By: Lindsay Y. McCall
Corona Texel, owned by Rowan O’Riley, took home the Bronze Medal in the Grade III Individual Championships at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) Tryon. Hart, a three-time Paralympian (2008, 2012, 2016) and three-time WEG athlete (2010, 2014, 2018), secured the medal as her first ever medal in the Para-Dressage sport since her beginnings in 1998. Hart was ecstatic, “I have had this horse for just a year and he is incredibly talented and young so I am excited about my future with him. This was my career best at an international World Games.” Hart and her teammates Annie Peavy from Wellington, Fla. (Grade IV), Kate Shoemaker from Peoria, Ariz. (Grade IV), and Roxanne Trunnell from Rowlett, Texas (Grade I) each contested the individual championships with quality results. The FEI Ground Jury includes Kristi Wysocki (USA), Marc Urban (BEL), Marco Orsini (GER), Anne Prain (FRA), Sarah Leitch (GBR), Hanneke Gerritsen (NED), and Suzanne Cunningham (AUS). The 2018 WEG Tryon is held at the Tryon Equestrian Center in Tryon, NC, September 11-23.
Prior to the 2018 WEG Hart retired her mare Schroeter’s Romani, owned by Margaret Duprey and Cherry Knoll Farm, following the 2016 Rio Paralympics, beginning her search for a new partner, along with her friend and supporter Rowan O’Riley. Hart commented, “Rowan O’Riley has as been such a great horse owner/sponsor she is so supportive of not only me but the sport as whole. She really wants to help grow the Para-Equestrian sport in the US.”
Hart earned her medal in the presence of her family, teammates, coaches, and support team. “With the WEG in the United States my family was able to watch me at their first international Games. It was very emotional to not only have my test go so well but to be at our home-base representing the United States of America.”
Hart was excited that her partnership with the nine-year-old bay gelding has gone so well over the past year. “Tex is a unicorn,” she stated. “He is incredibly talented and even through the transition period coming from able-bodied to Para-Dressage he was always there for me. He is not experienced in this atmosphere and I was proud of him during my WEG test because I was able to keep him with me from the warm-up through the tunnel and into the ring. He was fantastic.”
Hart scored a 72.235% for Bronze behind Natasha Baker(GBR) and horse Mount St John Diva Dannebrog at 72.471% and in Gold Rixt van der Horst (NED) and Findsley at 73.735%.
Hart’s teammates also had top results including Annie Peavy from Avon, Connecticut. (Grade IV) earned a 6th place with Royal Dark Chocolate, owner Rebecca Reno, scoring a 68.902%. Kate Shoemaker from Peoria, Ariz. (Grade IV) earned a 7th place with Solitaer 40, Owner Kate Craig & Deena Shoemaker, scoring a 68.707%. Roxanne Trunnell from Rowlett, Texas (Grade I) and Dolton, owned by Kate Shoemaker, earned a 5th place scoring a 72.143%.
The U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team presented by Deloitte with Chef d’ Equipe Kai Handt and US Equestrian Head of Para-Dressage Coach Development and High Performance Programs Michel Assouline, will continue to compete in the Team Test and Freestyle Test at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.
For more information about the results of the Individual Championship please visit:
Grade I https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-I
Grade II https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-II
GRADE III https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-III
Grade IV https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-IV
Grade V https://tryon2018.com/eventResults/2018/1587/resultlist_PI-V
For more information about FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, visit
Tryon2018.com.
