Chef

Michel Assouline

Hometown: United Kingdom Birthday: 5/28/1955 Sport/Disciplines: Para-Equestrian

Michel Assouline serves asthe U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team Chef d'Equipe and Technical Advisor. Assouline is a graduate of the French National Equestrian School, home of the Cadre Noir in Saumur and gained a vast international experience in the U.S., France, Germany, and the United Kingdom as an international dressage rider and trainer.


Team Leader

Laureen Johnson

Hometown: Hackettstown, N.J. Birthday: 1/26/1962 Sport/Disciplines: Para-Equestrian, Vaulting

Laureen K. Johnson is originally from Chicago and now lives in New Jersey. She is a graduate of the Washington School for Secretaries and Business Administration in Washington D.C. and joined US Equestrian in 1999 and currently serves as the Director of Para-Equestrian and Vaulting. Since 2015, Johnson has served as team leader for the U.S. Vaulting Team at the 2015 and 2017 FEI World Championships for Juniors and the 2016 FEI World Championships for Seniors. She also served as team leader for the U.S. Para-Dressage Team at the 2016 Paralympic Games.


Competitor

Beatrice de Lavalette

Hometown: Lake Worth Beach, Fla. Birthday: 11/29/1998 Sport/Disciplines: Para-Equestrian Paralympic Years: 2020

Beatrice de Lavalette made her Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team debut at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 3 CPEDI3* in January 2020. She posted scores in the 70s with Duna, the 2008 KWPN mare she owns with Elizabeth and Nicolas de Lavalette, to place second in the FEI Grade II Freestyle and help win the team competition. In 2021, she rode the KWPN gelding Clarc to sweep the Grade II division in the CPEDI3* at AGDF 3. She also competed at her first Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020 with Clarc.

 

Clarc

Owner: Elizabeth & Nicholas De Lavalette Groom: Megan Ann Tye Gender: Gelding Breed: KWPN Disciplines: Para-Equestrian Sire: Dreamcatcher Dam: Miss Sinclair Foal Date: 5/29/2007

Clarc is a 14-year-old KPWN gelding owned by Elizabeth and Nicholas de Lavalette and is the ride of their daughter, Beatrice. Clarc was purchased early in late 2020 as a potential Tokyo 2020 Paralympic horse for Bea. The pair have bonded quickly and made a strong start to their newer partnership. The pair made their first team appearance for the U.S. Para Dressage Team in March 2021 and will make their Paralympic debut in Tokyo.


Competitor

Rebecca Hart

Hometown: Wellington, Fla. Birthday: 10/26/1984 Sport/Disciplines: Para-Equestrian Paralympic Years: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020

Rebecca Hart is a four-time Paralympian (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janerio 2016, and Tokyo 2020), four-time FEI World Equestrian Games™ team member (Herning 2022, Tryon 2018, Normandy 2014, and Lexington 2010) and seven-time USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion (2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2006). She and El Corona Texel, Rowan O’Reilly’s Dutch Warmblood gelding, were the first U.S. para-equestrian dressage combination to medal at a world championship. As a member of the FEI WEG Tryon 2018 U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team presented by Deloitte, she earned the U.S. their first-ever para-dressage medal at a WEG, winning bronze in the FEI Grade III Individual Test and then a silver medal in the FEI Grade III Freestyle. Rebecca is the most veteran athlete within the U.S. Para Dressage Program and has helped the team earn medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games and 2022 FEI Para Dressage World Championships in Herning.

 

El Corona Texel

Nickname: Tex Owner: Rowan O'Riley Groom: Esteban Quintero Gender: Gelding Breed: KWPN Disciplines: Para-Equestrian Sire: Wynton Dam: Urieta Texel Foal Date: 4/16/2009

El Corona Texel and rider Rebecca Hart represented the U.S. at the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 where they won two bronze and one silver medal. They were also part of the Adequan® US Para Dressage Team that won the team bronze medal at the Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021.


Competitor

Kate Shoemaker

Hometown: Wellington, Fla. Birthday: 8/25/1987 Sport/Disciplines: Para-Equestrian Paralympic Years: 2020, 2024

Kate Shoemaker earned her first world championship medal as a member of the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) Tryon 2018, earning bronze in the FEI Grade IV Freestyle. Her additional accomplishments include being named as the FEI WEG Normandy 2014 alternate; the 2015 USEF CPEDI1* Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion; and the Adequan®/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North team, individual, and freestyle gold medalist. Shoemaker also made her Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as a member for the bronze medal-winning U.S. team. Shoemaker also secured team bronze and won individual silver at the 2022 FEI Para Dressage World Championships hosted in Herning, Denmark.

 

Solitaer 40

Nickname: Soli Owner: Kate, Craig, & Deena Shoemaker Groom: Alexus Sisley Gender: Gelding Breed: Hanoverian Disciplines: Para-Equestrian Sire: Sandro Hit Dam: Dynastie Foal Date: 3/8/2007

Solitaer 40 has been the ride of Para Dressage athlete Kate Shoemaker for his entire international career. The pair represented the United States in their first international championship at the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018, where they secured the bronze medal in the FEI Grade IV Individual Freestyle. The pair have contested 74 international competitions together and Tokyo 2020 will be their Paralympic debut.


Competitor

Roxanne Trunnell

Hometown: Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Birthday: 4/26/1985 Sport/Disciplines: Para-Equestrian Paralympic Years: 2016, 2020, 2024

Roxanne "Roxie" Trunnell is a Paralympic individual gold medalist for Grade I and as part of the bronze medal-winning U.S. Para Dressage Team from Tokyo 2020. She is a three-time Paralympian (Paris 2024, Tokyo 2020, and Rio de Janeiro 2016) and three-time FEI World Equestrian Games™ U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team member (Herning 2022, Tryon 2018 and Normandy 2014). At the WEG Tryon 2018 she and Dolton won the bronze medal in the FEI Grade I Freestyle.

 

Dolton

Owner: Flintwoode Farms LLC & Karin Flint Groom: Angela Baugh Gender: Gelding Breed: Hanoverian Disciplines: Para-Equestrian Sire: Danone I Dam: Lady Foal Date: 5/11/2012

Dolton and Roxanne Trunnell are one of the top para dressage combinations in the world, recording multiple personal bests over the past two years and currently are the number one ranked combination in the world. Dolton, a nine-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Flintwoode Farms LLC & Karin Flint, competed in Grade I with Roxie and the pair have completed 40 international classes together across CPEDI competition beginning in 2018. The pair were selected to represent the U.S. Para Dressage Team at the the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 in Tryon, N.C., which was their first international championship together. The pair secured the bronze medal in the FEI Grade I Freestyle to Music. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be Trunnell's second Paralympics and Dolton's first.