Source:  News Release

Horse Radio Network Features Para-Equestrian Mary Jordan, Trainer Jim Koford, and Susan Guinan of Vinceremos Thereapeutic Riding Center

Jupiter, FL - Horse Radio Network's once-a-month Para-Equestrian Show featured Para-Dressage athlete Mary Jordan, Susan Guinan of Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, and Dressage trainer and rider Jim Koford. 

Lindsay McCall from the United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) hosted the show with co-host Regina Cristo. To listen to episode #283 please visit: http://dressageradio.horseradionetwork.com/2014/10/30/dressage-radi... 

About Mary Jordan: 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) athlete Mary

Mary Jordan and Rubicon 75 at the Great American Insurance Group/ United States Dressage Federation Region 8 Championships presented by New England Dressage Association (NEDA) September 18-21, 2014 ©Amy E. Riley/STUDIO EQUUS

Jordan of Wells, Maine is headed to the 2014 U.S. Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® scheduled for November 6-9, in Lexington, KY. Jordan qualified with Rubicon 75 (Royal-Hit x Edelkarin/Absinthe) at the Great American Insurance Group/ United States Dressage Federation Region 8 Championships presented by New England Dressage Association (NEDA) September 18-21, 2014. Unprecedented, this horse and rider combination is the only Para-Equestrian Dressage duo to win an able-bodied Regional Championship to go to the Finals.  Jordan earned her invitation when the pair won the 3rd Level Championship out of a field of 23 competitors. Rubicon also placed 5th in the 2nd Level Region 8 Championship. Rubicon 75, is owned by Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center of Loxahatchee, Florida, and was formally owned and ridden by Catherine Haddad Staller of International Dressage.     

To find out more about Mary Jordan's trip to the U.S. Dressage Finals view this link: http://uspea.org/october-30-2014-mary-jordan-heads-to-u-s-dressage-...  

About Jim Koford: (excerpt from KofordDressage.com)
James has been immersed in the dressage community for the last 35 years. He was catapulted into the FEI dressage ring aboard the Pinto Dutch Warmblood stallion, Art Deco. James started showing Art Deco as a 4- year- old and advanced him to Grand Prix. This popular duo became one of the most recognizable FEI combinations on the East Coast.

As a competitor, James enjoys tremendous success on a wide variety of horses. He has competed in the Grand Prix on six different mounts and has guided over twenty horses to the FEI levels. James's horses have won numerous regional and national awards from Training Level to Grand Prix. Some of his most successful horses include the stallions Donatelli II winning at Grand Prix with scores to 72% (2007) and Don Principe winning thirteen straight PSG and I1 classes in 2008.

James distinguishes himself as one of the very few riders in the world to compete at both Four Star eventing and Grand Prix dressage. James trained and competed the horses Bank On It and Max Motoring at Essex**, Bromont**, Fair Hill*** and Rolex****. James continues his commitment to the eventing community as a highly sought after dressage coach, for eventing riders at the national and international levels.

In 2009, Koford had success with a number of horses. Aboard Don Principe, Koford took home top honors in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the WEF Dressage Classic, the Grand Prix Test at the KDA Spring Warm-Up Show, and the Grand Prix Test and Freestyle at the KDA 23rd Annual Dressage Show. Koford, aboard Rhett, was awarded the Anne Barlow Ramsay grant from The Dressage Foundation to travel to Germany to train and compete. Koford and Rhett trained with Michael Klimke in Germany and competed in the small tour at national shows in Germany.

2010 led Rhett and Koford back to Germany where they successfully competed in Open Grand Prix classes at national shows. The pair also competed in the  Medien Cup classes for young Grand Prix horses. The same year they secured two wins at the USDF Region 1 Dressage Championships.
Koford and Rhett made their debut at the CDI Grand Prix level in 2011. In Wellington, they capped off a great season with a win in the International Horse Sport Champions Cup Grand Prix. They had another win that year in the Grand Prix Test at Dressage at Devon. In addition, they finished out the year with two more Grand Prix wins at the USDF Region 1 Dressage Championships. Also in 2011, Koford also won two Grand Prix classes at Dressage at Lexington aboard Pharaoh.

2012 began with a win aboard Pharaoh in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Wellington Dressage show. Koford finished second with Rhett in the Grand Prix Special at the Wellington Dressage show as well. Koford and Pharaoh finished second at the Florida Dressage Classic with a exceptional freestyle performance. In June of 2012, Koford and Rhett were selected to compete in the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions and Selection Trials for the U.S. Dressage Team. They finished 12th with an overall score of 67.858%. Rhett and Koford continued their success in 2013 with a second place finish the Grand Prix Special at the World Dressage Masters.

Listen to Trainer Jim Koford talk about training able-bodied and Para-Dressage:

About Susan Guinan: Guinan is the Director of Development at Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center in Loxahatchee, FL.

Susan grew up in Bucks County, Pa. and South Florida. She attended Rutgers University studying Agricultural Business and Marketing.  Susan worked for Merrill Lynch in NYC and London. She lived in the UK for 18 years raising her two boys. Her career in finance and marketing continued in London building loyalty and affinity programs for European and Australian banks and utilities from offices in London, Paris and Sydney.

Susan returned to Florida full time in 2004, and now combines her passion for horses and business at Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. Susan, a life long horsewoman, joined the staff of Vinceremos in September of 2009. No stranger to Vinceremos, Susan has been a part of the auction committee since returning to Florida.   Susan's role includes developing donors, sponsorship and fundraising for the center.

She started driving horse and carriage in the 19080's while living in Far Hills, New Jersey.  During her time in England her passion for driving continued including Driving for the Disabled an affiliate of the Riding for the Disabled. She holds a Level 2 driving certification from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship and founded the driving program at Vinceremos.  Susan continues to drive competitively and accompanies her driving students to competitions too.

Susan is on the Board of Trustees of the US Driving for the Disabled and is on the PATH Driving sub committee.

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