September 2022 Issue

Page 26 September 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Following the death of United States Para-Equestrian As- sociation President Hope Hand, the USPEA board of directors recently elected Christina (Tina) Wentz as Interim President and Carole Lee Laulis as Vice Presi- dent. Both have been involved in all aspects of the discipline and USPEA for decades from grass- roots and therapy work through the Paralympics and high-perfor- mance level. Carole Lee Laulis has been with Thorncroft Equestrian Cen- ter in Malvern, PA for over 30 years as the Senior Staff Instruc- tor, Volunteer Coordinator, Path CRTI, USEF Para-dressage silver level coach, Special Olympics Team Pennsylvania Head Coach, and USEF Center of Excellence Coordinator. She is passionate about her students and those aspiring to become para-dres- sage athletes. Laulis met USPEA founder Hope Hand many years ago when she was introduced by Thorncroft’s founders Saunders and Sallie Dixon. Hand watched her teach and got her involved with Para-Equestrian. Laulis remembered. “Hope asked me in true Hope style and she was very persistent, even after I declined.” Hand saw something special in Laulis and in 2010 Hand told Laulis she had a little girl that she wanted Laulis to work with. Now that rider is 22 years old and she is an internationally ranked para-dressage rider. Laulis added, “Hope and I traveled from Maine to Flor- ida together and I listened and learned about the sport of Pa- ra-Dressage. I was hooked on the para-dressage world and loved the trips, the laughs, and cooking for the para-dressage crowd after a long show day. Along with the para-equestrian community, I will keep Hope’s dream going into the future.” Thorncroft’s Laulis Elected USPEA VP Remember...tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian!