All four members of the U.S. Para Dressage Team have qualified for Saturday’s freestyle competition at the Paris Paralympic Games after the conclusion of their individual tests. World No. 1 Grade IV athlete Kate Shoemaker was the only American to ride Wednesday. A spook late in her test aboard Vianne knocked them out of medal contention.

Shoemaker and the 8-year-old U.S.-bred Hanoverian mare (Vitalis—Raureif, Ramiro’s Bube) scored 72.22% to finish fifth. Dutch riders Demi Haerkens on Daula (78.72%) and Sanne Voets on Demantur (76.52%) took gold and silver, while Germany’s Anna-Lena Niehues and Quimbaya 6 earned bronze (75.22%).

“We had that spook—which is the first spook she’s ever had with me before—but horses are horses. If we wanted to ride motorcycles, we’d ride motorcycles,” Shoemaker said of Vianne’s unexpected scoot and steps of canter near A, just a few movements before their final centerline.

“For 97% of the test, I think we showed gorgeous harmony and relaxation, and that’s really what her strong suit is,” she added. “I was really, really pleased with her.”

Chef d’Equipe Michele Assouline echoed her assessment.

“Kate rode beautifully today. The two of them were incredibly accurate and in sync – the picture was beautiful,” he said. “We have to remember horses are not machines, and sometimes things outside of our control happen in the arena. Kate handled the rest of the ride after Vianne’s spook perfectly, and they still finished with a competitive score.”

The top eight riders from each of the five grades (used in para-dressage to divide riders based on level of physical ability so that athletes are competing against others with similar abilities) will qualify for Saturday’s freestyle competition.

Shoemaker has her eyes set on that competition.

“I think Saturday is going to be our day of redemption, and I’m really looking forward to that,” she said. “We’re riding to ‘Forrest Gump’-themed music that I absolutely love. I hope it speaks to everybody’s souls as we’re riding through the arena, because it’s just so beautiful and it matches her perfectly. Hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to really show the world what Vianne really is, because she’s really special.”

Also representing the U.S. in the freestyle will be her teammates who competed Tuesday: Rebecca Hart and Floratina, gold medalists in Grade III; Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes, gold medalists in Grade II; and Roxanne Trunnell and Fan Tastico H, silver medalists in Grade I.

Wednesday’s individual competition concluded with Grade V, which included no U.S. team members. Michele George and Best of 8 took gold with a score of 76.69%, followed by Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s (73.23%) and Great Britain’s Sophie Wells with LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (72.25%).

After a rest day for all on Thursday, Paris para-dressage continues with the team competition, which begins at 3:30 a.m. Friday with the Grade IV riders. Each country selects three of its four riders to compete, and the U.S. team is expected to be announced Thursday.

See complete Paralympic dressage results here.