Tag Archives: Paralympic Games

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian, USEF

Collier and Western Rose Earn USEF Para-Dressage High Perf. Division National Championship

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Sydney Collier and Western Rose. Photos by Erich Linder.

Grass Lake, Michigan – June 6, 2016 – Like a movie ending moment, Grade Ib rider Sydney Collier (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Western Rose, owned by Wes Dunham, garnered the 2016 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage High Performance Division National Championship Sponsored by Deloitte. The duo maintained consistent scores over the weekend earning a final FEI Freestyle score of 73.167%. Grade III rider Annie Peavy (Avon, Conn.) and Lancelot Warrior, owned by Rebecca Reno and Heather Blitz, scored the highest freestyle of the day on Sunday at the Waterloo Hunt Club show grounds with a 75.833%. Peavy’s final score placed her as Reserve Champion of the 2016 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage High Performance Division National Championship. In the National division, Grade III athlete Pam Hardin (Evans, Ga.) and Quaterjack, owned by Hardin, Kara Hardin, Kasey Hardin, and Rachel Bryant, finished as the 2016 National Division Champion. Grade Ib rider Laurietta Oakleaf (Malvern, Pa.) and Niekele fan Busenitz, owned by Oakleaf and Laura McGinnis, took home the 2016 National Division Reserve Championship. It was an exciting weekend for the thirteen horse and rider combinations competing in front of ground jury members Kristi Wysocki 4* (USA); Kathy Amos-Jacob 5* (FRA); and Carlos Lopes 5* (POR). For ten of those horse and rider combinations it was the final chance to secure a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team representing the United States at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in September.

Sydney Collier is looking forward to the opportunity that she may be heading to Rio de Janeiro in September. Although the short list/ FEI Nominated Entry will not be released until a later date the 2016 championships gave an idea of how each rider competes under international pressure. Collier is no stranger to international competition since she was a team member of the 2014 World Equestrian Games Para-Dressage Team in France. Collier has been working hard over the years growing as an athlete and perfecting her dressage skills with coach Wes Dunham. Collier rode two horses in the championships over the weekend, Western Rose and Wentworth, and her determination and strength showed that she has the talent to represent the United States once again in Rio.

Collier expressed, “Winning yesterday meant the world to me. It was an affirmation that all of my hard work and training has really been paying off. It also makes me so happy to be able to make everyone that has been riding alongside me on my journey proud. In addition, getting to ride down centerline in Jonathan Wentz’s honor meant so much to me; he is who started me on this path and although he can’t be with us in person I know he is riding alongside all the riders as the sport of Para-Dressage grows. I don’t know if there are even words to describe how proud I am of my horses and how thankful I am to have such a supportive team beside me. Without my family, sponsors, trainer Wes Dunham, and amazing groom Satu Greer, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve the success I achieved at selection trials. Then to make things even more special I won back in my own home state at a show grounds that I used to compete at when I was first starting Para-Dressage. It seems like everything has really come full circle and seeing the growth development that training with Wes and my two amazing mounts Wentworth and Rosie has made in my riding. I cannot even tell you how proud I am of the two of them for performing so well with me. Freestyles have always been my favorite day of competition; I just love how much you can express yourself and how much the horses really enjoy dancing to the music.

Collier concluded, “A huge thank you as well to Deloitte for sponsoring such an incredible national championship and selection trial event, as well as show management, a great panel of judges, and all of the other officials that made this event possible.”

Reserve High Performance champion Annie Peavy is also no stranger to international competition. Peavy and Lancelot have traveled the world competing against the best Para-Dressage athletes in the world. Peavy was also an individual rider at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France. Peavy and Lancelot secured the Reserve Championship High Performance Championship and earned competitive scores over the selection weekend. Peavy also earned the Reserve High Performance Division National Championship in 2015 aboard her own Ozzy Cooper.

