The Paralympic Games are the pinnacle of sports competition for athletes with disabilities. It is the counterpart to the Olympics and takes place in the same venues in Sydney, two weeks after the completion of the Olympic Games. The Equestrian portion of the event is governed by the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee, a sub-committee of the International Paralympic Committee. Opening Ceremony: October 18, 2000 Equestrian Dressage Competition: October 25-28, 2000 Venue: Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park Details: 68 riders from 22 countries have been invited to compete in dressage at the Paralympic Games. They will compete for team and individual medals, as well in as musical freestyle competition.

References:
http://www.equisearchstores.com/sydney/
http://www.cantra.ca/
http://www.olympic-usa.org/games/ga_2_2_1_1.html

THE U.S. TEAM
The U.S. Paralympic Team is governed, managed and funded by the United States Olympic Committee. The United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association is the national governing body for equestrian competition for riders with disabilities and works as an agent for the USOC in selecting and managing the equestrian athletes who compete internationally. The six equestrian athlete members of the U.S. Paralympic team were selected based upon fulfillment of the selection criteria which included competition at 1999 qualifying shows and at final selection trials held in May at the United States Equestrian Team in Gladstone, NJ. Accompanying them is a staff of six coaches who bring with them experience and expertise in all facets of the sport. References:
http://www.dressageunlimited.com/ridersunltd99/Default.htm
http://www.equisearchstores.com/sydney/articles/mw_paral0800.shtml
http://www.olympic-usa.org/games/ga_2_2_1_1.html

ATHLETE MEMBERS The team is made up of six athletes, who will compete against others in their "grade" at the Sydney Games. Their grade is determined by the functional physical ability, not their riding ability.

ROBIN BRUECKMANN
Summerfield, NC

• Grade IV rider.
• Robin is an AHSA "S" Dressage judge, and an AHSA "R" combined training judge and technical delegate.
• Robin became disabled with complications from reflex sympathetic dystrophy in 1994,
• and has competed on a national and international level for disabled riders since 1998.
• She also competes in AHSA recognized shows with her own horses "Bordeaux" and "Augenblick".
• �� In 1999, Robin represented the United States as a member of TeamUSA at the World Dressage Championships in Denmark where she won two gold medals and a bronze.

KEBBIE CANNON
Waxhaw, NC

• Grade IV rider.
• Kebbie is 36 years old, from Mineral Springs, North Carolina.
• She has cerebral palsy and chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Kebbie was the recipient of the USCPAA High Point Championship and Freestyle Championships in 1999 at Grade IV.
• She owns and trains her horse, "Sleeping Beauty" and they have successfully schooled to Second Level.

• Grade III rider.
• Mary was born with Spinabifida.
• She has been riding and competing since a very early age.
• She graduated from Morven Park International Equestrian Institute with an Instructor's Certificate,
• taught riding professionally for thirty years and has ridden many different disciplines as well as driven single, pairs and four in hand.
• In 1994, Mary was part of TeamUSA that competed at the World Dressage Championships in Hartpury, England.
• In 1999, Mary was the USCPAA High Point Champion in Grade III, the USCPAA Freestyle Champion and the winner of the Bradshaw Challenge of Champions.
• Mary is employed by the University of Michigan in the Office of Space Analysis.

HOPE HAND
Newtown Square, PA

• Grade I rider.
• Hope has been physically disabled since birth, paralyzed from the waist down from Spinabifida.
• She was an alternate to the Atlanta Paralympic Team in 1996
• Competed at the British Invitational in 1997, earning a gold and a bronze.
• In 1998, Hope was of the four disabled riders competing at the Bradshaw Challenge of Champions.
• She was also a member of Team USA competing at the 1999 World Dressage Championships for the disabled in Denmark where her bronze brought the Team 6th place out of twenty-eight countries.
• Hope lives with her husband and daughter on their farm and trains out of the Radnor Hunt Stables in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

LYNN SEIDEMANN
Coppell, TX

• Grade I rider.
• Lynn became a paraplegic seventeen years ago as the result of a skiing accident.
• She has been riding horses for seven years and started competing in 1996.
• In 1999, Lynn qualified as a member of U.S. World Championship Team, and ended the year ranked number two in Grade I.
• Lynn is married to Sam Seidemann, and has two children, Nick, 8 and Jena, 3.
• Her highest achievement to date is in tennis, when she won a silver medal in doubles at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.

KATHY WHELAN
Atlantic City, NJ

• Grade II rider.
• Kathy has been competing in dressage since 1991 and has been a member of several international teams: England in 1994 and 1997, an alternate for Denmark in 1999 and short-listed to the Atlanta Paralympic Team.
• She currently holds the Grade II USCPAA High Point Championship for 1999.
• Kathy became disabled from radiation/chemotherapy induced nerve damage that affected her left arm and both legs.
• Kathy is a volunteer NARHA registered instructor for her local therapeutic riding program, ARCH, a board member of the Competition Association of NARHA, a member of the AHSA Disabled Sports Committee, and a USCPAA Equestrian Athlete Advisory Committee member.
• A retired schoolteacher, Kathy lives in Atlantic City with her husband, Jim and son, Rich.

