Equestrian events at the 2016 Summer Paralympics

Equestrian events at the 2016 Summer Paralympics consist of 11 dressage events, ten for individual riders across five classes, and a single mixed team, mixed category event. The competitions were held in the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Rio, in September 2016.

Equestrian
at the XV Paralympic Games
VenueOlympic Equestrian Centre, Rio
Dates11–16 September
2012
2020

Classification edit

Riders are given a classification depending on the type and extent of their disability. The classification system allowed riders to compete against others with a similar level of function.

Athletes are classified according to their functional ability when mounted across four grades and five categories (Ia and Ib, II, III and IV). The grading determines the complexity of the movements riders perform with their horses during their tests, ensuring that the tests are judged on the skill of the rider, regardless of their impairment. Riders may use permitted assistive devices such as dressage whips, connecting rein bars looped reins, and the like. Riders who have visual impairments are permitted to use 'callers' to help them navigate around the arena.[1]

Riders with recovering or deteriorating conditions such as MS are eligible but must have been reclassified within six months of a World Championships or Paralympic Games to ensure their classification is correct.

Specialised equipment including prostheses is only allowed where it has been specifically approved.

Equestrian events at the 2016 Summer Paralympics – Classification of events[1]
Classification Description
I a for riders with impaired limb function, or poor balance and good upper limb function
Grade Ia riders are usually wheelchair users with impairment of all four limbs. They may be able to walk, but this is usually with an unsteady gait due to difficulties with balance and trunk stability.
b for riders with impaired limb function, and/or poor balance and good upper limb function
Grade Ib riders are similar to Grade Ia in that they are mainly wheelchair users. They must have poor trunk balance and/or impairment of all four limbs. Some riders will have both, but some will have just one of the two listed impairments.[1]
II for riders with locomotion impairment
Grade II riders are often wheelchair users. Riders in this grade can have severe impairment involving the trunk but with good or mild upper limb function, or can have severe arm impairment and slight leg impairment, or can have severe degree of impairment down one side.[1]
III for blind riders with moderate locomotion impairment
Grade III riders are usually able to walk without support but may require a wheelchair for longer distances. Riders can have moderate unilateral impairment, moderate impairment of all four limbs, or severe arm impairment. Blind riders compete in this category but must wear blacked-out glasses or a blindfold.[1]
IV for riders with some visual impairment or impaired function in one or two limbs
Grade IV riders have an impairment of one of two limbs or a visual impairment at B2 level.[1]

Qualification edit

The following teams and individuals have attained quota places for the 2016 Summer Paralympics Equestrian event.[2] On 25 March, FEI announced[3] that France and Russia, having achieved multiple quota places for individuals, would be able to field composite teams in the team competition, bringing the total number of teams in that event to 16.

Equestrian events at the 2016 Summer Paralympics – Qualification
Qualification route Standard Qualifiers Quotas
2014 FEI World Equestrian Games Top three ranked teams, 4 riders each   Great Britain
  Netherlands
  Germany
12
FEI World Para-dressage Rankings
as of 31 January 2016
Top seven ranked teams, 4 riders each   Italy

  Belgium
  Austria
  Norway
  United States
  Denmark
  Australia

28
FEI Regional Para-dressage Allocation Top ranked remaining team, 4 riders each, from following regions :
  • Africa
  • Americas
  • Asia
  • Oceania
-
  Canada
  Singapore
  Russia
12[4]
FEI Para-dressage Individual Ranking
as of 31 January 2016
Two qualification slots for NPC(s) not already represented :
  • Africa
  • Americas
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Oceania
  South Africa


  Mexico
  Brazil
  Hong Kong
  Japan
  Russia
  Sweden


10[4]
Bipartite Commission Three qualification slots   Portugal

  Slovakia
  Uruguay

3
Host Country Allocation One team of four   Brazil 4
Completion of Quota Procedure[5] Five highest ranked athletes (regardless of region)
on the FEI Paralympic Individual Ranking List plus any unused quota places
  Great Britain

  Finland
  Latvia
  Netherlands
  Ireland



  Russia
  Finland
  France
  Czech Republic
  Switzerland
  Russia
  Denmark
  Switzerland
  France
  France
  France

5+
Total 78

Officials edit

Appointment of officials is as follows:[6]

Dressage
  •   Alison Pauline King (Ground Jury President)
  •   Hanneke Gerritsen (Ground Jury Member)
  •   Anne Prain (Ground Jury Member)
  •   Kjell Myhre (Ground Jury Member)
  •   Marc Urban (Ground Jury Member)
  •   Marco Orsini (Ground Jury Member)
  •   Sarah Leitch (Ground Jury Member)

