Lexington, Ky. – June 16, 2016 – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced a team of four athlete-horse combinations for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Para-dressage competition will take place September 12–16 at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center, which is also hosting the Olympic equestrian events several weeks earlier.
The para-dressage team was chosen following the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships, which served as the selection trial. Each combination’s two highest scores in CPEDI3* events taking place between Jan. 1, 2015, and May 16, 2016, also influenced the team selection.
The following athlete-and-horse combinations will represent the U.S. in Rio (in alphabetical order):
(Photo: Annan Hepner/PSDressage.com)
Sydney Collier (above) (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Grade Ib, and Wesley Dunham’s Western Rose, a 2003 Oldenburg mare
Rebecca Hart (Wellington, Fla.), Grade II, and her own Schroeters Romani, a 2002 Danish Warmblood mare
Margaret McIntosh (Reading, Pa.), Grade Ia, and her own Rio Rio, a 2006 Rheinland Pfalz-Saar mare
Angela Peavy (Avon, Conn. and Wellington, Fla.), Grade III, and Heather Blitz and Rebecca Reno’s Lancelot Warrior, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding.
Further information regarding the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team selection process can be found on USEF.org. All nominations to the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC and USEF sponsors and members. Without the support of these organizations and individuals, it would not be possible to support U.S. athletes. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.
