sports are the only Olympic sport where men and women compete directly against each other.

To view an online version of this press release with more photos, please visit: http://www.uspea.org/pdf/April272012HDS.pdf.

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.

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