84 SIDELINES APRIL 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Lindsay McCall
Behind each respected and talented equestrian, no matter the
discipline, is a trainer, coach, or professional that demonstrates
horsemanship, skill and sportsmanship. In return, the equestrian
student teaches their trainer such attributes as determination,
goal achievement and setting limits.
For coach and talented eventer Missy Ransehousen, Chef
d’Equipe of the Para-Equestrian Dressage Team since 2000, her
students are a constant reminder of the determination of a para-
equestrian. Rebecca Hart, a 2012 Paralympian, is one example
of this perseverance. Rebecca has been with Missy for fve years
and within that time they earned multiple national championships
and traveled around the world for equestrian competitions.
When Missy entered the Para-Equestrian discipline it was
unfamiliar territory. Missy had the skill set to train the horses
and was a well-respected eventer but she was learning new
techniques, new rules and working with riders that lacked able-
bodied aids. From cleaning stalls and grooming, to mounting the
horse and showing, each aspect is altered from the able-bodied
world. In fve years Rebecca earned many international titles and
owes her skills to the top training from Missy.
Rebecca has returned the favor, however, and as Rebecca
left the 2012 Paralympic ring for the last time Missy noted, “I
was teary eyed when she left that ring; it was a journey to get to
London. Rebecca put a large amount of work into this preparation
alongside having a full-time job. I have learned a lot from Rebecca
over the years but her last ride was the best lesson. After leaving
the ring one day prior she was disappointed and quite hard on
herself. To have a disappointing ride and come back and have a
beautiful second test is what makes her a great competitor.”
Para-Equestrian trainers like Wes Dunham and Kai Handt
understand how to help their students become top competitors
-- even when their students may not believe in themselves. When
the late Jonathan Wentz came to Kai Handt wanting to ride
competitively he said he would only teach Jon if he could walk on
his own. Jonathan Wentz was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at
birth and was determined to reach every goal he set for himself.
When Kai told Jon this goal, Jon
began walking without assistance
or aids. Over the past fve years
Kai took Jonathan under his wing
and taught him horsemanship,
professionalism, sportsmanship,
and how to perform to the best of
his abilities on every horse. Kai
was rewarded with a 21 year-old
gentleman, that excelled in school,
was a hard worker, was driven by
his own success and the success
of his team, and was the most
accomplished equestrian in the
United States in 2012.
When Paralympian Donna
Ponessa approached professional
Wes Dunham in 2011 he was
impressed by her gumption.
Donna Ponessa was diagnosed
with Devic’s Disease, a form of
Multiple Sclerosis, placing her in a
e
wheelchair with the constant use of mechanical ventilation. To be
able to ride at the elite level of a Paralympian, Donna and Wes
worked on an exercise plan that also involved weaning her off
of her ventilation tube. In less than one year Donna became a
ft, athletic, equestrian and she was able to stay off her tracheal
ventilator for longer durations than she ever thought possible.
Donna traveled the world and was a top performer at the 2012
London Paralympics. She went from a basic dressage rider
to elite rider thanks to Wes. The learning between student and
teacher continually evolves with Wes and Donna and because of
Donna, Wes is now working with additional Para-Dressage riders
like Sydney Collier.
A Para-Equestrian trainer is a person that can look past the
diagnosed disability and work with the rider and their horse.
Missy, Kai, and Wes are just a few of the many trainers that enjoy
working with para-equestrians. Each set of challenges brings
forward additional answers and new lessons to be learned by both
teacher and student.
About the writer: Lindsay McCall is a lifelong hunter/jumper
rider and is the Public Relations Manager for the United States
Para-Equestrian Association.
Rebecca Hart aboard Lord Ludger (owned by Jessica
Ransehousen) with Chef d’Equipe and trainer Missy
Ransehousen.
All photos by Lindsay McCall
Paralympian Donna
Ponessa with trainer Wes
Dunham.
Jonathan Wentz’s
trainer Kai Handt
with Kai’s horse
NTEC Richter
Scale at the 2012
Florida CPEDI3* in
Wellington, Florida.
The rain came
down in buckets
during the jog,
soaking the horses
and people and yet
Kai kept smiling.