FOR many people, a horse is a passion. For para equestrian athletes, that partnership can become something much more: a route to competition, independence, confidence and the opportunity to represent Ireland on the international stage.

Para Equestrian Ireland (PEI) is a registered charity dedicated to supporting para dressage riders across Ireland, from those taking their first steps into competition to established athletes pursuing international and Paralympic ambitions.

Para dressage is an elite sport in its own right. Riders compete under the same fundamental principles as dressage, with the emphasis on harmony, accuracy, communication and partnership between horse and rider. Athletes are classified according to their functional ability, with Grades I to V creating competition between riders with comparable levels of impairment.

For someone new to para dressage, the world of classification, permitted compensating aids, competition rules and qualifying scores can initially seem complicated. PEI provides information and support alongside Paralympics Ireland to help riders understand where they fit within the sport and how they can progress.

Classified para riders can compete at national level, including at Dressage Ireland competitions, while riders aiming for international competition must meet specific qualification requirements. The pathway can progress from national competition towards CPEDI 1* and 2* competition and ultimately the 3* level.

Importantly, para riders can also compete in able-bodied dressage competitions while using their approved compensating aids. This creates opportunities for riders to gain experience, develop their horse and rider partnership and remain actively involved in the wider dressage community.

Financial support

A sporting organisation cannot grow without the support of the community around it and, for PEI, fundraising is an increasingly important part of making opportunities possible for riders.

In 2026, PEI has continued to develop financial support for athletes, including a new Development Bursary for riders competing at their first CPEDI 1* or 2* international competition. The organisation also continues to provide an International Entry Fee Bursary for riders competing at CPEDI 3* level who achieve the required performance standard. PEI reports that its international entry bursary has paid more than €15,000 over the previous three seasons.

Behind those figures are individuals and organisations giving their time and effort to help the sport. Mary Flynn organised a golf classic to raise funds for Para Equestrian Ireland, bringing people from outside the para dressage community into the effort to support Irish para-athletes. The Association of Irish Riding Clubs (AIRC) has also supported PEI in 2026, through a raffle connected with a para dressage demonstration. Events like these give para riders the opportunity to showcase their sport to a wider equestrian audience, while simultaneously helping to raise funds and awareness.

Helen Kearney celebrates her Paralympic medal with Mister Cool \ Liz Gregg/FEI

A proud international history

Ireland already has a remarkable history in para dressage. At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Helen Kearney won three medals for Ireland, including silver in the individual championship test and bronze medals in the team and freestyle events.

At the FEI Para Dressage World Championships in Herning in 2022, Michael Murphy became the first Irish para dressage athlete to win a World Championship medal, taking two bronze medals in Grade I. He later added a silver medal in the Grade I freestyle at the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck.

The development of new talent has continued, with grassroots riders now progressing through the national and international pathway and the Para Home Nations marks a vital transition allowing national riders to gain experience overseas.

Growing the sport

For Para Equestrian Ireland, the future is not solely about producing Paralympians. It is about creating a sport in which a person with a physical impairment can discover that competitive riding remains possible. It is about giving riders somewhere to start, providing information when the process feels overwhelming, creating grassroots and team opportunities, and helping athletes who want to progress towards the international stage.

Para dressage demonstrates that disability does not remove the skill, precision, athleticism or ambition required to compete in equestrian sport. The classification system creates a framework for fair competition, while the horse remains at the centre of the partnership.

From a rider taking their first steps into competition, to a combination representing Ireland internationally, every journey contributes to the growth of the sport. Those journeys are supported not only by PEI and its riders, but by the wider Irish equestrian community: trainers, volunteers, families, sponsors, fundraising organisers, riding clubs and supporters who recognise the value of giving para athletes the opportunity to compete.

Ireland has already produced Paralympic medallists, World Championship medallists and successful international combinations. With continued development at grassroots level, opportunities such as Home Nations competition, financial support for emerging athletes and the generosity of the wider equestrian community, Para Equestrian Ireland is helping build the foundations for what comes next.

Whether you are a rider looking for information about classification, someone interested in joining the sport, a business looking to support our riders or simply want to find out more about para dressage in Ireland, PEI welcomes enquiries. For classification or general enquiries, contact: info.paraequestrian@gmail.com. PEI’s aim is simple: to support riders with physical disabilities from grassroots to international competition.