Compensatory aids

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Compensatory aids should generally enable people with disabilities to participate in equestrian sports. This includes a number of supportive measures and resources that are suitable to enable disabled riders to ride safely and in accordance with their requirements. In this way, deficient body functions are compensated. In general, every handicapped rider can use these or other means as long as he does not violate animal welfare or other applicable law. Only for the competitive dressage rider there are rules, i.e. who can use what and when, which the International Paralympic Committee for Equestrian (IPEC) establishes.

Competitive athlete

Has a disabled competitively to ride the desire dressage, the German team doctor from a sports health pass after the rider (IPEC list) from her or another German or foreign classifier classifies was. The compensatory aids are entered in this passport. In this way, at every tournament, whether it is a regular tournament or according to IPEC rules, it is clear why, who uses which resources. The permission to use aids for national competitions falls under the respective national or FEI (International Equestrian Association) rules. Illnesses or a lack of function, which according to IPEC belong to the minimum disability, do not allow the use of aids.

IPEC minimum disability

  • Each rider must have at least a 15% loss of strength, reach, or coordination in each limb or trunk.
  • Every rider must have a medical report that causes impairment that can be objectively measured. Symptoms such as slack ligaments or pain are not acceptable.
  • If they are not accompanied by any further physical impairment, the following restrictions are not eligible to start in IPEC competitions.

IPEC recognized tools

  • Handle on the saddle or strap on breastplate, etc., a side saddle is always allowed
  • Raised saddle rim (must not come right up to the lumbar area, or special saddle with knee rolls, etc.)
  • Straps from the stirrup or stirrup strap to the saddle girth
  • Rubber straps around the foot
  • Anderson stirrups (special stirrups / cup stirrups) or
  • Devonshire boots (leather shoe-like stirrups)
  • 2 whips, e.g. B. with short sleeves also with "extra length"
  • Special reins with bars , loops, combined reins etc.
  • If a rider wants to fix a paralyzed but wobbling arm on the body with a bandage, this is allowed
  • Reins on stirrups (for "no arms")
  • Pulley on the breastplate or saddle for short-armed people

Spurs are always allowed if there is sufficient leg control. Recently, the curbs in grades 1 and 2 have also been permitted for physically very weak riders, this is still a controversial procedure (animal welfare), although it is already clear that the safe control of the horse has top priority . In grades III and IV curb is always allowed. In grades la / 1b and II, the use of voices (moderate) is often allowed. When setting up greetings, it may be permissible to only greet with the head, the helmet is never removed, especially since the three / four-point attachment is always required. Blind / severely visually impaired riders can either have a guide in the square who announces the most important points (running back and forth), callers are better at the important points on the track who say the letter aloud, the blind can also have a few laps before the start in the square horse riding. Visually impaired people may have very large path points set up. If, in addition to the physical disability, there is also a learning disability (certificate from the psychiatrist, neurologist), the task can also be read out in one's own language.

Recreational athletes

Recreational athletes are not subject to any rules of the IPEC and may, as long as it does not violate animal welfare and other applicable law, ride according to their own style.

Miscellaneous

Since 2006, equestrian athletes with intellectual disabilities ( Special Olympics ), insofar as there is no physical disability, are no longer classified according to IPEC rules. Show jumping for riders with handicaps is planned for the near future , whether there will be any special changes and which ones are not yet officially known.

swell

  • DKThR - German Board of Trustees for Therapeutic Riding
  • FEI - Para Equestrian Classification Manual
  • IPEC - International Para Equestrian Committee
  • Gundula Lüdtke , head trainer of the Swiss Para-Riders, Brandenburg Prevention and Rehabilitation Association e. V., D-16818 Radensleben