Para-Equestrian
Para-Equestrian Dressage is the only Equestrian discipline that is included in the Paralympic Games, where it has been a regular fixture since 1996. With the idea of creating opportunities for all people with disabilities to compete and achieve their goals in equestrian sport, athletes are classified in one of five Grades according to the level of their disability/impairment so as to provide for meaningful competition.
In 2006, the Para-Equestrian sport joined the ranks of the other 7 discipline regulated by the FEI, with national and international competitions for Dressage and Driving for individuals with a disability. This led to the FEI becoming the first, and still the only, International Federation to govern and regulate a sport for both the able-bodied and disabled athletes.
In 2006, the Para-Equestrian sport joined the ranks of the other 7 discipline regulated by the FEI, with national and international competitions for Dressage and Driving for individuals with a disability. This led to the FEI becoming the first, and still the only, International Federation to govern and regulate a sport for both the able-bodied and disabled athletes.
Classification
The competitor’s mobility, strength and coordination are assessed by specialist Physiotherapists in order to establish their Classification Profile. People with similar functional ability Profiles are grouped into competition Grades. The Grades range from for the most severely impaired, to Grade IV for the least impaired. The competition within each Grade can therefore be judged on the skill of the individual competitor on their horse, regardless of the competitor’s disability. I am a Grade 3 rider with profile 26a, problems with all four limbs and spine/core.
For more on classification, see the FEI website.
The competitor’s mobility, strength and coordination are assessed by specialist Physiotherapists in order to establish their Classification Profile. People with similar functional ability Profiles are grouped into competition Grades. The Grades range from for the most severely impaired, to Grade IV for the least impaired. The competition within each Grade can therefore be judged on the skill of the individual competitor on their horse, regardless of the competitor’s disability. I am a Grade 3 rider with profile 26a, problems with all four limbs and spine/core.
For more on classification, see the FEI website.
For more information,
Riding For the Disabled www.rda.org.uk/
British Dressage http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/para_equestrian
FEI http://www.fei.org/disciplines/dressage/about-para-equestrian-dressage
Equine Canada http://equinecanada.ca/para-equestrian/
Riding For the Disabled www.rda.org.uk/
British Dressage http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/para_equestrian
FEI http://www.fei.org/disciplines/dressage/about-para-equestrian-dressage
Equine Canada http://equinecanada.ca/para-equestrian/
