Thousand Oaks, CA-June 27, 2013- Horse Radio Network’s once-a-month Para-Equestrian Show featured both Para-Dressage and Para-Driving on Thursday, June 27. Lindsay McCall from the USPEA co-hosted the show with Para-Equestrian Driver Diane Kastama. Evin Rattner, who helped run the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Selection Trials and has worked multiple Para-Dressage shows, spoke with Kastama and McCall about his experiences with Para-Dressage and what we may expect in the future. Internationally known Driver Keady Cadwell visited the show to talk about the 2012 Para-Equestrian Driving World Championships. Cadwell was the Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Team and has been working with the Para-Drivers since 1998. To view episode #213 visit
http://dressageradio.horseradionetwork.com/2013/06/27/dressage-radio-episode-213-para-week-goes-driving/
Co-Host
Diane Kastama of Arroyo Grande, CA: In 1991 a car crash left Kastama paralyzed from the waist down. Although a lifelong horse person and dressage enthusiast, riding without the use of her legs was not much fun and she soon turned to driven dressage and
then the exciting sport of combined driving. Her relatives and friends thought she was crazy for taking on a sport that involves sitting atop a tall carriage, pulled by a horse going “hell-bent” for speed.
Kastama, Grade I, started competing with her home bred Appaloosa’s but now Diane competes with a pair of Section D Welsh Cobs, Rupert and George. She drives them single, pair and tandem. She competes against able-bodied drivers all over the Western United States and occasionally on the East Coast at the Intermediate and Advanced level. Kastama has also demonstrated her skills at Rolex, KY, Horse Expo in Sacramento, the “Night of the Horse” in Del Mar, and the Equine Affair and various therapeutic horse programs throughout California. She has also participated in the closing ceremonies at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Kastama is always willing to share her skills and knowledge and bring driving to the forefront of equine sports. Diane has been very successful in international Para-Equestrian competition, coming home with an Individual Silver and Team Bronze driving a borrowed Welsh Cob Stallion in 2002 Greven, Germany. In 2004 she place 5th with a borrowed Welsh cob in Endinburg, Scotland. In 2006 she came home with Individual Gold driving her own Welsh cob gelding Jasper. In 2008 Kastama and Jasper earned Individual Bronze and Team Silver.
When she is isn’t competing or driving, Kastama is very involved with the United States Driving for the Disabled (USDFD) organization which helps to foster and grow the sport of Para-Driving. To learn more about the USDFD please go to
www.usdfd.org or contact President Bev White at
[email protected].
