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NY State Special Olympics Equestrian Team
MEET THE SPECIAL OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN TEAM EVENT BEING HELD SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 3-5 PM, RAIN OR SHINE, at THE ITHACA EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 1458 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, ITHACA. IF RAIN, WE WILL BE IN THE INDOOR ARENA. We are excited to be working with the local Special Olympics chapter to launch a new Special Olympics Equestrian Team right here in the Ithaca area. with the help of Challenge Workforce participants, we built a dressage arena at Stablework. Training for the athletes began June 2023, and we are preparing for the State Competition held in Saratoga Springs, NY, Oct 21, 2023. Special thanks to donors for their donations and contributions of time, equipment, and/or funds : Ithaca-Cortland Chapter of Special Olympics; Show Trunk II, The Cornell Equestrian Team; The Cornell Polo Team; Ithaca Equestrian Center, the Moonlight family, Community Foundation of Tompkins County, United Way of Tompkins County, J.M McDonald Foundation.
MEET THE SPECIAL OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN TEAM EVENT BEING HELD SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 3-5 PM, RAIN OR SHINE, at THE ITHACA EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 1458 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, ITHACA. IF RAIN, WE WILL BE IN THE INDOOR ARENA. We are excited to be working with the local Special Olympics chapter to launch a new Special Olympics Equestrian Team right here in the Ithaca area. with the help of Challenge Workforce participants, we built a dressage arena at Stablework. Training for the athletes began June 2023, and we are preparing for the State Competition held in Saratoga Springs, NY, Oct 21, 2023. Special thanks to donors for their donations and contributions of time, equipment, and/or funds : Ithaca-Cortland Chapter of Special Olympics; Show Trunk II, The Cornell Equestrian Team; The Cornell Polo Team; Ithaca Equestrian Center, the Moonlight family, Community Foundation of Tompkins County, United Way of Tompkins County, J.M McDonald Foundation.
MEET THE SPECIAL OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN TEAM EVENT BEING HELD SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 3-5 PM, RAIN OR SHINE, at THE ITHACA EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 1458 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, ITHACA. IF RAIN, WE WILL BE IN THE INDOOR ARENA. We are excited to be working with the local Special Olympics chapter to launch a new Special Olympics Equestrian Team right here in the Ithaca area. with the help of Challenge Workforce participants, we built a dressage arena at Stablework. Training for the athletes began June 2023, and we are preparing for the State Competition held in Saratoga Springs, NY, Oct 21, 2023. Special thanks to donors for their donations and contributions of time, equipment, and/or funds : Ithaca-Cortland Chapter of Special Olympics; Show Trunk II, The Cornell Equestrian Team; The Cornell Polo Team; Ithaca Equestrian Center, the Moonlight family, Community Foundation of Tompkins County, United Way of Tompkins County, J.M McDonald Foundation.
Special Olympics Equestrian Team
Paula J. Wedemeyer, certified Special Olympics coach. Paula, owner of the beautiful Ithaca Equestrian Center, will be the lead coach for the team. Paula is a highly experienced equestrian trainer, rider, and competitor and a recognized leader in our community. With Paula on our team, our athletes will be headed in the right direction to learn the routines for competition! See more about Paula and her amazing equine facility at http://ithaca-equestrian-center.com/index.html We are so lucky that Paula volunteered to lead our athletes to success.
MEET THE SPECIAL OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN TEAM EVENT BEING HELD SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 3-5 PM, RAIN OR SHINE, at THE ITHACA EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 1458 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, ITHACA. IF RAIN, WE WILL BE IN THE INDOOR ARENA. We are excited to be working with the local Special Olympics chapter to launch a new Special Olympics Equestrian Team right here in the Ithaca area. with the help of Challenge Workforce participants, we built a dressage arena at Stablework. Training for the athletes began June 2023, and we are preparing for the State Competition held in Saratoga Springs, NY, Oct 21, 2023. Special thanks to donors for their donations and contributions of time, equipment, and/or funds : Ithaca-Cortland Chapter of Special Olympics; Show Trunk II, The Cornell Equestrian Team; The Cornell Polo Team; Ithaca Equestrian Center, the Moonlight family, Community Foundation of Tompkins County, United Way of Tompkins County, J.M McDonald Foundation.
