Floratina may not have begun her dressage career as a para mount, but in 2024, the elegant bay Hanoverian became perhaps the first horse ever to capture gold medals at international championships in both sports. “Flora,” who in 2019 was ridden by Canadian Lindsay Kellock to a team gold medal at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, added more hardware to her resume at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. There, Flora and five-time Paralympian Rebecca Hart earned gold in both the Grade III individual test and freestyle and anchored the U.S. squad for its first-ever Paralympic team gold. Thanks to her impressive accomplishments, Floratina was recognized as a 2024 USEF International Horse of Honor.

“Floratina is just an amazing mare, so kind, so adaptable, and just wants to work with you,” Hart said in an interview in Sidelines magazine. “As an equestrian, there’s this whole silent language, and ability to connect with an animal and have them perform for you. Floratina picked up that connection immediately with me.”

Hart began riding Flora in 2023, after her friend, professional dressage trainer Lauren Sprieser, saw the mare at Kellock’s barn and thought the two might be a good match. Most recently, Flora had been competing at Prix St. Georges and Intermediare with her owner, Chloe Gasiorowski. Although Gasiorwoski loved competing Flora, she also had other horses available to her; she thought it made sense to pursue this new opportunity.

“Rebecca came to try her a few times at the barn, and it was a great match from the beginning,” Gasiorwoski said.

For the Paralympic qualifying period, Hart’s long-time sponsor and enthusiastic supporter of para-dressage, Rowan O’Riley, leased Flora from Gasiorowski to comply with FEI criteria.

Hart and Flora had only been working together for eight weeks when they flew to Europe in June 2023, where the pair swept all three classes in their international debut at the Stadl-Paura (Austria) CPEDI3*. The following weekend, they again dominated the Grade III division at Pilisjászfalu (Hungary) CPEDI3*, before returning to the U.S. to spend the summer and fall competing there. Their 2023 wins�"both here and abroad�" proved to be the start of a journey that would lead to Paris.

Flora and Hart continued their winning ways in 2024. At CPEDI3* competitions held at the World Equestrian Center-Ocala (Florida), Fontainebleau (France), Manheim (Germany), and Hagen (Germany), they produced a series of strong showings and podium finishes. By the time they arrived in Paris, they were favored to win�"but Hart, who was the most senior member of the U.S. squad, had never won a Paralympic gold.

“When you’re riding for yourself, there’s always pressure there,” Hart said in an interview with Chronicle of the Horse prior to the Games. “But then when you’re riding for your team, there’s even more pressure, because you’re representing not only yourself and your barn, but also your entire country. So you don’t want to let your teammates down.

“It’s really nice to have a horse that is, so far, just so consistent and good in her brain everywhere we’ve gone,” Hart continued. “It’s a very wonderful thing to have in a team horse.”

Not every dressage horse has the temperament and suitability to work with para riders, who often use adaptive equipment or unique techniques for cueing their mounts. But Flora adapted quickly to Hart, who has a progressive condition called hereditary spastic paraparesis that impacts the ability to control her body from mid-back down.

“I always joke that Floratina is part human,” Gasiorowski said. “She is the brightest horse I have ever met. She is also the most confident horse I have met. I have never seen or experienced her to say ‘no’ to anything, so when it came to learning the para aids, she was unquestionably up for the challenge.

“She was born for this job,” she continued. “When she goes into the ring, you feel her light up. She wants to win.”

Flora is described as having a “laid-back” attitude, and perhaps this also has played a role in her ability to handle everything from unknown leg aids to unfamiliar European arenas. Gasiorowski brought her entire family to Versailles to support Flora and Hart’s performance; a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen, she became emotional to know that her special mare had won gold for each country.

“It was an incredible experience,” Gasiorowski said. “I am so grateful Rebecca was able to showcase Floratina and show the world what she is capable of. My three kids were inspired to see Floratina, and the response from the crowd.”

Looking forward, Gasiorowski hopes to see Hart and Flora continue to shine together for at least a few more years.

“She still has a lot to offer as a show horse,” Gasiorowski said. “Floratina has lived in our backyard barn in the past and has been part of our family. We have many Christmas cards with Floratina on them over the years. When her time comes to retire, the kids will be happy to have her home.”