2004 Paralympic Games Dressage Team Announced

The United States Equestrian Federation today announced the team for the 2004 Paralympic Dressage Team which will compete in Athens, Greece this coming September.

"We came into the final selection of our team with a strong pool of good horses and talented riders, and are very pleased with the group that has been nominated,” stated U.S. Paralympic Team Coach Missy Ransehousen. “They are up to the challenge of preparing for and making a good showing at the Games this coming September," she added.

The Team is as follows:

Rider/Level/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex
1. Lynn Seidemann, Grade I, 40, Coppell, TX - Phoenix B, Age 15, Warmblood, gelding
2. Keith Newerla, Grade I, 2, Seaford, NY - Lumberjack, Age 11, Dutch Warmblood, gelding
3. Barbara Grassmeyer, Grade III, 32, Placerville, CA - Mibis, Age 10, Dutch Warmblood, mare
4. Kathryn Groves, Grade IV, 43, Winter Garden, FL - Fleetwood, Age 16, Dutch Warmblood, gelding

Two reserve combinations have been named:
Rider/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex
1st Reserve: Rebecca Hart, 19, Erie, PA - Lego, Age 9, Holsteiner, gelding
2nd Reserve: Robin Brueckmann, 46, Summerfield, NC - Richmond, Age 7, Hanoverian, gelding

The nominations are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

The United States Equestrian Federation Inc.(USEF), as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country’s largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 80,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.

VISION STATEMENT
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national equestrian federation in the world. www.usef.org