The Architecture of Trust: How Cristina Landete is Redefining Para-Dressage

In the disciplined world of dressage, precision is everything. Every transition, every lateral movement, and every halt is measured in centimeters and seconds. For most riders, this precision is a product of sight and sound. For Cristina Landete, it is a complex architecture of trust, constructed from the voices of a dedicated team and the intuitive heartbeat of a horse.

Landete occupies a unique position in Spanish sports: she is currently the only active rider in the country competing with deafblindness. To navigate a dressage arena—a space defined by specific letters and geometric patterns—she has had to rebuild the sport from the ground up, transforming a visual test into a sensory map.

Designing a Sensory Map

For a rider who cannot notice the markers or hear the surrounding environment clearly, the standard approach to Para-Dressage is insufficient. Landete’s system relies on a network of voceadores—callers who provide directional cues—and a specialized mediator situated at the X marker in the center of the arena.

The technical requirements are stringent. Landete utilizes an earpiece shared with her coach, a setup that exists under constant official supervision. To maintain the integrity of the competition, her coach remains positioned next to the commissar, ensuring that no technical instructions regarding the execution of the test are relayed—only the rider’s direction and position within the arena.

“The mediator acts as a bridge. If I have to do a diagonal, I receive the reference at the X, and from there, the next caller indicates where to go.” Cristina Landete, Para-Dressage Rider

This reliance on external guidance has forced a fundamental shift in Landete’s riding style. While she previously relied on counting the horse’s strides during the walk, such a method became impossible at the trot. Now, the calculation is replaced by absolute confidence in her support system.

Landete describes this bond in singular terms: My callers are my eyes. And my horse is too.

From Hippotherapy to Competition

Landete’s connection to horses began in early childhood, born not from a desire to compete, but from a necessitate for sensory engagement. As a young child, she struggled with tactile sensitivities, often rejecting various textures. This changed during a visit to the beach, where she was placed on a pony for the first time.

The experience was transformative. Within a week, her family brought a pony home. Landete was just over 1 year old at the time; the pony was 7 months. They grew up together, and her early equestrian journey began with hippotherapy, focusing on motor skills and controlled technical progress.

However, the path was not linear. The death of that first pony when Landete was 9 years old caused a significant emotional void. This loss coincided with a pivotal change in her health: while she had been totally blind from birth, the onset of deafblindness occurred at age 11. The combination of grief and a new, isolating disability led to a two-year hiatus from the saddle.

The return to riding was an act of tentative courage. After being encouraged to try again without pressure, Landete felt an immediate reconnection with the animal. Watching her peers compete sparked a realization that led her to inquire, Why not me?

The Tactile Study of the ‘Reprise’

Because she cannot read a printed test or visualize the arena, Landete developed a proprietary method for studying her reprises (dressage tests). She constructed a physical board using pins and threads to map the course.

Her coach draws the required route, which Landete then translates onto the board using different colored threads—one for the walk and another for the trot. By tracing these lines with her fingers, she effectively draws the reprise with her hands, memorizing the geometry of the performance before ever entering the ring.

The execution of these tests requires a highly controlled environment. For Landete to maintain the necessary concentration, the arena music must be completely silenced rather than simply lowered. The audience must remain still and quiet; any unexpected noise or movement can disrupt the auditory cues she relies upon to navigate.

A Catalyst for Regulatory Change

Beyond her individual achievements, Landete’s presence in the sport has had an institutional impact. Her specific needs have contributed to the evolution of adaptive sports regulations, leading to the approval of a specific annex for riders with deafblindness within Para-Dressage.

This regulatory shift acknowledges that disability is not monolithic. Even within the same diagnosis, the variations in how a rider perceives the world require flexible, individualized adaptations.

At the center of this journey is Rayo, Landete’s current horse. She describes a profound connection with the animal, noting that Rayo is acutely aware of her condition and exhibits a special care toward her during their performances.

As Landete continues to compete, her goal remains focused on incremental progress and the hope that more riders with deafblindness will enter the sport, following the path she has spent years clearing.

Landete will continue her training and competition schedule throughout the 2026 season, aiming to further refine her system and advocate for expanded accessibility in equestrian sports.

Do you think adaptive sports regulations are evolving speedy enough to keep pace with athlete needs? Share your thoughts in the comments below.