Para-Equestrian at the London 2012 Paralympic Games
- 7 years ago
At the Paralympic Games, athletes compete in three Dressage tests: a
Team Test (with three to four riders per team), an Individual
Championship Test, and a Freestyle Test, for which athletes choose
their own movements and music. Through the tests, horse and rider must
be in harmony, and the overall picture must be of lightness and rhythm.
The results of the Team and Individual Championship Tests are then
added together to make the Team score, with the best three scores of a
team of four counting. Individual medals are also awarded on the merit
of both the Individual Championship Test and the Freestyle Test. All
riders, whether competing in a team or not, may ride in the Team Test.
The athletes are classified across five grades to minimise the impact
each impairment has on the outcome of competition.
Grade Ia is for athletes whose impairment has the greatest impact on
their ability to ride, through to Grade IV for athletes whose
impairment has the least impact on their ability to ride.
These grades ensure that the tests can be judged on the skill of the
rider, regardless of their disability. Riders may use permitted
assistive devices such as dressage crops, connecting rein bars and the
like; visually impaired riders are permitted to use 'callers' to help
them navigate around the arena.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for nine sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World Championships and other competitions. The IPC is committed to enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to develop sport opportunities for all persons with a disability from the beginner to elite level. In addition, the IPC aims to promote the Paralympic values, which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.
For further information, please visit http://www.paralympic.org.
To watch live action and videos on demand of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and subscribe to ParalympicSport.TV, please go to www.youtube.com/ParalympicSportTV.
Also, you may follow the Paralympic Movement on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ParalympicGames or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/paralympic.
Team Test (with three to four riders per team), an Individual
Championship Test, and a Freestyle Test, for which athletes choose
their own movements and music. Through the tests, horse and rider must
be in harmony, and the overall picture must be of lightness and rhythm.
The results of the Team and Individual Championship Tests are then
added together to make the Team score, with the best three scores of a
team of four counting. Individual medals are also awarded on the merit
of both the Individual Championship Test and the Freestyle Test. All
riders, whether competing in a team or not, may ride in the Team Test.
The athletes are classified across five grades to minimise the impact
each impairment has on the outcome of competition.
Grade Ia is for athletes whose impairment has the greatest impact on
their ability to ride, through to Grade IV for athletes whose
impairment has the least impact on their ability to ride.
These grades ensure that the tests can be judged on the skill of the
rider, regardless of their disability. Riders may use permitted
assistive devices such as dressage crops, connecting rein bars and the
like; visually impaired riders are permitted to use 'callers' to help
them navigate around the arena.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for nine sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World Championships and other competitions. The IPC is committed to enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to develop sport opportunities for all persons with a disability from the beginner to elite level. In addition, the IPC aims to promote the Paralympic values, which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.
For further information, please visit http://www.paralympic.org.
To watch live action and videos on demand of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and subscribe to ParalympicSport.TV, please go to www.youtube.com/ParalympicSportTV.
Also, you may follow the Paralympic Movement on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ParalympicGames or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/paralympic.