Team GBR

There is one sport where Great Britain can rightly claim the title of the best in the world – Para-Equestrian Dressage.

Since equestrian events were first added to the Paralympics in 1996, Great Britain has dominated the sport with an impressive medal tally, while maintaining the team gold position. 

The British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) UK Sport funded World Class Programme which aims to provide a system that delivers more medals on the international stage (now and in the future), has a huge impact in ensuring the continued success of the squad and nurturing up and coming talent.

This year para-equestrian dressage will, for the first time, be included in the World Equestrian Games (WEG).  The British para-equestrian dressage team will join other Team GBR members to compete in Kentucky, USA, together with seven other disciplines. 

David Hunter, performance manager for the para-equestrian dressage team, discusses his hopes and aspirations as the Games draw closer.

“Our first WEG promises to be both fun and challenging.  It’s a whole new beast to us, but one which we’re certainly ready to take on. Our unrivalled track record obviously fills us with confidence as we look ahead at the competition, but at the same time we know there’s no room for complacency.  And there’s still a long time to go before the competition – with the usual added pressures of keeping both horses and riders fit. 

“Our aim is to maintain our team gold medal position, while clinching individual medals across the grades too.  Topping the 10 medals at the last Paralympics will take some beating though. WEG is also our chance to secure qualification of a fifth rider spot for the Paralympic Games in 2012, we receive four places as the host nation but add an extra place if we finish in the top three as a team.

“Also we can’t neglect the competition.  Some of our European neighbours – namely the Danes, the Germans, and the Dutch – are hot on our heels, with confident and capable riders across the grades, and they are sure to give us a run for our money!

Ones to watch

“Team selection will take place after 17th July – choosing those riders to represent their nation across the pond will be no easy task, as we are in the enviable position of having a wealth of talent to pick from.  Those that do make it onto the squad though will have justified their selection through their hard work and individual successes.

“The riders on the World Class Programme encompass both a mixture of experience and youth – with the likes of Lee Pearson CBE and the up and coming Development rider Emma Sheardown.

“Having Lee - the World’s most successful Paralympic dressage rider (his impressive medal tally stands at 24 golds since starting international para-equestrian dressage competitions in 1998) on the squad is fantastic.  His wealth of experience adds enormous benefit – both in terms of results, but also in helping to support the other, less experienced members of the squad.  He’s also in the fortunate position that he has two horses who are both performing really well at the moment. 

“Over the last couple of years Emma Sheardown has really shone – she’s just returned victorious from the Para National Dressage Championship and is giving both Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham serious competition in the grade 1a classes.  It’s great to have Anne back fit and competitively keen after some time off with ill health following the Beijing Paralymic Games in 2008, (where she was part of the gold winning medal team).  Her performance at Hickstead (second to Emma) proves she’s still very much in contention, and at 61 this is particularly inspiring.  And despite her youth, Sophie Christiansen also has a wealth of experience at International level with an impressive tally of championship and Paralympic gold medals. All in all, selectors will have their work cut out choosing riders from this grade.

“At the other end of the scale Sophie Wells (grade IV) is clearly demonstrating her capabilities both as a leading para and able bodied dressage rider, having just been selected as a reserve for the British Dressage European Championships Young Rider team.”

WEG format

Seven riders will be selected and will travel out to Kentucky – four of whom will compete in the team competition.  Those four team riders do not have to be named until just before the competition begins on 5 October – giving some breathing space for any last minute alterations.  The team must include at least one grade Ia, Ib or II rider and cannot include more than three riders in any one grade. The best three scores from the competitors are then combined with the highest total score winning. Each of the seven riders also competes in two individual competitions, a championship and freestyle class for each grade. The competition runs from 5 – 9 October.

About Para-Equestrian Dressage

The sport of para-equestrian dressage developed in the 1970s, with the first events held in Scandinavia and Great Britain.  Since then it has spread around the world, and athletes from more than forty countries now compete on a regular basis.

Para-equestrian dressage does not differ from able-bodied dressage in what is expected of the horse - i.e. the ‘way’ it performs.  The horse and rider must be in harmony and the picture must be of lightness and rhythm. Athletes are judged according to how well they meet these requirements. There are five grades (1a, 1b, II – IV), which determine the complexity of the movements the riders perform with their horses. The competitors find different ways to communicate with their horses, sometimes various additional aids are allowed, dependant on the level and type of disability. This ensures that the competition can be judged on the skill of the competitor, regardless of their disability.

There are two competitions within each class – Individual and Freestyle. The Individual Test is made up of set movements, while the Freestyle Test is performed to music, and competitors choose their own movements. Individual scores are combined to determine the team medals.

The Athens 2004 Games were the first at which competitors were allowed to ride their own horses. The change has brought para-equestrian dressage closer to Olympic dressage, where riders also form a partnership with a horse they ride and train consistently.

British Dressage

British Dressage is the governing body for the sport of dressage in Great Britain. BD selects teams to represent GB in international championships as well as administering all aspects of affiliated dressage. It is also one of only a handful of sports that fully incorporates disabled athletes into membership.

An integral part of BD’s role is to offer training for riders of all levels and ages. Para-equestrian dressage riders have the opportunity to train and compete from grass roots level all the way through to Paralympic Games. BD also has a comprehensive judge training programme and offers support and development opportunities to officials, stewards and writers who make up an integral part of the sport.

As a member of the BEF, BD also ensures the voices of its members are heard on matters such as Government funding for horse sports, coordination of competitive events and provision of training for stewards, vets and other vital roles, as well as helping to build a long term strategic plan to benefit the wider horse industry.

BD membership is open to anyone with an interest in dressage.  Visit www.britishdressage.co.uk for more information. 

WEG

A World Equestrian Games includes the eight disciplines of dressage, eventing, showjumping, para-equestrian dressage, driving, endurance, reining and vaulting. The Olympic and Paralympic sports are generously supported by lottery funding via UK Sport, but the non-Olympic sports of driving, endurance, reining and vaulting, although supported where possible by the World Class Programme, do not receive direct funding for the event.

A variety of fundraising initiatives have been launched to help support the trip to Kentucky for all the British teams. These include an online auction with new exclusive lots added each month and the opportunity to buy Team GBR merchandise which ranges from clothing to a recently launched jewelry range, generous donations are made to the teams for all items sold. Further information about all the fundraising activity can be found on the official Team GBR website.

All the news and behind the scenes views in the run up to and during the Games can be found on the official website, including the opportunity to sign up FREE as a Team GBR Supporter to receive regular updates. Visit www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk for more details.