2024 Paris Paralympics: USA's Kate Shoemaker and Vianne Bronze in Grade IV Individual Freestyle Para Dressage

U.S. Paralympian Kate Shoemaker and her horse, Solitaer 40, won bronze in the Grade IV Individual Freestyle Para Dressage competition at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Shoemaker, a 33-year-old from Wellington, Florida, has competed in three previous Paralympics, winning a team bronze medal in 2016 and an individual silver medal in 2020.

Solitaer 40 is a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare who has been partnered with Shoemaker since 2021. The pair won the Grade IV Individual Freestyle at the 2022 World Championships.

Vianne Bronze, a 45-year-old from Chico, California, finished fifth in the Grade IV Individual Freestyle Para Dressage competition with her horse, Don John.

Bronze is a two-time Paralympian, having competed in 2012 and 2020. She won a team bronze medal in 2020.

Don John is a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding who has been partnered with Bronze since 2019. The pair won the Grade IV Individual Freestyle at the 2022 CPEDI3* in Wellington, Florida.

Shoemaker and Bronze's performances helped the U.S. team finish fourth in the Grade IV Team Para Dressage competition.

The U.S. team also included Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton, who finished ninth in the Grade IV Individual Freestyle, and Rebecca Hart and El Corona Texel, who finished 12th.

The U.S. team's performance was a significant improvement over their eighth-place finish in the Grade IV Team Para Dressage competition at the 2020 Paralympics.

Shoemaker and Bronze's medals are the first Paralympic medals for the United States in Para Dressage since 2020.

The U.S. has now won a total of 10 Paralympic medals in Para Dressage, including four gold medals, three silver medals, and three bronze medals.

The 2024 Paris Paralympics were held from August 28 to September 8, 2024. The Para Dressage competition was held at the Stade Equestre de Versailles.