The para dressage teams from nine other nations were no match for the U.S. squad at the Covalliero Dressage Days CPEDI 3-star in Hagen, Germany, over the weekend.
Taking the gold medal on a final team score of 458.894, the U.S. once again showcased talent and poise under the inspired oversight of Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline and Team Leader Laureen Johnson. The Netherlands finished second on a total of 446.804, while Germany took third on 442.857.
“This was a successful second observation event for our team following the first one in Tryon (North Carolina) just a few weeks ago,” said Michel, looking ahead to the world championships in Aachen next month.
“The Hagen CPEDI was slightly overwhelming as international participation was very high and included 10 teams, but our U.S. athletes maintained their form and position from the Paris 2024 Games to claim team gold against an extremely competitive field. It is really a matter now of maintaining form, but with a less-pressurized momentum to not fatigue our horses and keep our athletes sharp and ready for the rest of the summer.”
On her Paris 2024 mount, Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes laid the foundation with a strong start in Grade II competition. The pair topped the FEI Para Grand Prix A II test with 78.103 percent, demonstrating their ability to maintain form and consistency. In Grade III competition, team veteran Rebecca Hart and Floratina earned 74.111 percent in the FEI Para Grand Prix A III test, finishing top three in a field of 14 other international combinations/
Kate Shoemaker and Vianne made their mark in Grade IV competition, once again showcasing their partnership. The duo topped the first day in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test A IV with 76.111 percent. The class featured another strong group of 15 entries. Debuting a new mount, her Jarpur, Cynthia Screnci received a solid score of 67.35 percent in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test A in Grade V competition, finishing inside the top five.
Fiona and Diamond Dunes, a 2013 Hanoverian gelding, dominated once again on the second day of competition in Grade II, notching a personal best in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test B II, earning 80.833 percent and finishing atop the standings. Hart guided Floratina, a 2008 Hanoverian mare owned by Rowan O’Riley, to a fourth-place finish on the second day of Grade III competition with 72.889 percent, keeping the team ahead of the tough international field contesting the CPEDI 3-star.
Kate guided her Vianne, a 2016 Hanoverian mare, to another impressive test in Grade IV competition for the FEI Para Grand Prix Test B IV, earning 76.847 percent to take the win and guarantee the team’s podium-topping finish. Cynthia and Jarpur, a 2014 Hanoverian gelding, finished team competition with another strong performance as the newest combination for the squad, earning 67.281 percent in Grade V competition.
Both Kate and Cynthia elected to participate in the freestyle competition. Kate and Vianne sealed their weekend with a personal best in the FEI Para Grand Prix Freestyle IV, receiving 83.400 percent. Cynthia and Jarpur closed out their week with 70.842 percent in their first-ever FEI Para Grand Prix Freestyle Grade IV competition.