Annie Peavy and Lancelot Warrior
Annie Peavy and Lancelot Warrior

Peavy noted, “This weekend was great for Lance and me; he was truly a warrior. After a long trip from Wellington he got off the trailer ready to compete. It was a very tough competition and I couldn’t have asked any more of him.  I am anxious for the team to be named, but if we are on the team I know it will be a summer of doing what I love with intense focus.”

Peavy continued, “Following the trials I am heading to Connecticut for a few days to see good friends and give Lance a chance to travel back to Florida and have a couple days off.
When I return to Florida I plan on continuing to work with Heather to have Lance at his peak. Ozzy (Ozzy Cooper) is reportedly doing well and we will also continue to work together on our partnership.”

Peavy concluded, “I have to thank Heather for once again helping me train and also helping me take the judges impressions and translate that to the show arena. Both horses are so well taken care of by Alex Philpin; a happy healthy horse makes my job much easier. But most importantly I have to thank my parents for their support and passion for me to achieve my dream.”

In 2015 the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships added the High Performance and National divisions. The 2016 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Division Champion was Pam Hardin and Quaterjack. The pair took the lead after the FEI Individual Test and maintained that lead to obtain the tricolor rosette. Hardin was also competing in the selection trials over the weekend as was the Reserve National Division Champion duo Laurietta Oakleaf and Niekele fan Busenitz.

Hardin reflected on what this championship meant to her. “When I can no longer ride a horse and my days are filled with more memories than new beginnings, I will remember this week and how proud I was to have the chance to compete with such amazing women athletes for a chance to represent my country and to become the Para-Equestrian Dressage National Division Champion.  I will remember reconnecting with friends and beginning new friendships. I will remember the partnership that was created with a ‘horse of a lifetime’ and I will cherish the support I received from both friends and family as I pursued this dream. I must thank my trainer and friend, Melanie Mitchell, who walked me onto this path and daily keeps me on the correct one, doing so with laughter and enduring care for the comfort of my horse.  I would never be on this journey without her, or my family, friends, and sponsors, or the para-equestrian community, as a whole.”

Hardin will return home to Georgia and is hoping to qualify for the Region 3 championships in October 2016.

The overall National Champions in each division were determined by weighting the tests with the Team Test counting for 40%, Individual Test 40%, and Freestyle Test 20%.

The U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team selection rankings will be based on 50% of a combination’s overall performance in the Selection Event and 50% on the combined overall score from its best two CPEDI3* events taking place January 1, 2015 – May 16, 2016. The selection procedures also include discretionary criteria. All nominations to the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee and the USEF. The short list/FEI Nominated Entry for the U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team will be forwarded to the FEI by the United States Equestrian Federation by June 20, 2016. Equestrian competition at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games is scheduled for September 11-16, 2016, at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in the Deodoro Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

For more information about the Selection Event for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games/National Championship/Open National Show procedures, please visit https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/allparaequestrian/hpparaEquestrian.aspx.

For more information about the 2016 Rio Paralympic Equestrian Events, please visit http://www.rio2016.com/en.

By: Lindsay Y. McCall

To view an online version of this press release with more photos, please visit: http://uspea.org/category/recent-uspea-press-news/.

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: hope@uspea.org or by phone: (610)356-6481.

Championships, Dressage, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian, USEF, USEF

Collier and Hardin Secure Top Honors at USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships

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Sydney Collier and Western Rose (Erich Linder Photography)

Grass Lake, Mich. – The 2016 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships sponsored by Deloitte and Selection Event for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games wrapped up Sunday with Grade Ib athlete Sydney Collier and Western Rose being crowned National Champions in the High Performance Division. Grade III athlete Pamela Hardin and Quaterjack earned top honors in the National Division. Sunday’s Freestyle Tests accounted for the final 20% of the overall championship scores with the first 80% percent coming equally from Friday’s Team Test and Saturday’s Individual Test.

