KINGSTON, RI—February 4, 2002—The National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) invites horse-owners to make their competitive horses available for use by the country’s top riders who have a disability, with an eye towards competing in the next Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece in 2004.

Many of the nation’s leading riders with a disability do not have a quality dressage horse to ride consistently, limiting their ability to succeed at the highest levels of international competition. Just as horse-owners develop partnerships with the nation’s best able-bodied riders, and then see their horses ride for medals in the Olympic Games, owners can do the same for our nation’s top riders who have a disability.

Horses are needed to be matched with top riders soon, to give each horse-and-rider pair the time needed to train together and compete in NDSA championships, selection trials, and then maybe on the United States’ team for the 2003 World Championships and then onto the 2004 Paralympic Games, held right after the Olympic Games at the Olympic venues.

“These are excellent dressage riders who just happen to have a physical disability,” said Denise Avolio, Director of the Equestrian discipline for NDSA. “Much as owners match their competitive horses with top riders in all other branches of our sport, we look to do the same with our riders,” she added.

The National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) acts as the National Governing Body for Equestrian competition for riders with disabilities. NDSA works closely with both USA Equestrian and USET to provide opportunities for riders with disabilities within the “able-bodied” community.

NDSA is responsible for conduct and administration of approved sports in the United States. NDSA formulates the rules, implements policies and procedures, conducts national championships in twelve sports, disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects the athletes to represent the United States in international competition. NDSA is a CBO (Community Based Organization) member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). Horse owners interested in learning more about the opportunity to partner a horse with a rider with a disability should call Denise Avolio at (914) 949-8166, or <info@ndsaonline.org. For more information on the NDSA, visit www.ndsaonline.org.