All horses accepted at inspection; competition commences September 3 at Palace of Versailles
By Kim MacMillan
Seventy-six para-dressage horses from 30 countries were inspected by the ground jury for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games for the first time today, with all passing the scrutiny of the panel of judges. This included the four horses from the USA.
The para-dressage competitors representing the USA at Paris 2024 are:
Roxanne Trunnell (Royal Palm Beach, Florida) and Fan Tastico H, a 2017 Oldenburg gelding (Fürstenball OLD x Weltmeyer) owned by Karin Flint and cared for by Rafael Hernandez-Carillo
Fiona Howard (Boston, Massachusetts) and Diamond Dunes, a 2013 Hanoverian gelding (De L’Or x Wolkentanz) owned by Dressage Family LLC and Hof Kasselmann and cared for by Helen Claire McNulty
Kate Shoemaker (Wellington, Florida) and Vianne, a 2016 Hanoverian mare (Vitalis x Ramiro’s Bube) owned by Norcordia USA and cared for by Katherine Barrett
Rebecca Hart (Loxahatchee, Florida) and Floratina, a 2008 Hanoverian mare owned by Rowan O’Riley and cared for by Mackenzie Young.
Chef d’équipe and technical advisor for the US para-equestrian team is Michel Assouline, and Laureen Johnson is the team leader. Supporting the human and equine athletes are team veterinarian Dr. Kim Snyder, human physiotherapist Joanne Frantz, and personal-care assistant Tina Wentz. For more information about these horses and riders, go to https://www.usef.org/team-usa/teams/para-equestrian/team/68.
The Paralympic para-dressage competition is being held at the same venue that last month hosted the widely acclaimed 2024 Olympic Games equestrian competition in dressage, eventing, and jumping: the grounds of the breathtaking Palace of Versailles. The temporary equestrian venue, which will be dismantled after the Paralympics, offers spectacular views of the Grand Canal with the celebrated chateau in the background.
Competition over the next two days will determine the individual medals for each of the five para-dressage grades. Grades I, II, and III will compete tomorrow, September 3, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Paris time (that’s 3:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time in the USA).
The Grade IV and V athletes will ride their tests on Wednesday, September 4, beginning at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Following a day of rest on Thursday, September 5, the Paris 2024 para-dressage competition resumes on Friday, September 6, with the team competition for team medals beginning at 9:20 a.m. Paris time. The final day of Paris 2024 para-dressage competition, Saturday, September 7, will be the musical freestyle for all five grades, after which a third set of medals will be awarded.
Find orders of go and results at this link: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024-paralympics/reports/para-equestrian/all-event.
High Hopes for the USA
Following a very successful spring and summer show season, Team USA is one to watch at these Paralympic Games.
“Heading into the Paralympic Games with the highest-ever-scoring team in US history in the runup to Paris 2024,” said the French-born Assouline, “is beyond our wildest imagination. It’s a very proud moment for the US, with all the work that has been invested into this program over the past several years. It’s our collective goal to honor this historical occurrence with pride and produce results that make our country proud.”
Rebecca Hart and Floratina will be the first to go tomorrow for the USA in Grade III at 10:49 a.m. local time. Up next will be Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes at 12:03 p.m. in Grade II. Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games gold medalist Roxanne Trunnell will contest the Grade I test with her new mount, Fan Tastico H, at 3:15 p.m. Grade IV athlete and 2022 FEI Para-Dressage World Championships silver and bronze medalist Kate Shoemaker on Vianne will ride the following day, September 4, at 11:58 a.m.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic para-dressage competition will be livestreamed to US viewers on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app, and the NBC Sports app. Find the para-equestrian livestream schedule at https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/how-watch-equestrian-paris-paralympics-tv-and-stream-schedule or https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule.
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