Beijing Paralympic Equestrian Events started on Sunday, in which athletes compete in Championship Test and Freestyle Test.

Including only the dressage discipline, individual riders compete in two competitions at the Para-equestrian. Riders perform set movements as defined by the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee in the Championship Test.

As for the Freestyle Test, it includes set movements, but individually choreographed by the rider and set to music. It is often likened to Equestrian Ballet. The unity between rider and horse as well as rhythm and harmony in all the movements and transitions should be shown.

Judges mark out of ten and then total at the end to give a percentage score. The highest percentage mark wins. Two marks will be deducted for the first time error of course, four marks for the second time. Elimination will be resulted due to third time error of course, as well as fall of horse or rider.

Team members will also have to complete an additional test -- the Team Test. The score from this competition is added to the Individual Championship Test score to give a total combined percentage.

A team is made up of three or four riders from any one country or region. At least one of the athletes must be Grade I or II. The team's final score is based on the sum from the best three performances in the Team Test and the individual Championship Test.

Para-Dressage competitions have two arena sizes. 20 meters by 40 meters for Grade Ia, Ib, II and III competitions, while 20 meters by 60 meters for Grade IV competitions, where athletes will perform more movements such as canter.

A total of 73 riders from 28 countries and regions compete for 11 gold medals in the Beijing Paralympics equestrian which will run until Sept. 11.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2008)