can compensate for my individual weaknesses means I can present a picture which shows as little disability as possible. After all, the purpose of the adaptive aids are to make a person as able as possible and the greatest adaptive aid we have is the horse.” “The most common misconcep-
tion is that para horses need to be particularly docile in temperament. While they are commonly thought to be bombproof schoolmasters, at the highest levels of the sport, this is often not the case,” Shoe- maker says, noting many people are surprised to learn interna- tional para horses are not dead-quiet, older, experienced horses in most instances. “The ideal para horse, especially in grades IV and V where collection is required, is strik- ingly similar to the horse needed for the international Grand Prix arena. While it is no secret an international quality para horse is an incredibly special and unique horse, many people are surprised to discover most of the top horses are actually quite hot and sensitive, especially in the higher grades,” she adds. As Shoemaker emphasizes, when selecting a horse for
the horses to show working gaits, but in Grades IV and V, collected work is also required. “When I see the top horses vying for medals positions in
“After all, the purpose of the
adaptive aids are to make a person as able as possible and the greatest adaptive aid we have is the horse.”
the lower grades, I am reminded of the type of horse that commonly does well in young horse competitions. These horses have very correct and expressive working gaits,” says Shoemaker who owns Dolton, the six-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Danone I x Londonderry) U.S. rider Roxanne Trunnell rode to a Grade I Freestyle bronze in Tryon. “A top Grade I horse is arguably
the most special horse of all,” she continues. “These horses carry the riders with the greatest degree of disability through a surprisingly demanding routine at the walk. The Grade I rider must precisely navigate a difficult string of movements that easily challenge even the best horses. The key to a top Grade I horse is a correct, march- ing walk, with a very solid two-hoof over track even
para-dressage, correctness of the para-dressage training scale is very important. Because of the nature of para-dres- sage, she says, there is a limit to which movements can be reasonably asked for in the tests, making the quality of the gaits and accuracy in the tests even more important. Soundness is also of utmost importance for international
para-dressage horses. As in all of the other FEI disciplines, para horses must pass rigorous horse inspections performed by the Ground Jury and Veterinary Committee before they can compete. Without being accepted for competition by the Ground Jury, there is no path to medals or personal-best performances.
Matching the Grade The horses for the different grades of para competition need to specialize in certain skills that allow them and their rider to score well in their tests. Since the Grade I test is all walk, about half of the Grade II test is performed at the walk, and there is a fair amount of walk work in Grade III, Assouline lists a horse with a very good walk, including robust regularity, as essential to scoring high in those tests. Shoemaker points out that up to Grade III, the tests require
when faced with eight-meter circles and changes of direction in quick succession. In addition to the quality of the walk, consideration must be given to the horse’s ability to carry on properly even when the rider can often not give as much support.” Assouline and Shoemaker both agree that Grade IV and V
riders need horses with correct and expressive gaits, but also great ability to collect and extend in all three paces, not very different from international small-tour horses. “That’s a great challenge for us all, as it is what most dressage riders are looking for, isn’t it!” says Assouline with a smile.
Left: The first horse and rider pair from the U.S. to ever medal in para-dressage at a World Games, Rebecca Hart, Wellington, Flor- ida, (Grade III) and Rowan O’Riley’s nine-year-old KWPN gelding El Corona Texel (Wynton x Good Times). They took the Grade III individual bronze and Freestyle silver at the 2018 World Eques- trian Games. Hart and Tex had only been training together for one year, but Hart’s extensive team experience (for three Paralympics and three World Games), Tex’s exceptional gaits and the precise execution of their tests helped earn them the honors. Right: Kristi Wysocki at the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 where she served as a member of the Ground Jury. After working as a metallur- gical engineer for a number of years, she decided to focus entirely on her equestrian career and has been involved with dressage as a rider, trainer, breeder and judge. She is currently the only FEI 5* para-equestrian dressage judge from the U.S.
Warmbloods Today 33
Kathleen Bryan
Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
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