Para equestrian is equestrian sport performed by para-athletes who have physical impairments that make equestrian sport challenging. Para equestrian is also the only horse event held at the Paralympics.

Para equestrian sports offered at an international level include para dressage and para driving. In both events, para equestrian athletes demonstrate precision and harmony with their horses as they perform complicated and challenging movements.

Para driving also tests the horses’ stamina and fitness during the Marathon event.

This guide examines the history of para equestrian, how competition organizers ensure fair sport, and the rules and scoring for both para dressage and para driving.

Para Equestrian

Para equestrian refers to any equestrian sport performed by para-athletes. There are two main sports in para equestrian: para dressage and para driving. Currently, only para dressage is part of the Paralympics.

History

The Paralympic movement began after World War II, when Dr. Ludwig Guttman recognized the value of sport as a component of injury rehabilitation. [1] The first Paralympic competition was during the 1948 London Olympic games, which allowed wheelchair athletes to compete on an international stage. [1] The first Paralympics were held in Rome in 1960. [1]

Para equestrian did not enter the Paralympic roster until the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta. [2] The riders participating in this event used borrowed horses. [2] Para-athletes would continue using borrowed horses until 2004, when the Paralympic committee authorized the use of personal horses. [2]

Para equestrian athletes continue to use their own horses for competitions to this day. [2]

Para Equestrian Sport Organizations

The sports organizations overseeing para equestrian determine the rules and regulations for competition. Many organizations also host competitions and promote para equestrian at the national and international levels.

FEI

The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) is the official international governing body for all horse sports. They work with the International Paralympic Committee to decide on the rules and regulations applying to para equestrian at the Paralympics.

Para equestrian is one of seven disciplines governed by the FEI at the international level. The other FEI disciplines include:

National Organizations

In North America, the two main national organizations that regulate para equestrian are Equestrian Canada (EC) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

Other organizations involved in promoting para equestrian sport include the United States Para-Equestrian Association and the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

Para Equestrian Grades

To ensure fairness of competition, para competition organizations classify para-athletes into Grades based on the impact of their impairment on sports performance. [3] There are five grades for para dressage and two grades for para driving.

The grades for para dressage are: [3]

  • Grade I: Severe impairments affecting all limbs and trunk
  • Grade II: Severe impairment of the trunk and lower limbs with minimal impairment of the upper limbs, or moderate impairment of the trunk, upper and lower limbs
  • Grade III: Severe impairments in both lower limbs with minimal or no impairment of the trunk, or moderate impairment of the upper and lower limbs and trunk
  • Grade IV: Severe impairment or deficiency of both upper limbs, or a moderate impairment of all four limbs, or short stature, or severe blindness
  • Grade V: Mild impairment of movement or muscle strength, or a deficiency of one limb, or mild deficiency of two limbs, or visual impairment

The grades for para driving are: [3]

  • Grade I: A wide range of moderate to severe impairments that require most athletes in this Grade to use a wheelchair for some or all mobility
  • Grade II: Mild impairments of all four limbs, or severe to moderate impairment of two limbs
Intro to Equine Nutrition
Gain a deeper understanding of your horse's nutrition needs. This free introductory course provides a foundation for horse owners to learn how to balance your horse's diet.
Enroll Now
Introduction to Equine Nutrition Course Mad Barn Academy

Para Dressage

Para dressage is similar to traditional dressage, asking athletes to perform a series of prescribed movements with their horse (a dressage test). Judges score the dressage test based on the accuracy of the movements, fluidity, harmony, and overall impression of the performance.

Levels

There are several levels of competition available for para dressage athletes, and within each level there are separate events for each Grade to ensure fairness of competition. [4]

At national competitions (CPEDN events), the three main levels are: [4]

  • Novice
  • Intermediate
  • Grand Prix

As the level increases, the difficulty of the movements required also increases.

Each Grade also has different required movements based on what is safe for athletes with different degrees of impairment to perform. [4]

Required movements for each Grade include: [4]

  • Grade I: Movements only in walk
  • Grade II: Movements in walk