The Sport

The equestrian competition consists purely of dressage and there are three different tests of differing difficulties.

A team test with three or four riders per team. An individual championship test made of predetermined movements in a specific order and a freestyle test where the competitors choose both the movement and music.

Men and women compete against each other on equal terms and riders compete in one of five grades based on a classification which assesses their impairment. The level of the test they perform is relative to their allocated grade.

Riders are judged on their display of horsemanship skills and are permitted to use devices such as dressage crops, connecting rein bars, rubber bands and other aids.

Classification

They are divided into five classes depending upon the nature and extent of their impairment. The level of difficulty of the test they perform is relative to their allocated grade.

Eligible Impairment Types include Impaired muscle power, Athetosis, Impaired passive range of movement, Hypertonia, Limb deficiency, Ataxia, Leg length difference, Short stature and Vision Impairment

History & Paralympic Debut

Equestrian became a part of the Paralympic Games for the first time in 1996 in Atlanta. It is open to athletes with any type of physical or vision impairment. Events are mixed and grouped according to their functional profiles.

Iran Para Equestrian

This sport made its debut in 2011 in Iran, and five years later, the first edition of the National Championship was held for the Iranian riders in 2016.

Watch an introduction to Para Equestrian on Paralympic Sport A-Z: Equestrian