The lowdown on how to get to a Petplan Equine Area Festival

Need something new to aim for this season? Why not give the Area Festival qualifiers a go?

The Area Festivals series, which was launched in 2000 and is aimed at grassroots riders, has grown from 15 Area Festivals around the country with 555 tests completed in its first year to over 4,500 dressage tests ridden in the 2021 competitions.

Split into two seasons, summer and winter, the Area Festivals offer a year-round competition pathway with riders qualifying and competing in the Area Festivals, before going on to the Area Festival Championships taking place in April and October each year.

All systems go

The qualification period for the 2022 summer series began in January and will run until 30 June 2022. The Area Festivals will then take place in July and August, with the Area Festival Championships set to take place at Arena UK from 6–9 October.

Qualification for the winter series then begins on 1 July and runs until 31 December 2022 – with the Area Festivals taking place from mid-January to mid-February and the championships running at Hartpury in April 2023.

Did you know?

Both the summer and winter Area Festivals include levels from Prelim to Inter I and run Bronze and Silver sections. The summer series has the exciting bonus of running Freestyle to Music classes, too.

Testing, testing

Depending on the level at which you compete, dressage tests for the summer 2022 and winter 2023 Area Festival qualifiers are as follows…

• Prelim 19
• Novice 23
• Elementary 53
• Medium 73
• Advanced Medium 91
• FEI PSG 2009
• FEI Inter I 2009

How to qualify for an Area Festival

Area Festival qualification comes from your percentage scores, and you’ll need to achieve your required number of scores within the relevant qualification periods. Scores can be gained at regular BD shows at your local venues.

To qualify…

• from Prelim to Advanced Medium, you’ll need to achieve three scores at 60% or above
• at Prix St Georges and Inter I, you’ll need two scores at 60% or above

If you’re aiming for the Freestyle to Music classes at an Area Festival during the summer season…

• from Prelim to Advanced Medium, you’ll need two scores at 63% or above
• at Prix St Georges or Inter I, you’ll need to earn two scores at 60% or above

Area Festivals and beyond

Looking for your local 2022 summer Area Festival? They’re taking place…

• 19–21 July – Wellington Riding (inc. music), Hampshire
• 21–24 July – Myerscough College, Lancashire
• 23–25 July – Beacons Equestrian, Carmarthenshire
• 23–27 July – Easton College (inc. music), Norfolk
• 29–31 July – Brook Farm Equestrian Club, Essex
• 29–31 July – Kingswood Equestrian Centre, Staffordshire
• 8–10 July – Rockrose Equestrian Centre (inc. music), East Lothian
• 5–8 August – Speedgate Events (inc. music), Kent
• 5–7 August – Alnwick Ford Equestrian (inc. music), Northumberland
• 9–12 August – Sheepgate Equestrian (inc. music), Lincolnshire
• 10–14 August – Kings Equestrian (inc. music), Herefordshire
• 12 – 14 August – Bicton Arena, Devon
• 13 – 16 August – Field House Equestrian Centre (inc. music), Staffordshire
• 19 – 21 August – Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre, Warwickshire
• 20 – 21 August – Moreton Equestrian Centre (inc. music), Dorset
• 25–28 August – Port Royal (inc. music), North Yorkshire
• 26 – 28 August – Sparsholt College, Hampshire

Combinations who place in the top two at an Area Festival (unless a class is split, in which case only the winners qualify) will earn a coveted spot (providing they score at least 63%) at the Area Festival Summer Championships at Arena UK 6–9 October.

British Dressage membership

You can ride in Prelim Bronze sections to get your scores for an Area Festival as a British Dressage Club member on a Club horse. If you qualify for an Area Festival, you and your horse will need to become Full British Dressage members to take part. For Prelim Silver and Novice level and above, both you and your horse need to be a Full (competing) member and have a Full horse registration to gain your scores.

For more information, visit petplanequine.co.uk/area-festivals