“An illuminating and heartwarming documentary.” —Los Angeles Times
Released 2023
ParaGold is a character-driven documentary that follows five elite riders on their journey to earn a place on the U.S. Paralympic Dressage team and compete at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. At the center of the film are Roxanne Trunnell, Rebecca Hart, Sydney Collier, and David Botana—athletes whose physical challenges are matched only by their discipline, focus, and deep connection to their horses.
Competing in Para Dressage—the only equestrian event in the Paralympic Games—the riders perform a demanding series of precise movements at the walk, trot, and canter, executing memorized tests that represent the highest level of harmony between horse and rider. While the rules mirror those of Olympic dressage, athletes are classified by the severity of their disabilities, creating a uniquely leveled yet intensely competitive field.
As the film tracks their path toward Tokyo, ParaGold reveals not only the physical and emotional demands of the sport, but also the extraordinary resilience required to compete at the highest level. Bound by determination and the transformative partnership with their horses, these riders redefine strength, grace, and what it means to pursue gold on the world stage.