MEET THE SPECIAL OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN TEAM EVENT BEING HELD SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 3-5 PM, RAIN OR SHINE, at THE ITHACA EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 1458 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, ITHACA. IF RAIN, WE WILL BE IN THE INDOOR ARENA. We are excited to be working with the local Special Olympics chapter to launch a new Special Olympics Equestrian Team right here in the Ithaca area. with the help of Challenge Workforce participants, we built a dressage arena at Stablework. Training for the athletes began June 2023, and we are preparing for the State Competition held in Saratoga Springs, NY, Oct 21, 2023. Special thanks to donors for their donations and contributions of time, equipment, and/or funds : Ithaca-Cortland Chapter of Special Olympics; Show Trunk II, The Cornell Equestrian Team; The Cornell Polo Team; Ithaca Equestrian Center, the Moonlight family, Community Foundation of Tompkins County, United Way of Tompkins County, J.M McDonald Foundation.
Hannah Roman, working with Paula at the Ithaca Equestrian Center, will be the assistant coach for the Special Olympic Equestrian athletes. Hannah grew up with horses and has been riding for 14 years. She is an accomplished rider with varied experiences. Prior to and during high school she spent 6-7 years in the Hunter-Jumper world and then in her last few years of high school participated in interscholastic Polo through Cornell University. Hannah majored in agricultural science at Cornell and played on both Cornell’s Varsity Women's Polo and the Cornell Women's Varsity Equestrian teams. We are lucky that Hannah will be working with our athletes.
MEET THE SPECIAL OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN TEAM EVENT BEING HELD SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 3-5 PM, RAIN OR SHINE, at THE ITHACA EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 1458 TRUMANSBURG ROAD, ITHACA. IF RAIN, WE WILL BE IN THE INDOOR ARENA. We are excited to be working with the local Special Olympics chapter to launch a new Special Olympics Equestrian Team right here in the Ithaca area. with the help of Challenge Workforce participants, we built a dressage arena at Stablework. Training for the athletes began June 2023, and we are preparing for the State Competition held in Saratoga Springs, NY, Oct 21, 2023. Special thanks to donors for their donations and contributions of time, equipment, and/or funds : Ithaca-Cortland Chapter of Special Olympics; Show Trunk II, The Cornell Equestrian Team; The Cornell Polo Team; Ithaca Equestrian Center, the Moonlight family, Community Foundation of Tompkins County, United Way of Tompkins County, J.M McDonald Foundation.
Hannah Roman, working with Paula at the Ithaca Equestrian Center, will be the assistant coach for the Special Olympic Equestrian athletes. Hannah grew up with horses and has been riding for 14 years. She is an accomplished rider with varied experiences. Prior to and during high school she spent 6-7 years in the Hunter-Jumper world and then in her last few years of high school participated in interscholastic Polo through Cornell University. Hannah majored in agricultural science at Cornell and played on both Cornell’s Varsity Women's Polo and the Cornell Women's Varsity Equestrian teams. We are lucky that Hannah will be working with our athletes.
Painting the posts traditional white for the arena.
We are so proud that our trainees built this horse arena for the Special Olympics Equestrian Team training. They painted, measured and installed this fence.
Hannah Roman, working with Paula at the Ithaca Equestrian Center, will be the assistant coach for the Special Olympic Equestrian athletes. Hannah grew up with horses and has been riding for 14 years. She is an accomplished rider with varied experiences. Prior to and during high school she spent 6-7 years in the Hunter-Jumper world and then in her last few years of high school participated in interscholastic Polo through Cornell University. Hannah majored in agricultural science at Cornell and played on both Cornell’s Varsity Women's Polo and the Cornell Women's Varsity Equestrian teams. We are lucky that Hannah will be working with our athletes.
Challenge Workforce participants threading the special white rope to create a fence for the horses.
We are so proud that our trainees built this horse arena for the Special Olympics Equestrian Team training. They painted, measured and installed this fence.
We are so proud that our trainees built this horse arena for the Special Olympics Equestrian Team training. They painted, measured and installed this fence.
We are so proud that our trainees built this horse arena for the Special Olympics Equestrian Team training. They painted, measured and installed this fence.
We are so proud that our trainees built this horse arena for the Special Olympics Equestrian Team training. They painted, measured and installed this fence.
We are so proud that our trainees built this horse arena for the Special Olympics Equestrian Team training. They painted, measured and installed this fence.
Athletes
WELCOME KINSEY
READ ALL ABOUT THE PROGRAM and OUR KICK OFF EVENT
READ ALL ABOUT THE PROGRAM and OUR KICK OFF EVENT
Kinsey is a proven winner in Special Olympics, having previously won many medals over the past 12 years. Kinsey has competed in bocce, track, snowshoeing, volleyball and cycling, and traveled to several international competitions. Kinsey is super excited to join the Special Olympics Equestrian team. She has been waiting many years for this to happen and Kinsey tells us she wants to “go the distance.” And we're going with her!
READ ALL ABOUT THE PROGRAM and OUR KICK OFF EVENT
READ ALL ABOUT THE PROGRAM and OUR KICK OFF EVENT
READ ALL ABOUT THE PROGRAM and OUR KICK OFF EVENT
This program is at no cost to the athletes and their families and is supported by donations and grants.
