Clarc, who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games with athlete Beatrice de Lavalette, is set to embark on a new chapter of his life at Carlisle Academy located in Lyman, Maine. This transition comes as Bea focuses on new goals in her career, allowing Clarc to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
Beatrice “Bea” de Lavalette, who lost both of her lower legs in the tragic 2016 bombing at Brussels Airport, has shown incredible resilience and dedication in her equestrian career. Just five months after the terrorist attack that killed 32 people and injured over 300, she returned to riding with her mare, Delegada X (“DeeDee”), a testament to her spirit and love for the sport. Clarc became her partner nine months ahead of the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020 and together they became a part of the U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team, displaying their bond and skills on a global stage.
As Clarc approached semi-retirement in early 2024, Elizabeth de Lavalette, Bea’s mother and co-owner of Clarc, expressed her desire to keep him close to home while ensuring he had a fulfilling purpose. She shared, “He was still being ridden by Skyler Wroblewski while Bea was concentrating on her current horse, Sixth Sense, at the time. She was trying to make it to the Paris Paralympic Games. After Skyler finished her season, we decided that we needed to find something else for him to do.”
After carefully considering the options, the de Lavalettes decided to donate Clarc to Carlisle Academy. “We did not want to sell him. So, after a long talk with Laureen Johnson, Director of Para-Equestrian at US Equestrian, we produced this idea to donate him to Carlisle.” But that decision did not come without some stipulations. Elizabeth continued, “I did not want him to be too far from home. I still wanted to be able to visit him, so it had to be somewhere on the East Coast. I also wanted to get him out of Florida because it was too hot for him down here, so it needed to be north of the Carolinas. In the end, it came down to Sarah Armentrout and her program.”
In 1998, Nick and Sarah Armentrout founded Equest Therapeutic Riding Center, and the center has evolved over the years. Now recognized for its integrative equine therapy and sports programs, the now-called Carlise Academy collaborates with community partners to provide a range of equestrian sport and wellness initiatives. Sarah Armentrout, co-founder of the academy, emphasized their commitment to excellence. “We have been a USEF International Para Dressage Center of Excellence since 2015 when the accreditation started. We’re proud to be part of it since the very beginning.” The USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE) are designed to grow the sport of para-dressage throughout the United States, playing a critical role in pipeline development - from grassroots all the way through to elite levels of athlete and coach education and support. The center is also a designated U.S. Pony Club Riding Center, providing formal youth programs utilizing their well-respected horse management and equestrian sports curriculum.
Clarc arrived at the center on Oct. 31, 2024, and Sarah and the team went to work, learning about him and what makes him tick, “I’m still getting to know Clarc and discovering where he has the best fit,” she said. Armentrout went on to explain how Clarc differs from other horses in the program.
“He is in a slightly different category in that he is more specialized to help para dressage students who are new to the sport," she said. “We currently have two Grade III athletes, one with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the other with cerebral palsy, who are both eager to be as competitive as they can be. Clarc won’t be the horse that takes them to the Paralympics, but he can help them along their journey to becoming better athletes.”
At 17 years old, Clarc is entering a new, rewarding phase of his life. Armentrout noted, “He has many purposeful years ahead.” Having a horse of Clarc’s quality in the program is exciting for Carlise and for him to become a teacher will help many students get the feel of a Paralympic-level horse.
Beyond working with para-athletes, Clarc is also poised to work with advanced Pony Club members at the center who have aspirations to pursue higher levels of the dressage track. “He can teach the young riders moves that only a talented schoolmaster can do, like lateral movements and collected work,” Armentrout explained, “We want to honor Clarc for all he has done in his career and all he can still teach.”
In addition to personal fulfilment fostered by these arrangements, donating FEI-level horses like Clarc to centers such as Carlisle Academy offers benefits to owners. These donations not only help sustain top-level para programs but also enable aging competition horses to continue contributing meaningfully in their semi-retirement years.
Programs led by dedicated professionals like Armentrout ensure that these horses remain physically active and mentally engaged, rather than being left idle in a pasture. By working with young riders who cherish and care for them, horses like Clarc enjoy a fulfilling second chapter, mirroring the support Beatrice received when she entered the competitive para dressage scene. This symbiotic relationship not only enriches the lives of the horses but also inspires the next generation of young athletes.
As Clarc settles into his new home in Maine, both Elizabeth de Lavalette and the Armentrouts are excited about the positive impact he will have on the young riders at Carlisle Academy. This transition marks not just a new career for Clarc, but a continuation of his legacy as a beloved member of the de Lavalette family and the para equestrian community.
Learn more about USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE) here.