Mary Jordan, a para-equestrian dressage rider, was selected to demonstrate Grade 4 riding at a Train the Trainer workshop held in mid-April in Lyman, Maine. Jordan is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER).  

The first section of the two-part workshop held at the Carlisle Academy was a week-long session of para-equestrian rider training. Ten riders, several of whom will be riding in the upcoming United States Paralympic Selection Trials, worked intensively with international judges and professionals in preparation for the London Paralympic Games. KER supported this training camp by providing saddle pads for the riders who participated.  

Interspersed with riding sessions, an array of unmounted camp activities included stretching and strengthening classes; therapeutic sports massage for athletes and their horses; consultations with occupational therapists; discussions about equine nutrition; and lectures on various topics in sports psychology and para-equestrian theory.

After the week-long riding section of the workshop, the weekend featured a Train the Trainer program. This event was designed for local and regional trainers who wanted to increase their skills and knowledge of working with competitive and recreational para-equestrians. Classroom and lecture time on Friday evening set the stage for live riding demonstrations on Saturday to highlight the different levels of the sport based on riders' physical disabilities. Jordan rode in this demonstration to acquaint trainers with the Grade 4 level of para-equestrian riding.

The 2012 USEF Paralympic Selection Trials and 2012 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship will take place June 11 to 13 at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey.

At the 2012 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CPEDI*** held in Del Mar, California, in early March, Mary Jordan finished in fifth place in the Grade IV para-equestrian team test. Jordan was paired with Alis Carbone's gray gelding Navarro, a horse she had never ridden until the day before her test. As Jordan was working on canter extensions in an indoor arena that evening, the lights went out, but Jordan said her mount stayed calm and that gave her confidence to put in a good ride the next day.

Jordan earned qualifying scores for the 2012 USEF London Paralympic Selection Trials, putting her one step closer to this premier international event.

Jordan is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER). At home in Florida, she trusts KER products to keep her horses performing at their competitive best.

At the 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI*** in Florida, para-equestrian dressage rider Mary Jordan rode well and helped her team post good scores to take the win over a strong Canadian team. Riders from Bermuda, Finland, Ireland, Japan, and Mexico also participated in this opportunity to gain international experience and qualify for the 2012 London Paralympic Selection Trials. 

Jordan finished second to Irish rider James Dwyer on Orlando in the Grade IV individual contest.  Jordan, who is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), rides Sebastian in this dressage division made up of riders whose condition is considered less severe than Grade I to III para-equestrians. In helping to secure the team win for the United States, Jordan and Sebastian posted the top score among the U.S. team members.

Sebastian is on loan to Jordan from his owner, Deecie Denison of Vermont. Jordan said, "I am very excited about him. He is a fantastic horse and I am very blessed. He loves to compete and I just want to bring out the best in him because he is bringing out the best in me."

Jordan keeps Sebastian healthy and in good condition with nutritional advice from KER. His nutritional management includes KER's supplements EO-3, a source of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation and boost a horse's immune system, and KER-Flex, which supports joint health.

Mary Jordan rode two horses in the Gold Coast Dressage Opener CPEDI three-star competition at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida. The FEI dressage event included 23 para-equestrian riders from seven countries. The event is one of a pair of competitions on successive weekends in which para-equestrians can earn qualifying scores for this summer's Paralympic Games in London.

Jordan had the first ride of the competition on Sebastian. She was pleased with the horse's performance but said she is looking to produce even more out of him. She also rode tests on P Sparrow Socks. At the close of competition, Jordan had achieved individual scores above 60, the cutoff for qualification, with both horses. Despite good performances by all riders, the U.S. team finished in second place behind a strong Canadian team.

Jordan, who is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), uses several KER supplements to keep her competition horses in top shape. RiteTrac, a digestive tract conditioner; EO-3, an omega-3 fatty acid supplement; and KER-Flex, a joint health product, have been part of Jordan's management plan to allow her horses to perform to their maximum potential.