AND THEY'RE OFF!!

Team USA at the Selection Trials!

I had a moment to catch up with Missy, during her busy week at Gladstone, prepping the US Paralympic team during the training sessions leading up to their departure.  This week, Missy Ransehousen & the entire US team (Becca Hart, Jonathan Wentz, Donna Ponessa, and Dale Dedrick) were at the USET headquarter in Gladston NJ for training camp which started on Monday 13th.

Team Line Up and Their Coaches:

Rebecca Hart - Missy Ransehousen (PA)
Dale Dedrick-   Ros Kinstler (MI)
Donna Ponessa-  Wes Dunhan (NY)
Jonathan Wentz- Kai Handt (TX)
Mary Jordan - Missy and Jessica Ransehousen (ME) Reserve Rider

USEF - Pam Lane



Hope Hand was there too, to watch & be supportive to the athletes.  She rode in Athens & Sydney, so she graciously gave her time to help the riders in their final days as a team here in the states.

Two of our team riders have experience at this level with Becca having ridden at Hong Kong, and Jonathan & Mary competing in Kentucky at the WEG. 

The main focus this week for these riders was to do team building & bring them all together again at the site of the selection trials so they could work on additional training. Their individual trainers were busy still coaching them under the watchful eye of Missy, who's goal was to bring them together as a team.

Missy, the grooms and Stacy Kent (team vet) and the horses are flying out on Sunday with the horses.  The riders are scheduled to fly out on Tuesday after Missy and crew have settled into their local staging facility on the 20th.  The horses will recover for a couple days and on 24th they move into Greenwich where they have 5 days to get acclimated before the games!!

Thanks to Steph who posted this great link from the Telegraph on our FB page about a guide to the Para games!

For ongoing news throughout the games, check out the coverage from our friends at the USPEA.
The USOC also announced great news that the Para Team will finally get more deserved coverage throughout the games.  See below.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Today the United States Olympic Committee announced broadcast and online coverage plans for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. By creating original video content for the U.S. Paralympics YouTube channel, YouTube.com/USParalympics, while also partnering with NBCUniversal and the International Paralympic Committee, U.S. Paralympics will provide the American public with more coverage of the U.S. Paralympic Team than any previous year.

Beginning on Aug. 29 and continuing through the conclusion of the Games on Sept. 9, U.S. Paralympics will provide 10 daily video highlights packages via its U.S. Paralympics YouTube channel. The videos will chronicle the competition, athlete stories and will also include the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Videos chronicling the lead-up to the Games will also be available in late August.  FULL PRESS RELEASE

EVERYONE HERE AT BLUE HILL FARM WISHES MISSY, THE US TEAM AND JAMES THE BEST OF LUCK IN GREENWICH!!!!  CHECK BACK FOR REGULAR UPDATES AND PLEASES, FRIEND US ON FACEBOOK!!!