Paris 2024: Laurentia Tan leads Singapore's strong start at Para Equestrian

By Nicole Chia

Team Singapore put up a splendid performance on the first day of the para equestrian competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, highlighted by world No. 7 Laurentia Tan’s fifth-placed finish in the Grade I individual event on 3 September. The four-time Paralympic medallist, featuring in her fifth Games, scored 72.000 to qualify for the final later this week.

Compatriot Gemma Rose Foo, who also competed in the Grade I individual event, placed 11th out of 22 riders with her score of 68.917. In the Grade III individual event earlier that day, debutante Hilary Su braved the rain for a respectable score of 61.700 to finish 12th at the grounds of the Chateau de Versailles. All three will return to the arena on 6 September for the team event. 

Laurentia Tan with her horse Hickstead at the Grade I individual event of the para equestrian competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Credit: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

Laurentia Tan waves to spectators at the Chateau de Versailles after her Grade I individual event in the para equestrian competition on 3 September. Credit: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

The discipline contested at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is para dressage, which highlights the cooperation and harmony between horse and athlete. In  Grades I, II and III of the individual event, athletes and their horses perform a pre-determined series of movements and the top eight qualify for the individual freestyle event.

Athletes are judged on the accuracy, quality and artistic expression of their riding, with the movements assessed by a panel of five judges around the arena. Each movement is awarded with a mark ranging from zero to 10 in half-point increments, with collective marks awarded for the overall performance. The judges’ scores will be totalled and converted to a percentage.  

Laurentia Tan during the Grade I individual event of the para equestrian competition on 3 September. Credit: SNPC/Dyan Tjhia

Tan, 45, has three bronzes and a silver from the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games and is the first Asian athlete to win a Paralympics medal in para equestrian. In Paris, she worked well with Hickstead (nicknamed Coco) to ride solidly to seal her place in the individual freestyle, where athletes can compete to their own music. Rihards Snikus of Latvia won the Grade I individual gold with 79.167. Defending champion Roxanne Trunnell of the USA scored 78.000 to place second and Italian Sara Morganti (74.625) clinched bronze. 

"I thought Coco (aka Hickstead) was really fantastic – he was focused and calm. He also had a lovely, forward rhythm, which meant I was able to enjoy the ride more and together, we achieved a really good, smooth test," said Tan, who was riding Banestro in Tokyo and had not met Hickstead yet. "A new and different horse means developing a new relationship and fine-tuning different skills, and adapting to each other. The key thing is to have good 'communication' between us."

Tan developed cerebral palsy and profound deafness after birth, and she will wear a Subpac – a haptic vest that vibrates to the music – in the freestyle event. "I will use this to 'listen' to the music to familiarise myself when visualising the test," she added. "I want to give an engaging performance, to show our partnership at its best, and to give Coco a positive experience."

Gemma Rose Foo competed in the Grade I individual event on 3 September with her horse Banestro. Credit: SNPC/Dyan Tjhia

The Grade I individual event had the largest number of competitors among the four other grades and the last qualifying spot for the individual freestyle went to Australia’s Stella Barton, who scored 70.833. World No. 8 Foo was pleased to have finished in the top half of a tough field despite falling short of her top-eight goal.

The 28-year-old said: “I was thrilled and happy to be able to compete in a venue as beautiful as Versailles. Thankfully, the weather cleared up as it was raining quite a bit before my competition. I was focused on my ride, and my borrowed horse Banestro did a fantastic job in the arena. He was calm, and I enjoyed my time competing in Versailles. I’d like to improve my score and do better for Grand Prix B (the team event) on 6 September. I hope to continue to make progress in the FEI World Championships Games in 2026, and subsequently the next Paralympic Games in 2028.”

For debutante Su, competing in rainy and grey conditions was surely not what she had been hoping for in her maiden Paralympic appearance. But the 32-year-old took the challenging weather in stride at the iconic Chateau de Versailles, where spectators watched the first event of the para equestrian competition under open umbrellas and raised hoods.

Singapore equestrienne Hilary Su and her horse Gambler in action at the Grade III individual event on 3 September. Credit: SNPC/Dyan Tjhia

Su, who has been riding competitively for the last seven years, said: “I felt excited but also a bit nervous to be out there as it started raining heavier when I went on. My mindset was to just visualise the test in my head and think of it as just another training session back at home. I concentrated on my ride and was not distracted by the people in the grandstands.

“I was happy as I stayed connected with Gambler who went really well today despite the rain. I could have had slightly better lines in a few movements but generally everything went as planned. The weather could have been better but it is what it is.”

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games take place in Paris, France from 28 August to 8 September 2024. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.