Para-equestrian
| Highest governing body | International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | no |
| Team members | individual and team at international levels |
| Mixed gender | yes |
| Type | outdoor or indoor |
| Equipment | horse |
| Venue | Dressage: indoor or outdoor arena with dirt or similar footing suitable for the horse, Combined driving: outdoor natural course for cross-country phase |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Worldwide |
| Paralympic | 1996 |
Para-equestrian is an equestrian sport governed by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), and includes two competitive events: One is para-equestrian dressage, which is conducted under the same basic rules as conventional dressage, but with riders divided into different competition grades based on their functional abilities. The other is para-equestrian driving, which operates under the same basic rules as combined driving but places competitors in various grades based on their functional abilities.
The first official Paralympic Games was held in Rome in 1960. The Games were initially open only to athletes in wheelchairs; at the 1976 Summer Games, athletes with different disabilities were included for the first time at a Summer Paralympics. Competitors with cerebral palsy classifications were allowed to compete at the Paralympic games for the first time at the 1984 Summer Paralympics. At the 1992 Summer Paralympics, all disability types were eligible to participate, with classification being run through the International Paralympic Committee, with classification being done based on functional disability type.
Para-equestrian dressage was added to the Paralympic Games program at the 1996 Summer Paralympics. The FEI brought para-equestrian sport under its umbrella in 2006. Riders with physical disabilities may compete on the same team as people with vision impairment.
There are two separate para-equestrian events sanctioned by FEI, the sport's governing body. They are para-dressage and para-driving.
Dressage events include "Walk Only Tests" for Grade 1 and "Walk and Trot" for Grade 2. The dressage events open to Grade 3 classification included "Walk and Trot but Canter allowed in Freestyle". The dressage events open to Grade 4 classification included "Walk, Trot and Canter and may show lateral work in Freestyle". In these three grades, participants use a 40 x 20 metre arena. The dressage events open to Grade 5 classification included "Walk, Trot, Canter, Canter Half-Pirouettes, 3 and 4 sequence changes and lateral work." At Grade 5 participants move up to the 60 x 20 metre arena. All class events are mixed gendered.
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