Hagen, Germany – The U.S. Para Dressage Team topped the podium in team competition at the Covalliero Dressage Days CPEDI3* hosted at Hof Kasselmann in Hagen, Germany, ultimately besting a competitive field of ten international teams. Finishing on a final team score of 458.894, the U.S. Para Dressage Team once again showcased their talent and poise, led by Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline and Team Leader Laureen Johnson. The team from the Netherlands finished in second place on a team total of 446.804, while Germany took third on a combined score of 442.857. 

“This was a successful second observation event for our team following the first one in Tryon just a few weeks ago,” said Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline. “The Hagen CPEDI was slightly overwhelming as international participation was very high and included ten teams, but our U.S. athletes maintained their form and position from the Paris 2024 Games to claim team gold against an extremely competitive field. It is really a matter now of maintaining form but with a less pressurized momentum to not fatigue our horses and keep our athletes sharp and ready for the rest of the summer.”

Back in the saddle with her Paris 2024 mount, Fiona Howard (Boston, Mass.) and Diamond Dunes laid the foundation for the week with an incredibly strong start in Grade II competition. The pair topped the FEI Para Grand Prix A II test with an impressive 78.103%, demonstrating their ability to maintain form and consistency. In Grade III competition, team veteran Rebecca Hart (Wellington, Fla.) and Floratina earned a 74.111% from the judging panel in the FEI Para Grand Prix A III test, finishing top three amongst a field of fourteen other international combinations and positioning the team well inside of the top three.

Kate Shoemaker (Wellington, Fla.) and Vianne, made their mark in Grade IV competition, once again showcasing the quality of their harmonious partnership. The duo topped the first day of competition in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test A IV with an impressive 76.111%, which featured another strong class of 15 entries. Debuting a new mount, Cynthia Screnci (Wellington, Fla.) and Jarpur received a solid score of 67.350% in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test A in Grade V competition, finishing inside the top five, to positively begin the week for the new partnership.

Howard and Diamond Dunes, a 2013 Hanoverian gelding (De Lor x Wolkentanz) owned by Dressage Family LLC and Hof Kasselmann and cared for by Jessica Legg-Martin and Janosch Csigi, dominated once again on the second day of competition in Grade II, notching a personal best together in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test B II, earning an 80.833% and finishing atop the class. Hart guided Floratina, a 2008 Hanoverian mare (Fidertanz x Rubin Royal OLD) owned by Rowan O’Riley and cared for by Mackenzie Young, to a fourth-place finish on the second day of Grade III competition with a 72.889%, keeping team ahead of the tough international field contesting the CPEDI3*. 

Shoemaker guided Vianne, a 2016 Hanoverian mare (Vitalis x Ramiro’s Bube) owned by Kate Shoemaker and cared for by Jessica Martin-Legg, to another impressive test in Grade IV competition for the FEI Para Grand Prix Test B IV, earning a 76.847% to take the win in the class and guarantee the team’s podium-topping finish. Screnci and Jarpur, a 2014 Hanoverian gelding (Gandhi x Don Vino) owned by Cynthia Screnci and cared for by Manon Liebregts, finished team competition with another strong performance as the newest combination for the team, earning a 67.281% in Grade V competition.

Both Shoemaker and Screnci elected to participate in the freestyle competition on Sunday, with Shoemaker and Vianne sealing their weekend with an incredible personal best in the FEI Para Grand Prix Freestyle IV, receiving an 83.400% from the judging panel. Screnci and Jarpur closed out their week with a 70.842% in their first ever FEI Para Grand Prix Freestyle Grade IV competition.

Results 
 
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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.