“Horses were driven long before they were ridden. As vehicles have eliminated the need for horses as a primary form of transportation, Driving has turned into a fast-growing sports discipline”
What is Para Driving?
Para Driving consists of drivers sitting on a vehicle drawn by a single horse or pony while facing three trials – dressage, marathon and obstacle driving. Since 2006 Para Driving has fully joined the ranks of the other 7 FEI disciplines with national and international competitions in Driving for individuals with a disability. A Para Driver is classified into one of two grades according to his or her functional ability to ensure a level playing field.
NEW! Please click here to see a presentation on FEI Para Driving.
Competition Venue and Testing
All rules and regulations with regards to competition venues and testing are governed by the same principles as other disciplines. The General Regulations, Statutes and Discipline rules that are available on this site apply. The formula for the shows is the same as for standard Driving with Dressage, Marathon, Cones/Obstacles phases.
Classification
A dedicated page is available for FEI Classification details and documentation. Please click here.
Equipment
Competitors must wear the appropriate equipment as stipulated in the classification manual, and are only permitted the use of special equipment when this has been formally documented and approved.
Main competitions
FEI World & Continental Championships
Following the decisions voted during the FEI Hybrid General Assembly in Cape Town (RSA), and the feedback provided from this competition year, the FEI has published enhancements to the CAI3* HP2-P4 test to provide additional scoring opportunities for judges to award points and increase the level of difficulty using the same figures by making them one handed.
This published revised version of the CAI3* HP2-P4 test will apply from 1 January 2023 for Pair Horses, Pair Ponies and Four-in-Hand Ponies.
This test will be used at the FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs (Horses) and the FEI Driving World Championship for Ponies – Pairs and Four-in-Hand. Please note that any qualifying scores an Athlete earned with the previous version of the test for the World Pair Horses and Ponies and World Four-in-Hand Ponies Championships will remain valid and count toward the qualification parameters.
The World Four-in-Hand Horse Championship will continue to be held in a 100x40m size arena and consequently the Dressage Test 3*B H4 will remain applicable as of 1 January 2023.
Test Directives for the Dressage Test 3*B H4 for both the 100x40m and 80x40m arenas are published on the FEI Driving Dressage Tests webpage.
Additionally, a new CAI1* test and Para Driving Dressage test has been published, and will come into effect on 1 January 2023. This new Para Driving Dressage test will be used at the FEI Para Driving World Championship in 2023.
All FEI Driving Dressage tests are available on the FEI Driving Dressage Tests webpage.
After reviewing the feedback received from various Stakeholders, the FEI Driving Committee has published a new version of the Alternative Scoring System. The new version includes the calculation of the Dressage scores in percentages, while the other competitions retain their current scoring system. The Alternative Scoring System document can be found on the FEI Driving Rules page.
Should you have any questions regarding these items, please do not hesitate to contact the FEI Driving Department.
The qualification criteria for FEI Driving Championships 2023 are published on the FEI Driving Main Events page.
The Para Equestrian Technical Committee and Classification Working Group have worked hard to try to make Classification accessible to Athletes during the Covid-19 Pandemic and following the FEI Covid-19 Guidelines for Para Dressage Events. Although the aim is to run Classification fully as per the rules, it is acknowledged that this may not be possible for all Events and for all athletes. A list of exemptions was drawn up and approved by the FEI Board to try and make Classification available for as many Athletes as possible. Athletes aiming to be qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be prioritised in this endeavour. This list can be found published here.
We would like to make it clear that, although certain exemptions have been approved by the FEI Board, they are to be considered on an Event by Event and Athlete by Athlete basis, and some Athlete’s circumstances may not allow for the exemptions to be carried out. Classification must remain fair and safe for all Athletes and Classifiers. The FEI will aim to make Classification a possibility for as many Athletes as possible, especially amongst those qualifying for Tokyo 2020, but cannot guarantee that this will be possible for all.
We ask that National Federations keep track of the Classification requirements of their Athletes, to communicate any requirements in advance with the Para Dressage Department, and to be aware that with the situation changing quickly some Events may have last minute alterations in the schedule which alter the possibility to hold Classification.
The FEI, in cooperation with the Belgian Paralympic Committee and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), is pleased to inform you that Para Equestrian Athletes (both Dressage and Driving) with Vision Impairments will have the opportunity to be internationally classified in Waregem (BEL) on 21 April 2021 in connection with the CPEDI3* Waregem (BEL).
No fee will be charged to athletes attending this particular IBSA Classification.
National Federations are kindly requested to submit the Vision Impairment Classification requests to Chloe Harty by Wednesday 10 March 2021 with the following documents:
All of the above forms can be found in Inside.FEI.org and must be completed in full, legibly and in English or with a signed translation in copy. All Athletes, including Athletes with a Review status, must supply all of the above documents, which must be current, i.e. completed in the last 12 months.
Making a FEI Non-Standard Compensating Aids Request
According to Article 8428.9 PED Rules athletes can apply through their NF requesting non-standard compensating aids for FEI Para-Equestrian Dressage competitions.
The request must be made by the Athlete’s NF and include:
Requests must be submitted to the FEI in writing with supporting material at least two (2) weeks before the day of the horse inspection for the event to which it will apply. The FEI will forward the request to the Compensating Aids Panel for further decision. The NF will be informed in writing by the FEI of the final decision and if the request has not been approved the reason.
All necessary information can be found published here and all request must be sent to the FEI HQ.
1. New Athletes requiring FEI Classification for the first time - must apply through their NF to the FEI by completing the FEI Classification Request Form
The Classification request must be made by the Athlete’s NF and include:
The Classification request must be received by the FEI at least six (6) weeks before the next international competition where the athlete intends to compete.
The Organising Committee for the international competition where the athlete will be evaluated will charge a non-refundable fee of 40 EUR or equivalent at the time of entry.
2. Athletes who are FEI Classified and listed on the FEI Classification Master List with a status of Review (R)
3. Athletes listed on the FEI Classification Master List with a status of Confirmed or Review with a fixed review date requesting a Review because their impairment and activity limitations are no longer consistent with their current Grade must apply through their NF to the FEI by completing a Medical Review Request form.
Making a Medical Review Request
The medical review request must be made by the Athlete’s NF and include:
All necessary information and relevant forms can be found published here and all request must be sent to the FEI HQ.
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