BARBARA GRASSMYER (1st Alternate)
Placerville, CA

• Grade IV rider.
• Barbara, age 27, began her riding career sixteen years ago and has competed for the past nine years.
• In 1994, she was a member of TeamUSA that competed in the World Dressage Championships in Hartpury, England and
• In 1997, competed at the Hartpury Invitational.
• In 1999, Barbie competed in the Bradshaw Challenge of Champions and the Finish Line Challenge at the North American Young Riders Championships.
• Barbara was a recipient of the 1999 USCPAA Sportsman Riders of the Year award.
• She is a graduate of Feather River College, NARHA certified therapeutic riding instructor and volunteers at All Seasons Riding Academy.
• As a result of being born with Apert's Syndrome, Barbara has syndactylism of the fingers and toes and restricted motion in all of her joints.
• She is currently training with Geoff Laurin of Half Step Farm in El Dorado, California.

STAFF MEMBERS

DENISE AVOLIO
Valhalla, NY
• Chef D'Equipe/Team Leader.
• Sports Technical Officer for USCPAA. Similar position as the Discipline Directors at the USET.
• Certified therapeutic riding instructor.

  SARAH COTTON
  Marsais FRANCE

• Member of the British Horse Society and Chief Examiner for the Association of British Riding Schools.
• Past owner/operator of Trwyegoed Riding Centre in Wales, England.
• Host to the U.S. team at the 1994 World Championships in Hartpury, England.
• Volunteer at the Atlanta Paralympic Games equestrian competition.

  INGRID CARLSON
  Far Hills, NJ

• Formerly USOC coordinator for the USET.
• Dressage trainer and rider.

  SANDY RAFFERTY
  Troy, MO

• Co-founder, Executive Director, therapist and instructor at Therapeutic Horsemanship in St. Charles, MO.
• Licensed Occupational Therapist and certified therapeutic riding instructor.
• Chef D'Equipe for every international disabled equestrian team from the first World Championships in 1986 though 1997.

  MISSY RANSEHOUSEN
  Unionville, PA

• Manager and instructor of Blue Hill Farm in Unionville, Pennsylvania.
• Member of the 1995 Silver medal Pan American Team.
• Individual gold and team silver medals at the North American Young Riders Championships.

  LAURA SCHERR
  Seattle, WA

• Certified therapeutic riding instructor/past program director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville, WA.
• Certified Equine Massage Therapist.
• Has coached riders with disabilities at national qualifying competitions and selection trials.

TEAM PREPARATION
In order to prepare for competition at the Sydney Games, the USOC has funded several training camps for the team members to come together and sharpen the skills required to compete in Paralympic Dressage competition. All the team members train near their homes, and the camps provide additional support in the unique factors of the competition.

June 21st - 25th - The entire team delegatation convened for the first time to accomplish several goals. In conjunction with the USET Festival of Champions, this camp focused on team building and general team preparation and development of their musical freestyles. Mary Harrison, a professional freestyle choreographer, worked with the riders and designed "american theme" freestyles. The rides were debuted at the USET Challenge of Champions, Bradshaw Challenge of Champions on Sunday, June 25th.

August 31st - September 2nd - Blue Hill Farm, Unionville, PA September 8th - 10th - Summerfield, NC September 16th - 19th - Half Steps Farm, El Dorado, CA Three camps have been scheduled to take place on the weekends listed. These camps will focus on the most unique challenge that riders with disabilities face in international competition, the riding of a borrowed horse. Additional sources of information: Press releases enclosed.

The United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association is a not for profit 501.c.3 charitable organization, a Disabled Sports Organization member of the United States Olympic Committee and is the national governing body of multiple competitive sports for individuals who have cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries or have had a stroke. For equestrian, USCPAA represents athletes of all physical disabilities. We are responsible for the conduct and administration of the sport, select athletes to represent the U.S. in international competition, and communicate with the international governing bodies in sports for the disabled. USCPAA develops and administers the selection criteria for all international teams, sanctions qualifying events, and manages all selection trials and competition training camps for its team members competing internationally. USCPAA is also involved with the grassroots development of competition through our National Awards Program, Athlete Development Clinics and training and certification programs for judges and officials.

For more information about USCPAA please contact our National Office at 25 W. Independence Way, Kingston, RI 02881, phone (401) 874-7465, e-mail kkellyoz@hotmail.com.

http://www.dressageunlimited.com/ridersunltd99/Default.htm
Several articles including one on Mary Green and general articles about the Paralympic Team

http://www.cantra.ca/
IPEC Rules On Line

http://www.equisearchstores.com/sydney/
This web site will give paralympic news

http://www.equisearchstores.com/sydney/articles/mw_paral0800.shtml
An excellent article by Martha Worcester which explains Paralympics, Qualifying System, Grade Levels, Tests ridden and includes quotes by Robin Brueckman and Hope Hand. The article also includes a picture of the 2000 Paralympic Team and links to NARHA, CANTRA and ACORD.

http://www.olympic-usa.org/games/ga_2_2_1_1.html
Gives overview and history of paralympics and relationship to olympics

http://www.olympic-usa.org/games/ga_2_2_1_1.html
Article from May 1 Chicago Times contains interview with Barbara Grassmyer