Para Equestrian

What is Para Equestrian?

Kerri has recently been classified as a grade II Para Equestrian in the United States. She will receive her second international classification when returning to Australia later this year.

Para Equestrians compete in traditional Equestrian sports, including the two most prestigious of these; Dressage and Driving. In sports like the Para Equestrian, each athlete is classified and assigned a grade according to the level of their disability or impairment. These classifications ensure fair and meaningful competition between athletes, allowing participants of both genders to compete against one another in their assigned Para Equestrian grades. The sport of Para Equestrian was designed to provide an equal arena for disabled athletes, where they can compete in healthy competition and strive to achieve their personal goals.

The Para Equestrian System for Classification was devised by Dr Christine Meaden, M.C.S.P. PhD, Chief Classifier for the International Paralympics Equestrian Committee.

In Para Equestrian events, Dressage is split into four levels of grading. Grade 1 Dressage is split into 1a and 1b, with 1a participants competing at a walking pace and 1b participants at a walk trot with the opportunity for lateral work and to canter in the freestyle section. Grade II riders perform at a walk trot pace and can also show some lateral work and canter in the freestyle section of their event. Riders in Grade III are able to complete their event in a walk, trot and canter and can perform lateral work throughout the freestyle section of their event. In the final Grade IV category, riders can walk, trot, canter, canter half pirouettes and perform sequence changes and lateral work in their freestyle events. There are two sizes of arenas for riders to compete in, with Grade I, II and III competing in 40x20m arenas and Grade IV riders competing in arenas that are 60x20m in size.

In 2006, the sport of Para Equestrian moved from its authority in the International Paralympics Committee to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), becoming the 8th of the FEI disciplines. The FEI is the first international federation to govern and regulate a sport for both able bodied and disabled athletes. All rules and regulations with regards to competition venues and organization are governed by the same principles which also cover elements of each individual discipline.

For the first time ever the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games will include the Para Equestrian events in Dressage and Driving. This will also be the first time that the FEI disciplines will be held in the same venue and at the same time. It is one of Kerri’s major goals to represent Australia in Kentucky at these FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010.