Lexington, Ky. - The U.S. Para Dressage Team concluded competition this weekend at the TerraNova CPEDI3* with a victory and strong performances across all team combinations. The team, led by U.S. Para Dressage Team Leader Laureen Johnson, was composed of Rebecca Hart and Liberation, Kate Shoemaker and Ghandi, Roxanne Trunnell and Furstenson MR, and Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H.
“I was extremely pleased with how well all the athletes rode,” said Johnson. “I was especially impressed with Rebecca Hart, who secured her new mount only days before the competition, and Kate Shoemaker’s Ghandi, who had not competed in a CPEDI in three years. TerraNova is such an incredible facility, and we are grateful to be able to have such high-quality competitions here. We look forward to competing here again in October.”
Shoemaker (Wellington, Fla.) and Ghandi (Bojengel x Beaudea), her own 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding cared for by Katherine McDonald, led off the competition with a strong performance, scoring a 71.065% in the FEI Para Grade IV Grand Prix A Test. Vonderheyden (Wellington, Fla.) and Fan Tastico H (Furstenball OLD x Wehmut), a 2017 Oldenburg gelding owned by Karin Flint and cared for by Rafael Carillo-Hernandez, produced a solid test in the FEI Para Grade I Grand Prix A test, securing a winning 72.500%. Trunnell (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Furstenson MR (Furstenball x La Cara), a 2016 Hanoverian gelding owned by Carol Daly and cared for by Jeff Rutz and Anne Cizadlo, closely followed with a 70.556%, also in the FEI Para Grade I Grand Prix A Test. Hart (Wellington, Fla.) piloted her new mount, Liberation (Libertad FRH x White Rose), a 2016 Hanoverian gelding owned by Rowan O’Riley and cared for by Kjersten Elliot, to a 71.167% in the FEI Para Grade III Grand Prix A Test to finish the day.
The second day of competition began with Shoemaker and Ghandi continuing their strong form, earning a 72.793% in the FEI Para Grade IV Grand Prix B Test. Trunnell and Furstenson MR topped the podium in the FEI Para Grade I Grand Prix B with a 72.847%, followed by Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H earning a 71.597%. Hart and Liberation earned a 67.389% in the FEI Para Grade III Grand Prix B Test. The team ultimately finished on a final total of 431.358.
Saturday marked the final day of competition and featured high scores across the freestyles. Shoemaker and Ghandi received their weekend best score of 75.400% in the FEI Para Grade IV Grand Prix Freestyle. Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H put forth a winning performance in the FEI Para Grade I Grand Prix Freestyle with a 74.656%, with Trunnell and Furstenson MR earning a 63.989%. Hart and Liberation concluded the CPEDI3*, delivering a well-executed test in the FEI Para Grade III Grand Prix Freestyle, receiving a 73.000%, just 0.034% behind the top score.
The U.S. Para Dressage Team will next compete in the Aachen CPEDI3* hosted in Aachen, Germany, from April 8-12.
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The USEF International High Performance Programs and the USEF High Performance Pathway Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, the philanthropic partner to USEF. High Performance Program support is also provided by the USOPC and USEF sponsors and members.