108 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
Paralympics
By Lindsay Yosay McCall
The 2012 calendar year for the United States Para-Equestrian
Dressage Team has been intense, demanding and exciting. Of
course, so has able-bodied Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing.
However, the Para-Equestrian Dressage Team has had to meet
extraordinary physical demands in addition to intense schedules,
travel logistics and tough competition.
On June, 23 Para-Equestrians headed to Gladstone, New Jersey
where four athletes were selected to represent the Para-Equestrian
Dressage Team in London. One past Paralympian, a top ten Para-
Equestrian in the world, a past National wheelchair tennis champion
and an Orthopedic Surgeon will head to London in August for a chance
to earn the Gold for the red, white and blue. Equestrian Paralympic
competition is scheduled August 29-September 4, 2012 at Greenwich
Park London, England.
Meet the London Bound 2012 Paralympic Equestrian Team
Rebecca Hart from Unionville, Pennsylvania
- Under the tutelage of Rolex Eventer Missy Ransehousen
and Olympian Jessica Ransehousen. Rebecca has spent half of her life at Blue Hill Farm perfecting Classical
Dressage. Born with Familial Spastic Paraplegia, a genetic disease that causes muscle wasting and lack of
control from the waist down, Rebecca excelled through her academics and became an international star in Para-
Dressage. Her energetic personality and full time job at Starbucks Corporate keeps her smiling no matter the
weather. Since 2008 she has earned fve USEF National Championships, earned a 4th place fnish at the 2008
Beijing Paralympics, represented the United States at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and was
champion in 2011 at a CPEDI3* in Australia. Rebecca has been preparing two mounts for the Paralympics and
Jessica Ransehousen’s Lord Ludger will be her partner for the Games. With her 28th birthday approaching in
October she was asked what she was hoping for, Rebecca chuckled, “Is there anything after September 4, the
fnal day of the Paralympic Equestrian events?”
Jonathan Wentz from Richardson, Texas -
At 6’3” and a Texan boy build, fnding a dressage horse for Wentz was
the goal of Kai Handt from the North Texas Equestrian Center when they met years ago. Now with many years under
his belt learning from a “no-complaints” traditional German trainer, Jonathan, who has Cerebral Palsy, topped the
world Para-Equestrian list in 2012. In 2010 Wentz represented the United States with his trusty gelding NTEC Richter
Scale at the FEI World Equestrian Games. In 2011 they earned the USEF National Championship and in 2012
earned the Reserve National Championship. Although it looked like NTEC Richter Scale would retire at the World
Equestrian Games in Lexington, Jonathan smiled, “Richter is a fne wine that keeps getting better with age.” Let’s
hope there is celebratory champagne for this 21 year old after their successful end to the year in London.
Donna Ponessa from New Windsor, New York
- Donna’s competitive nature made her one of the world’s top
wheelchair tennis players and a celebrated equestrian. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in college and then a
new diagnoses a few years later as a rare form of multiple sclerosis, called Devic Disease, Donna’s competitive
desire remained fxed on the future. In 2011 she aimed for the Paralympics and her dreams will come true this
August. Armed with trainer Wesley Dunham, of Woodstock Stables in Millbrook, New York, Donna has been
accumulating the accolades throughout 2011 and 2012. In 2011 she was the Para-Equestrian Dressage National
Champion in Grade IA. When she headed to Mexico she was part of the Gold Medal U.S. Team and was then
selected to fy halfway around the world to Australia, once again capturing the Gold as part of U.S. Team. In
2012 she earned the third overall placing at the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and
was Champion of the Grade IA division. Donna will be competing at the Paralympics with Western Rose, owned
by Wesley Dunham. Donna noted, “This is a chance of a lifetime. I won’t believe this is really happening until I
am walking down centerline in London.”
Dale Dedrick from Ann Arbor, Michigan -
With a U.S. National Swimming world record holder for a mom, a
father that was an elite golfer and a grandmother who rode in the Calgary Stampede, it seemed only natural
for Dale to become an athlete and equestrian. After a few intense years, earning her M.D. from the University
of Maryland School of Medicine, Dale stepped back into riding and her Dressage training evolved. During her
orthopedic residency at the University of Michigan, Dale was diagnosed with Lupus. As an orthopedic surgeon,
symptoms of joint deformities, infammation, heart disease and muscle weakness were affecting Dale’s ability
to work. Dale retired in 1992 as an Assistant Professor of Surgery and Internal Medicine. In her teens she
was a successful hunter/jumper rider, was a supreme National Dressage rider and in 1986 she was a U.S.
Olympic Festival competitor. As a Para-Equestrian she few onto the scene training with her mount Bonifatius
“Erik” and trainer Rosalind Kinstler of Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 2011 she earned the USEF Para-Equestrian
Dressage Reserve National Champion, was Champion Grade II Para-Equestrian and in 2012 was the
Reserve National Champion Grade II Para-Equestrian. Dale commented, “I cannot believe this is happening
to my horse Erik, myself, and my fellow U.S. teammates, it’s awesome!
About the writer: Lindsay Yosay McCall is photojournalist for the equestrian industry. She has covered many international horse
shows for hunters, show jumpers, dressage and para-equestrian dressage. Lindsay has traveled with the para-equestrians since
2009 and will be covering the 2012 Paralympics in London. All photos by Lindsay Yosay McCall