How to compete internationally

The selectors David Trott, Judy Harvey and Nick Burton decide who goes to which international competitions. As they monitor the results of premier league shows (click Competitions for venues and dates), this is where you need to compete. To be considered, you need to score 67% or more regularly at premier league shows. Please click here to view the 2008 senior selection policy.

All international dressage competitions are run under FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) rules. All riders and horses competing at an international show need to be registered with the FEI, which costs £15 per horse/rider annually. As soon as you have been selected for an international competition, contact British Dressage (BD) international officer Lianne Harris for registration forms.

You also need a FEI passport for your horse, which costs £199 for four years, for events at CDI 3* level and above. This is recommended even for British CDI 2* events. Please contact BD membership officer Debbie Collins (tel: 024 76 698836) at least six weeks before you are due to go abroad.

When starting out on the international competition scene, it is a good idea to begin either on home turf or at a foreign competition such as the Spanish Sunshine Tour, as these organisers allow you to ride in the small tour without having a big tour horse. If you would like to compete in the Spanish Sunshine Tour, please contact Lianne Harris by the end of November as there is an early deadline for entries due to the Christmas break.

Please get in touch with Lianne Harris at least 12 weeks before an international competition date and bear in mind that you always need permission from your national federation to compete abroad, even if you have a private invitation from a show organiser.

If you would like to take part in the World Breeding Championships, please also contact  Lianne Harris.

Riders living abroad

If you are a British rider living abroad and wish to compete in national competitions in your country of residence, you need to apply for permission from BD. You will need to do this in writing to Lianne Harris. You will receive a signed and stamped paper, which you need to take with you to shows. There is no charge for this.

If you are living abroad, would like to compete in international competitions and have not been seen by any of the selectors, you need to send a letter with a list of your results as well as a video of you and your horse to British Dressage international officer Lianne Harris, British Dressage, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RJ (tel: 024 76 698835).