Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be hosting a ParaEquestrian Dressage Training Session June 10-11, 2009 at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville, WA. The Training Session is designed for riders who have various disabilities to learn more about competing in Dressage at the National or International Level.

Missy Ransehousen, USEF ParaEquestrian Team Coach, will be conducting the Training Session. Ransehousen has competed through the international levels of Dressage and Eventing and has coached the US Team at both the 2008 and 2004 Paralympic Games and at the 2007 FEI ParaEquestrian World Championships. Riders will also have the opportunity to receive their National Classification from Steve McKenzie MS, PT and Therapy Services Director at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center.

The training session will be immediately followed by the Margo O'Callaghan Memorial Dressage Show presented by Emerald Downs. As the only dressage show specifically created for riders with disabilities, it will enable riders at any therapeutic riding center or riders with a ParaEquestrian classification to compete against others with similar abilities and riding skills. All riders who attend the training session are encouraged to stay and participate in the show. Little Bit horses may be borrowed to participate in the event.

ParaEquestrian provides riders with all kinds of disabilities the chance to compete in dressage competitions at every level, from local shows to the Paralympic Games. ParaEquestrian Dressage will be included, for the first time, at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games which will be held in Lexington, KY in September of 2010. Training Sessions like this are a valuable tool to help identify new athletes, work with existing elite athletes, educate trainers on ParaEquestrian Sport Programs and to raise awareness of the ParaEquestrian program in the US.

ENDS

Please contact Pam Lane for an appointment for classification or to sign up for the training session at [email protected] or at 908.326.1153.

For more information about the Little Bit Therapuetic Riding Center, please visit: www.littlebit.org. For information about the horse show please contact: Jenny Nell at 425-882-1554.