High Performance Division

Heading into the final day of competition, the top of the High Performance leaderboard was extremely close with the top five all sitting within two percentage points of each other. The Freestyles proved very influential, with the athletes turning in high-quality performances under inclement weather conditions in front of the ground jury of Kathy Amos-Jacob (FRA), Carlos Lopes (POR), and Kristi Wysocki (USA). Collier (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Wesley Dunham’s 2003 Oldenburg mare, Western Rose, began their quest for National Championship honors with a solid Team Test score of 70.867%. In Saturday’s Individual Test, the pair marked the highest score of the day across all grades, a 73.678%. Capping off a successful weekend with the Freestyle Test, featuring instrumental versions of Phillip Phillip’s “Home” and One Direction’s “Secrets”, the pair scored a 73.167% and secured the Grade Ib National Championship and overall High Performance Division titles.

“It was an incredible [Freestyle] test. I stayed with my music and both of the halts were squares, which I am so proud of. Our medium walks felt good, even though I didn’t push her as much with the muddy footing. Overall, my accuracy was spot-on. This was a great way to start the summer and an exciting start to a journey. It is such an honor competing with so many talented athletes and their horses. I want to say a big thank you to all of my sponsors; I could not be here without them,” said a pleased Collier.

Collier was also Reserve National Champion in the Grade Ib High Performance Division with her own Wentworth, a 2003 Hanoverian gelding.

Earning the highest Freestyle score of the day with a 75.833%, Angela Peavy (Avon, Conn.) and Rebecca Reno and Heather Blitz’s Lancelot Warrior, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding, earned the High Performance Division Reserve National Champion title and were the Grade III National Champions. The pair went from strength to strength this weekend, improving its scores each day. They earned a Team Test score of 69.693% and an Individual Test score of 72.967%.

“I was really pleased with our performance,” said Peavy. “This was our third time showing this Freestyle. The strongest part of this test is the canter tour – we have really expressive changes. I was really pleased with the weekend overall. It was a long shipping trip for [Lancelot] from Wellington, Fla., and he was still on his a game. We are really becoming a more united pair the more we show together.”

Rounding out the top three overall in the High Performance Division was Kate Shoemaker (Peoria, Ariz.) and Solitaer 40, Craig Kate and Denna Shoemaker’s 2007 Hanoverian stallion. As the Grade III Reserve Champions, they scored 72.193% in the Team Test, 70.041% in the Individual Test, and 71.917% in the Freestyle Test.

National Division

Maintaining their overnight lead, Hardin (Evans, Ga.) and Kara Hardin, Kasey Hardin, Rachel Bryant, and her own 2005 Brandenburg gelding, Quaterjack, performed another brilliant test to end their weekend. In day one’s Grade III Team Test, the pair worked through initial nerves to score a 67.675%. They improved greatly on day two, scoring a 70.203% in the Individual Test, moving them into the lead, overall. The pair performed an energetic and expressive Freestyle to music from the movie Kung-Fu Panda and the video game Dragon Warrior to earn a score of 72.417%.

Pamela Hardin and Quaterjack (Erich Linder Photography)
Pamela Hardin and Quaterjack (Erich Linder Photography)

“I couldn’t have asked for more from that horse. He rises to the occasion every time. Everything can go wrong at a show and he takes it all in stride. Nothing fazes him,” said Hardin. “The test went well; I love the extended trot [in the Freestyle] down the long side – we are able to really go for it.” Hardin also earned the Grade III National Champion title.

Laurietta Oakleaf (Malvern, Pa.) and her own and Laura McGinnis’ 2004 Friesian stallion, Niekele fan Busenitz, or Nikki, finished the weekend as the Grade Ib National Champions and Reserve National Champions, overall, in the National Division. The pair led the division on day one with a Team Test score of 68.200%. They posted an Individual Test score of 66.724% and earned a score of 68.667% in the Freestyle.

“Overall it went well, considering that we got the music recently and were only able to practice it once earlier this week,” said Oakleaf of her Freestyle performance. “Nikki and I had a couple places that we need to work on, but we also had very good moments. Some of our geometry, and most of our marks, were right on today.”

