We recently noticed this beautiful video, which introduces the Paralympic sport of Para-Equestrian dressage. Paralympics are designed to create opportunities for all people with impairments to compete and achieve their athletic goals. To provide for meaningful competition, athletes are classified according to their level of impairment.
This is an Olympics year, and the 2016 Paralympic Games will be held in Rio, along with the other Olympics events. Para-Equestrian Dressage is the only Equestrian discipline that is included in the Paralympic Games, where it’s been a regular fixture since 1996. (For information about Para-Equestrian, visit www.fei.org.)
In 2007, Riva Dee, one of Silver Tail Farm’s broodmares, successfully competed in the FEI World Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships in Great Britain. Riva Dee’s rider, Canadian Para-Equestrian athlete Jennifer McKenzie, qualified for the Paralympic games.
Since those days, Riva Dee has produced three lovely offspring at Silver Tail Farm:
- 2012 registered Westphalian colt Sir Primo by Sir Sinclair (Lord Sinclair I x Krishna x Flemmingh) via embryo via embryo transfer
- 2013 registered Westphalian filly Dhiaa by Don Principe (Elite Donnerhall x St Pr Papagena x Prince Thatch) via embryo transfer
- 2015 registered Westphalian filly Delilah by Diamond Stud (Diamond Hit x Lavarino x Rhodiamant) via embryo transfer
And, this year, Riva Dee, bred to DeNiro, is expected to foal in late May 2016. We’re looking forward to seeing these young horses develop into competitors at the highest levels of dressage. Who knows, maybe they’ll make it to future World Championships, the Olympics, or the Paralympic Games!