Discipline - Para-equestrian
Introduction to Para-equestrian
Para-equestrian sport is based on the principle that a disability should not impede anyone from competing in equestrian sports. It strives to provide and develop opportunities for equestrians with a wide variety of disabilities to pursue their goals and achieve personal bests. Para-equestrians compete worldwide in a variety of equine disciplines including western and English.
Specific dressage competitions for riders with disabilities started in Scandinavia and in Great Britain in the 1970s. The first Para-Equestrian Dressage World Championship was held in Sweden in 1987 and debuted at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. Para-Equestrian Driving soon followed, becoming the second and only other recognized Para-equestrian discipline at the World Championship level. On 1 January 2006, Para-Equestrian moved from the International Paralympic Committee to the FEI. Collectively, the Para-Equestrian sports of dressage and driving became the 8th recognized FEI discipline. The shift from the IPEC to the FEI, the natural home for all equestrian sport, made the FEI the first International Federation to govern and regulate both a sport for able bodied and disabled athletes.
Among athletes with disabilities there are many different types of impairments. To provide meaningful competition for such athletes, their disability is classified so that people with similar levels of impairment are grouped into grades in which they compete together.
Riders are graded on their impairment and judged on their equestrian ability or skill. There are five Grades for Dressage and two for Driving. They range from Grade Ia for the most severely impaired Dressage riders, to Grade IV for the least impaired. The competition within each Grade can then be judged on the skill of that competitor on that horse regardless of the competitor's disability.
Athletes with more severe disabilities (Grade Ia) ride tests in walk only; the least disabled (Grade IV) ride tests of medium (M) standard. When necessary, riders can use compensating aids approved by FEI PE, such as a special saddle, adapted reins, elastic bands or two whips. At all times, carriage drivers are accompanied by at least one competent able-bodied person.
In 2006 the world saw the first ever Combined FEI Dressage and Para Dressage competition organized in Moorsele. The competition involved national teams made up of a Dressage and Para Dressage rider was the very first FEI competition where the combined marks of both discipline riders produced a team score. The highest score produced the winning pair. Each team rider performed their own individual test to music. This trend appears to have quickly caught on, with Sydney hosting a combined Dressage and Para Dressage Pas de Deux in October.
THE FUTURE
The introduction of Para-Equestrian into the 2010 FEI Games in Kentucky will make international equine history. For the first time ever, para-equestrian events will be part of the FEI Games as a discipline. It has been heralded as a leap forward in terms of exposure and development.
Currently, the only Para-equestrian disciplines recognized by the FEI are dressage and driving. Following requests from riders, however, they are considering adding show jumping for Riders with Disabilities. A rough draft of rules have been written, based on the FEI Show Jumping Rules, taking into account the special needs for these riders. France is the leader in this sport and run competitions each year, culminating in the Championship held at the FEI CCI Show Jumping World Cup Event in Bordeaux. Riders with both physical and visual impairments are included. The aim of the FEI Para Equestrian movement is to make jumping a Paralympic Games Sport in the future.
Riders with disabilities currently compete in a number of disciplines at a wide variety of levels. With more exposure at events like the FEI Games in Kentucky, it seems likely that it's only a matter of time before Para-equestrians in all FEI disciplines will be included in International competition.