Earning the third-place position overall in the division was Grade IV National Champion, Mary Jordan (Wells, Maine) and Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center’s Rubicon 75, a 2005 Oldenburg gelding. The pair scored a 63.611% in the Team Test, a 66.905% in the Individual Test, and a 67.583% in the Freestyle.

Complete Freestyle Test Results

U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team selection rankings will be based on 50% of a combination’s overall performance in the Selection Event and 50% on the combined overall score from its best two CPEDI3* events taking place January 1, 2015 – May 16, 2016. The selection procedures also include discretionary criteria. Of the 11 athletes competing this weekend, nine will look to secure a position on the four-member 2016 U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team, which will be announced at a later date. All nominations to the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee and the USEF. Para-dressage competition at the Paralympic Games takes place September 11-16, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

From the USEF Communications Department

Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian, Show Jumping

Six Nations Make Olympic and Paralympic Débuts at Rio 2016 Equestrian Events

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Lausanne (SUI), 24 March 2016 – A total of six nations will be making their Olympic and Paralympic debuts at Rio 2016 when they field athletes for the equestrian disciplines of Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and Para-Equestrian Dressage.

Five National Olympic Committees will be sending equestrian athletes to an Olympic Games for the first time at Rio in August – Chinese Taipei and Qatar for Jumping, the Dominican Republic and Palestine for Dressage, and Zimbabwe for Eventing, while Uruguay will be sending its first Para-Equestrian Dressage athlete to the Paralympics.

Rio 2016 is the first Olympic and Paralympic Games ever to be held in South America and a total of nine South American countries will compete in equestrian at Rio 2016, with Peru securing its first individual qualification in Jumping.

A total of 43 nations have earned qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games across the three disciplines of Eventing, Dressage and Jumping, with 30 countries targeting the equestrian medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where Para-Equestrian Dressage will celebrate 20 years in the Paralympic Movement.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming new nations to the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian family and to have 43 flags at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and 30 for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“It’s a testament to the increasing global appeal and universality of our sport to see equestrianism represented at the top level in so many countries. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the pinnacle of our sport and we are looking forward to absolutely top class equestrian action during both Games.”

The Olympic equestrian events get underway the day after the Opening Ceremony in Rio on 6 August 2016 in Deodoro, where the world’s best athletes will compete for team and individual medals in Eventing, Dressage and Jumping.

The Rio 2016 Para-Equestrian Dressage action kicks off on 11 September for what promises to be the largest celebration yet of high-performance sport for people with an impairment, where athletes will target individual medals across grades Ia, Ib, II, III and IV, as well as team medals.

The full list of qualified Olympic nations is here and Paralympic nations here, with summaries on the Olympic and Paralympic qualified nations below:

Olympic summary

Jumping – maximum 75 starters

27 nations: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela.

15 teams: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States.

12 nations represented by individuals only: Belgium, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Egypt, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Peru, Portugal, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Dressage – maximum 60 starters

25 nations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine, United States.

11 teams: Australia, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United States.

14 nations represented by individuals only: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Palestine, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine.

Eventing – maximum 65 starters

24 nations: Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Zimbabwe.

14 teams: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, United States.

10 nations represented by individuals only: Belarus, Belgium, Chile, China, Ecuador, Finland, Japan, Puerto Rico, Spain, Zimbabwe.

Nations fielding full teams in all three Olympic disciplines: Australia, Brazil, France, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and the United States will field full teams in all three Olympic disciplines.

Total – 43 nations:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Peru, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.

All documents on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualification process are here.

Paralympic summary

Para-Equestrian Dressage – maximum 78 starters

30 nations: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA.

14 teams: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, USA.

2 nations can field composite teams: France (4 individual slots) and Russia (3 individual slots).

15 nations represented by individuals only: Argentina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay.

All documents on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games qualification process can be accessed here.

FEI Media Contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

*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.

