AACHEN, Germany--The U.S. team won the Team gold medal in Para Dressage on Saturday, Aug. 22 at the World Championship.
Kate Shoemaker on Vianne (Photo by Kim MacMillan)The team of Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes, Marie Vonderheyden on Fan Tastico H, Rebecca Hart on Floratina and Kate Shoemaker on Vianne scored 236.135 to win the gold over Germany, that won the silver on 229.875 and Netherlands, that won bronze on 227.639.
Going Friday,, Howard scored 79.300, Vonderheyden scored 76.375, and Hart scored 73.533 to be the drop score.
Going Saturday, Shoemaker, a two-time U.S. Paralympian, clinched the gold medal as the final rider in team competition.
Her score of 80.460% for Grade IV was the highest individual total throughout team competition in Aachen, and it clinched the title.
"I'M COMPLETELY thrilled," said Shoemaker. "For me, the thing that was most important coming here was really the team. So being the last rider to go, knowing the girls that already done their job, and put us in a really, really good spot, I was able to go in there and really go for it and take a few risks, and it really paid off"
USA Para Dressage Team Gold (Photo by Kim MacMillan)"There was no pressure,it was excitement," she said. "I just I just I just wanted to go in there and keep the same balance all the way around because that's what they've been talking about with us."
For the Freestyle on Sunday, Shoemaker has one more world record that she might be able to beat.
"Yes, I hear there's one more world record to be beat," said Shoemaker. "So okay, we're just gonna go for it and lay it all on the line. Why not, nothing to lose, right?"
"Everybody came to this Championship to bring forward their best, and we just try to do the same, and over the last two days that worked out," she said. "It's amazing. We also prize our horses very much. So we want to look after the horses so well and make sure they are happy."
"It's just amazing to get to stand up Podium with these women again and have such a remarkable team, strong, women and strong forces. It's just a great to to go out there and prove to the world that Paris was not a one-off. We want to do that again in L.A.," said Shoemaker.
“We all had high expectations, and I know that expectations don't always come to fruition, but this is just incredible,” said Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline. “It’s an amazing thing to be here on this incredible stage, the biggest stage in the world for equestrian athletes. For the team to perform as they did, and also set a record, is incredible. It takes a certain kind of village, and we have the best village in the world behind us.”
“One of the main things that we as para athletes try to recognize is that “para” doesn't actually refer to being paraplegic or disabled. It refers to being parallel to able-bodied sport," said Hart. "When we can highlight that at a huge championship and a venue this world-renowned, it can only benefit the future of our sport. And, for individuals with disabilities, being inspired helps them to understand that you do not have to let what the world would seem as limiting, limit you.”
