Source:   News Release/Carlisle Academy & Lindsay McCall

Announcing the 2013 U.S. National Para-Dressage Training Symposium
"A Team Approach"

Lyman, Maine- April 18, 2013- Join us for a four day Para-Dressage Training Symposium! We are thrilled to bring world-class trainers and practitioners to Carlisle Academy for an educational and interactive program packed with information and training for Para-dressage riders, trainers and coaches.

The Training symposium is presented in two parts, with a theme of "A Team Approach"
Train the Trainer Workshop~ May 29 - 30 
Para Rider Symposium ~ May 30 - June 1

This is a U.S. Para-Equestrian Association sanctioned event and is organized and hosted by Carlisle Academy Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports, a leading nationally accredited program in Lyman, Maine.

Symposium Banquet & Keynote Address: All participants (clinicians, trainers, and riders) are invited to a symposium banquet at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine on Wednesday, May 29th. Featured guest Gill Merrick will kick off the symposium theme of "A Team Approach" in his keynote address that evening. There will be time for fellowship and networking.

Featured Symposium Clinicians
Hanneke Gerritsen ~ FEI "O" Judge and Olympic Technical Delegate from Holland
Catherine Haddad Staller ~ International Dressage Competitor & Trainer
Clive Milkins ~ 2012 Paralympic Gold Medal Team Coach for Great Britain
Gil Merrick ~ Former USEF High Performance Dressage Director and National Clinician

Symposium Lecturers & Specialists
Hope Hand ~ President of United States Para Equestrian Association (USPEA)
Lora Dow ~ Fundraising & Marketing Expert
Tina Wentz ~ National Classifier and USPEA board member
Susan Grant, OTR/L, HPCS ~ Licensed Occupational Therapist; Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist
Janet Smaldone, PT, HPCS ~ Licensed Physical Therapist; Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist

Exceptional Facilities
The workshop portion and Symposium Banquet will be held at the classic, waterfront Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine. We have reserved a block of rooms at a group rate for any Symposium participant. All hands-on and riding portions of the Symposium will be held at Carlisle Academy, which is centrally located in Southern Maine, just 30 minutes from Portland, ME and Portsmouth, NH. Fly into Portland, Manchester or Boston airports. The Academy, located on 150-acre Spring Creek Farm in Lyman, Maine, USA, provides an ideal environment for training. With two indoor arenas, two outdoor arenas, a therapy room and classroom, individuals and horses alike will find the space comfortable, peaceful and conducive to a productive learning experience.

Please Note! There is no limit on enrollment for the Train the Trainer's portion. However, due to the intensive nature of the Rider Symposium, space is limited to 10 riders and an unlimited number of active auditors. Carlisle Academy will hold space for 2 alternates in the event of rider cancellations. Preference will be given to Horse & Rider combinations.

Hanneke Gerritsen, World-class FEI "O" Judge and Olympic Technical Delegate
Hanneke Gerritsen will share her extensive judging expertise with participants of the Train the Trainer program, through lecture, rider demonstrations and video critiques. Hanneke will be available as well to coach and mentor clinicians as they work with para riders. She will teach lessons to riders who are not planning on trying out for the 2014 World Equestrian Games, and a limited number of private lessons for non-symposium participants will be available as time allows.

Hanneke began her career with horses at her father's farm while continuing a career as an interior designer. Now she spends all her time coaching, judging and performing a number of executive functions in the Para-Equestrian disciplines. In addition to judging international qualifier competitions worldwide, Hanneke coached the Dutch Para-Dressage Team from 2000 to 2004. From 2005 through 2010 she was a member of the ground jury at a number of international championships including the 2008 Paralympics in Hong Kong. She was the Technical Delegate at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. In addition to her Para-Equestrian pursuits, Hanneke is a Grand Prix judge and a selector and trainer for new dressage judges at all levels. She has bred several talented dressage horses and is a trainer and coach to several talented students in Holland. Hanneke gives clinics all over the world.

Catherine Haddad Staller, International Dressage Competitor & Trainer
Catherine Haddad Staller's international expertise as both an FEI competitor and trainer will enrich the riders' experience. She will be available for private sessions, as well as two lectures on How to Train the Walk, and the Competitive Mindset.

In 1993 Catherine was stationed in Germany where she represented the United States in competitions throughout Europe at both national and international levels. With Maximus JSS, Cadillac, and Winyamaro, she accumulated over 100 top ten placings and wins at Grand Prix. In 2006, Haddad Staller was alternate for the US Dressage Team in Aachen at the World Equestrian Games. In 2007, she became the first American dressage rider to qualify in the Western European League for the World Cup. With Maximus JSS, she finished seventh at the 2007 FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas. In 2009, Haddad Staller won nine Grand Prix with Cadillac and Winyamaro in European competitions. In 2010, she was Reserve for the US Dressage Team for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky and won the CDI-W at Dressage at Devon which helped her achieve a nomination to the FEI World Cup Final in April of 2011. Winyamaro and Cadillac went on to win two tests in the USA at the Saugerties CDIW/CDI3* in New York, September 2011. Haddad Staller returned to the USA in 2012 and now runs a training facility in Loxahatchee, Florida.
Clive Milkins, 2012 Paralympic Gold Medal Dressage Team Coach for Great Britain
Clive will share his international para coaching experience with an emphasis on working with Grade 1 & 2 para-equestrians. In a lecture, he will also share his perspective on the British system for developing para riders.

