The 53-year-old won gold at London 2012 in the grade Ib event on Worldwide PB to claim the nation's first Para-equestrian gold since the Sydney Games in 2000, and the duo will once again be challenging for gold at this year's World Equestrian Games.

Since her win in London two years ago, Formosa has enjoyed huge recognition and received the "Against All Odds" award - presented to a person who has pursued equestrian ambitions in the face of adversity - from the International Equestrian Federation last year.

Earlier this year she was also awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to sport.

Formosa will be joined by three riders making their debut at this level.

Paralympic champion Joann Formosa will be the experienced head on the Australian team in Normandy next month ©Getty Images



Nicole Blanks, Chelsea Higgins and Elizabeth Sobecki have all been in impressive form in recent months.

Blanks has been performing consistently in the build-up to the World Equestrian Games, including a score of 69 per cent in the team and individual events at the prestigious CPEDI3* event in Moorsele, Belgium in April.

She will be competing on Vledder in the Grade IV competition, while both Higgins and Sobecki will be in action in the Grade III class.

Higgins was a finalist in the recent Equestrian Australia's domestic Athlete of the Year award after a string of good performances with partner HP Comedian.

The duo achieved a personal best of 70.85 in the individual Championship test at the final Para-equestrian nomination event in February this year.

Sobecki was named as the non-travelling reserve on the Australian team for London 2012 and also represented her country at the Hong Kong CPEDI3* event in 2012.

Sobecki will ride on Hatero DE PB as the duo compete together for the first time at a major international event.

The World Equestrian Games will take place from August 23 to September 7.

Riders will compete in individual events as well as team competitions.

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