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Para Dressage
The only equestrian discipline at the Paralympic Games, and where Amanda’s international career began.
Amanda’s para dressage record
First para dressage competition, on Millie (Run of the Mill). Wins the British Dressage para talent spotting competition, posts the highest individual score of the Para Home International as the Central team takes the title, and makes her international debut for Great Britain on Run of the Mill.
Selected for the British Equestrian Excel squad, the Podium Potential Pathway. Starts competing her new ride, Ruby Rose II.
Competes abroad for Great Britain on Ruby Rose II, at Waregem in Belgium and Roosendaal in the Netherlands, and at home at Hartpury and Bishop Burton.
Selected for the British Equestrian Podium Potential squad and awarded a SportsAid Sports Bursary. Rides Ruby Rose II for Great Britain at CPEDI Waregem, and finishes 2nd of 27 at the LeMieux National Championships against able-bodied riders.
Wins the individual Grade II title at the Para Winter Championships, heads both Grade III team tests and the individual at the Para Home International, and rides for Great Britain at Roosendaal CPEDI3*. At Bishop Burton FEI CPEDI she wins the team test, individual championship test and freestyle and is crowned Team Champion, and she ends the year as Grade III Gold national champion at the LeMieux National Championships.
2nd at the Maimarkt-Turnier in Mannheim, Germany, winner’s rosettes at Bishop Burton FEI CPEDI and Grade III Gold champion at the Para Gold Summer Championships. Individual Grade III champion and part of the winning Eastern team at the Para Home International. Rides for Great Britain at Waregem CPEDI3* in Belgium. 3rd in all three tests at Hartpury CPEDI3* with New Princess, and a British Dressage national title on Michelangelo.
Bishop Burton CPEDI3*: wins all three Grade III tests with New Princess, including the freestyle, ahead of riders from the USA, Canada and Hong Kong. Earlier in the year, 2nd in the Grade III freestyle at CHI Al Shaqab CPEDI3* in Doha, Qatar, with Remi II, and 2nd and 3rd places at Hartpury CPEDI3*.
Keysoe CPEDI3*: 4th in every test with Remi II at the first international after lockdown.
Bishop Burton CPEDI3*: wins the team test with Remi II and the individual test with Hermione, plus 2nd in the freestyle. Three podium places at Keysoe CPEDI3* in the autumn.
Keysoe CPEDI3*: 3rd in all three tests in spring with Hermione, and 3rd in the freestyle again in the autumn.
Reclassified Grade II. Selected for Great Britain at Hartpury CPEDI3* with Hermione, and places 3rd on her Grade II international debut.
Reclassified Grade I, the grade for the most impaired riders, as her dystonia progresses.
After almost three years away, including three operations, Amanda makes her Grade I debut in June on her new horse, Kirkstall Spirit (“Timmy”), and wins at Bury Farm. In October Timmy makes his international debut, riding for Great Britain at the Wellington CPEDI2*: the Intermediate A, the Intermediate B and the freestyle. Through the winter she is qualifying for the para dressage winter championships.
The plan: Doha in February, then at least three internationals and national qualifiers, aiming for selection for the European Championships in Denmark in August. Back the 2027 plan
National titles
Alongside her international results, Amanda has been crowned Grade II champion at the Para Winter Championships (Restricted champion 2015, open champion 2017), Grade III Gold national champion at the LeMieux National Championships (2017) and the Para Gold Summer Championships (2018), and Grade III champion at the Para Gold Finals, the Para Home International (individual and team, 2018) and the Para Winter Championships. Against able-bodied riders she has won at the regional championships and the Petplan Area Festival, and placed at the national championships.
Team rider
Amanda has been part of several winning Nations Cup and Home International teams, from the Central team that took the Para Home International title in 2013 to the winning Eastern team in 2018.
What is para dressage?
Para dressage gives riders with physical or visual impairments the chance to compete at every level, up to the Paralympic Games. Horse and rider perform a set test of movements, judged on accuracy, harmony and the quality of the horse’s paces.
At international level, riders in each grade ride set FEI para dressage tests, and the top riders go on to the freestyle to music, a test each rider choreographs to their own music.
Depending on their needs, riders can use compensating aids such as modified saddles, straps and adapted reins.
How the grades work
Riders are classified into five grades so that they compete against athletes with a similar level of impairment.
| Grade | Who competes | Test paces |
|---|---|---|
| Grade I | Most impaired riders | Walk only |
| Grade II | Severe impairments | Walk and trot |
| Grade III | Moderate impairments | Walk and trot, with more advanced movements |
| Grade IV | Moderate to mild impairments | Walk, trot and canter |
| Grade V | Least impaired riders | Walk, trot and canter, with lateral work |
Amanda rode most of her international career in Grade III, was reclassified Grade II in 2023 and, as her dystonia progressed, Grade I in 2025. She now competes in Grade I, the same grade as her para driving.
