Today was the Paris 2024 Paralympics para dressage team competition at Château de Versailles with 16 nations putting forward teams of three riders each in search of team medals. As the current world number-one ranked team, the pressure was really on the USA.
There was a lot on the line to prove their right to be top-tier. The three U.S. riders, surrounded by a super supportive entourage, simply brought it on―mic drop, the end, gold please!
First in the arena for the USA was Roxanne Trunnell and Fan Tastico H, a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Karin Flint and cared for by Rafael Hernandez-Carillo. They scored 77.00% in Grade I to start the team off well. Trunnell and “Fanta” have only been together for a few months and the lovely, huge bay gelding is still developing. What a combination to watch for the future, too.
The second rider for the USA was team rookie Fiona Howard on the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding Diamond Dunes, owned by Dressage Family LLC and Hof Kasselmann, and cared for by Helen Claire McNulty. Howard guided the flashy chestnut to a personal best and the highest score of the week at this Paris 2024 Paralympics thus far with 80.00%.
Throughout the day, the Netherlands and the USA were neck and neck with Germany not far behind. So, it all came down to Rebecca Hart’s ride on Floratina, a 16-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by owned by Rowan O’Riley and cared for by Mackenzie Young.
Rixt van der Horst and Royal Fonq from the Netherlands had just laid down the gauntlet right before Hart, scoring 78.067%. Hart said she glanced at their score as she rode into the arena with “Flora” and she knew what she had to do. Just ride a personal best to win for the USA—simple, right? That’s just what she and Flora did. Their score, 78.567% won the day and the glittering medallion for her country. What a way to cap her fifth Paralympics!
Watch all of the Paris 2024 para equestrian action livestreamed or played back on demand (subscription required). For more information, go to NBCOlympics.com. For more coverage, visit our Paris 2024 Paralympics main page.
Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.
