The following is in response to Pammy Hutton’s Comment in Horse & Hound, 28 December 2007.

 

Trailblazers, British Riding Clubs, The Pony Club and the Riding for the Disabled Association are all buzzing about our sport and membership stands at a record high of more than 13,000.

 

We are delighted that dressage is enjoying such popularity and are in regular contact with all these organisations that do such great work in raising enthusiasm at the first levels of competition.

 

Trailblazers has developed a successful unaffiliated competition series around our test structure. We have always actively supported them by having a presence at their championships and giving prizes in the form of class tickets. We encourage Trailblazers and all unaffiliated dressage series in Britain to use the official tests, judges and rules that we have developed. This helps to promote higher standards and is part of the infrastructure that British Dressage (BD), as a governing body, has laid down to foster dressage in this country.

 

We work closely with British Riding Clubs (BRC), which has proven to be of enormous benefit to both parties. They are as committed as we are to improving standards and are directly involved in training riders and coaches in all spheres of equestrianism. Our work with BRC has been instrumental in developing how we support our grass-roots riders.

 

We recognise that more than 70% of riders compete at elementary level or below and there is a need for unaffiliated competition series, walk and trot tests and access to good basic training. It is our role to identify, provide and support these needs. BD is far more than just a ticket to compete in affiliated competitions and is working at all levels to implement strategic initiatives, not just for our members but also for equestrianism nationwide.

 

There is no doubt that grass-roots riders are central to the success and development of dressage. BD introduced the PetPlan Area Festivals, which is a competition series targeted at the recreational rider. It has been highly successful in making qualification for a major championship more accessible. Similarly, the introduction of open and restricted sections has improved the opportunities for riders across the board.

 

The rapid growth of interest in dressage is reflected in our membership figures, which have doubled during our 10-year history. With this in mind, BD has recently set about producing a strategic plan to identify our goals and help us realise these ambitions. A large part of these goals focus on the entry levels of the sport, sustaining membership and encouraging greater participation in the sport. The costs and responsibilities of this continuing improvement falls to us as the national governing body. We are an efficient organisation, depending heavily on the large number of volunteers who give their time so generously. This is one of the reasons our membership fees are about half those of other Olympic equestrian disciplines.

 

Dressage is a fantastic sport and more and more people are finding there is great pleasure to be had in the correct training of the horse. We will continue to work tirelessly both to promote the sport and with all others who share our aims. We are keen to share this vision and the strategic plan will be available online shortly.

 

In the meantime, if you would like to let us know your views on any of the issues raised above and discuss them with fellow dressage enthusiasts, please visit our forums at http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/forum. If you would like to make any suggestions about ways to encourage entry level dressage, please feel free to contact us on office@britishdressage.co.uk