Para Olympics 2016 - Rebecca Hart and Annie Peavy Have Good Showing for Team USA

Rebecca Hart and Schroeter's Romani (Photo: Lindsay Y. McCall)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - On the third day of Para Dressage competition at the 2016 Paralympic Equestrian Games,  the United States finally got to see their anchor rider, Rebecca Hart of Wellington, FL head down centerline to ride the Grade II Team Test. Hart did not disappoint and rode Margaret Duprey and Cherry Knoll Farm's Schroeter's Romani to USA's highest placing of 5th and highest percentage of 69.914%. Winning the class Tuesday, September 13, was Great Britain's Natasha Baker riding Cabral to a score of 71.882%. Following in a close second was the Netherland's Demi Vermeulen riding Burberry for a score of 71.824%.

In the afternoon session on Tuesday, the Grade III division competed for medals riding the Individual Championship Test. United States Team member Angela "Annie" Peavy from Avon, CT rode Becky Reno and Heather Blitz's Lancelot Warrior to an 8th place finish on a score of 68.585%. Annie stated, "I have to first mention my horse Lance, he never fails to help me.  I entered the arena today with confidence. I am pleased with our relationship and want to thank my support group which is big, my parents, Heather Blitz, Alex Philpin, my fellow teammates and our team chef, Kai Handt. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful support the entire team received from the United States Equestrian Federation it is an honor to ride for the United States."

Annie Peavy and Lancelot Warrior (Photo: Lindsay Y. McCall)

Winning the Individual Gold was Norway's Ann Cathrin Lubbe riding Donatello with a score of 72.878%. Earning Individual Silver was Denmark's Susanne Sunesen riding Que Faire to a score of 72.171% Rounding out the medal podium was Louise Etzner Jakobsson and Zernard winning Bronze with a score of 70.366%.

Wednesday, September 14, continues with the Grade IV's and 1b's contesting Individual Medals. USA team rider Sydney Collier is scheduled for her Individual Championship test at 3:10 PM local time. The 2016 Paralympic Equestrian Games continue at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, through September 16.

Full results and live scoring can be found here: rio2016.live.fei.org/

2016 Paralympic Equestrian Games Timeline

September 14
10:00 AM Grade IV Ind.
12:20 PM Grade IV Ind. - Victory Ceremony
2:00 PM  Grade Ib Ind. - Sydney Collier (3:10 PM)
5:05 PM  Grade Ib Ind.  - Victory Ceremony

September 15
10:00 AM Grade II Ind. - Rebecca Hart
1:00 PM  Grade II Ind. - Victory Ceremony
2:00 PM  Grade Ia Ind. - Margaret McIntosh, Roxanne Trunnell
4:55 PM  Grade Ia Ind. - Victory Ceremony

September 16
9:00  AM Grade III FS - Annie Peavy
10:10 AM Grade IV FS
11:16 AM Grade III FS - Victory Ceremony
11:31 AM Grade IV FS - Victory Ceremony
1:00 PM  Grade Ib FS - Sydney Collier
2:10 PM  Grade Ia FS - Margaret McIntosh, Roxanne Trunnell
3:10 PM  Grade II FS - Rebecca Hart
4:16 PM  Grade Ia FS - Victory Ceremony
4:31 PM  Grade II FS - Victory Ceremony
4:46 PM  Grade Ib FS - Victory Ceremony
5:01 PM  Team - Victory Ceremony

For more information about the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team please visit United States Equestrian Federation at www.USEF.org, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation at www.USET.org, or Team USA at www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Sports/Equestrian.

For more information about the 2016 Paralympic Equestrian competition please visit www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/equestrian