Paramatters

PARA MATTERS

UPDATE FROM PARA DIRECTOR TRACY ORMROD

Iam just back from a super week with our para team at the World Para Dressage Championships in Herning, Denmark where we collected a total of seven individual medals and our all important qualification for Paris 2024. The competition was a tough one in all respects with hot weather and some incredible horses and riders from other nations.

Our riders, owners, grooms and support staff did us proud out in Herning showing commitment and professionalism at all times. It is an exciting time to be involved with Paras and I feel honoured to be a part of the journey!

Tracy Ormrod, Para Director

NEW PARA JUDGE PATHWAY

PARA BRONZE AND SILVER SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS, INCORPORATING THE RDA GRADE 7 CHAMPIONSHIPS

We are delighted to announce that the new para judge pathway has now been launched! Please see below an outline of the new pathway. The steps are: • You are a list 3 or above judge. • Expression of interest to Natasha Pearce at British Dressage • Free RDA training day (most recent details listed on the Dressage section of the RDA website) • Practice Judging sheets (minimum of 10 sheets) • Online para judge upgrade workshop • Online Assessment Elements of the pathway can be completed in any order, with an assessment to be taken after all elements are complete.

CPD is to be completed every two years. This can be in the form of either: • Online Para Judge Seminar • Online Para Judge Zoom training • Online RDA officials’ training We are holding our first online para judge upgrade workshop on Tuesday 20 September 2022 via Zoom. To book your place, please scan the QR code.

This year’s Bronze and Silver Summer Championships took place at Hartpury University and Hartpury College on the 23 – 24 August. We were delighted to work alongside the RDA to host the Grade 7 Championships, for riders who qualified at the RDA National Championships. A report will appear in our next issue.

DREAM TEAM REUNITE

It’s a Tokyo reunion! A massive congratulations to the team that attended the FEI World Championships from 6–14 August. Representing Great Britain in para dressage were:

GRADE II

• Sir Lee Pearson with his own Breezer • Georgia Wilson with her own and Geoff and Julie Wilson’s Sakura

GRADE III

• Natasha Baker with her own and Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt and Phil and Lorraine Baker’s Keystone Dawn Chorus

GRADE V

• Sophie Wells with Rowland Kinch’s Don

Cara M They are pictured in Herning with team vet Robert Oulton (left) and Chef d’Equipe Georgina Sharples (far right). See issue 7 for our full report.

BD PARA DEMO RIDE AT THE RDA CHAMPS

We were delighted to be invited to the RDA National Championships in July to 8 // Issue 6 2022 // BRITISH DRESSAGE showcase our sport. We had riders run through all the bronze para intro tests to an audience on the Friday evening. This was a great success, and we plan on holding a demo ride at the Championships each year going forward. KEVIN SPARROW PHOTOGRAPHY