The other nations must be nervous seeing the strength of the para-dressage team that the United States is bringing to the Paris Paralympic Games, held Aug. 28-Sept. 8. Will this be the year Team USA finally harvests the fruits from all the hard work they have been doing the past years? Will the 2024 Paralympics be the golden year for U.S. para-dressage? A lot points in that direction.

The last time the U.S. para riders stood eye-to-eye with the best riders from Europe was at the 2022 ECCO FEI World Championships in Denmark, where they scored team bronze. Since then, a lot has changed, and the fast-paced evolution of para-dressage is visible.

The innovative minds of the para riders and the constant focus on how they can develop themselves and work with their disabilities by improving aids, their fitness and equipment to support their lack of abilities, and thereby be the best rider for their horse, is an inspiring aspect all riders could learn from. Put simply: There are no excuses in para-dressage, only solutions.

The way para riders approach their riding and their relationship with the horse in general is built on a lot of respect for their equine partner and gratitude for how forgiving they can be in adjusting to their rider’s disabilities. Para riders are not able to ride with force but are highly dependent on establishing a special partnership based on trust and love of their horse in order to succeed. A partnership where, when misunderstanding occurs, they don’t blame their equine partner but look in the mirror and take accountability and responsibility for the problem and the solution.

Being a para equestrian, like being a great able-bodied rider, means constantly asking yourself the question, “How can I help my horse?” In these troubled times for dressage, I believe that we should look to para-dressage as an inspiration. In para-dressage, riding with force is simply not an option, and because of that, riders manage to create magic through the special bond they share with their horses.

Team Predictions For Paris

I believe we are going to see some of the best para-dressage of all time at the Paris Paralympics. The level and quality of horses is nothing short of amazing. Because the horses and riders have been constantly improving, some of the medal-winning riders from Tokyo, some para legends such as Great Britain’s Lee Pearson and the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar, have not even been selected for this year’s Games. That just goes to show how fast things change and how high the level will be this year.

The three biggest nations from the Tokyo Games, Great Britain, the Netherlands and the U.S., are still the strongest contestants for the team medals in Paris. But in the three years that have passed since Tokyo, a lot has changed, and especially the Netherlands and the U.S. have taken quantum leaps in developing their team and riders. This makes the two nations the strongest contenders for the team gold, and it will be interesting to see if Team USA is finally able to put a stop to the Dutch gold dominance.

Can Trunnell Repeat Grade I Gold?

One of Team USA’s strong cards for an individual gold is the defending gold medalist in Grade I from the 2021 Paralympic Games, Roxanne Trunnell. This time she will not be bringing her partner from Tokyo, Dolton, but instead she will make an entrance on the relatively new acquaintance, Fan Tastico H, with whom she paired in 2023.

Despite the newness of the partnership, their 2024 season has been impressive. They started the year off with scoring around 75%, but as the year has progressed, so have their scores. At their last Fédération Equestre Internationale competition in June, they scored close to 80% in the individual competition and crossed that magical 80% in the freestyle. Watch out Paris, here comes Fan Tastico!

Though he is retired from international sport, Dolton carries a huge part of Trunnell’s success with Fan Tastico H. Trunnell still rides Dolton at home and says that if she’s struggling to get something with Fan Tastico, coach Andrea Woodard gives her a lesson on Dolton to feel what she’s talking about, and then she can replicate that feeling on Fan Tastico.

Trunnell’s biggest competitors in Grade I will be the two world champions, Latvian Rihards Snikus with King Of The Dance and Italian Sara Morganti on either Mariebelle or Royal Delight.

Howard Is On A Roll In Grade II

In Grade II we have a championship debutante for the USA, Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes. They earned great results during their 2024 European campaign, scoring above 75% at the Mannheim CPEDI (Germany) and breaking 77% at the Hagen CPEDI (Germany), beating former Paralympic medalists.

They have proven a strong card for Team USA, both for the team ranking but also as an interesting candidate for the individual medals. Will Howard be able to take on the European champion Heidemarie Dresing on Dooloop from Germany and the world champion Katrine Kristensen on Goerklintgaards Quater for Denmark? Howard and Diamond Dunes definitely have what it takes, and it will be exciting to see if they deliver their best on the day and take home the Paris gold.

Howard, who is trained by Nicole Wego-Engelmeyer, looks ready to impress in her para-dressage championship debut.

Hart Has Her Work Cut Out For Her In Grade III

The toughest grade in Paris will without a doubt be Grade III. With so many incredible horse-and-rider combinations that have been scoring above 75% this season, there is really no one who can predict the podium spots in this grade. We have the defending Paralympic champion from Tokyo, Tobias Thorning Jørgensen on Jolene Hill, and they are an elegant and experienced combination from Denmark. Then Dutch rider Rixt van der Horst acquired the incredible stallion Eisma’s Royal Fonq last year and has had a huge season leading up to Paris. And we should not rule out the French home darling, Chiara Zenati with Swing Royal.

These are the riders that U.S. rider Rebecca Hart and the charismatic Floratina will have to battle for a podium spot. The lovely combination definitely has what it takes to medal, but they will have to deliver their very best in the strong field.

Shoemaker Looks Good For Grade IV

Not many horses in the world look more well-ridden and schooled than the ones under Catherine Haddad Staller. It is therefore no wonder that a horse from her stable is a great match for a para rider. Horses that have been correctly ridden from the seat and with a light hand are the ones that adjust fastest to life as a para horse. If you then combine a world-class horse that has had the correct schooling with a world-class para rider, you will surely have the recipe for success.

Shoemaker took over the reins on the incredible Vianne, who is the result of four generations of breeding by Staller, in the beginning of the year. The partnership has been nothing short of a love story worthy of Paris, with results that have only improved during the season. Shoemaker and Vianne have demonstrated that they have the quality it takes to bring home Paralympic gold.

Over the last year, the grade has been dominated by the rivalry between Dutch teammates Sanne Voets on Demantur and Demi Haerkens on Daula, and those two will be Shoemaker’s biggest competition.

Grade V is only grade where Team USA will not have a rider competing. In this grade the Belgian dressage queen Michèle George has been sitting comfortably on the throne for a long time. It will be interesting to see if any countries will present a rider who can manage to dethrone her in Paris.

Top para-dressage competitor Stinna Tange rode Horsebo Smarties to two individual Grade II gold medals at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (North Carolina) and a pair of individual bronze medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games (Brazil). She also earned individual silver and team bronze for Denmark at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (Kentucky) and multiple medals at FEI European Championships, including individual gold in 2011 (Belgium) and 2017 (Sweden). She’s now retired and lives in Copenhagen with her dog, Manny. She works at the Danish Surfing Federation and does freelance sports communication as well.

A version of this article originally appeared in the August 2024 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse. This version has been updated to reflect Fiona Howard’s new trainer. You can subscribe and get online access to a digital version and then enjoy a year of The Chronicle of the Horse. If you’re just following COTH online, you’re missing so much great unique content. Each print issue of the Chronicle is full of in-depth competition news, fascinating features, probing looks at issues within the sports of hunter/jumper, eventing and dressage, and stunning photography.