Dressage and Show Jumping Riders to Represent United States at 2022 Maccabi Games in Israel

Photo courtesy of Andrea Glazer.

A team of three dressage riders will represent the United States at the 2022 Maccabi Games in Tel Aviv, Israel this summer, July 12- 26. The U.S. dressage team members include; Lauren Sara, 59, Wynnewood, PA; Aviva Nebesky, 63, Bowie, MD; and Rebecca Cord, 40, West Grove, PA and Clarksboro, NJ. The U.S. equestrian contingent will also include a four-member show jumping team. Riders will compete on borrowed horses.

Coach and Chef d’Equipe Rebecca Cord has competed at the FEI levels and owns and operates a dressage training and sales business in Clarksboro, NJ. She is a USDF Bronze and Silver medalist, a USDF ‘L’ graduate and an ARIA and USDF certified instructor. She has previously represented the United States twice at the Maccabi Games.

A fashion designer by trade, Lauren Sara is an adult amateur who has been riding since childhood. She competes primarily in eventing, and has competed up to third level in dressage. She is a USDF Bronze medalist. Following the Maccabi Games she plans to return her focus to eventing.

Aviva Nebesky specializes in teaching dressage to adult amateurs and to individuals who have fear issues. Before becoming a full-time horse person, she was a social worker. She has competed through Fourth Level and has achieved her USDF Bronze Medal, and graduated from the USDF “L” program with distinction.

International eventing and dressage rider and longtime coach of the U.S. Para Dressage team Missy Ransehausen of Blue Hill Farm in Unionville, PA will travel with the team as an advisor.

This will be the third time in the 85-year history of the Maccabi Games that equestrian sports will be included. More than 1,100 athletes will represent the United States at the 2022 World Maccabi Games in total; the Games are comprised of over 10,000 athletes, representing 80 countries and participating in 43 sports.

In 2017, show jumper Andrea Glazer blogged about her experience at the Maccabiah Games — you can catch up on her stories here as we look forward to the next Games!