Fiona Howard

Fiona Howard (born December 14, 1998) is a British-American para equestrian. She competes in Grade II para dressage. She represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Early life and education Howard was born to an American mother and British father in England, and was raised in London. Starting when she was 11 and continuing into her teenage years, she faced a number of health problems. Issues with her bones inhibited walking. Her digestive system was impacted by bouts of scarlet fever and Lyme disease, resulting in the permanent use of a feeding tube. Howard immigrated to the United States in 2016 while pursuing medical treatment at Boston Children's Hospital.

She entered Northeastern University in 2017, and graduated in 2021 with a degree in psychology. As a child, she competed in reining. At the 2024 Summer Paralympics Howard won gold in the individual championship test grade II, the individual freestyle test grade II, and the team event with mount Diamond Dunes, whom she has worked with since early 2024. The year also marked her first competition with Ferguston, a Hanoverian gelding.

Howard and Diamond Dunes represented the U.S. Para Dressage Team in Grade II at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, taking gold in the individual freestyle test.

Since 2022 she has trained in Wellington, Florida with fellow para equestrian Kate Shoemaker. She also trains in Germany in the spring and summer.

Personal life Howard lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Outside of riding, she works remotely at Boston Children's Hospital as a clinical cardiac research assistant.

She was diagnosed with dystonia at age 19, and uses both crutches and wheelchair. She has a service dog named Elvis.

Fiona also lives in Wellington Florida, where she rides, works as a leader at her local church. She has also started swimming, participating in swim meets across palm beach county.