Top United States show jumping athlete Georgina Bloomberg of New York, New York, has been joined by Terri Kane of Diamante Farms in Wellington, Florida, in sponsoring U.S. Paralympic dressage rider Sydney Collier of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Bloomberg began her sponsorship of Collier in 2018 and acquired All In One, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, in 2019 to support Collier’s goals of representing the U.S. on the greatest international stages.  Collier has represented the U.S. at the 2014 Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Equestrian Games in Caen, France, and, that same year, won the FEI “Against All Odds” Award, which honors a person who has pursued their equestrian ambitions despite a physical handicap or extremely difficult personal circumstances. Collier went on to compete for the U.S. team at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she finished seventh individually riding Western Rose, an Oldenburg mare owned by Wesley Dunham. In 2021, Collier and All In One were selected as the traveling reserve combination for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

For Kane, whose daughter, Devon Kane, is an international dressage competitor, trainer, and clinician, the sponsorship of Collier marks her first foray into the para dressage community.

“Sydney is an unbelievable individual,” shared Terri. “Her grit and her mindset are so inspiring. She always has a smile on her face and a ‘can-do’ attitude, so I feel truly honored to be part of this team. I know that Sydney wants help in bringing para dressage into the spotlight and ultimately eliminate the stigma surrounding disabled athletes. Together with Georgina and Sydney, I think we will be able to do just that.”

The desire to change the perception of disabled athletes served as the motivation for Collier to explore bringing on a new support team member from a different discipline. Collier found that Terri shared in her vision and felt that her commitment to equestrian sport in the U.S. would serve her mission well.

“I am often lost for words when I reflect on how my para dressage journey has brought people together across disciplines,” said 24-year-old Collier. “Horse sport at any level requires a village. I have had the honor to experience this type of support thanks to Georgina and now with the addition of Terri. To have a world-class show jumping athlete, alongside a dedicated and influential member of the dressage community who is committed to creating opportunities to grow the sport in the U.S., is amazing.

“Terri’s support means so much, not only to me but to the entire sport of para dressage as our discipline grows alongside able-bodied dressage,” continued Collier. “When I connected with Terri, it became so clear that she, Georgina, and I have similar goals—to increase representation and equality in the equestrian community and the world in which we live.”

Bloomberg shared, “I am honored to have Terri join our team in support of Sydney’s competition ambitions and para dressage more broadly. Sydney’s drive to inspire others and to shift the perception of disabled athletes is unmatched. It’s evident that Sydney’s objectives resonated with Terri, and I strongly believe that with her added support, we will continue to raise awareness of para dressage and inspire and empower disabled and able-bodied athletes alike.”

Ultimately, it is Collier’s hope that as interest in para dressage increases, the team’s powerful message of inspiration and motivation will assist in changing the face and definition of disabled athletes in the U.S.

“I feel so lucky that I get to ride for this cause, while representing both of these women on such a talented horse,” concluded Collier. “The future feels so bright, and I feel incredibly grateful to pursue our goal of representing the U.S. at the 2022 World Championships alongside strong, independent, and powerful women on my team. Together we can create the change we believe in!”

For more information on Sydney Collier, visit https://www.SydsParaQuest.com/ and follow her on Instagram.

Find out more about Diamante Farms at www.DiamanteFarms.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram.