It was a busy and full weekend when North Texas Equestrian Center partnered with USPEA and threw the very first young rider para-equestrian clinic. From ages 7-25, we had a wonderful turnout of people from all different riding levels attending. The first day consisted with introductions starting with a tour of the NTEC facility and a brief background on Kai Handt and USPEA. We used the first day to gauge where everyone was in their riding and what we could do aid wise to help them. Starting with Jessica Thoma a triple amputee (both legs bk and left arm be), we got her on a therapeutic riding horse as she had just began riding in April after her amputations in December the following year. Jessica did amazing and we were able to identify her as a potential Grade I. the second day we made a stability bar to help with rein use and were able to secure her legs with velcro straps to keep her better balanced and in the saddle. Jessica got the opportunity to trot a little, but was recommended by Kai to stick to walking as being a potential Grade I. Jessica is excited for her future and we can’t wait to see where she goes with her riding!

The next rider was Alex Henry, a left ak amputee who is a confirmed Grade 5. Riding since the age of 8, Alex lost her leg to cancer at 12, but immediately got back in the saddle as riding is her passion. Alex uses a few aids, one of which is a dog muzzle that connects to her saddle that her stump fits into that allows her to post while she trots; Kai said she is the only amputee he’s seen that does this. During her training sessions, she worked heavily with Kai on straightness and precision. Alex has her own horse at home and competes at non-registered shows in eventing, which is compiled of cross country, show jumping and dressage. Her goal is to compete at a CPEDI by June of 2019! We are thrilled to see where her and her horse go in this next year!

Rider number three is none other than our own Carson Browning, a confirmed Grade 3! Carson was born with Left Hemiparesis and struggles with balance and strength pertaining to that side. He has been training with Kai for a little over a year and half and has made leaps and bounds and has improved drastically to where he was when he first started. On top of Willie, Carson also worked on straightness, suppleness of the horse and keeping a steady pace. From day one of the clinic to the last day, Carson looked better than ever and had some new things to work on throughout his regular training. He competes in registered competitions and looks forward his next one in Athens, TX in August.

Rider number four is Alyssa Cleland, a right ak amputee and confirmed Grade 5. She has been riding with Kai since November of last year and has started competing in registered competitions as well, with her next one being in Athens, TX alongside Carson. Kai has been working with her on her precision, bending lines, suppleness of the horse and precision. Alyssa’s goal is to compete at a CPEDI by June of 2019!

And last, but certainly not least, our two youngest riders, Ellie Butts and Rina Carr. Ellie was born with amc and Rina is a bk amputee and has a tethered spinal cord. Both girls exceeded everyone’s expectations and achieved much more than what they thought was possible. Rina worked with Kai on posting while trotting (and on the correct diagonal), and Ellie worked on her sitting trot! Both girls are very excited to continue working at their current facilities and hopefully one day go to the Paralympics!

The very last day, all riders (excluding rina and Ellie), rode their Grade Paralympic tests and did wonderfully! Jessica rocked it on her Grade I test and will continue to work on it at home at her facility with her trainer. Alex performed the Grade 5 test beautifully on top of Daytona Beach, looking better than ever being paired up together! Alex plans to start competing in registered dressage competitions and looks forward to attending another clinic in the future here at NTEC. Flawlessly executing his Grade 3 test, Carson has been working hard! He continues to work with Kai every week and we can’t wait to see him at another clinic! Performing considerably well with the Grade 4 test, Alyssa continues to improve weekly with consistent training with Kai and looks forward to her next show paired with Daytona Beach.

“Great finish to NTEC COE first Para-athlete clinic and talent search. Our newly discovered athletes performed great and after only 2 days of training were able to ride a mistake free FEI level test of their grade in our mock competition on NTEC horses. Thanks for all of the support and the corporation of our wounded warrior team, their horses and trainer Shelby Nicoletti. Looking forward to our next outing hopefully later this fall getting some of these new athletes ready for CEPDI’s”. – Kai Handt, Head Olympic and Paralympic Dressage Trainer.

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