Get started with freestyle

Freestyle, can open up a whole new world of opportunity for you and your horse! Not sure where to begin? Petplan have teamed up with some Freestyle experts to best advise on how to tackle your first dressage to music competition and where to start

If you and your horse are looking for a new challenge, why not try dressage to music? Making freestyle tests is great fun and can be done easily at home, or with the help of a professional rider or musician. Take a look at our guides to help you get started in freestyle dressage.

Freestyle guide

Affiliated dressage to music competitions start from Prelim level. Making freestyle tests is great fun and can be done easily at home, or with the help of a professional rider or musician. Here's our guide to understanding freestyle dressage, let's bust some dancing dressage jargon!

DOWNLOAD GUIDE

Floorplan guide

Use our template to draw your ideas before putting them to the test, print out as many templates as you need!

DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE

Freestyle test sheet

Our shop has all of the freestyle of music test sheets, which explain the technical and artistic marks, as well as the non-compulsory and prohibited movements for each level. 

BUY TEST SHEETS

How to qualify

Area Festival qualification follows a percentage based method, to achieve your required number of scores within the designated qualification periods for the summer season. Scores can be gained at regular BD shows at your local venues. Check out the link below to choose your level and find out how many scores you need to take part.

QUALIFICATION RULES

Top Tips

Petplan have teamed up with some industry professionals to help give you top tips about choosing your music and impressing the judges in your freestyle.

JUDGES TOP TIPS

DE-MYSTIFYING THE MUSIC

Freestyle tests

Alice explains the different movements required at Prelim & Novice level and how to create an inventive floorplan, while Gaynor reveals how she makes her music choices with the intention of highlighting each horse’s strengths and improving the look of the weaker paces.

Macro alias: Video
Macro alias: Video

Area Festivals - Freestyle Championship Winners

We understand that getting started is sometimes the hardest step! We hope that sharing some of our previous winners experiences with you, will encourage you and your horse to give it a try.

Astrid Holcke
This was a dream come true to qualify for the Petplan Equine Area Festival Summer Championships, especially at such a prestigious venue.
Astrid Holcke Winner of Prelim Bronze class
Julia Tharratt
Never thought I would ever get to the finals never mind win, this was my biggest ambition. I would highly recommend everyone to try dressage to music as it adds another dimension to your competing and is fun to prepare and do.
Julia Tharratt Winner of Novice Bronze class
Sarah Moor
My husband and I are living and riding our dream. If you don't go down the centre line and salute you won't achieve your goal - Such a fantastic venue for this event at Arena UK and will hopefully try and qualify at Novice level this year, I would love to repeat this.
Sarah Moor Winner of Prelim Silver class