British Dressage

[piglet2001]

Hi

So I am thinking of joining British Dressage with the old boy who needs to step down a level, but am so confused!

I like to have an aim and enjoy the bigger shows but ...

Please can someone explain the difference between Petplan classes, areas, regionals etc. If you are lucky enough to qualify for one at prelim etc are you eligible for the others? Scores needed? Gold, silver, bronze?

Thanks in advance!

 

[milliepops]

Ha, where to begin!

There are some flowcharts on the website that give you a bit of guidance, and also a "Championship choices" booklet that helps to explain the various options
https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/uploads/File/WORD DOCS /Championship Choices 2019.pdf

Pour yourself a glass of wine before starting on that!

In a nutshell, most people very new to the sport would probably choose to compete in Bronze, at your chosen level (prelim?)
The idea of bronze/silver/gold sections is that it's supposed to mean you are competing against your peers, in terms of competition experience.
However, the section you choose also determines the championships you can aim for, and you can decide to pick a different section if you choose to. Silver is the most versatile, as you can earn qualifications for area festivals, regionals and also any of the associated championships (natives, ROR, veterans etc) if you have an eligible horse.
In Bronze you can only aim for area festivals (& assoc champs), and in gold you can only aim for regionals.

Area festivals ("Petplans") are often thought of as the amateur championships (though often professionals do compete in them). There are 3 rounds to these competitions at most levels - first rounds are taking place now, second rounds in the autumn and then the championships at Hartpury next Spring.

Regionals are slightly higher in standard usually and are a 2 round championship - soon the summer regionals will be starting with the top combinations qualifying for the national champs at Stoneleigh in September. We are now in the winter qualifying period so people can start earning qualifications towards winter regionals now - they take place after xmas to early spring, and lead to the Winter Champs at Hartpury in April.

Hope that makes a bit of sense!!

Scores needed to qualify for each level vary according to the level and section. Generally, qualifications are harder to achieve for regionals than area festivals. The rule book does explain this but if you decide what you want to aim for and aren't sure, post back and someone will guide you through it.

There are some other championships that you can aim at where qualifications are achieved via a leaderboard, such as Bronze (every level up to AM) and music, Music champs have passed the cut off date for this year, might be the same for Bronze champs.