Lexington, Ky. – After a year of unprecedented success for the U.S. Para Dressage team, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has recognized Para Dressage Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline as its Paralympic Coach of the Year for 2020. Assouline was one of eight coaches from across all Olympic and Paralympic sports recognized by the USOPC in its annual Coach of the Year program. Michel Assouline with Roxanne Trunnell, Sydney Collier, Kate Shoemaker, and Rebecca Hart...

At a time when the para-equestrian dressage program is gaining momentum, US Equestrian will be looking at the sport’s bright future at a special panel discussion on Friday, Jan. 11, at US Equestrian’s 2019 Annual Meeting. The panel, “Para-Equestrian Dressage: Launch of the Coach Certification Program and Building for the Future,” will take place on Jan. 11 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Coral Ballroom C at the Hilton West Palm Beach in Florida. Attendees will hear from a range...

Lexington, Ky. - Para-equestrian dressage athlete Katie Jackson has been named a recipient of a 2017 Travel & Training Grant from the Women’s Sports Foundation. Jackson, a Grade V para-equestrian dressage competitor, joins 14 athletes and five teams across 17 sports who have received grants through the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Travel & Training Fund program. Jackson will use the grant to help offset expenses associated with training for a spot on the U.S. team at...

Lexington, Ky . – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce its partnership with the United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) to establish International Para-Equestrian Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE). COEs will serve as the foundation to attract new athletes to para-equestrian dressage and develop athletes and coaches for competition at the international level, including the Paralympic Games. There are many excellent centers around the U.S. that...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Federation (USEF) has named Kai Handt as the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor. The Search Committee, chaired by Eric Straus, USEF Para-Equestrian Eligible Athlete Committee, and USEF Para-Equestrian High Performance Kai Handt (USEF Archive) Committee recommended Handt for this position. Handt (Wylie, Texas) has a great depth of experience in the equestrian world as a competitor, trainer, and coach. Since August of 1985, Handt...

U.S. Air Force veteran Derrick Perkins and Gallo del Poco Tivio, owned by Luke and Caleb Kelley competing in the Para-Reining competition at the 2013 AQHA World Championship Show (Lindsay Y. McCall) Oklahoma City, Okla. - November 17, 2013- The 2013 American Quarter Horse (AQHA) World Championship Show featured 3,401 entries, a total purse more than $2.4 million, riders from 49 states and 7 countries, and the best Reiners in the business. From November 8-23, equestrians competed in halter,...

Oklahoma City, Okla. – A new discipline will be on display at the 2013 AQHA World Championship Show: para-reining. USA Reining and the United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) announced last month that along with the help of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), reining would be introduced as a discipline for para-equestrian athletes. With the aim of making para-reining a fully recognized sport in 2014, a clinic and...

As the United States looks forward to the 2012 Paralympics for the United States Para-Equestrian Dressage Team, the Para-Equestrian Driving Team will be preparing for the 2012 Para-Equestrian World Driving Championships, scheduled August 30-September 2, 2012 in Breda, The Netherlands. The 2012 USEF Para-Equestrian Driving Team for the World Driving Championships include Diane Kastama, Grade 1, from Arroyo Grande, CA; Pam Johnson, Grade 2 from Pleasant Hill, MO; and Karen Gorham, Grade 2, of...

The Gold United States Para-Equestrian Team (Pictured Left to Right: USEF Director Pam Lane, Chef d'equipe Missy Ransehousen, Rebecca Hart, Erin Alberda, Mary Jordan, and in front is Donna Ponessa). Photo: Hope Hand/USPEA. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - When the United States Para-Equestrian Team flew Down Under for the 2011 Melbourne CPEDI3* (held at Werribee Park National Equestrian Center), they were prepared to give it their all. This competition was not just about top scores but it was...

Jonathan Wentz on NTEC Richter Scale (2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion). Photo: Lindsay Y McCall. Mexico City, Mexico - Sitting aboard a horse with unbelievable mountain views from all angles in a brand new facility was what eighteen para-equestrians experienced at the most recent CPEDI3* event. The red carpet was rolled out for United States Para-Equestrian Team at the 2011 CPEDI3* in Mexico City, Mexico at Rancho San Juan. Eighteen Para-Equestrians competed under five...