My name is Genevieve Rohner. I’m 14 and have been riding for 10 years. I’m a grade IV Para-Equestrian and was classified at age nine. When anyone tells me it’s a long shot to make the Paralympics, I like it. I’m a triplet. My brothers and I were 11-weeks premature, and almost didn’t live. We beat those odds, so I know I can beat a long shot.
I have been the youngest classified para equestrian in the U.S. for five years. In 2022, I became eligible to compete internationally. I competed at my first international show in March 2022 in Wellington, Florida. With my international classification, I became the youngest globally classified para equestrian.
I have worked very hard to get to this point, and my goal is to represent the U.S. at the 2024 Paralympics and beyond. Making the 2024 team would also make me the youngest ever Paralympic dressage rider. When I was five, I told my mom I wanted to go to the Olympics. There’s no guarantee I’ll make the team or medal, but someone will, so why not try?
My parents started my brother Cole and I in Hippotherapy (with Ride-On Therapeutic Horsemanship, (a USEF Para Dressage Center of Excellence) because we have Cerebral Palsy. I also have Sensory Processing Disorder (a non-clinical Autism Spectrum condition), Amblyopia, and my right leg bones are incorrectly positioned. My left side has some weakness as well. I loved riding so much I decided right then that riding horses was what I wanted to do forever.
In 2020 I competed at my first nationals, the 2020 Para Championships in Tryon, NC. It was the first time I showed in front of international judges, and I scored 69.98% on a catch ride that I had only three hours of training on just a few days before competing. It was pretty exciting to be there with all the elite riders and at a huge arena. In 2020 I was also named to the USEF Para Emerging Athletes list with two horses.
I’m the only competitive para rider in Utah, and I’m usually the only child at shows. I love competing and being on a horse more than anything. I’m very dedicated and I want to be a high-level rider. There is not much dressage in Utah and no high-level athletes who are competing. I want to be the next one and make Utah proud.
I’m super excited that MET is willing to help. Thank you for considering helping me achieve my goals!
Here’s some of the things I have done recently:
2022
· Showed at my first international competition (CPEDI3*) and competed with the most recent gold and bronze Paralympic medalists
· I am working on my U.S. Pony Club C1 rating
2021
· Showed at my first higher level FEI tests with Donut and achieved 70-72.5% at three of five shows
· Completed U.S. Pony Club D3 rating
2019
· My horse Star and I showed at Training 3 and competed my first FEI para tests. We scored 67%, and also qualified for the Utah Dressage Society Short Tour, where I placed 3rd.
· 2019 Sage Creek Equestrian Para Riders Award of Athletic Excellence (67.5%)
· 2019 Utah Dressage Society, Para Jr/Yr Champion
2018
· I competed in my first recognized shows and qualified for the USDF Region 7 Championships, California Dressage Society Regional Championships and California Junior Championships. All my qualifying and championships scores were 62 - 68% at Training 2 & 3. I placed 5th and 6th overall of 14 riders, got 2nd in one qualifying ride
· California Dressage Society Top Ten award. I was the only Para-Equestrian, I was 10 and all other riders were 2-5 years older. I trained in Utah on an older quarter horse named Cody and competed in California on a Prix St. Georges Morgan named Karamel.
· At one of the shows, I was the youngest rider, and the oldest competitor was Hilda Gurney. We got to take a picture together!
You can see more of what I am doing and working towards here: