March 2020 Issue

Page 60 March 2020 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN At its annual meeting, the U.S. Equestrian Federation awarded Hope Hand (New- town Square, PA) the Pegasus Medal of Honor. Hand was commended on her interminable push over the past 25 years for growing the Para-Equestrian discipline from the grassroots USEF Awards Pegasus Medal of Honor to Hope Hand through the high-performance level. The Pegasus Medal of Honor was created as an annual award to recognize individuals who have exhibited outstanding service to horses and the sport through their dedication. The Pegasus Medal of Honor was earned by individuals who have excelled in attracting people to the sport and have contributed to horse sport by advancing its popularity. Hand's contributions to the sport have extended from being a Paralympic athlete to President of the United States Para-Equestrian Association to numerous board and staff positions within the international sport. Hand's efforts occur on a daily basis to support and grow the sport she loves for both the horses and disabled athletes. Hand wears many hats including being both ambassador and role model. Hand has been a part of Pa- ra-Equestrian since it was a net- work of therapeutic linked shows, borrowed mounts as catch rides, the introduction of Paralympic Equestrian, joining USEF, the addition of Para-Driving, and the first World Equestrian Games with Para-Equestrian Dressage. Hand has been the wheels that made Para-Dressage a talked about sport but she rode to top medals in her equestrian career. She was an alternate of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Team and competed at the British Invitational in 1997, earning gold and a bronze. In 1998, she was one of the four disabled riders competing at the Bradshaw Challenge of Champions. As a member of Team USA, she won a bronze medal at the 1999 World Dressage Championships in Den- mark and competed at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. From riding to ambassador Hope has helped propel the sport to where it currently stands. In 2018, Hand witnessed the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dres- sage team earn four medals at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon. For Hand, this was a pinnacle moment where every phone call, every plane flight, every clinic and every ride down centerline was worth it all. With her cheerful person- ality and ability to accomplish any goal she sets forth, the Para-Equestrian sport contin- ues to have a champion leader who gives her all for the riders, coaches, sponsors, volunteers, show managers, and all in- volved. Managing Director, USEF Licensed Officials Sally Ike commented, "I hadn't known that Hope was going to receive the Pegasus award until that evening when I saw her before dinner and congratulated her. Her acceptance speech brought back so many memories when she mentioned my name. I was first introduced to Hope about 25 years ago when I had a phone call from Jumper rider Debbie Stephens. Debbie called to let me know that her friend Hope Hand was going to call me. Most specifically, Debbie alerted me that Hope was in a wheelchair, and then clarified her statement by saying that there was nothing handi- capped about her. Hope called and brought some of her friends to help me with a clinic we were doing at the USET in Gladstone. They did wheelies down the ramp to the USET's Indoor. The first Paralympic Games were a few years afterward. An argu- ment could be made that the Para-Equestrian movement in the United States began those November days at the USET. We have so much to thank Hope for; there is not a more deserving winner of this award." Many of those riders, coaches, sponsors, volunteers, and show managers would say their first interaction with Pa- ra-Equestrian began with Hope Hand. Her words of encourage- ment and expertise are always welcome to newbies in the equestrian world. Top international athlete Katie Jackson remembers that moment for her, "Hope was one of the first people I met when I began looking into para-dressage after my cancer. I will always be grateful to her for how comfort- able and welcome she made me feel as we sat together and she shared information with me. Her enthusiasm and love for the sport were immediately appar- ent. Hope has dedicated herself to furthering the para-equestrian sport and is someone I look to as (Continued on page 61)