Canadian Karen Brain Wins Paralympic Equestrian Bronze
Canadian Paralympian Karen Brain of London, ON, scored a major victory for Canada by winning the bronze medal in the Grade IV Championship dressage test at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games on September 22, 2004.
Brain and her mount, a loaned 12-year-old German bred mare named Dasskara, performed a brilliant dressage test despite a colic scare that sidelined the horse on Monday. This is Brain’s second time representing Canada. She was also a member of the 1998 World Equestrian Games Team to Rome as a part of Canada’s Three-Day Eventing squad.
“It is pretty exciting, and it seems more real today then yesterday,” remarked Brain. “Today, I just smile for no reason. Unfortunately, I missed the warm-up competition but we had a really good test yesterday. I am looking forward to the Freestyle tomorrow.”
The Grade IV gold medal went to Norway's Ann Cathrin Lubbe on the Danish Warmblood Stallion, Zanko with a score of 70.839%. The silver medal went to Philippa Johnson of the Republic of South Africa with a score of 69.871%. Brain's score was 69.677%.
Canadian Grade II rider Lauren Barwick Aldergrove, BC, on Dior, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding, placed 7th with a score of 68.0%. The gold medal went to Irene Slaettengren of Sweden on Larino with a score of 72.636%, silver to Joop Stokkel of the Netherlands on Pegasus and score of 70.364%. The tie for the bronze medal was between Gert Bolmer, of the Netherlands on Lodewijk and Great Britian’s Nic Tustain riding Prinz Heinrich. Both riders had a score of 68.727%.
Barwick’s marks were excellent and she is looking forward to even better results in her freestyle on Friday. Dax Adam of Scarborough, ON, and Copper Rose, a 17-year-old Thoroughbred mare, finished 14th in Grade II with 60.636%.
On September 21st, Judi Island of Cheltenham, ON and Whirlwind, a 12-year-old-old Hanoverian gelding, finished 10th in Grade I with a score of 65.158%. The gold medal went to Lee Pearson of Great Britain on Blue Circle Boy with a well-deserved score of 76.211%. Silver went to Jan Pike of Australia on Dr. Doolittle with 71.895% and the bronze medal went to Sophie Christiansen of Great Britain with 70%.
In the Paralympics, each rider is classified according to their functional ability. They are assessed by physiotherapists and doctors who have completed the classification workshop. They evaluate either muscle strength, coordination, or a combination thereof throughout the athlete's body. Each part of the body is given a score out of five, with five being normal range or strength. The scores are added and the total is compared to a chart and the rider is placed in one of approximately 40 profiles. Each grade is comprised of certain profiles. The profile each athlete is assigned indicates the grade in which they would compete. Paralympic athletes are either those who acquired a disability from an accident, were born with a disability, or have a deteriorating condition. They can be reclassified if their condition changes for whatever reason. The grade a rider is in is representative of the functional ability and not their skill development as a rider.
Each grade has their own list of tests containing different movements. Judges are looking for the same quality of the paces and movements no matter what the grade. For example, the walk must be performed at the same level from Grades 1 through 4. Grade I riders are separated into "A" and "B". "A" riders walk only, and "B" riders walk and trot. At the Athens Games all Grade I riders, both “A” and “B” compete together. Grade II riders walk and trot, with longer periods of trot, and Grade III riders walk, trot and canter with little lateral work. Grade IV riders do all paces with more lateral work.
The first Paralympic Games to hold a dressage event was in Atlanta in 1996 with “draw” horses. Athens is the first Paralympic Games to hold an “own” horse competition, and this is first time Canadian horses have competed in International competition outside of North America.