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Para-equestrian athletes vying for 2020 Australian Paralympic Team selection will ride alongside able-bodied riders at the Sydney International Horse Trials on 25-28 April.

The Trials will mark the first time in Australia that a CPEDI event is run in conjunction with a major International Three-day event, and is the first international qualifying event in the Oceania region that will count towards a team ranking on the International Federation of Equestrian Sport’s Paralympic Ranking List.

It is also the first opportunity for riders to attain their minimum eligibility score of 62% at a CPEDI event, which will put them on the path for Australian Paralympic Team selection.

An invitation has been extended to host teams from New Zealand and Hong Kong that are seeking qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The addition of international teams will afford all athletes the chance to compete against new horse and rider combinations from other Region XIII nations, as well as encourage friendly competition.

“We are happy to support Para-equestrian athletes at Sydney International Horse Trials this year by conducting a qualification event in conjunction with the horse trials,” said Event Director Shane Rose. “We are pleased to be able to give the riders an opportunity to compete at an event with large participant numbers, where we are perhaps able to replicate some of the atmosphere they might encounter at Championship level.

“We wish all competitors good luck for the upcoming event.”

By Equestrian Australia
Posted: 12/03/2019