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WEG - Paras arrive safely

Joann and Worldwide

Australia's Para-Equestrian Team for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) has arrived safely and are settling in to their home fr the next few weeks.

They are in great form and expected to show the world, the strength of our riders and talented, well trained horses.

Although it will be the first World Equestrian Games for each rider the team is not lacking experience with Paralympic Gold Medallist Joann Formosa among the four strong team making the trip to France.

The four riders and their horses in alphabetical order are:

Nicole Blanks and Vledder (Grade 4) Nicole earns her position on the Australian Team with strong performances at overseas events including Moorsele (BEL) CPEDI3* where she attained scores of 69% in the team and individual championship tests. When she is not riding 24 year old Nicole is currently completing a medicine degree.

Joann and WorldwideJoann Formosa and Worldwide PB (Grade 1B - pictured right and above) Formosa and Worldwide PB famously won gold in the grade IB individual championship test at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. In 2013 Formosa was awarded the FEI Against All Odds Award - which is presented to a person who has pursued her equestrian ambitions in the face of adversity.

Chelsea Higgins and HP Comedian (Grade 3) Chelsea was recently a finalist in Equestrian Australia’s domestic athlete of the year award category. Chelsea and her mount HP Comedian achieved a personal best score of 70.85 in the individual championship test at the final Para-Equestrian nomination event in February this year. Chelsea will celebrate her 20th birthday during WEG.

EElisabeth Sobeckilizabeth Sobecki and Hatero DE PB (Grade 3 - pictured right) Elizabeth was part of an Australian team that competed at the 2012 Hong Kong CPEDI3*. Also in 2012 she was named the Australian team’s non-travelling reserve ahead of the London Paralympic Games. Although Lizzie’s partnership with Hatero DE PB is relatively new, the pair has gone from strength to strength improving with each outing in the three round Para-Equestrian nomination series held between November 2013 and February 2014.