Youth Academies
Kick start your career in dressage, build your skills and boost your performance!
BD Youth Academies
BD Youth Academies are open to B-A squad riders who are active in their region. Selected riders will receive coaching and performance development sessions, both mounted and unmounted, over two 2-day camps running through Autumn/Winter. The aim of the Academies is to develop all-round equestrian athletes and camps will include sessions such as:
- Performance profiling
- Nutrition
- Rider strength and conditioning
- Lecture demonstrations with industry professionals
- Inspirational talks
- Ridden coaching and test riding
I have loved being part of the Foundation and National Academies and am forever grateful for the support I have received from them. The training and additional support I had access to while being part of the National Academy helped to develop me as a rider to enable me to go on to compete in the junior and young rider medal winning teams. The programme showed me how to plan my competition schedule and also highlighted other areas that I needed to focus on, like strength and conditioning. Without the Academies I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Foundation
B, B+ and A Squad riders who've attended squad assessments between 1 December and Inter-Regional cut-off date and are achieving minimum scores of 66% at Elementary (or equivalent performance at age-appropriate levels on young horses aged 7 or under) may be eligible to apply for the Foundation Academy programme. Foundation Academy athletes are automatically eligible for selection onto the National Academy for the following year.
Applicants must be able to commit to attending both camps at their allocated venue. Academies are run nationally, although the camp locations will continue to change annually for accessibility.
Criteria for 2025 Foundation Academies can be found below, along with the application form. Applications will open on 1 May and close on 1 August 2025.
If you have any questions about BD Youth Academies contact Hannah James.
National
Each year 12 athletes are selected to progress from Foundation Academies to National Academies! Riders are selected depending on their dedication to the process, improvement shown, knowledge and ability.
National Academy riders gain access to further training camps with in-depth coaching and athlete development from top industry professionals, along with various mounted and unmounted training opportunities. Fully-funded by Sport England, the BD Youth National Academy provides riders with many more opportunities, benefits and continued support throughout the year to boost progression as a young athlete.
