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Articles: Press Release
National Disability Sports Alliance And Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Inc. To
Co-Host
The Inner Vision Championships for Blind and Visually Impaired Riders
Contact:
Marty Bauman, (508) 698-6810,
classic.pr@verizon.net
Huntington, NY—January 3, 2002—The National Disability Sports Alliance
(NDSA) and Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Inc. will co-host the first Inner Vision
Championships for Blind and Visually Impaired Riders, July 9-13 in
Huntington, NY. This first of its kind competition will bring together
blind and visually impaired riders from around the world for championship
dressage competition.
Approved and recognized by the International Paralympic Equestrian
Committee, the international organization that governs equestrian sport for
riders with disabilities, the Inner Vision Championships will feature
individual championship and team events. The Championships will be held at
Willow Tree Farm at Caumsett Historic State Park, in Huntington, NY, site of
the first international competition for riders with disabilities in 1984.
“We are very excited to be able to host this unprecedented
international competition for blind and visually-impaired riders,” said
Denise I. Avolio, Chairman of the Organizing Committee. “We anticipate an
impressive level of riding from these inspirational riders.”
The Championships will open with the veterinary inspection and
draw for horses on Tuesday, July 9. There will be training sessions for
competitors starting on Tuesday, July 9 and continuing through Thursday,
July 11. There will be a warm-up competition on Friday, July 12 and the
individual championship and musical freestyle classes will take place on
Saturday, July 13.
Riders are expected from North and South America, Australia and
Europe with each participating nation allowed no more than four riders.
Blind riders compete in the same arena as sighted riders, with the only
allowance being that they may use electronic or “living” letters to help
them in navigating their tests. The tests they ride are written
specifically for riders with disabilities, and include movements equal to
the USA Equestrian fourth level dressage tests. Musical freestyles are a
compulsory part of the championship.
The National Disability Sports Alliance is recognized as the national
governing body for equestrian sport for riders with disabilities. NDSA is
responsible for the development and selection of riders for national
championship and international competitions, including the Paralympic Games,
and provides training, competition and advocacy for riders with physical
disabilities.
Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Inc. is a therapeutic riding program located in
Huntington, NY that provides therapeutic, recreational and competitive
horseback riding opportunities for people with physical, emotional and
cognitive disabilities.
Both NDSA and Pal-O-Mine are 501(c)3 organizations. Donations and
sponsorships are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Those interested in sponsorship opportunities or other ways of supporting
the Championships should
contact Denise Avolio at (914) 949-8166 or
diavolio@ndsaonline.org, or
Lisa A. Gatti, Competition Manager, at
(631) 427-6105 or info@pal-o-mine.org.
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