Para dressage allows people with disabilities to compete at dressage on a equal footing – athletes are classified into five grades (1–5) depending on their levels of mobility, strength and coordination.
Three judges mark each test, spread at different points around the arena, the size of which is determined by athlete grade:
In Aachen, all para dressage competition will take place in a surfaced arena in Stadium 3, which has a roof.
Nations will compete for team honours.Additonally, there are two sets of individual medals available for each grade:
National federations can put forward a team of three or four athletes – if a team has four athletes, the lowest score in the team compeition is a 'drop score' and won't go towards the final tally. Teams can’t contain more than two athletes in any one grade, but must contain at least one rider from grades 1, 2 or 3.
Horse inspection: All horses are presented to the ground jury to ensure that they're fit and well prior to the start of competition. The ground jury will view the horses from a standstill, then watch them trot away, turn a small circle, then trot back again. If they have any concerns over a horse's ability to compete, that horse is sent to the hold box to be examined by the on-site vet. The findings are reported to the ground jury, then the athlete may choose to either represent their horse or withdraw from the hold box. If the horse is represented and the ground jury is still not willing to accept it, then the horse may not start the competition. The horse inspection is repeated prior to the final day of competition.
Individual (Para Grand Prix A): All four riders compete against others in their grade in a set test. Combinations perform a set test, with judges marking each movement out of 10. The scores are then added together and an average taken which, when combined with additional marks for the harmony, use of aids and accuracy, is given as an overall percentage score. The combination with the highest percentage wins the individual medal for that grade.
Team (Para Grand Prix B): All riders ride a set test for their grade, which is marked in the same manner as the Individual test. The three highest scores from each nation are combined to produce an overall score, and the nation with the highest score wins.
Freestyle (Para Grand Prix Freestyle): In each grade, the top eight combinations in the Individual test go forward to the Freestyle on the final day. Each combination rides their own floorplan set to music of their choice, based on a list of required movements. Additional marks given for artistic merit and degree of difficulty. No marks are carried forward from the Individual test, and the combination with the highest percentage within their grade wins the gold medal.
Classification is the process used to help athletes with disabilities to compete on equal terms in para dressage. The aim is to achieve sporting excellence by reducing the impact of an impairment, such as limited use of an arm or leg, so that it doesn’t affect the outcome of the competition. Following the classification process, athletes are assigned one of five grades, based on how greatly their impairment affects their ability in the saddle – grade 1 athletes have the highest level of impairment, while grade 5 athletes are the least impaired.
The grade an athlete is assigned will dictate which test movements they are asked to demonstrate during competition and the size of the arena that they ride in. The typical movements found in each test are outlined below...
To assist them during their tests, athletes may use compensating aids, which are specialised pieces of adaptive equipment such as looped reins. Some are standard and may be used by any athlete, while others are specific to a classification profile. Compensating aids don’t give an advantage over other athletes, but instead help to level the playing field. Nations may also enlist ‘friend’ horses to stand just outside the arena to help the competing horse stay relaxed.
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