From USDF CONNECTION MAGAZINE:

RIDERS WITH DISABILITIES SPECIAL GUESTS AT 2000 CONVENTION of the UNITED STATES DRESSAGE FEDERATION USDF invited two riders with disabilities to attend their annual convention in Cincinnati this December as informal ambassadors. Chris Lipe from Powder Springs GA and Mary Green, Jackson MI, performed a pas d'deux during the Black & White Evening of Elegance Benefit dinner held at Paxton Farm on December 1.

Sandy Dota & Hope Hand enjoy VIP seating at the USDF Benefit

American Competition Opportunities for Riders with Disabilities, Inc. (ACORD) Executive Director, Judy Serie Nagy, of California says, "The opportunity for these athletes to perform in front of a national group of dressage enthusiasts is one that is very thrilling. Our sport has grown so fast and our riders are becoming so very accomplished. This USDF convention will give us the opportunity to spotlight our talented athletes." ACORD was one of the generous sponsors funding the participation of Chris and Mary at the USDF convention and benefit dinner.

Chris, Mary and Judy will attended the meeting of the new USDF committee "Competitive Dressage Riders with Disabilities", chaired by Peter Lert. They also had an opportunity to speak at several USDF Regional Meetings and met many USDF members."

SANDY DOTA reports on the BLACK & WHITE EVENING of ELEGANCE at USDF

On December 1, I had the opportunity to attend the Benefit at Paxton Farm in Batavia, Ohio which was part of the 2000 USDF Annual Convention. Chris Lipe and Mary Green performed a wonderful pas de deux. It was choreographed by Linda Fritsch, as Mary was busy competing at the Paralympics in Sydney and Chris had never ridden a pas de deux before and wasn't quite sure where to start! Linda, on the other hand, was familiar with both riders and was able to put together a ride that would compliment both riders' skills and riding styles - it was magnificent!

As the theme was black and white, Chris was dressed in a tux with long tails, Mary wore a black silk blouse, long black skirt, and her helmet was covered in black lace and elegant flowers. Both rode black horses, Miss Jane Marple, a Throughbred/Percheron mare, who was ridden by Chris and Rochmaninoff's Rhapsody, a Russian Warmblood gelding who Mary rode. No one would have believed the limited amount of time these riders had to practice their pas de deux, as their performance was "spot on."

Expanding on the black and white, theme the first performers at the benefit were a black Freisan and a black Andalusian. This was a high-energy performance of the breeds' natural gaits as well as some entertaining trick performances. Then Chris and Mary performed their pas de deux to music from the movie "Sense & Sensibility". Next, we all watched in awe as the Tempel Lipizzans were shown working "in hand" performing the levade, airs above the ground, passage and piaffe. Then we oohed and aahed as they performed a mounted Quadrille.

Mary Green, Chris Lipe, Miss Jane Marple, Rochmaninoff's Rhapsody and their ground staff after their performance

If this wasn't enough, all the performers were called back into the Paxton Farm arena for a final bow and victory gallop. While Chris and Mary were in the arena, all trotted; however, after they safely exited the arena we saw the Friesian and Andalusian whizzing around at an excited gallop and the graceful Lipizzans doing their elegant collected canter. All received standing ovations.

During and after the dinner that followed these performances, many people congratulated Chris and Mary on their ride. You wouldn't think Chris was only 17 as he mingled with the crowd, posing for pictures when asked and he truly seemed to be enjoying the celebrity status, as was Mary. I found it extremely heartwarming as I overheard more than one person tell Mary how wonderful she rode and that she was truly an inspiration to them.

Yes, the audience of 300 plus did not see two disabled people riding that night, in their minds what they saw was two people who performed elegant dressage to music. It is through the efforts of USDF Performance Coordinator Carrie Schwartz that this wonderful opportunity was made possible.

We are grateful to the USDF for this tremendous opportunity in Cincinnati. We also thank our generous sponsors: Paxton Farm, ACORD, USCPAA and the Georgia Dressage Society.