The ParaEquestrian Division Championships

In 2005 the Youth Dressage Festival celebrates its seventh year running. This year also marks the inauguration of competition for riders with physical disabilities.

Who is qualified to participate in the ParaEquestrian Division Championships?

The goal of the Youth Dressage Festival is to provide an educational and competitive event that promotes the development of “true horsemen” with correct position, competitive skills and knowledge of all aspects of riding and horse care -- in an environment that features fun and sportsmanship.

The move of the Festival to the superbly appointed HITS on the Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, New York, enabled Dressage4Kids, Inc. to offer this important developmental vehicle to a broader range of riders. Lendon Gray and the organizers of the seventh annual Youth Dressage Festival were gratified to include ParaEquestrian competition in 2005 for riders with physical disabilities.

In order to qualify to compete in the ParaEquestrian divisions, riders 25 years old and under must provide proof of a permanent physical disability. Compensating aids and special equipment, required in order for the athlete to compete fairly and safely, will be allowed.

Why include ParaEquestrian competition at the Youth Dressage Festival?

ParaEquestrian has recently been designated by both the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) as a full discipline, with national and international competition in both Dressage and Driving for individuals with a disability. Both sports have been developing for many years, holding World Championships since 1984.

American youth riders with a disability have competed for the past several years at the North American Young Rider Championships in the Mill’s Team Challenge. ParaEquestrian has also been included in past US Equestrian Team (USET) Festival of Champions and Selection Trials and will be a part of the Dressage Championships again in 2005.

Dressage became part of the Paralympic Games in 1996. The Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world, after the Olympic Games, and are contested immediately after the Olympics in the same city and venues. American Lynn Seidemann and Phoenix B rode to an individual silver medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, and Lynn was most recently honored with an Equestrian of the Year award by the USEF.

These competitions, however, serve only the advanced or elite athlete, and very little opportunity has been available for the young and developing rider with disabilities. The Youth Dressage Festival has a long-standing tradition of serving as an important vehicle for development in the sport not previously available to youth riders. By offering ParaEquestrian divisions that provide quality competition, education and inclusion, the Youth Dressage Festival can now assist equestrian athletes with physical disabilities to develop to their fullest potential in the sport.

How will the ParaEquestrian Division Championships be contested at the Youth Dressage Festival?

Two divisions for riders with physical disabilities will be offered.

ParaEquestrian Division A is an entry-level division allowing riders to compete at either the walk/trot (with minimal trot) or the walk only. Modeled on the Youth Dressage Festival Training Level Division A, competition in this division precludes cross-entering into other divisions.

ParaEquestrian Division B allows riders with a disability to choose the intermediate level walk, walk/trot or walk/trot/canter test that best suits their current skill level. Riders in this division are also allowed to qualify for any of the open divisions at the competition.

What is the benefit to riders with disabilities to compete in the Youth Dressage Festival’s ParaEquestrian Division Championships? Why should they opt to compete in the Open Divisions?

For other national and international competitions, riders with disabilities must be classified, a process that defines their physical disability and then places them with others of the same level of disability.

The event organizers, however, firmly believe that disability does not mean inability. Therefore, at the Youth Dressage Festival, all ParaEquestrian riders are encouraged to ride at the highest skill level that they are able to achieve, regardless of their level of disability. In addition, ParaEquestrian Division B riders are encouraged to compete in the open division championship that best matches their current skill level.

All riders participating in an open division championship (Training through the FEI levels) compete in three phases. A Written test assesses knowledge of horse anatomy, health care, equipment, safety rules and riding aids and position. In the group Equitation class, the rider’s position and seat are judged along with the correct and effective use of the aids.

The individual Dressage test, ridden in a prescribed sequence of patterns and movements, assesses the forward and supple nature of the horse and its balance and harmony with the rider, together with the rider’s position, seat and correct and effective use of the aids. The three-phase format for the open championships was so designed to level the playing field for all riders and ensures that an excellent performance in only one aspect of the competition does not a champion make.

How will excellence in the ParaEquestrian Division Championships be acknowledged?

As in the open divisions, gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to riders with the three highest scores. Prizes will also be awarded to riders finishing in the top ten positions in their respective divisions.

In addition, the Miss Jane Marple Perpetual Trophy will be presented to the rider with a disability who scores the highest, regardless of the division in which she or he has competed. Miss Jane Marple, retired in 2003, carried many of our U.S. ParaEquestrian athletes to championship honors, including two gold medals in Atlanta in 1996, several championships at the USET Festival of Champions and participation at every NAYRC competition through this past year.