Aachen, Germany – A trio of freestyle wins on the final day of the FEI Para Dressage World Championship capped the U.S. Para Dressage Team’s medal tally at six in Aachen, Germany. Fiona Howard (Boston, Mass.) and Diamond Dunes; Kate Shoemaker (Wellington, Fla.) aboard Vianne; and Marie Vonderheyden (Wellington, Fla.) on Fan Tastico H each rode to gold in their respective freestyle grades to ceremoniously end the 2026 FEI World Championships on a high note for the U.S. in the Allianz Park Stadium on Sunday, August 23.
A two-time U.S. Paralympian, Shoemaker aboard her own Vianne, a 2016 Hanoverian mare (Vitalis x Ramiro’s Bube) cared for by Jessica
Martin-Legg, earned their third gold medal of the week, scoring a personal best 83.305% in the FEI Para Grand Prix Freestyle - Grade IV.
“This horse is so special, and the medals are icing on the cake,” said Shoemaker, who competes at Grade IV due to partial paralysis of her right leg from Periventricular leukomalacia, a brain injury that occurred at birth. “I decided that it's the last day and I was not going to hold back.”
Shoemaker made minor changes to her Paris 2024 freestyle, including the addition of four loops on the counter canter with a flying change. The test was choreographed to music from the movie Forrest Gump. “She stayed relaxed and with me the whole time—I think we had our best extended trot of the entire competition, so I added it impromptu down the last centerline just for fun.
“It feels like maybe I'll wake up from a dream tomorrow,” concluded Shoemaker.
Vonderheyden riding Karin Flint’s Fan Tastico H, a 2017 Oldenburg gelding (Furstenball OLD x Weltmeyer) cared for by Rafael Hernandez-Carillo, also won their third gold medal of the championship in the FEI Para Grand Prix Freestyle - Grade I. The hat trick was clinched on a personal best score of 80.540% during Vonderheyden’s championship debut.
With original music designed specifically for Fan Tastico, Vonderheyden said the rhythm helps them in the test. “The music helps us move as one,” added the former FEI level event rider, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2015 and returned to the international ring in 2019 as a para dressage athlete. “This is my first time at a championship, so for me it’s hard to put it into words. It was a fantastic experience.”
Howard riding Diamond Dunes, a 2013 Hanoverian gelding (De L’Or x Wolkentanz), owned by Dressage Family, LLC, and Hof Kasselmann and cared for by Jacqueline Bohme, danced to gold in the FEI Para Grand Prix Freestyle for Grade II on a final tally of 81.866% to earn their second gold medal of the week.
After a thrilling week for the rider who has dystonia, a neuromuscular disease that causes her muscles to contract and twist involuntarily, the fatigue was strong on Sunday morning. “I went in for the freestyle and said to Diamond Dunes, ‘I'm gonna need a little more help this time,’ and he was like, ‘Okay, I got you.’ I can just totally trust him.”
“We had a slightly new ending to my freestyle that we debuted today,” said Howard of the test that features music from the Avatar franchise. “He was ready for it, and I’m so proud of him. It has been a phenomenal week—it's incredible to be competing here in Aachen, especially with such a special horse.”
A five-time U.S. Paralympian and Grade III rider, Rebecca Hart and Rowan O’Riley’s Floratina, a 2008 Hanoverian mare (Fidertanz 2 x Rubin Royal OLD), cared for by Mackenzie Young, rode their freestyle from the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. They posted a final score of 74.327% to finish eighth.
“I am so pleased that we came out here and did three very consistent days,” said Hart. “Floratina has been perfect—that first section of trot work was on the money every beat. I never thought we were going to make it to Aachen; I thought Paris was going to be our swan song. But at 18, she's happy and fit, so we will see what the future holds.”??
Grade I | Grade II | Grade III | Grade IV
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