 |
Dressage
at Devon to Host First-Ever NDSA IPEC Grade IV Invitational
Championship |
Kingston,
RI — April 4, 2003 — Dressage at Devon will host the
first-ever National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) IPEC Grade
IV Championship for riders with physical disabilities, September
23-28, 2003 in Devon, PA.
The
NDSA Championship will consist of two classes. The first is the
Individual Competition in which riders will perform a standard
Grade IV dressage test, while the second is a Musical Freestyle
competition. Overall placings in the NDSA Championship will be
based on riders’ combined scores in both the Individual Competition
and the Freestyle.
The
International Paralympic Equestrian Committee (IPEC) categorizes
riders with disabilities into Grades I-IV according to their disabilities.
Grade I consists of riders with the most severe disabilities,
while Grade IV is for those with the least. The Individual Competition
test for Grade IV is similar to the USA Equestrian Level 4 test
for able-bodied equestrians.
Grade
IV riders have impairment in one or two limbs or have some visual
impairment. Grade IV tests require lateral work and include work
at the walk, trot, and canter. Compulsory movements include medium
and collected trot, medium and free walk, 10-meter circles at
the trot and canter, shoulder-in, half-pass at the trot, simple
changes of rein, half-pirouettes at the walk, and rein back. Freestyles
ridden at the Grade IV level may comprise more difficult movements
such as lateral work at the canter and three-time sequence changes.
“We’re
so excited about the Grade IV Championship at Dressage at Devon,”
said NDSA Equestrian Sports Manager Denise Avolio, “and we
are certainly indebted to Devon for giving us this fantastic opportunity.”
According
to Dressage at Devon Co-Chair Jim Hall, adding the NDSA Championship
to the show was a natural. "Dressage at Devon benefits Thorncroft
Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Inc., which is one of the oldest
and largest programs in this country using horses to help people
with disabilities. The NDSA Championship is a perfect fit for
our show."
The
NDSA IPEC Grade IV Championship to be held at Dressage at Devon
is one of several events put on by NDSA for riders with physical
disabilities. Each June, the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions,
presented by State Line Tack, hosts an NDSA Championship for riders
in all of the IPEC Grades. The Mills Team Challenge, held each
August as part of the North American Young Riders’ Championships,
presented by State Line Tack, is a competition in which riders
with disabilities compete together with able-bodied young riders
in a special team competition. Additionally, the NDSA supports
many clinics at various locations throughout the year, including
forums on judging dressage riders with physical disabilities.
NDSA
is also responsible for fielding this country’s teams for
recognized international events for riders with disabilities including
the World Championships, which will be held in Moorseles, Belgium,
September 2-7, 2003, and the Paralympic Games, which will be held
in Athens, Greece in August 2004 just after the Olympic Games.
The
National Disability Sports Alliance is the national governing
body for equestrian sport for equestrian athletes with disabilities.
The non-profit organization is responsible for the development
and selection of riders for national championships and international
competitions, including World Championships and the Paralympic
Games, and provides training, competition and advocacy for riders
of all levels with physical disabilities. For more information
about NDSA and opportunities to support the programs, please visit
our website at www.ndsaequestrian.org
or contact Denise Avolio at (914) 949-8166 or diavolio@ndsaonline.org.
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