Lexington, KY – The first FEI Paralympic Qualifier CEPDI4 for a Paralympic Games held in this country will be held at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA, May 13-17, 2007. In addition to being a qualifier for the 2008 Paralympic Games in China, it will also be a selection trial for the 2007 United States Para-dressage World Championship Team and the USEF National Championships for Para-equestrian. It will be the third FEI Paralympic qualifier in para-equestrian that is being held worldwide; the other two were held last year in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in Belgium.

Invitations will be sent to other National Federations worldwide and it is expected that riders from North and South America will be joined by others from around the world. The top riders for the United States who may be competing include 2004 Paralympic silver medalist from the Athens Games, Lynn Seidemann, of Coppell, Texas as well as Keith Newerla of Abescon, New Jersey; Barb Grassmyer of Placerville, California; and Kathy Groves of Columbus, North Carolina. The United States Chef d’Equipe will be Missy Ransenhousen.

“We are thrilled that Morven Park has agreed to host this first-ever event in our country,” said Denise Avolio, Chair of the USEF Para-Equestrian High Performance Committee. “It will be a great international start for our riders leading up to the World Championships in Hartpury, Great Britain and the 2008 Paralympic Games.”

For more information contact Don Whittle, Managing Director of Para-Equestrian, 859-225-6984.
~~~For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, at (859) 225-6941, or via e-mail at [email protected].