Events edit

Equestrian events at the 2016 Summer Paralympics – Classification of events[1]
DATE SESSION EVENT GRADE
10 September 2016 10:00:00 Horse Inspection
11 September 2016 10:00:00 Team Test Grade III
14:00:00 Team Test Grade Ib
12 September 2016 10:00:00 Team Test Grade IV
13:00:00 Team Test Grade Ia
13 September 2016 10:00:00 Team Test Grade II
14:00:00 Individual Championship Test Grade III
14 September 2016 10:00:00 Individual Championship Test Grade IV
14:00:00 Individual Championship Test Grade Ib
15 September 2016 09:00:00 Individual Championship Test Grade II
12:45:00 Individual Championship Test Grade Ia
16 September 2016 09:00:00 Individual Freestyle Test Grade III
10:10:00 Individual Freestyle Test Grade IV
13:00:00 Individual Freestyle Test Grade Ib
14:10:00 Individual Freestyle Test Grade Ia
15:30:00 Individual Freestyle Test Grade II

Participating nations edit

76 athletes from 29 nations competed.

Medal table edit

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Great Britain (GBR)74011
2  Netherlands (NED)1247
3  Austria (AUT)1102
  Belgium (BEL)1102
  Norway (NOR)1102
6  Denmark (DEN)0123
7  Germany (GER)0112
8  Brazil (BRA)0022
  Sweden (SWE)0022
Totals (9 entries)11111133

Medal summary edit

Event Class Gold Silver Bronze
Individual championship test
details
Grade Ia   Sophie Christiansen
on Athene Lindebjerg (GBR)
  Anne Dunham
on LJT Lucas Normark (GBR)
  Sérgio Oliva
on Coco Chanel M (BRA)
Individual freestyle test
details
  Sophie Christiansen
on Athene Lindebjerg (GBR)
  Anne Dunham
on LJT Lucas Normark (GBR)
  Sérgio Oliva
on Coco Chanel M (BRA)
Individual championship test
details
Grade Ib   Pepo Puch
on Fontainenoir (AUT)
  Lee Pearson
on Zion (GBR)
  Stinna Kaastrup
on Horsebo Smarties (DEN)
Individual freestyle test
details
  Lee Pearson
on Zion (GBR)
  Pepo Puch
on Fontainenoir (AUT)
  Stinna Kaastrup
on Horsebo Smarties (DEN)
Individual championship test
details
Grade II   Natasha Baker
on Cabral (GBR)
  Demi Vermeulen
on Burberry (NED)
  Rixt van der Horst
on Jockey Club Caraat (NED)
Individual freestyle test
details
  Natasha Baker
on Cabral (GBR)
  Rixt van der Horst
on Jockey Club Caraat (NED)
  Steffen Zeibig
on Feel Good 4 (GER)
Individual championship test
details
Grade III   Ann Cathrin Lübbe
on Porsborggaardens Donatello (NOR)
  Susanne Sunesen
on CSK's Que Faire (DEN)
  Louise Etzner Jakobsson
on Zernard (SWE)
Individual freestyle test
details
  Sanne Voets
on Demantur RS2 N.O.P (NED)
  Ann Cathrin Lübbe
on Porsborggaardens Donatello (NOR)
  Louise Etzner Jakobsson
on Zernard (SWE)
Individual championship test
details
Grade IV   Sophie Wells
on Valerius (GBR)
  Michèle George
on FBW Rainman (BEL)
  Frank Hosmar
on Alphaville N.O.P. (NED)
Individual freestyle test
details
  Michèle George
on FBW Rainman (BEL)
  Sophie Wells
on Valerius (GBR)
  Frank Hosmar
on Alphaville N.O.P. (NED)
Team
details
Open   Great Britain
Natasha Baker
on Cabral
Sophie Wells
on Valerius
Anne Dunham
on LJT Lucas Normark
Sophie Christiansen
on Athene Lindebjerg
  Germany
Alina Rosenberg
on Nea's Daboun
Carolin Schnarre
on Del Rusch
Steffen Zeibig
on Feel Good 4
Elke Philipp
on Regaliz
  Netherlands
Nicole den Dulk
on Wallace N.O.P.
Frank Hosmar
on Alphaville N.O.P.
Demi Vermeulen
on Burberry
Rixt van der Horst
on Jockey Club Caraat

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Paralympics GB – Classification of Equestrian events". Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  2. ^ Para Equestrian qualification Archived 15 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine from FEI.org
  3. ^ FEI announce Rio Quotas
  4. ^ a b Africa and Oceania failed to complete their allocation. these quotas devolved to the ranking list.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Paralympic Games 2016". Fei.org. 26 November 2019.

External links edit