Lexington, Ky. – In an effort to increase growth and participation of eligible veterans in para-equestrian sport, the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has provided grant support for the Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans. For the past two years, USEF/USPEA International Para-Equestrian Dressage Center of Excellence (COE) Carlisle Academy Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports, in partnership with the US Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) and the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH), has been the recipient of the VA’s Federal Adaptive Sport Grant. This assistance has helped develop the para-dressage and para-driving pipelines through clinics, outreach, and ongoing education efforts for para-eligible veteran athletes and coaches. 

In 2018, each COE will receive funding to host events, which will help with outreach and awareness of the Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans. The goals of these events include promoting the COE Online Para-Equestrian Learning Modules as an educational tool, offering a national classification opportunity for new veteran athletes, and providing coach training with US Equestrian Head of Para-Equestrian Coach Development and High Performance Consultant Michel Assouline. Read a full description of the Initiative here.

For more information about the Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans, contact Sarah Armentrout, Carlisle Academy Head of School & National Coordinator of the Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans, at [email protected] or Laureen Johnson, US Equestrian Director of Para-Equestrian at [email protected].