Continue reading Jonathan Wentz 1990-2012 →

FEI, Olympic Games

FEI Launches Olympic Website

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Lausanne (SUI), 2 July 2012 – In the final countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games, the FEI has launched a new online hub fei.org/olympic dedicated to all things Olympic and Paralympic, both old and new.

In celebration of the centenary of equestrian sport in the Olympic Movement and all the equine and human athletes that have made Olympic equestrian history since 1912, a new section history.fei.org explores in detail each edition of the Games, with summaries on the sport, complete results, statistics and iconic photos of Olympic venues and the equestrian world’s most celebrated riders and horses. The richly illustrated website follows the evolution of a traditional activity open only to commissioned officers and “gentlemen riders” into the modern and exciting sport we know today. Amateur historians will be delighted to discover rare images and to enjoy little known facts and anecdotes.

The Olympic hub also includes all the technical information around the Olympic Games, links to schedules and results, as well as all the Olympic news from the FEI and a regularly updated photo gallery.

“Each Olympics and Paralympics bring new achievements and the ever changing horizon of sporting enterprise, and we greet each new experience with anticipation and expectation,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “But the Games are not only about the here and now and what is to come. They are also about what has been achieved; what limitations have been exceeded, and what barriers broken; what records have been set and what heights of endeavour scaled.

Continue reading FEI Launches Olympic Website →

FEI, Olympic Games

FEI Signs Off Improved Footing for London 2012 Equestrian Events

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Lausanne (SUI), 10 January 2012 – The FEI has today given final sign-off on the footing that will be used for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events at Greenwich Park.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) conducted footing tests at a site near Preston in the north of England on 20 and 21 December 2011. The mix for the footing is now composed of non-waxed sand, felt and fibre.

Testing of the new footing concluded on 21 December when international riders Geoff Billington (Jumping) and Richard Davison (Dressage) rode on the surface, which had been laid on the platform structure that will be used at Greenwich Park next year.

Leopoldo Palacios, technical advisor to LOCOG, FEI Technical Delegate Frank Rothenberger, footing expert Bart Poels and FEI Director Jumping John Roche attended the test on 21 December. The technical experts produced detailed reports that were submitted to the FEI Executive Board for further evaluation prior to sign-off.

Continue reading FEI Signs Off Improved Footing for London 2012 Equestrian Events →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian, Show Jumping

FEI Announces Dressage Ground Juries for London 2012 and the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final

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Stephen Clarke has officiated at five World Cup Finals, three European Championships, three World Equestrian Games, and London will be his second Olympic Games. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 23 September 2011 – The Ground Juries for Dressage at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final 2012 have been announced following blind draws at the FEI’s headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) today (23 September).

Leif Törnblad (DEN), Maribel Alonso (MEX), Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA), Gary Rockwell (USA), Wim Ernes (NED) and Evi Eisenhardt (GER) will form the Dressage Ground Jury at the London 2012 Olympic Games alongside Stephen Clarke, who as a host country judge was already appointed President of the Ground Jury.

The Ground Jury for Paralympic Equestrian at the London 2012 Paralympics has been confirmed: Lilian Iannone (ARG), Freddy Leyman (BEL), Anne Prain (FRA), Gudrun Hofinga (GER), Sarah Rodger (GBR) and Carlos Lopes (POR) will join President of the Ground Jury Kjell Myhre (NOR).

The Ground Jury for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final 2012 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) 18-22 April 2012 will also be seven-strong: Ghislain Fouarge (NED) will serve as President of the Ground Jury with Stephen Clarke (GBR), Gary Rockwell (USA), Katrina Wüst (GER), Isabelle Judet (FRA), Susan Hoevenaars (AUS) and Leif Törnblad (DEN).

Trond Asmyr, FEI Director Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, explained:

“The international judges representing the Ground Juries for London 2012 and the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final 2012 are extremely happy about their appointments.

