When the U.S. Para Dressage Team won Paralympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 games, it was a historic moment. Not only was it the first Paralympic team gold for the U.S., but the team that clinched that win was composed of all women athletes: Roxanne Trunnell, Kate Shoemaker, Fiona Howard, and Becca Hart.

Hart has been a cornerstone of the U.S. Para Dressage program for many years and has numerous Paralympic and FEI World Championship outings on her resume. In recognition of Women’s History Month in March, Becca shared her experiences with US Equestrian.

“I am so incredibly proud of our 2024 Paris results,” said Hart. “We had an incredible team and all of us made a strategic plan and fought to get those results. Kate, Fiona, and I worked all spring competing together in Europe to build the momentum toward Paris and that eventually saw us stand on the podium. It was through teamwork and determination that we pulled that off. I am also proud of how far the entire program has come in the last 25 years. It’s been fun to help guide and develop it over the last five Paralympic cycles.”

Equestrian sports are among the very few where men and women compete directly with and against each other at the highest levels. Horses facilitate a level playing field, and not just across genders. Hart explains that with horses, the assumptions and prejudices that often come into play in other parts of life lose their power.

“Being male or female doesn’t particularly give you an advantage in equestrian; it’s all about the development of the relationship and training with your horse,” said Hart. “Being a disabled woman, the world often tries to pigeonhole me into specific roles. Equestrian sport was the place that I first felt and experienced equality. The result of the competitions doesn’t come down to the labels the world tries to give us. It doesn’t matter if you are male, female, able-bodied, or disabled. It all comes down to how well you communicate with your horse. I think it makes the sport really interesting and dynamic.”

A supportive community is an essential component of success for any equestrian, and Hart counts several inspirational women among the community that has helped her become the athlete she is today.

“Angelika Trabert was one of my mentors in my early career. I met her at one of my very first international CPEDIs and I must have had a deer-in-the-headlights kind of look on my face,” Hart remembers. “She came over and introduced herself and just kind of took me under her wing and showed me the ropes at that first competition. We have remained friends ever since. She always has a supportive word of encouragement or advice.

“My horse owner, Rowan O’Riley, is also one of my mentors,” Hart said. “She has supported me so much not just as an equestrian athlete, but also as a person. She cares about people and has this amazing ability to help you talk out and work through challenges and is always there to cheer for your successes. She is an amazing person to have in your corner.”

In addition to her equestrian inspirations, Hart has another notable woman who she cites as an important lifelong influence: her mother.

“My mother has always been a role model for me. She is always kind and genuine. She has the ability to speak to and make people feel seen and heard.”

U.S. Para Dressage is in the middle of an unprecedented era of success on the world stage, and Hart and her female teammates have been leading the charge.

“The last several teams I’ve been on have been all-women squads and often with some powerhouse mares,” she said. “There is an amazing camaraderie that happens when working toward a significant goal like the Paralympics with equally determined and strong women. We have known what we wanted to achieve for years. Equestrian is often an individual sport, but I really felt the connection while competing in Europe with Kate and Fiona. We knew what we had to do and joined together to get that job done.”

The medals from Paris aren’t the end of the story; U.S. Para Dressage continues to grow with an eye toward identifying and developing new talent and increasing participation in the years ahead. But the stellar performances and thrilling results for the U.S. at the 2024 Paralympics were a well-deserved celebration for the women on the team and the community around them.

“When we were in Paris, it was so special to cheer each other on,” said Hart. “We felt it keenly on team final day. We also have incredible women in our support teams. Everyone did the jobs they were assigned, but people went beyond what their roles strictly were. It created such a great environment. It is hard to describe what being in the ‘bubble’ feels like at a big championship, but in the end it’s a bunch of strong women lifting each other up and enjoying world-class sport.”