Ottawa, ON—Para-Equestrian Canada is proud to host the third annual Sea-to-Sea Winter Dressage Series. This unique Para Dressage video competition is an excellent opportunity for riders to gain valuable competition experience from their home stable. This national competition is open to all therapeutic riding centres and riders with a physical disability. Each rider will receive a scored and critiqued dressage test paper judged by qualified dressage judges.
Competition Dates:
December 30, 2007
January 15 and 31, 2008
February 15, 2008
March 15 and 31, 2008
April 15, 2008
“The Sea-to-Sea Winter Series Dressage competitions are beneficial to Para-Equestrian athletes as it allows them to develop their riding skills and be critiqued by dressage judges from across the country in a non-stressful environment,†remarked Chair of Para-Equestrain Athlete Development, Erin McRae. “Riders are able to train, practice and perform their tests on familiar horses at their home centre. Riders can use this series as a way to keep up their competitive edge over the winter, or simply be introduced to competition.â€
The judge will watch each video as they would a test ridden at a regular competition. Riders will receive a mark from 1-10 for each prescribed movement of their test, as well as overall marks for pace (freedom, regularity and activity), submission (attention and confidence, ease of movements, acceptance of bridle), accuracy and equestrian feel and skill. Each competition date is a separate show.
Two levels of competition—novice and intermediate—will be offered at each show, and classes will be split into junior and senior if numbers warrant. The novice level is open to riders with a physical disability who are not classified. The intermediate is open to riders who have been classified, but have not ridden in an international competition. Riders must compete at their classified grade. Riders may not cross entry between grades or between novice and intermediate.
Entries must be received by the first of the month for competitions held on the 15th. For competitions held on the 30th, entries must be received by the 16th of the month. The results will be posted on the Para Equestrian Canada website with ribbons being awarded to eighth place. For more detailed information, competition rules and entry forms please visit the Para Equestrian Canada website at www.paraequestrian.ca.
About the Para-Equestrian Discipline
In Para-Equestrian, each rider is classified according to his or her functional ability. They are assessed by trained physiotherapists and doctors who evaluate either muscle strength, coordination, or a combination thereof throughout the athlete’s body. The rider is then given a functional profile that indicates the grade in which they can compete. There are five grades of competitions in dressage and two in driving, with Grade Ia representing the more severely impaired riders, and Grade IV representing the least severely impaired riders. The competition within each grade is judged on the functional skill of the rider, and not the level of disability.
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