Petplan Area Festivals

At Preliminary Bronze level, riders can qualify for an Area Festival with a Club membership and a Club horse registration. You can use sheets from any Preliminary Bronze class towards qualification.

If you qualify for a championship within the Summer or Winter Area Festivals, you and your horse will need to upgrade to a Full membership with British Dressage in order to take part. Click here to find out more about British Dressage membership types.

For Prelim Silver and Novice level and above both you and your horse need to be fully registered to gain your scores to qualify.

Qualification for the Area Festivals is achieved through a percentage based method. To qualify, you must achieve the required number of scores within the qualification period. Scores can be gained at regular British Dressage shows at your local venues.

From July 1 2023, combinations may only compete in a maximum of two Area Festivals per season for each level and section. For example, if qualification is achieved for Novice Silver and Novice Music, competitors may compete at two Area Festivals for each. However, this does require multiple sets of qualifying scores.

Take a look at the table below to find out what you need to qualify:

Wildcard qualifications may be released to the next highest qualified percentages across all Area Festivals for any Championship classes which has not been filled.

Freestyle, or Dressage To Music, classes are such an exciting way to compete, opening up endless opportunity for you and your horse to show off to the best of your abilities! Many British Dressage venues hold Dressage To Music competitions throughout the year, and we’re delighted that the Summer Area Festivals will continue to host Freestyle classes from Preliminary to Intermediate I, giving riders a taste of competing in these classes at a high-profile show.

Why not give it a go? Find a venue local to you here.

For more information on Freestyle dressage and how to get started click here.