Try affiliated dressage for a day

Ever fancied competing at an affiliated dressage competition? Horse&Rider has partnered with Petplan Equine and British Dressage to give you the opportunity to give affiliated competition a go

What is a class ticket?

Class tickets allow you to enter one BD affiliated dressage class at any level, up to Advanced, without being a full member of BD (normal entry fees apply). It’s the perfect opportunity to get a taste of affiliated competition, including the atmosphere and trained, experienced judges.

What’s more, get bitten by the bug and there’s still time to become a BD member and qualify for the prestigious Petplan Equine Area Festivals in 2019 and Area Festival Championships in spring 2020. The qualification period has already begun, but it runs right up until two weeks before your chosen Area Festival.

You can gain qualifying scores towards your Area Festival ticket with Club membership, which costs as little as £45 for you and your horse if you’re competing at Preliminary Bronze level. To ride at the Area Festival, and to qualify at higher levels, you’ll need to upgrade to full membership of British Dressage.

How to get involved

The Petplan Equine Area Festivals series is the perfect affiliated competition for amateur riders. Competitors get to experience a prestigious championship-style dressage competition in a friendly atmosphere. Venues are hand-picked to host the Area Festivals so expect flowers, flags and podiums! What’s not to love?!

Classes start at Prelim and you need to achieve three scores of at least 62% at affiliated shows to qualify for the Area Festivals. Do well there and you’ll be able to enter the Area Festival Finals, from which the top competitors go on to the Area Festival Championships at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire in April 2020, where you’ll be sharing stabling and warm-up space with the likes of Carl and Charlotte.

For more details on getting involved in the Petplan Equine Area Festivals, go to petplanequine.co.uk/area-festivals

BD Rule 5 – Class Tickets

Class tickets enable those without a paid BD membership and/or horse registration to compete in an affiliated BD class in any section Bronze, Silver or Gold. Both the rider and horse must hold associate BD registration, which is free of charge, and be eligible for the class concerned. Each ticket enables them to enter one affiliated class.

Holders of class tickets must also pay the entry fees and are subject to the rules contained in the BD Members Handbook. Class tickets may be used at any level (except music classes) provided the rider is eligible to compete in the class entered. Class tickets may not be used to compete in music classes as BD membership is required for PPL licensing.

Those riding on a class ticket are eligible to win prize money, rosettes and grading points but are not eligible to qualify for any championships or Area Festivals.

If a rider wishes to start their Area Festival qualification, they will need to become a BD member (category dependent on the level/section), further class tickets cannot be purchased for this purpose. Full details on how to join as an associate rider and horse plus how to make your entry will be sent with your ticket.

Terms & conditions

• Horse&Rider readers will be entitled to one complimentary class ticket from British Dressage. Multiple applications will not be processed.
• To compete on a class ticket both the rider and horse need to have a minimum of BD Associate registration.
• Combinations on a class ticket will be able to win prize money and rosettes and will be able to earn grading points but are not eligible to qualify for any championships or Area Festivals.
• Class tickets may be used to enter at any level (except music classes) provided the rider is eligible to compete in the class entered.
• Applications for a class ticket must be received by Sunday 30 June.

To claim your ticket, visit britishdressage.co.uk/enquiries/hrtickets