September 24, 2008 —Para-Equestrian Canada (PEC) is pleased to offer a coaching clinic on November 13th, 2008 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The clinic is designed to educate coaches on topics associated with coaching riders with a disability and to encourage Equine Canada certified coaches to include riders with disabilities in their training and competitive programs.

It is anticipated that those who attend will be able to use knowledge acquired from the clinic to introduce more people with disabilities to equestrian sport and to identify and encourage potential Para-Equestrian (PE) competitors.

• Location:      Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Direct Energy Centre on the Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON           
• Date:           Thursday, November 13th, 2008
• Time:           9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Cost:            $75.00 (includes classification manual, rule books and other handouts)
• Participants:  Limited to 30 participants

Open to all interested coaches and of special interest to Equine Canada dressage and driving coaches and CanTRA coaches.

The clinic has been developed by the members of the PEC Coaching Committee.

• Fionna Christensen:          CanTRA Coach/Examiner, EC Coach 2, FEI –PE National Classification Advisor
• Jane James:                    CanTRA Coach/Examiner, EC Coach 1, former Para-Equestrian Team Chef  d’équipe  (Athens 2004)
• Marion Slatter Blitstein:     Physiotherapist, international FEI-PE classifier
• Karen Brain:                    Paralympic bronze medalist, EC Coach 2
• Jan Jollymour:                 EC Coach 2, High Performance Coach and Competitor  

The clinic will introduce and explain the Para-Equestrian Classification System that is currently in place for Para-Dressage and Para-Driving. It will include video examples, explanations, and demonstrations of adaptive tack and equipment for both training and competition. There will also be a discussion of disability issues and contraindications, including where to seek support and advice on medical, liability, and other issues.

Attendance at this clinic will qualify for six upgrading hours.

For further information or a copy of the registration form please visit Para-Equestrian Canada’s website at http://www.equinecanada.ca/para-equestrian/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=471, or send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 
About the Para-Equestrian Discipline

In Para-Equestrian, each rider is classified according to his or her functional ability. They are assessed by trained physiotherapists and doctors who evaluate either muscle strength, coordination, or a combination thereof throughout the athlete’s body. The rider is then given a functional profile that indicates the grade in which they can compete. There are five grades of competitions in dressage, with Grade IA representing the more severely impaired riders, and Grade IV representing the least severely impaired riders. The competition within each grade is judged on the functional skill of the rider, and not the level of disability.

About Para-Equestrian Canada

Para-Equestrian Canada is the discipline committee of Equine Canada that is responsible for developing and implementing programs on behalf of the Para-Equestrian community and administrating the high performance program for dressage riders with a disability. For additional information regarding Para Equestrian Canada please visit www.equinecanada.ca/para-equestrian.