Press room

Petplan Equine, the UK’s leading specialist equine insurance provider, and British Dressage are pleased to announce the introduction of a Senior Horse Award at this year’s Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships which take place at Gloucestershire’s Hartpury College from the 9th April to the 13th April alongside the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships.

‘The Petplans’, as the series has become known, are constantly evolving to ensure they remain the country’s foremost competition platform for the amateur dressage rider. At this year’s Championships, in celebration of older horses and in recognition of the important contribution they make to the sport, British Dressage and Petplan are introducing a Senior Horse Award which will be given to the highest placed horse aged 15 and over in both the first round and the finals in each class.

Commenting on this development, British Dressage chief executive, Amanda Bond says: “Increasingly we see horses competing well into their teens and twenties in dressage. Many come from other disciplines as well as those who’ve had high profile dressage careers – it’s often these schoolmasters who give the amateur rider the important feel and confidence that can only come from riding a horse who knows his job. In turn, the new rider gives the horse an active retirement without the pressure of top competition. When Petplan suggested offering an award for Senior horses at the Area Festival Championships we thought it was a great way of celebrating the circuit’s seniors.”

While many horses are treated as ‘veterans’ from the age of 15 or 16 onwards, in recognition that horses now live active lives for much longer than they once did, Petplan Equine uniquely offers full illness as well as injury cover for horses up to the age of 25 providing the horse is insured with the insurer prior to its 20th birthday.

“We’re delighted British Dressage has decided to offer the Senior Horse Award at this year’s Championships as at Petplan Equine we very much believe that our ‘seniors’ have a valuable contribution to make, particularly in the amateur arena. And, there is much evidence that keeping the older horse active and interested keeps him healthier and happier. It’s fantastic to see so many seniors competing in dressage – we are very much looking forward to their performances in the Petplan Area Festival Championships,” explained Charlotte Collyer, Senior Marketing Executive for Petplan Equine.

Now in its 15th year, The Petplan Equine Area Festivals is one of UK equestrian sport’s longest running sponsorships. The series comprises 18 competitions held between August and November giving the amateur dressage rider the opportunity to qualify at some of the UK’s premier equestrian centres prior to competing for Championship honours at the finals the following April. For information about the Petplan Equine Area Festivals visit www.petplanequine.co.uk/events.

Media enquiries: for further information, please contact:

Andrea Worrall at The GPC by email: [email protected] t: (01608) 654040

Tilly Tayler-Levy at The GPC by email: [email protected] t: (01608) 654040

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For more information please contact:

Name	Telephone	Email
Charlotte Collyer	0208 707 8335	[email protected]

Petplan Equine is the UK's leading horse insurance provider offering a wide variety of flexible horse insurance and rider insurance policies which cater for all levels of experience.

Established more than 20 years ago, Petplan Equine is part of Allianz Insurance, one of the largest general insurers in the world.

For more information about a Petplan Equine horse insurance policy, please visit:
petplanequine.co.uk/insurance/quote.asp

Note to editors:

• Petplan Equine offers comprehensive insurance cover for horses and ponies aged from 30 days. Established 26 years ago, Petplan Equine understands the evolving equestrian market and strives to enhance knowledge and understanding of the equine world through employing horse enthusiasts and working closely with the equine industry.
• Petplan Equine is part of the Petplan brand. Founded in 1976, Petplan is the UK's largest pet insurance provider, offering comprehensive cover for dogs, cats, rabbits and horses.