Eligibility

Eligibility

To be eligible for National Para Equestrian Classification, an athlete must be a minimum of 13 years old and have more than 15% loss of power, range or coordination in any limb or the trunk. It must be a recognised medical condition(s) which is permanent and can be measured objectively in compliance with the National Classification Rules. Unfortunately, pain is not something that can be measured.

It's important that you check your elgibility to become classified before sending in an application, read through the Classification Rules document, we have listed helpful pages below. 

British Equestrian National Para Equestrian Classification Rules

Physical impairment eligibility

• Page 46–47 – Athletes with eligible physical impairments types
• Page 48–49 – Grades & profiles for para dressage
• Page 50–51 – Grades & profiles for para driving

Visual impairment process/ grades

• Page 58 – athletes with vision impairment

Non-eligible impairments

• Page 60 – non-eligible impairment types

If you are still unsure whether your impairment will be eligible for classification, contact Emma Bayliss, emma.bayliss@bef.co.uk for advice. 

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Now you’ve checked your eligibility...

Think you’re eligible?

Head to the ‘Get classified’ page to get started on your application.

Not eligible?

There are many options for you to continue progressing within your chosen discipline:

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)

RDA work to support and develop riders, as well as providing opportunities for achievement. Visit the RDA website or contact their main office for more information.

British Dressage

British Dressage offer dispensation for athletes to use compensating aids in non-disabled competitions. There is an application process for this. You will need to email Emma Bayliss for your classifcation score card and then email British Dressage Para Officer, Natasha Pearce for more information.

British Carriagedriving

For advice on how to get involved or progress in Carriagedriving, please contact British Carriagedriving’s Para Liaison, Julie Camm, via email.

The Carriage Driving Sport Group for Drivers with Disabilities is a charity dedicated to supporting drivers with disabilities to reach their aims and goals ranging, from improving their every day driving to competing at the highest level of competition sports driving.

Intellectual impairment competition

Virtus is the global organisation that governs, advocates, organises and promotes many elite sports for athletes with an intellectual impairment. SportExcel UK lead and manage the eligibility of British athletes for inclusion within Virtus in the UK and are recognised by UK Sport. They evaluate whether an athlete is eligible for registration and therefore able to compete with Virtus. Both Virtus and SportExcel UK are members of the British Paralympic Association.  

For Intellectual Impairment eligibility please follow this link.