WELCOME EMMA
READ ALL ABOUT THE PROGRAM and OUR KICK OFF EVENT
WELCOME ANDREW
Emma is a talented young woman joining the newly formed Equestrian team. We are familiar with Emma's skills as she has been a participant in our all year vocational training program. Emma will now have the opportunity along with other athletes to learn more advanced horse skills. Get ready to Saddle up!
WELCOME ANDREW
WELCOME NIKOLAI
WELCOME ANDREW
Andrew is a Silver medal winner at the 2022 Golf Special Olympics. Andrew learned to care for horses at Stablework's all year vocational training program and is ready to learn to ride!
WELCOME NIKOLAI
WELCOME NIKOLAI
WELCOME NIKOLAI
Nicolai loves horses and has previous riding experience. Nikolai competed in the 2022 Special Olympics summer games in swimming, including diving off the block! In this picture he is getting to know Moonlight and looks forward to being back in the saddle.
Meet Moonlight
Thank you to the McGeachy Family
Thank you to the McGeachy Family
Thank you to the McGeachy Family
We are so grateful to the McGeachy family for letting us borrow Moonlight, their gentle amazingly handsome “Paint” Horse to be used during the teaching sessions for the Special Olympic athletes.
The McGeachy family adopted Moonlight from an owner in Pittsburgh a few years ago. Moonlight was formerly a riding instruction horse so he knows what to do during riding lessons. Moonlight is boarded at the beautiful Ithaca Equestrian Center where the McGeachy family rides Moonlight several times a week.
What is a Paint Horse?
Thank you to the McGeachy Family
Thank you to the McGeachy Family
“Paints” are special breeds, and Moonlight is particularly unique with his bold stripes.
Paints are well-known for their patience and easy-going manner. The Native Americans, especially Comanches, prized these horses, and Paints are still favored by cowboys and cattle ranchers to this day.
Moonlight in Action
Thank you to the McGeachy Family
Moonlight in Action
What the McGeachy family love most is “how Moonlight takes care of you, and he knows when he has a new rider and will look back or slow down to make sure the rider is doing OK.” We are so happy that the McGeachy family will be at some of our trainings and other events to encourage our Team. Welcome Moonlight and the lovely McGeachy family to Stablework! .
Meet Stablework's Champion Horses
BUDDY
COMBATE
COMBATE
Buddy is retired from barrel racing and was kindly donated to Stablework by the Cornell Equestrian Team. Buddy has been resting up his feet and is getting ready to be an active member of the Special Olympics team.
COMBATE
COMBATE
COMBATE
Combate is a Polo Pony, 19 years old, a current valuable member of the Cornell Polo Team. Cornell has graciously lent her to us for training with our Special Olympics athletes.
Meet our VOLUNTEERS
Amelia
Amelia
Amelia
Amelia proud owner and rider of Moonlight. Ameila has been riding horses since she was 8 years old. She enjoys showing the team what Moonlight can do. We are delighted to have her on the team.
Alexa
Amelia
Amelia
Alexa Rahman- Alexa excels in all that she does, from academics, to music, to equine care and training, for which she’s received seven world championship titles as well as the Horse World People's Choice Award in 2017-2020, National Horseman All American Award in 2017-18, and the United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year Awa
Alexa Rahman- Alexa excels in all that she does, from academics, to music, to equine care and training, for which she’s received seven world championship titles as well as the Horse World People's Choice Award in 2017-2020, National Horseman All American Award in 2017-18, and the United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year Award in 2015-2020. She is studying music at Ithaca College, where she is also a Student Trustee, on the Figure Skating Team, and Co-President of its Musicians of Color Association. Alexa has significant experience volunteering with the Special Olympics Equestrian Team in Saratoga Springs where she grew up. We are so lucky to have Alexa join us as a Volunteer.
Elliot
Elliot
Elliot
Elliott is volunteering his time to assist at Stablework and with the Special Olympics Equestrian Team. He is a student at Ithaca High School and his favorite subject is Biology. He is a talented musician, playing his clarinet in the Band at Ithaca High School and the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra.
Neil
Elliot
Elliot
Neil loves horses and people. His career includes being a manager in the kitchen at Loaves and Fishes, where he learned to work with many different kinds of people. He is currently teaching at Lifelong, sings in the Odyssey Choir, and is learning to recite poetry. He enjoys riding horses at Olivia DiRenzo’s in Brooktondale. We are lucky to have Neil bring his talents to our team!
Meet the Special Olympics Equestrian Team
The High Riders
Getting ready for State Games in Saratoga Oct 20-21