Clive Milkins, a leading para-equestrian dressage coach from Great Britain was instrumental in leading his team to a gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics. He began his work with the RDA (Riding for the Disabled) in the late 1980s after volunteering at Moreton Hall Group while at Warwickshire College. Clive was the trainer for the British team at the 1990 World Championship and Games for disabled riders. He has since coached riders competing at Paralympic Games (Athens and Beijing), European Championships and World Championships. Clive coached triple gold medal winning rider, Sophie Christiansen, at the 2012 Paralympics. Clive has been nominated for numerous awards since his career began: Groom of the Year, 2005; The Queen's Award for Equestrianism, awarded for 'Outstanding Services to Equestrianism'; and the Kuster BEF Groom of the Year in 2006.

Gil Merrick, Former USEF High Performance Dressage Director and National Clinician

Gil will kick off the Para-Dressage Symposium with his keynote address, A Team Approach, sharing his knowledge of organizations, national teams, and why collaboration will create a winning team. Gil will also be available for on-site video critiques, a function he fills as a featured dressage coach atHorseshow.com. Gil is an accomplished dressage rider and trainer and conducts clinics and seminars throughout the country. Gil brings over 30 years of management experience including extensive international business experience. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management and German from Hiram College and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University. Gil served as Managing Director for Dressage at the United States Equestrian Federation from 2005 through 2009, and is a highly recognized equestrian. As the High Performance Director, he was responsible for administering the process of selecting and training the US teams that competed at the international shows. Gil served successfully as the team leader for the U.S. dressage teams at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (Aachen, Germany), the 2007 Pan American Games (Rio di Janeiro, Brazil), and the 2008 Olympic Games (Beijing, China).

Hope Hand, President of USPEA
Hope will share her depth of knowledge and expertise on para-equestrian sport through lectures on subjects such as Para Theory, FEI Rules Roles & Etiquette, and a review of Highlights from the 2012 Paralympics. As the driving force behind the USPEA and a para-dressage Olympian, Hope is helping to mobilize and develop para riders and coaches across the country.

Hope serves on the board of directors of the United States Equestrian Federation, is chair of the USEF High Performance Committee and has been a long time supporter of the United States Pony Club. Hope has had a successful and exciting competitive career. She was first alternate to the Atlanta Paralympic Team in 1996 and competed at the British Invitational in 1997, earning gold, silver and bronze medals. In 1998 at the USEF Festival of Champions, she was one of four disabled riders where each para-dressage rider competed on four separate teams with their able-bodied peers. At the 1999 World Dressage Championships as a member of Team USA she earned a bronze medal. Hope competed at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, finishing 5th in the overall standings. Hope has received numerous awards for her leadership roles in promoting sport for athletes with disabilities.

Lora Dow, Vice President/Marketing & Communications at Donor By Design, LLC Lora Dow will present an informative lecture "Funding Your Competitive Dreams" designed to help riders identify financial needs for competition and develop strategies to attain fundraising goals using stories and social media.

An experienced equestrian, Lora has nearly 20 years of marketing expertise and more than 10 years working with non-profits. A graduate of Georgetown University, Lora began her career in marketing for technology companies. But it was her role at the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee that helped her realize that there is something special in working with non-profits. Lora continues her passion for helping great causes in her work with Donor By Design and in her volunteer activities in the Milwaukee area.

Tina Wentz, PT, National Classifier and USPEA Board Member
Tina will lead a lecture entitled "Classification Process Defined" for Train the Trainer attendees, as well as being available to classify riders. As a trained physical therapist and mother of Para-Dressage competitor Jonathan Wentz, now deceased, Tina brings her unique perspective and set of skills to rider classification and para-dressage nationwide.

Tina Wentz is a National Classifier and a physical therapist who has used hippotherapy as a treatment strategy for 15 years. Wentz is a very active volunteer for the High Performance Para-Team. She also spends time volunteering at a local therapeutic riding center and dressage club.

Susan Grant, Licensed Occupational Therapist, Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist
Sue will be available at the Symposium to meet with riders for an optional OT consult and evaluation, offering her perspective from over 30 years of experience as an occupational therapist in a variety of settings. Therapists recommendations, if any, will be included on the rider summary evaluation provided at the end of the symposium.

Susan, Director of Therapy & Adaptive Programs at Carlisle Academy, graduated from Utica College of Syracuse University in 1978 with a BS in Occupational Therapy. She recently attained her Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist designation through the American Hippotherapy Association. Sue is a PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding and carriage driving instructor and holds a specialty certification in Sensory Integration. She has worked as a clinician, supervisor, program manager and clinical director at Eastern Maine Medical Center, New England Rehabilitation Hospital, Alpha One and the University of New England. Susan has clinical experience working with adults and children with neurologic developmental and acquired disabilities. She has advanced clinical skills in adaptive equipment design, home modification assessment and assessment for seated and wheeled mobility, assessment of visual and visual-perceptual skills and sensory processing difficulties.

Janet Smaldone, Physical Therapist, Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist
Janet will be available at the Symposium to meet with riders for optional PT consults and evaluations. With her extensive PT background and interest in yoga, she will provide assistance with individualized stretching and strengthening programs.

Janet Smaldone is a licensed physical therapist in four states, including Maine, and recently attained her Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist designation from the American Hippotherapy Association. Janet graduated from UMass Lowell in 1985 with a BS in Physical Therapy. She joined Carlisle Academy in 2011 in the hippotherapy program with over 25 years' experience in primarily pediatrics in a variety of settings, including 10 years at NCEFT (National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy). In addition, she is trained in Pediatric and Baby NDT (Neurodevelopmental Treatment), and Craniosacral Therapy Level I and II.

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