Hi, I was wondering if anyone could give me some more information on being classified as a Para-Equestrian.
Three years ago I broke my back resulting in permanent spinal cord damage that left me with no feeling/muscle control in my left leg from mid-calf down and decreased feeling and muscle control in my right leg. I have finally got back into recognized showing in Dressage and for the first time, I have had judges comment on my “overactive” lower legs (one judge said I kicked excessively ). I had never had a judge comment one way or the other at the few schooling shows I had attended.
I doesn’t bother me overmuch, I know why my legs are overactive, but I hate to lose points on rider position or have a judge think I am kicking my poor horse excessively. He, by the by is so wonderful, he does tolerate my excessive leg movement and usually ignores most of it
So I called at the beginning of week to the number provided by the USDF on their FAQ about para equestrian page to find out about being classified. Someone is supposed to email me a list of classifiers, but I haven’t heard anything yet.
Just curious as to what the process is since the website is rather vague and I haven’t heard back from the “mysterious” email person :lol yet
Also, how long to dispensation certificates take to get once you start the process? Because my horse does ignore my leg quite a bit I am somewhat reliant on my whip to enforce my leg cues and you are not permitted to carry one at the Regional Championships, this is the first year I will be attending Regionals and I would hate to get down there and totally blow my test because he didn’t recognize my canter cue as different from my normal leg movement. (And yes, I am doing a lot of work with my seat, but both of us are a work in progess, its taken us 3 years to get to this point )
Thanks for your help and consideration