Tryon, N.C. – The Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team secured first place in the team portion of the Tryon Fall 2 FEI CPEDI3* on an impressive team score of 439.585 to take the win over Canada, who finished on a collective score of 416.079. The team, comprised of Sydney Collier, Rebecca Hart, Kate Shoemaker, and Roxanne Trunnell, performed consistently across the different Grade tests to help solidify their admirable win.

Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline was thrilled with the overall performance and improvement the team has made throughout the summer in preparation for an intense year of competition preceding the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. 

“Again, for me this is a dream competition because of the progression. I’ve been working on two things, improving the scores, and we’ve had fantastic scores here. Our drop score was a 71 percent, which is a dream for any team. All of the team members were 71% or above and today we averaged a 73 percent, but more than that, it’s the depth. We have more riders now,” said Assouline.

Roxanne Trunnell (Rowlett, Texas) and Dolton, a seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Flintwoode Farms LLC, led with Friday’s high score, receiving a 74.88 percent in the FEI Grade I Team Test and returned Saturday to earn a 73.571 percent in the FEI Grade I Individual Test. Trunnell, who earned an individual bronze medal at last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, has been working to improve the pair’s marks and did so with her performances this weekend in team competition.

“It was a wonderful weekend. We really have been working on solidifying the scores and it feels like it’s all coming together. I loved how he just kept marching in the walk. We’re hoping to make it to Tokyo, so that’s what we’ll be working on,” commented Trunnell.

The partnership of 2016 Paralympian Sydney Collier (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and All In One, is in its beginning stages, as Collier acquired the ride on the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Going for Gold LLC in June and has been familiarizing herself with him since. The duo earned scores of 71.607 percent and 71 percent in the FEI Grade III Team and Individual Tests, respectively.

“For this weekend, we wanted to come out and be consistent. I really personally wanted to work on my geometry. With him being as great of a horse as he is, I have to step up to his amount of talent. Being a visually impaired rider, geometry can be one of the most difficult things to nail for me, so I’ve been working at home at perfecting my step counts and that’s how I do my geometry. Being here in the big ring with different lighting and different situations, I was very impressed with how he stepped up his game and had my back.”

Kate Shoemaker (Peoria, Ariz.) has an established relationship with Solitaer 40, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding she co-owns with Craig & Deena Shoemaker, which has spanned more than five years. Shoemaker noted that the duo made massive strides in bringing their best to the arena over the past two days. They recorded a 73.083 percent in the FEI Grade IV Team Test and a 73.049 percent in the FEI Grade IV Individual Test.

“I think this was some of the best work we’ve gotten in the arena. We’ve been together for five years now, so every show has been a step in the right direction. First you get it at home, then you get it in the warm-up, around the arena, and then we get it in. We had some really amazing moments in the arena this week and that’s what I’m excited about. I think, regardless of the scores, they were personal best tests for us.”

After securing the first ever individual medal for the U.S. Para Dressage Team at last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, Rebecca Hart (Wellington, Fla.) and El Corona Texel, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Rowan O’Riley, once again proved their consistency for the team, producing a score of 71.226 percent in the FEI Grade III Team Test and a 73.775 percent in the FEI Grade III Individual Test.

“This arena holds so many emotions for me. I’ve had some monumental rides in this ring and last year was the epitome of my riding career. To have Tex here again with me and perform so well in this arena again; Tryon just holds a special place in my heart. We changed our routine up a little bit coming into this event, which was intimidating because when you change things at a big championship things can go one of two ways, but it’s really worked for us. I’m doing all of the warm-up myself with Tex and it’s made a much more symbiotic-type relationship my horse.”

Competition at TIEC continues tomorrow with the crowning of the Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship winner and will conclude with the remaining rides of the Tryon Fall 2 FEI CPEDI3*.

Click here to view ride times and results.

The Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship will be streamed live on USEF Network throughout the weekend. Click here to watch.

Click here to view the Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship and Tryon Fall 2 FEI CPEDI3* broadcast schedule.

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