'The grading method needs upgrading'

Pammy Hutton on the para dressage grading system and needle-happy vets

- Oscar Williams

PARA dressage riders are facing a challenging dilemma. Their crucial grading happens either via a classification evaluation or at a show – and riders must compete in their allocated grade as soon as it appears on the FEI master list.

If a rider is regraded at a competition, they can choose to compete in their new grade or in the entered grade. However, where the entered grade is lower, riders are penalised with a 10% reduction in each test’s score.

Alternatively, riders can choose to ride in their new grade, with a commander for that event only and not at championships.

Should para riders really be expected to go to an international show knowing six tests like the back of their hand, just in case? Surely videos could decide their grade in advance?

When our one-armed rider went to Wellington to compete, he was immediately downgraded to level 3. But this should have happened well beforehand to save the judges from learning on the day that cantering is a step too far. It also begs the question of culpability should an accident happen.

Having suffered a stroke at age seven, with supporting evidence, only now can he compete at the right grade for him.