About
About
Aim of the game
The rider must prompt the horse to perform compulsory movements – such as steps, trots and canters – and freestyle routines choreographed to music
Why should you watch this?
You will be amazed and touched by the understanding between horse and rider as they strive for perfect harmony in the famous ‘horse ballet’
Venues
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On the bit
Movement used to stop the horse by putting pressure on the bit (the part in his mouth, attached to the reins), making the horse responsive to the rider’s commands
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Pirouette
Rhythmic spin in which the horse turns with its inside hind leg serving as the axis, inspired by ballet
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Transition
Movement in which the horse alternates its legs with each trot or walk
Impress your friends
Events
Equestrian in the Paralympic Games consists only of dressage events – individual, team and freestyle.
Competitors must perform a series of mandatory movements – such as steps, trots and canters – based on the rider’s degree of impairment. Teams have 3 or 4 members.
The freestyle is an event with free movements performed to music, this is where the name ‘horse ballet’ comes from.
Adaptations
For reasons of accessibility and safety, the arena is smaller than the Olympic equivalent and compacted sand is used to facilitate movement.
During competition, the rider may not make a sound, but blind athletes may be guided by sound signals.
Judges
Spread throughout the arena, the judges evaluate the precision of the movements with scores of zero to one. The rider and horse combination with the highest score wins.
The judges observe the smallest details, such as the position of the horse’s head, and faults are indicated by a bell.
Stats
Top Medalists
| Men | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GBR
Lee Pearson
|
10 | 1 | 1 | 12 | |
|
NED
Joop Stokkel
|
1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
|
DEN
Hans Lykkestrig
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| Women | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GBR
Sophie Christiansen
|
5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
|
GER
Hannelore Brenner
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | |
|
GBR
Deborah Criddle
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
