Para-Equestrian Dressage Showcase at the Saddleworld Australian Dressage Championships

Hannah Dodd from NSW competing on Grand Sam in the Grade IV competition at the recent 2013 NSW Dressage  Championships (Photo: Toni Venhaus)

Australia’s huge National Dressage Championships will for the first time include Riders with a Disability in the five Grades that make up Para Equestrian.  Fourteen riders and fifteen horses will compete on three days in the Team, Championship and Freestyle Tests. 

Grade 1a is the most severely disabled and their Tests feature Walk only with Medium Walk and Free Walk for the Team Test and the Championship Test.

Grade 1b again has severe problems but they Trot and Walk.

Grade 11 is Trot and Walk but the Test movements are more advanced and in their Freestyle to Music Test the Canter can be used.

Grade III rides in a different size Arena, 20 x 60 metres and Dressage Lateral movements make their appearance in Trot and Canter.  Single flying changes are also allowed in the Freestyle to Music.  Totally Blind riders compete in this Grade.

Grade IV riders also compete in the large 20 x 60 Arena. It is often impossible to recognise the Disability in this Grade.  Partially Blind riders compete at this Grade.  Three and four time flying changes, as used in Advanced Dressage can be included in their Freestyle to Music.

Competitors from Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Queensland will be competing and a State Teams Competition will also be included. 

Gold Medallist at the London Paralympics, Joann Formosa will be competing in Grade 1b, Worldwide PB is quite a Star and has wonderful presence with his bright Chestnut coat and white socks and blaze.  Joanne is from Victoria and   Worldwide PB is a stallion  - we look forward to seeing more Worldwides as his foals are now up to 5 years old.

NSW State Champions are all competing at the Nationals - Hannah Dodd in Grade IV; Sui Watts in Grade III, Victoria Davies in Grade II.   Victoria is riding a stunning dappled grey Stallion with plenty of personality.

Wednesday 23rd October starts the Championship for the Para Equestrian riders from 11 a.m. to 2.45 pm with all the 5 Grades on Show in the Team Test.

The best scores from the Team and Championship Test will finalise the Team winners.  To see these riders competing head to Arena 2 A.

Thursday 24th October and this is Championship Test day – known as the Grand Prix Test for Para Equestrian Riders at each Grade.  These tests are very difficult for these riders. Time:  9.15 a.m. to 12.20 pm in Arena 2A.

Saturday 26th October is Freestyle to Music day in the large Arena 1a used for the Sydney Olympic Dressage and Para Equestrian Dressage Competition.

From 10.30 to 1.16 pm Para Equestrian riders can be seen using more difficult movements to music of their choice.  They design the test in the way that shows off their horse to its best advantage.  Dancing to music is the best description of the Freestyle.

As all competitions are outside, fingers crossed the weather is kind to the Championships with so many horses and riders heading to SIEC from all States.

Jan Geary
Para Equestrian FEI Judge & Technical Delegate

Quick Links

• Visit the Dressage NSW website for more information about the event
• Dressage horses for sale on HORSEZONE
• Dressage STALLIONS AT STUD on STALLIONZONE