A BLIND British Paralympic dressage rider is continuing to fight a ruling imposed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and International Equestrian Federation (FEI)  that means all registered blind riders must wear a blindfold for competing.

Verity Smith, from Cirencester, is certified blind with 10 per cent vision, allowing her to only see light and dark, which she relies on for spatial awareness and balance while performing.

She, along with her fellow blind dressage competitors, have been exluded from qualifying for this year's Paralympic Games in Rio unless they wear a blindfold, due to a ruling, introduced in January 2015, during the qualifying year, which Verity believes has added too much danger to the sport and has come at the wrong time.

“It’s unfair for all blind riders to be working so hard (in qualifying for the games) towards an end goal, for that goal post to be moved at the last minute," she said.

She added that blind riders are not simply competing against other blind riders but are in competition with other disabilities, "all of whom are given aids to maximise their ability, no other disability is handicapped further.

“I train to be as good as I can be, but I’m not learning a circus trick. They are adding a handicap. It’s dangerous for the rider and the horse,” said Verity, 40.

“The horse doesn’t understand that you’re scared. He won’t understand if you’re struggling.

"It’s incredibly disorienting. We want them (the horses) to be sharp, hot on their toes. It’s a very dangerous cycle. What happens if someone breaks their back because they’ve fallen whilst wearing a blindfold?”

Verity has launched a petition on change.org and is using the hashtags #BeatTheBlindfold and #GetVerityToRio to spread the message of her campaign.

She is also encouraging people to share photographs of themselves in a blindfold to show their support.

“The support from the public has been overwhelming,” she said. “They’ve really taken this fight on board and I’m so thankful. I want to send the correct message to children across the world who are struggling with disability.

“I don’t want them to see that we (blind dressage riders) are simply not competing at Rio and be left feeling let down. I want them to understand why.”

As part of her campaign, Verity visited Tockington Manor School, in Gloucestershire on Thursday (February 4) to talk to the children about the #BeatTheBlindfold campaign.

Verity said the ruling is set to be reviewed by the IPC and FEI but not until after the Paralympic Games this summer.

However, Verity, who is currently competing at abled-bodied Prix St George, the highest level ever achieved by a blind rider in Britain, dreams of one day being part of the Able Bodied Team GB, hasn’t given up on her dreams of riding in Rio this summer just yet.

“It’s not over until the blind lady rides,” she said, before admitting that she doesn’t believe the ruling was done with any “malice” but can be “rubberstamped as an oversight.”