Late in 2021, U.S. Paralympian Kate Shoemaker took her first ride on an elegant young Rheinlander mare named Quiana. And as equestrians say, it was love at first ride.

"She felt so special underneath me, and listening and so forgiving," said Shoemaker about her first ride on Quiana, in a post shared on the U.S. Dressage Federation Facebook page .

Quiana was previously a Bundeschampionat finalist and two-time World Young Horse Championship finalist with Nicole Wego-Engelmeyer of Germany, and Shoemaker worked with Nicole at Hof Kasselmann as she got to know her new horse. Shoemaker began riding Quiana (known simply as "Q" to her friends) in December 2021, and they made their international debut together only a few months later. With outstanding results earned on three continents, this new combo helped further propel U.S. Para Dressage into the world spotlight. In recognition of her outstanding rookie season in the sport, Quiana was named a 2022 US Equestrian Federation International Horse of Honor.

Shoemaker and Quiana's competitive success in their first year together reads almost like a fairytale. In February 2022 at the CHI Al Shaqab CPEDI*** in Doha, Qatar, the pair swept their classes and led Team USA to a silver medal. In March, they also had a strong showing in the Grade IV classes at the CPEDI*** in Randbol, Denmark, including a personal-best 75.813%. Thanks in part to these results, Shoemaker was ranked #1 on the FEI Para Dressage World Individual Rankings for the month of June 2022.

After returning to her home base in Wellington, Florida, Shoemaker furthered their partnership by showing Quiana in a handful of open dressage classes at Third Level, with scores to nearly 78 percent.

Despite being a newer partnership, their impressive results secured Quiana and Shoemaker a spot on the Adequan™ U.S. Para Dressage Team at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark in August. On her Kate Shoemaker Para Dressage Facebook page, Shoemaker announced the exciting news to her friends and supporters:

"It's official, I am riding my absolute favorite mare down centerline for Team USA at the World Championships. I've never felt such a special connection with a horse, and it brings me so much joy that together we have this opportunity."

At the World Championships, Shoemaker and Quiana's Grade IV individual test was the first ride for Team USA; they earned a 73.900% and placed 4th.

"I was smiling the whole second half of the test," said Shoemaker on a post shared on the U.S. Dressage Federation Facebook page. "I was just feeling joy and peace going around the arena. It was awesome."

But the best was yet to come. Not only did the U.S. earn the team bronze medal with Quiana contributing the team leading score of 75.415%, thereby qualifying for the Paris 2024 Paralympics, but Quiana and Shoemaker also earned a personal best score of 80.275% and the silver medal for their Grade IV Individual Freestyle.

Quiana and Shoemaker concluded their breakout year by winning all of the Grade IV classes at the CPEDI3* in Riesenbeck, Germany in September. It was the first podium-topping European finish for Shoemaker, who then opted to leave Quiana in Europe in preparation for spring competitions. It was a move that paid off, as the pair were invited to return to Qatar in February 2023 to again represent Team USA at the CHI Al Shaqab CPEDI***. In a historic finish, Team USA captured the gold medal, and Quiana and Shoemaker set three new personal bests as they won both the Grade IV FEI Para Dressage Grand Prix A and B Tests (76.250% and 77.793%), and the Grade IV FEI Para Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle (81.850%). As we went to press, Shoemaker was ranked 1st in the FEI Para Dressage World Individual Rankings, largely thanks to Quiana's performances.