Petplan Equine
Sponsored Rider - Lili

What is affiliated and unaffiliated?

British Dressage (BD) is the national governing body of dressage which offers training, affiliated dressage competitions, information and social opportunities for all. You can find out lots more on their website (www.britishdressage.co.uk). It also gives you access to listed (trained) judges and the chance to qualify for many special events.

Unaffiliated is anything that is not BD; local level, Riding Club, Pony Club etc. Usually the entry fees are less expensive but you don’t always get a listed judge. I still take my baby or green horses to unaffiliated dressage competitions before I register them for BD. I am really lucky that I have really good unaffiliated shows locally that are friendly venues and people, have a great atmosphere and good judges. It is worth dipping your toe into the water before taking the BD plunge!

Another great way of experiencing affiliated competitions without becoming a full BD member, is by using a class ticket which you can purchase on the BD website or Petplan Equine are giving away 200 here petplanequine.co.uk/classticket.

Dressage classes

Each level of competition is divided into three sections; Bronze, Silver and Gold and which section a rider may enter, is determined by the horse and rider’s experience and points won at each level. Bronze is for horse and riders that have recently started competing at that level. Silver is for riders that have shown they are no longer a beginner at that level. Gold is for riders who have gained experience at higher levels and are riding a horse with less experience or for combinations that have shown they are competent at that level.

The levels you can compete at are as follows:

• Introductory
• Preliminary
• Novice
• Elementary
• Medium
• Advanced Medium
• Advanced
• Pre St George
• Intermediate I
• Intermediate II
• Grand Prix

Area Festivals Experience

Can any horse do dressage?

Yes of course! I think you have to know your horse, know his limits and what he enjoys. I train a lot of very different horses, and they all have strengths and weaknesses. For example, Paddy my Connemara cannot do a medium trot, not even in the field. If I were to chase this, I think he would end up breaking (obviously not something I would ever want to do). I teach so many ex racers, Irish, warmbloods, crossbreeds, Iberian, ponies - and they can all be trained. But I really think it is important to know what you and your horse’s limit are, listen to your horse and keep everything fun for them.

What horses do you compete in dressage with?

I have owned and competed a range of breeds in dressage which shows that any horse can get involved in dressage. I have a 14.3hh Connie, who if you look him up on British Dressage had done two novices when I bought him. Over the years we have bumbled through together and finally we rode two unaffiliated PSG level tests and BD Advanced. As a little native, he is not the best or biggest mover, but he is so trainable, so fun and we learned flying changes together.

I had a beautiful KWPN called Kiki, who I bought as a four year old and trained him to advance medium before sadly losing him through injury. He taught me that warmbloods can have bold movements, in more ways than one, earning the title “Spaceship”. Fons is a Dutch warmblood I have had for three years, he is now six. He has been very challenging as he is a real professional’s ride. We spent most of our earlier years spooking and being very sharp. Recently he has proved he is worth the wait and craziness, I really hope he will be my first GP horse. Finally, Zu is an Irish Draught who is a chunky boy with beautiful movement but a bit like a sewing machine. He is competing with success at novice and recently moving up to elementary.

What should you wear for dressage?

Rider

Although you are not marked on your appearance for dressage like you are showing, I think it is important and respectful to the judge to be smart. I wear a show jacket with white breeches; you can wear tweed or beige breeches. The jacket must be in a conservative colour in muted tones. I think this helps me to feel smarter when I am at a show, plus I like to look smart in photos! I wear long boots but you can wear short boots with gaiters too. The rider must always be wearing gloves and a whip is allowed. Local shows are usually more relaxed about turn out and attire.

Horse

My horses are always bathed, clean, plaited (this isn’t required and you don’t have to if you have a long mane), I always clean my tack too. At an affiliated competition, boots and bandages are permitted while warming up your horse but not for the test. For Introductory, preliminary and novice, an ordinary snaffle is permitted. For Elementary to Grand Prix classes that are ridden under National rules, an ordinary snaffle or double bridle is permitted. You can read full details of competitor dress and saddlery in the rule book which is available on the BD website.

Where would I look for a dressage trainer?

As a trainer myself, I am very active on social media and I find that I gain a lot of people through word of mouth too. I think it is very important to have an insured trainer; I am therefore on the BHS register of instructors, which is a good place to start. Insurance is very important in case of accidents etc, which sadly do happen. Don’t worry if you don’t “get on” with every trainer, it is so personal- you have to kiss a few frogs before you find a prince.