Mill Spring, N.C. – The Para-Dressage Team Championship got underway at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018 on Thursday with 14 nations contesting the title. Angela Peavy and Kate Shoemaker got the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team presented by Deloitte started, competing in the FEI Grade IV Team Test during the afternoon session. Following the first day of competition, the U.S. holds the 10th position with the two remaining team members completing their respective Team Tests on Friday. With a goal of competing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the U.S. team will look to the podium to qualify.
Peavy (Wellington, Fla.) and Royal Dark Chocolate had the task of entering the ring first for the U.S. team. Peavy did not get off to the start she would have liked with the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Rebecca Reno. However, they rebounded to pick up points as the test progressed to end with an overall score of 67.075%.
“Today was not the best. We had some errors with submission and communication between Coco [Royal Dark Chocolate] and me, but we tried to recover. We had two little episodes, and right after that, we got back on with our test. We had good moments [of recovery]. It was a learning [experience] for us; she was well behaved, not spooky, and being in a bubble with me, so I was proud of her for that,” said Peavy.
Shoemaker (Peoria, Ariz.) and Solitaer 40 returned to the ring determined to improve from Tuesday’s Individual Test. She and the 11-year-old Hanoverian stallion she owns with Craig and Deena Shoemaker demonstrated a relaxed Team Test for a score of 69.800%, improving on the Team Test results set over the winter show season.
“I was really happy how Soli [Solitaer 40] went in the arena and stayed with me today. It really showed in his balance, and I think that is what made the difference in the score today. He stayed a little more in his hind end, and that allowed me to ride him much more influentially, so it resulted in a much better test today,” said Shoemaker.
Para-equestrian dressage competition continues on Friday with the FEI Grade III Team Test at 9:30 a.m. ET featuring Rebecca Hart from the U.S. The FEI Grade I Team Test, featuring Roxanne Trunnel from the U.S., will follow at 1:30 p.m. ET. Their scores will count towards the overall team score. Watch it live via the USA Para-Dressage Facebook page.
Para-equestrian dressage schedule and results
Find out more about the para-equestrian dressage discipline and the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018.
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