Paris Paralympics: dressage
Paris Paralympics: dressage
Welcome to Horse & Hound’s coverage of the dressage competitions at the Paris Paralympics. Our expert coverage will be led by our dressage editor Oscar Williams on location at the Palace of Versailles, supported by colleagues working from the UK, who are poised and ready to keep you up to date with all the latest Paralympic dressage news as it happens.
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Dates: |
3-4 September & 6-7 September |
Venue: |
Palace of Versailles |
Classifications: |
Riders in five grades |
Teams: |
60 combinations from 15 nations |
Individuals: |
78 horse and rider combinations |
Competitions: |
Individual, team and freestyle |
Medals: |
33 medals |
Paralympic dressage news
A summer of dreams, the best selfies ever and an unmatched feat – equestrian sport at the Paris Olympics
The Queen hosts celebration to thank Paris Olympic and Paralympic riders
Five billion followers, Snoop Dogg and the ‘lasting legacy’ of Paris 2024
‘It’s starting to sink in’: Mari Durward-Akhurst on bouncing back from early disappointment at Paris 2024
Pammy Hutton: ‘Losing Britain’s hugely successful para dressage trainer to the USA was a mistake’
History makers! What are the secrets behind the USA’s first-ever Paralympic team gold?
‘I want another baby!’: Natasha Baker crowns her comeback with another Paris 2024 medal
‘I can’t describe this feeling’: Georgia Wilson wins a spectacular silver at Paris 2024
Wow! Mari Durward-Akhurst and peerless Athene Linebjerg win grade I freestyle bronze against the odds at Paris 2024
‘I’m really proud’: Sophie Wells’ brilliant Paris 2024 bronze brings her remarkable medal collection to 40
Meet the British squad horses
Keystone Dawn Chorus – Natasha Baker’s ‘practically perfect’ Paralympic medal-winning mare
Sakura – the laidback equine star who's taken Georgia Wilson from team reserve to medal podiums
Athene Lindebjerg – the supermodel grade I horse who’ll partner Mari Durward-Akhurst at the Paralympics
LJT Egebjerggards Samoa – Sophie Wells’ rising star that all British fans should be excited about
Paralympic dressage in Paris: what you need to know
Where are the Paralympic equestrian events being held?
The equestrian competitions at the Paris Paralympics 2024 are taking place in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, which also hosted the Olympic equestrian events and the modern penathlon. Find out more about the venue for the Paris Paralympics equestrian competitions.
How many horses and riders at the Paris Paralympics?
There will be 78 horse and rider combinations allowed to compete at the Paralympics, which is three more than in the Olympics equestrian competitions. There will be 33 medals given out across the individual, team and freestyle competitions.
Paris Paralympics: equestrian dates plus medal ceremonies
The Paralympic dressage competitions begin with the individual test, known as the FEI Para Grand Prix A, across all five grades (categories of rider). This will take place on 3-4 September. Next is the team test (FEI Para Grand Prix B) for team medals on 6 September. The top eight in each grade from the individual test will compete for a set of freestyle medals on 7 September.
Paralympic equestrian schedule
Date |
Competition |
Grade |
Medals |
Tues 3 Sept |
Individual |
Grade I, II, III |
Yes |
Wed 4 Sept |
Individual |
Grade IV, V |
Yes |
Fri 6 Sept |
Team |
Multiple grades |
Yes |
Sat 7 Sept |
Freestyle |
All grades |
Yes |
How does the team competition work?
Teams of three riders will compete for medals. Each team must include at least one rider who is in grade one, two or three, and there must be a maximum of two athletes of the same grade within a team. Each combination rides a set test specifically for their grade. The scores of all three team members in this test count towards the team total to decide the team medals.
Who will be judging the Paralympic dressage in Paris?
The dressage judges at the Paralympics are:
• Anne Prain (FRA) – president of the ground jury
• Suzanne Cunningham (AUS)
• Kristi Wysocki (USA)
• Ineke Jansen (NED)
• Freddy Leyman (BEL)
• John Robinson (GBR)
Who are the other Paralympic dressage officials?
Germany’s Dr Jan Holger Holtschmit is the technical delegate for the equestrian events at the Paralympics. The assistant technical delelgate is Hanneke Gerritsen of the Netherlands. The chief steward is Juliet Whatley from Great Britain and the travelling reserve judge is Katherine Lucheschi from Italy. The two members of the judging supervisory panel are Marco Orsini of Germany and Kjell Myhre of Norway.
