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 Para-Equestrian sport in both Dressage and Driving has been steadily developing for the past 25 years and is available and practiced by equestrians with a wide variety of disabilities.  Indeed, PE Dressage has been a regular fixture at the Paralympic Games since 1996, while 2016 was host to the tenth Para-Equestrian Driving World Championships.

The word “Para” derives from the Greek preposition meaning “alongside” - and it’s great to see that in the mainstream driving trials competitions of today, we have a growing number of para competitors competing side by side with able bodied competitors across a range of classes from novice through to open.

This gives disabled competitors the opportunity to progress and develop in just the same way as it does able bodied competitors.

• Para Driving athletes have been in integrated part of our British sport since 2013 and compete using the approved compensation aids, which are granted through a nationally governed classification process according to their level of disability.
• Para athletes span all sorts of disability, such as spinal injuries, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, sight impairment, amputations, degenerative neurological conditions, to name but a few.
• In the vein of creating opportunities for all people with disabilities to compete and achieve their goals in equestrian sport, athletes are classified according to the level of their disability/impairment so as to provide for meaningful competition. 
• Since the introduction of driving trials into Great Britain in 1969, combined driving has grown rapidly in popularity.
• It is a sport that has “No Limits”, catering for everyone at all levels.
• Many able-bodied and disabled people receive a tremendous amount of enjoyment from their contact with horses and ponies and now the sport of driving trials have become an increasingly popular sport for people challenged by disability with competition between all abilities on a level playing field.
• As seen in national competition the number of drivers with disabilities is on the increase. Not only does driving trials encourage equal competition it also provides a great adrenaline rush.

IIn mainstream competition, para athletes are competing across a range of classes according to their current competitive status, from novice currently through to open level.