Continue reading FEI Announces Dressage Ground Juries for London 2012 and the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian

One Year to Go to 2012 London Paralympic Games

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Marco Alves at the 2008 Paralympic Games where he won Brazil’s first Paralympic equestrian medal

Lausanne (SUI), 29 August 2011 – Today, 29 August 2011, marks the one-year countdown to next year’s Paralympic Games. A record number of 4,200 athletes from 150 countries are set to convene in London (GBR) between 29 August and 9 September 2012 and compete in 503 events in 21 sports.

For the XIV Paralympic Games and the fifth appearance of Para-Dressage on the programme – equestrian sport made its Paralympic debut at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 – there could not be a more fitting host nation. Great Britain has been a Para-Dressage power house when it comes to Paralympic, World and European events, taking team gold at every turn and pushing the level and quality of the sport to greater heights.

“We count ourselves as one of the luckiest International Federations in the family and feel our sport is coming home with the 2012 Paralympic Games, as Great Britain has such a strong tradition of equestrianism and para-equestrianism,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya commented. “The location of the equestrian events in Greenwich Park means we are at the heart of the Games and we are very proud to be given centre stage. We are really looking forward to the event and will be counting the days to what will be glorious Games.”

Sixty-eight competitors from 16 nations had made the trip to Atlanta, GA (USA) to compete on borrowed horses in the first Paralympic competition in 1996. In 2008 the number of competitors had increased to 78 and the number of nations had nearly doubled; the horses, no longer borrowed, flew in from all corners of the globe.

Continue reading One Year to Go to 2012 London Paralympic Games →

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

Para-Equestrians Get Grant Boost for London 2012

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Gold standard: Britain’s Lee Pearson (GBR), MBE OBE has become a Paralympic icon with nine Paralympic gold medals to his name (pictured at Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games)

Lausanne (SUI), 25 July 2011 – Para-Equestrians bidding to compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games can now apply for funding as part of a brand new grant scheme to help with training expenses.

Eurovestech plc, the pan-European development capital fund, has put up a €25,500 grant to support 15 equestrian athletes around the world as they prepare for London 2012.

The grants, which will be distributed by the FEI, will be available to riders who have not won medals at the Paralympics, World Championships or World Equestrian Games since 2004.

National Federations representing Para-Equestrians from smaller nations where funding is limited are urged to apply for the grants. The grants are available both to riders who compete on their own horses and those that compete on borrowed horses.

Interested riders should contact their National Federation with their competition and training plans before 15 August 2011.

“It’s great news to hear of this initiative as the IPC is keen that a great number of athletes get the opportunity to compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games across all sports, including Para-Equestrian,” explained Chief Executive Officer of the International Paralympic Committee Xavier Gonzalez.

Continue reading Para-Equestrians Get Grant Boost for London 2012 →

Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, Para-Equestrian, Show Jumping, USEF

USEF Names Eventing Riders for CIC2* Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (London Test Event)

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The Greenwich Park venue.

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be represented at the CIC2* Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational (London Test Event) from July 4-6, 2011 by three American eventing riders. This competition will serve as a test event for the 2012 London Olympic Games and is an important part of the preparation for this competition. Dressage, Eventing, Jumping and Para-Equestrian Dressage will all be held at the historic Greenwich Park next summer; the Olympic Games begin on July 27, 2012 and run through August 12. The Paralympic Games run from August 29 – September 9.

Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) will ride Jennifer Mosing’s DHI Colour Candy
DHI Colour Candy is a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Logan Rawlings (Piedmont, CA – based in the UK) will ride her own Jaybee Star Celebrity
Jaybee Star Celebrity is a 9-year-old Australian Warmblood mare

Julian Stiller (Berkshire, UK) will ride her own Gunstone Wallstreet
Gunstone Wallstreet is an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding

The USEF may also send up to six High Performance athletes ‘on foot’ to observe the competition and learn about the venue. These athletes will be named shortly.

Please visit: http://www.london2012.com/ for more information regarding the 2012 Olympic Games. For more information about the USEF Eventing program, please contact Sara Ike at sara.ike@usef.org.

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