Para Equestrians To Qualify for the 2012 Paralympics at the Dressage Affair CDI*** CPEDI***

All interested participants must complete Entry Form by February 18, 2011
The 2011 Dressage Affaire CDI*** and World Cup qualifier is also a Paralympic Qualifier for the 2012 Games in London. Held March 10-13 at the beautiful Del Mar Horse Park in conjunction with a full CDI Dressage and Open show managed by Keenan Production and Events, para hopefuls will join World Cup and Pan American Games team hopefuls from the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. Converging on what is currently the only qualifier in the United States for Para Equestrian, The 2011 Dressage Affaire has provided a world class show at a world class facility for Para Dressage. With a huge surge of interest following the first ever inclusion of Para Dressage in the Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games, the newly formed affiliate, the United States Para Equestrian Association has developed this opportunity with the support of the Olympic Committee and USET funding for the judges. USEF Dressage Developing Coach Debbie McDonald will be conducting a Para Clinic following the event, March 13-14.

Every effort is being made to find appropriate horses for para hopefuls to compete and/or clinic with USEF Developing coach Debbie McDonald. “It is important for all para hopefuls to make every effort to attend this event to qualify for 2012,” said USPEA director, Hope Hand. “Even if you are unable to compete or clinic, this event is a valuable contribution to our rapidly growing discipline for those interested to learn and get classified. Classification is an important process to determine what grade a para ride will compete as.

“Because this is a high profile show, would like the Grade IV riders from the East Coast to attend to network for new horses for 2012.” Hope Hand added. “Even if they could lease a nice horse for this two week period of time, they would be seen as creditable riders worth investing support. We can do this for the Grade IV riders since this is the most competitive grade we need to catch up and raise the bar in the US. Otherwise, we do not have any Grade IV riders that are currently competitive on their current mounts.

For Para Riders hoping to compete the deadline for entries is February 18, 2011.

Dear Para Equestrian Dressage Athletes,
Linked here please find a copy of the CPEDI3*, The Dressage Affaire prize list. The entry forms are included and the closing date for entries is February 18, 2011. If you plan on competing, please mail your entry (one for each horse), along with a copy of your FEI classification card to the following address:

Bettina Longaker
8246 Open Gate Road
Gordonsville, VA 22942
fax: 540-832-2926

Please do not send your entry to the USEF office.

Reminder: All horses, including borrowed horses, must have a FEI passport or a National passport. See excerpt from FEI rules, Article 8446 Passports of Horses below.
USEF membership must be current.

Article 8446 Passports of Horses
2. All horses require FEI passports, except for those horses competing in their country of residence up to and including CPEDI2* and those competing in competitions below CPEDI2*.
However, these horses must be registered with their NF, be identifiable by diagram, and have a valid vaccination certificate.
3. Borrowed horses, being used as own horses, must be registered with their NF, be identifiable by diagram, and have a valid vaccination certificate.

Athletes who wish to be classified will have an opportunity to be internationally classified during the show. Please advise me if you would like to be classified and I will coordinate your classification with Joann Benjamin, chief classifier.

Thank you.
Laureen
Laureen K. Johnson
Assistant to Driving, Para Equestrian and Vaulting
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
(908) 326-1155 Phone
(908) 234-9417 Fax
e-mail: lkjohnson@usef.org