The Future of U.S. Para-Dressage
A month before the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina, U.S. Para Equestrian Association President Hope Hand had a “vivid dream of team bronze.” It was a wild prediction because the U.S had not medaled since para-dressage was added to the WEG in 2010 and its last Paralympics medal was a freestyle silver in 2004, an entirely different era in terms of caliber of competition.
Yet Hand recalls the dream was so powerful that, “I was not even nervous” as compettition commenced Sept. 18 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. When veteran U.S. para-rider Rebecca Hart rode El Corona Texel to bronze in the Individual Grade III test, “It almost seemed like witchcraft,” Hand remembered with lingering joy. And that was just the beginning.
By week’s end, the squad had hauled in four medals: Hart picked up another with silver in the Grade III freestyle, Kate Shoemaker and Solitaer 40 earned bronze in the Grade IV freestyle and Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton rode to bronze in the Grade I freestyle. It wasn’t the team bronze of Hand’s dream, which would have taken care of 2020 Paralympics qualification. But
