From the Judge’s Booth Kristi Wysocki from Coupeville, Washington, was a member of the Ground Jury for para-dressage at the Tryon World Eques- trian Games last year. The only FEI 5*Para-Equestrian Dressage Judge from the U.S., Wysocki commends the overall caliber of riding and says the horses were superb and the competition was fantastic. “The future of this sport looks very bright world- wide. It was an honor to be a part of it,” she says. So, what are the attributes a
para-dressage judge wants to see in a horse? Wysocki, who is also an FEI 4* Young Horse, an FEI 4* “I” Dressage judge and co-chair of the United States Dressage Federation’s Sport Horse Committee, says that basi- cally, when evaluating a horse for potential FEI para-dressage, one must ask themselves two questions: First, does the horse meet the requirements of the training scale? And second, where are the issues, and how will that impact an individual rider’s success with that horse? To further understand what
para-dressage horses need to be able to do, one must start by reviewing the FEI Para-Dressage tests listed on the FEI’s web site and used by the judges to score rides. As a basic overview, the Grade I tests are done entirely at the walk with scores for the movements volte, halt, serpentine, and some work on the centerline, being multiplied times two. Grades II and
Top: Riding on her third U.S. Team (the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the 2018 and 2014 WEG Teams) Annie Peavy, Avon, Connecticut, intro- duced the world to her new partner, Rebecca Reno’s ten-year-old Oldenburg mare Royal Dark Chocolate (Royal Doruto x Don Larino), at the Tryon WEG last fall. The expressive mare has three lovely gaits and Peavy plans to compete with her in able-bodied dressage this winter in Florida at Prix St. Georges. Peavy and “Cocoa” finished the WEG in sixth place in individual competition with a 68.902 percent and seventh in their freestyle on a score of 71.660 percent (less than two percentage points from bronze). Bottom: Sophie Wells and the 11-year-old KWPN gelding C Fatal Attraction (Fidertanz x Olivi) won two gold medals (individual and freestyle) and team silver last fall at the Tryon WEG earning 80.75% in their freestyle. They also compete in able-bodied dressage and were the U.K. National Winter Champi- ons last year at Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I.
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III tests are both a combination of walk and trot and the movements with doubled scores are the first halt and the leg yielding in Grade II and leg yielding and serpen- tine in Grade III. In the two highest grades, IV and V, the tests include walk, trot and canter. In Grade IV the multi- plier is applied to shoulder-in, simple changes of lead and loops at collected canter. In Grade V scores for walk half- pirouettes, half pass at trot, simple changes of lead, and halt followed by rein back then trot, are doubled. In all of the para grades, horses have collective marks awarded for paces, activity and submission. The most important trait
for any dressage horse, includ- ing those competing in para- dressage, is the correctness of their gaits, Wysocki says. “The gaits must all have the correct rhythm; this is the first thing the judge must evaluate. The walk must have a very clear four-beat rhythm. The trot must have two beats (diago- nal pairs) and the canter must have three beats; both of these gaits must also have a moment of suspension,” she explains. Next in importance for
a para-dressage horse after correct, rhythmical gaits, according to Wysocki, is train-
ing and rideability. She wants to see a horse reliably on the bit with soft, relaxed contact and a horse that bends easily and correctly. Higher quality gaits can be an advan- tage, she adds, but only if the training is also good. An average-moving horse, ridden more correctly than a horse with fancy gaits, will come out ahead. “The horse’s temperament is also extremely important,”
she continues. “The horse must be attentive and confident in the rider, with an easy willingness to respond to rider’s aids quickly, but smoothly. Can the horse stay focused on the rider, despite influences from outside the ring? Is the horse easy to keep in front of the aids, yet not spooky and/ or easily distracted? The horse must also build a relation- ship with the rider, regardless of whether the rider is able- bodied or para. The rapport between the two often makes up the magic that creates the winning team.”
Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
Sarah Miller/MacMillan Photography
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