Para riders' aims for more opportunities in showing

Competitors say they'd like more of a level playing field at higher-level competitions

- BECKY MURRAY

DISCUSSIONS have taken place around para showing – and whether there could be more opportunities to give riders a platform to progress.

There are opportunities but riders say they would like more at county level upwards.

Vicky Howarth, who is registered blind, told H&H she hopes to qualify for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) via the Search for a Star (SFAS) series in able-bodied classes, and said if HOYS offered para finals, she would aim for those.

“It feels like if you have a disability, you get pigeonholed into para-dressage, but that’s not what I want to do,” she said.

“My dreams are the same as everyone else; I want to ride at HOYS. [Riding for the Disabled Association] RDA provides brilliant opportunities, but there are lots of riders who want to do more. There’s a bigger picture and an opportunity to make a change.”