Go affiliated
For riders enjoying unaffiliated competition with riding clubs, the Pony Club, or with local riding centres, the move to affiliated is an easy transition with many rewards!
Breaking down the myths...
'Can I trial competing in affiliated competitions?'
If you're looking to take your first step into affiliated competitions, our Club Membership offers a fun and accessible way of trying our grass roots competitions, such as Saracen Horse Feeds Quest and the Associated Championships. Club Membership will cost you just £35 per year for your membership, and £15 for your horse registration.
If you're already competing above Prelim Bronze then we also offer a Trial Membership for anyone who has not been a British Dressage member before but wants to try the benefits of a Full Membership, such as being able to compete above Prelim Bronze.
'The tests are going to be too tricky for me'
British Dressage tests are regularly used at unaffiliated competitions so you don’t have to worry about being out of your depth with tricky tests! You can also choose your test depending on your level, the lower the number the easier the test. So if you’re just starting out at Prelim level, try Prelim 1 before making your way up the numbers towards the more detailed tests for each level.
Order our test from our online shop, or there is the Dressage TestPro app - an interactive way of learning the tests!
'Which level and section should I start competing at?'
There are several levels which make up our competitions; starting from Intro, the first level where the test is in walk and trot and Prelim, which is the first level where canter is introduced. The levels include; Intro, Prelim, Novice, Elementary, Medium, Advanced Medium, Advanced, Prix St George, Intermediate I, Intermediate II and Grand Prix. Each level is made up of a number of tests that you can work through, each test is unique with tests within the same level sharing the same movements. To view the tests for each level, visit our online shop, or download the Dressage TestPro app.
Each level of competition e.g. Preliminary or Novice is divided in to three sections Gold, Silver and Bronze. The section into which a member may enter is determined by the horses and rider’s experience and points won at each level of competition. Each level will run as one class with all riders being judged by the same judge. At the end of the class, for results and qualification purposes, the class will be divided in to the different sections.
- Bronze sections are for less experienced horses and riders who have just started competing at a given level so that they can compete against those with a similar ability.
- Silver sections are designed for those combinations that have achieved more ability at a level and have demonstrated that they are no longer a beginner at that level.
- Gold sections are for riders who have gained experience at higher levels and are riding a horse with less experience, or for combinations who have demonstrated that they are competent at a level. There is no obligation for a combination to move out of the Gold section at any given level should they not wish to compete at the levels above.
There's more info on the page below.
'Is there a minimum and maximum age of rider and/or horse to compete?'
Riders may be of any age to compete with British Dressage - we welcome all ages. It's the member's responsibility to ensure they are fit to compete. Horses must be four years or older to compete with the following exceptions: for PSG and above classes the minimum age is seven and for Grand Prix, horses must be at least eight. The horse's age is taken from 01 January in the year of birth.
'My horse isn’t a fancy warmblood, I’ll be out of my depth!'
Our judges are trained in line with the scales of training, so you’ll be marked depending on how correct your performance is against these dressage fundamentals. Dressage isn’t about comparison, it’s about the individual performance so try not to think about the people you’re competing against and instead try and focus on achieving your personal goals and enjoying the experience! We also offer loads of opportunity for different breeds and types to excel against their own, including the brilliant Associated Championships.
'Only professional riders qualify for championships'
Our competition structure has a championship pathway for riders from dressage first-timers all the way through to senior international stars. If you’re just starting out, the Saracen Horse Feeds Quest Championships are a fun introduction to dressage with relaxed rules, or the Petplan Equine Area Festivals offer exciting championship finals for bronze and silver riders. The Bronze, Silver, Gold structure will define your level and direct you towards the right championship for you. Professional riders compete against one another in the Gold category, so you don’t need to worry about trying to beat Charlotte Dujardin to a qualification ticket!
Hear from someone new to British Dressage
We spoke to Lauren, who has recently joined British Dressage, to ask all about her experience and top tips about giving it a go.
