Blue Hill Farm's Para Equestrians

Blue Hill Farm

Para Equestrians

The Para Equestrian program at Blue Hill Farm is an integral part of our program. Both Missy and Jessica have dedicated a large part of their professional riding careers to these impressive group of riders. Missy has been the team’s devoted coach for the last three Olympics, even setting aside her own Beijing Olympic Team bid to honor her commitment to the Paralympics squad.

All of the students who ride with Missy & Jessica at Blue Hill Farm are consider an extension of their family, and for a full list of all their accomplishments, please see below!

James Dwyer
DOB - 1970
Riding for 25 years
James visited Blue Hill Farm in 2001 and has been living at Blue Hill Farm full time since October 2003.
Discipline & Riding Level - Para Equestrian Grade IV, Dressage Abled Bodied Prix St George and Intermediare 1.
Horse - Orlando (Ben), 14 yr, 16.2h, Dutch Warmblood.

James came to Blue Hill Farm from Ireland with lots of determination, persistence and talent. He rides daily with Jessica, is a Grade IV and has attended 2 World Championships.

In 2008 James competed in six Prix St. George able body tests, all were against competitors without handicaps. He won 3 and placed 2nd in two others! In 2009 he moved up to the Intermediare 1 level and won at his first show with a 68.9%. At the 2009 Para Equestrian Dressage National Championships & International CPEDI3* held at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, he won all the grade IV tests (Team test, Individual Test, and Freestyle Test).

n 2010 James rode in his first abled bodied CDI3* at Palm Beach Dressage Derby and placed 15th out of 30 competitors with 66.40%. He received his certificate of capability to compete at the WEG, and represented Ireland at the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian games in Lexington KY. James hopes to compete in 2012 Paralympics games in London.

To see James' multiple Chronicle articles, click here!

Para Equestrian Photography Courtesy of Mary Phelps!
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Becca Hart
DOB -1984
Riding for 15 years
Discipline: Para & Able-Bodied Dressage

Horses:
Norteassa, aka "Pippin"
19 year old Hanoverian Gelding
Lord Ludger, aka "LoLu"
18 year old Holsteiner Gelding

Rebecca was born with a rare genetic disease called Familial Spastic Paraplegia (FSP). As an adult, it primarily affects her muscles and joints from the waist down. Rebecca began riding at the age of ten.

Rebecca has been the National U.S. Paralympic Champion in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2004, Becca was the first alternate for the Athens Paralympic team. In 2008, she was a member of the United States Paralympic Equestrian team, competing in Hong Kong with her horse, Norteassa, taking 4th place in the freestyle. She also competed for the United States at the World Championships in England.

She has done many demonstrations promoting riding and dressage for the disabled, and has spoken recently at several fundraisers to promote therapeutic riding. She has served as a youth consultant for the United States Equestrian Federation. In addition to riding in events for para-equestrian riders, she has competed extensively in shows for the able bodied. She and Norteassa have shown in the Prix St. George classes, and she has completed the elements for her bronze medal in dressage. Becca and Norteassa competed as an individual at the World Games in Kentucky. Becca looks forward to competing with her new partner Lord Ludger in 2011.

To see Rebecca's multiple Chronicle articles, click here!

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Elizabeth Piggot
DOB: 1986
Riding for 17 years
Discipline: Para Equestrian Dressage- Grade II
Horse: Mr. Darcy- 11 year old Dutch Warmblood

Elizabeth started riding as a supplemental form of physical therapy. Her physical disability made it difficult for her to even sit astride on a horse at first but with time and lots of stretching, she made progress. Eventually her riding abilities improved to where she was able to go to local horse shows. It wasn’t until she competed and won champion of her division at the Devon Horse Show’s Handicapped Riders Event (2000) that she was bitten by the competition bug. Riding in the Dixon Oval for the first time will do that to anyone. (Photo credit Jen Cain)

Elizabeth was introduced to Missy in 2005 and has been riding with her ever since. In 2007, Missy helped her acquire her first horse, Mr. Darcy, from Holland. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have been working tirelessly for the past two years to get to know one another and work better as a team. They completed their first show season in the summer of 2009 and did quite well. A highlight was receiving an 83% for riding a Grade II Championship Test.

In 2009 Elizabeth competed at her first National Championships/CPEDI 3* on the mount Carlingford’s JD who she graciously borrowed from Trudy Phillips. They placed 5th nationally and were awarded the rider's certificate of capability to compete for the US selection trials for the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Her long term goal is to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
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Keith Newerla

Keith is a grade 1B rider who has won 2 USA Para-Equestrian National Championships. In 2003 he won with Atticus and in 2004 he won with Trudy Phillips’ horse BallyShannon. He was the youngest rider to do so at the ages of 20 and 21. He then went on to place 4th in the Individual Championships at the Paralympics games in Athens Greece with Lumberjack. In 2007 he was 10th at the World Championship games in Hartpury, England and sixth at the national championships. 2008 he traveled to Beijing for the Paralympics games with David O’Connor’s horse Walk On the Moon.