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Para-equestrian
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 and para-equestrian dressage was added to the Paralympic Games program in 1996. 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. There is also para-showjumping, but it is not sanctioned by FEI. All class events are mixed gendered.
Dressage events include "Walk Only Tests" for Grade 1, with trot work allowed in freestyle, and "Walk and Trot tests" 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.
For national team competitions such as the Paralympics, each team consists of three riders, one of whom must be a Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3 rider. As of 2012[update], people with physical and visual disabilities are eligible to compete.
The other para-equestrian is para-driving. It was first introduced in 1989 in Great Britain, and has been sanctioned by FEI since 2006. It was previously called Carriage Driving.
Para-showjumping, or para-jumping, is a show jumping event sanctioned by the British Showjumping Association, which runs the Para Jumping League in collaboration with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). As of 2024[update], para-jumping is not sanctioned by FEI.
The sport is the one with one of the highest rates of injury and illness among all Paralympic sports. For this reason, much of the equipment for the sport is developed with this in mind. Much of the equipment uses Velcro and rubber bands so that things can easily breakaway and protect the rider during a fall. There is also a constant balance in developing equipment for para-equestrian to assure that the rider remains in control, and that they are not dragged along by the horse. One of the adaptions made to saddles for para-equestrian is extra padding. One of the companies that specializes in making saddles for people with disabilities is Superacor, Inc. In addition to saddles, para-equestrian riders may use some other form of padding such as a fleece covering for the saddle.
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Para-equestrian AI simulator
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Para-equestrian
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 and para-equestrian dressage was added to the Paralympic Games program in 1996. 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. There is also para-showjumping, but it is not sanctioned by FEI. All class events are mixed gendered.
Dressage events include "Walk Only Tests" for Grade 1, with trot work allowed in freestyle, and "Walk and Trot tests" 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.
For national team competitions such as the Paralympics, each team consists of three riders, one of whom must be a Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3 rider. As of 2012[update], people with physical and visual disabilities are eligible to compete.
The other para-equestrian is para-driving. It was first introduced in 1989 in Great Britain, and has been sanctioned by FEI since 2006. It was previously called Carriage Driving.
Para-showjumping, or para-jumping, is a show jumping event sanctioned by the British Showjumping Association, which runs the Para Jumping League in collaboration with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). As of 2024[update], para-jumping is not sanctioned by FEI.
The sport is the one with one of the highest rates of injury and illness among all Paralympic sports. For this reason, much of the equipment for the sport is developed with this in mind. Much of the equipment uses Velcro and rubber bands so that things can easily breakaway and protect the rider during a fall. There is also a constant balance in developing equipment for para-equestrian to assure that the rider remains in control, and that they are not dragged along by the horse. One of the adaptions made to saddles for para-equestrian is extra padding. One of the companies that specializes in making saddles for people with disabilities is Superacor, Inc. In addition to saddles, para-equestrian riders may use some other form of padding such as a fleece covering for the saddle.