Paralympics anyone?

I bet that's a doorstop!

GB have been and I have to be up at 6 so I'm turning in for the night. I hope the rest of the ceremony is good - I can't wait to see what the jigsaw turns outs to be!
 
What a beautiful piece of music is the Brazilian National Anthem.

I saw the guy whizzing down the ski-slope thingy in his chair, and take off, do a loop-the-loop, but I didn't see him land. You don't suppose that he was a sacrifice do you?

Alec.
 
Kat_Bath said:
Was there ever a resolution to the complaints about a new rule where riders in some classifications were having to wear a blindfold when they are partially sighted? It was in the media a fair bit at the end of last year...
Click to expand...

What would be the point to it? Please don't tell me to put them on a level with those who were totally blind.

Alec.
 
teapot said:
……... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...der-fights-new-Paralympic-blindfold-rule.html
Click to expand...

I've read the article thank you. The heart of anyone must go out to the rider concerned, and in truth I enjoy the para-lympics more than the able bodied. To see others fighting against the cruellest of disabilities and succeeding, must touch to the chore of all of us, BUT; it's my belief that the horse needs the eyes of the rider as well as its own and how anyone can safely compete on a horse, when they're totally blind (both those with total blindness and those wearing blindfolds) must be called into question.

I'm not in any way fluffy, I take an approach that we are all entitled to put ourselves at risk if we choose to, but to compete on a horse, whilst totally blind, in any discipline must push the boundaries of common sense towards the limits of lunacy. The horse needs the rider who has full possession of all their faculties, I'd have thought.

All of that said, presumably those who are totally without sight will have developed their other senses, I'm sure and to a point which would be beyond the person with 20-20 vision. Were a partially sighted rider to be blindfolded for the competition, then they would be at a distinct disadvantage as their remaining senses wouldn't be so naturally well attuned.

I really haven't a clue what the answer is, beyond having a great deal of sympathy for all concerned, including the decision makers.

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
I've read the article thank you. The heart of anyone must go out to the rider concerned, and in truth I enjoy the para-lympics more than the able bodied. To see others fighting against the cruellest of disabilities and succeeding, must touch to the chore of all of us, BUT; it's my belief that the horse needs the eyes of the rider as well as its own and how anyone can safely compete on a horse, when they're totally blind (both those with total blindness and those wearing blindfolds) must be called into question.

I'm not in any way fluffy, I take an approach that we are all entitled to put ourselves at risk if we choose to, but to compete on a horse, whilst totally blind, in any discipline must push the boundaries of common sense towards the limits of lunacy. The horse needs the rider who has full possession of all their faculties, I'd have thought.

All of that said, presumably those who are totally without sight will have developed their other senses, I'm sure and to a point which would be beyond the person with 20-20 vision. Were a partially sighted rider to be blindfolded for the competition, then they would be at a distinct disadvantage as their remaining senses wouldn't be so naturally well attuned.

I really haven't a clue what the answer is, beyond having a great deal of sympathy for all concerned, including the decision makers.

Alec.
Click to expand...

One of my RDA riders has less than 5% vision in one eye, zero in the other and it's incredible how well she can ride a dressage test. That said, if I was to put a blindfold on here, she'd cope far better than someone who has 60% vision, but she wouldn't cope as well as someone who's 100% blind.

Tests ridden by TVI/PVI riders are an interesting one in their own right as they can have three letters called out so they're aware of where they are in an arena.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top