Versailles, France – The U.S. Paralympic Dressage Team made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by winning their second consecutive team medal, this time capturing their first-ever gold. The team, consisting of Rebecca Hart on Floratina (Grade III), Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes (Grade II), and Roxanne Trunnell on Fan Tastico H (Grade I), delivered exceptional performances, each scoring above 77% in the FEI Grand Prix Test B. Their combined score of 235.567 set a new record for the highest Paralympic team score in para-equestrian competition.
“This victory represents the culmination of years of strategic planning and hard work, beginning with changes we initiated at Tryon 2018,” said Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline. “After winning bronze in Tokyo, I had a clear plan and knew our goal for Paris had to be gold. Over the past three years, we’ve put in immense effort, from restructuring our program to refining competition strategies in both Europe and the U.S. It's surreal to see it all come together, but I always believed we could achieve this. It's a remarkable moment for everyone involved in this program.”
Roxanne Trunnell from Royal Palm Beach, Fla., and her horse Fan Tastico H kicked off the afternoon team competition for the United States. Despite being a relatively new pairing, having joined forces in early 2024, they delivered a solid performance, earning a competitive score of 77.000%. Fan Tastico H, a 2017 Oldenburg gelding (Fuersentball OLD x Weltmeyer), owned by Karin Flint and cared for by Rafael Hernandez-Carillo, showed great promise under Trunnell's guidance, especially with consistent work in the walk.
“I just really focused on him marching,” Trunnell shared about her test. “He’s so impressive for only being seven, and he’s only going to get better.” She also credited much of the team’s success to Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline, saying, “It’s all Michel. He got us into shape. He’s very strict, and all his experience has really helped us.”
Next up, Fiona Howard from Boston, Mass., and her mount Diamond Dunes, a 2013 Hanoverian gelding (De L’or x Wibella) owned by Dressage Family LLC and Hof Kasselmann and cared for by Helen Claire McNulty, delivered an exceptional performance in Grade II. As Paralympic debutants, they achieved a remarkable 80%, the highest score of the week across all grades, setting a personal best.
“When we started trotting, even just around the ring, I knew he felt amazing,” Howard recalled. “I trusted him completely, and he just kept giving. By the end, I was exhausted, but he kept going, as if saying, ‘I’ve got you.’ He’s incredible.” Howard attributed her success to the strong support system behind her, including trainers, vets, farriers, and the team's leadership, praising the teamwork that has contributed to their meteoric rise.
Rebecca Hart, from Wellington, Fla., and her horse Floratina, the most experienced pair on the U.S. team, were entrusted with the high-pressure task of securing the gold medal after a fierce competition with the Dutch team. Floratina, a 2008 Hanoverian mare (Fidertanz x Rubina) owned by Rowan O’Riley and cared for by Mackenzie Young, is one of the few horses to win team gold medals at both an able-bodied continental championship (Lima 2019) and a para continental championship (Paris 2024). Hart and Floratina delivered another personal best, scoring 78.567%, and sealed the victory for Hart, who has been working toward this moment for nearly 25 years in the U.S. Para Dressage Program.
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