This week the 2010 Radio Show has a mission; not just to entertain and inform, but to help three outstanding and inspiring, young para-equestrians ride at this year’s Alltech 2010 World Equestrian Games.  We’ve joined forces with dressage legend Robert Dover to appeal for help, specifically for horses, for Becca Hart, Holly Bergay, and Jonathan Wenz.  These three athletes are all in training for the World Equestrian Games, but their horses’ fitness is now in question, and they are searching for new mounts to make their dreams come true. Can you help them, and can they help you? Do you own a suitable dressage horse and have you always dreamed of watching it go at the World Equestrian Games? Becca, Holly or James could make that happen for you.  
 
Robert Dover, who has competed in 6 consecutive Olympics for the US Dressage Team, as well as 4 World Championship Teams and earned more honors than any other US dressage rider, stepped in and wrote about Jonathan, Holly and Becca’s predicament on his website, Doversworld.com.  
 
When Robert Dover recently met Jonathan, 19, he felt compelled to help him. Jonathan has cerebral palsy, and it is his dream to represent the USA at the 2010 Alltech WEG in Lexington, Kentucky.  He combines being a full time student at SMU with working off his board at the barn.   In May last year he competed in his first CPEDI 3*, para-equestrian international dressage competition and first Para-Equestrian National Championships where he ranked 7th nationally, and received qualifying scores from both tests, earning his certificate of capability for the Games.  Last weekend Jonathan and his horse Richter Scale made the thirty-something hour trip from Texas to Del Mar, California to compete at Dressage Affaire, only to find that sadly, his horse was not sound upon arrival.   
 
Becca, 25, was born with a rare genetic disease called Familial Spastic Paraplegia (FSP).  As an adult, it primarily affects her muscles and joints from the waist down.  Becca started riding at the age of 10, and has been the National Paralympic Champion in 2006, 2008, and 2009. In 2008, she was a member of the US Paralympic Equestrian Team competing in Hong Kong with her horse Norteassa, and took 4th place in the freestyle.  Becca is a full time student at Pennsylvania State and when she graduates hopes to become a forensic accountant.  She is currently working for U.S. Para-Equestrian Team Coach Missy Ransehousen at Blue Hill Farm where she keeps her horse, as well as moonlighting as a barista at Starbucks.
 
Holly Bergay is just 17 years old, and was born without her left hand. Like Becca, she has competed through Prix St Georges level Dressage.  She has also competed at the North American Young Riders’ Championships and now it is her dream to ride at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  Holly trains in California with Debbie McDonald and Sarah Dodge and is also in need of a mount for the games..
 
The 2010 Radio show read about these riders’ predicament on Doversworld, and has dedicated this week’s show to them. Robert Dover, Canadian Dressage Team Coach, is our special guest, and we are joined by Becca, Holly and Jonathan. They deserve a chance to ride at the Games, and we would love to help them get there.  They all need Dressage trained horses, so please rack your brains and put your heads together to see what you can do to help these three amazing young riders achieve their ambitions and represent the USA at the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games.
 
If you have a horse, or know of a horse that might be suitable, please contact the 2010 Radio Show, Robert Dover, or one of the riders.
 
You can learn more about Jonathan at www.jonathanwentz.org, more about Holly at www.hollybergay.com, and you can email Becca at rth136@psu.edu.  Robert Dover’s website is Doversworld.com.

The 2010 Radio Show goes online with a new show each week at www.2010radioshow.com.  This online radio show (podcast) keeps you informed about all things 2010 World Equestrian Games.  The 2010 Radio Show is part of The Horse Radio Network.  Listen in every week as we keep track of all the Alltech 2010 World Equestrian Games news for you.  Listen on your iPod, MP3 player or on your computer.  That is the nice thing about podcasts, you can listen any time you like, anywhere you like.