British under 21 championship

There is something for every rider up to the age of 25, British Dressage (BD) member or not, at the Sheepgate National BYRDS (British Young Rider Dresssage Scheme) Championships. This competition has been held at Sheepgate Equestrian, Leverton, Boston, Lincs, since 2000 and takes place in August each year.

There are national titles on offer from preliminary to advanced medium levels as well as prestigious classes at FEI (Fédération Equestre International) level. All you need to qualify are two score sheets from the current summer competitions with qualifying percentages. This means having scores of 58-65% or more, depending on the level - see British Dressage Rules 2008 or the show schedule for full details. Send these to Karen Ryder at British Dressage, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RJ. Karen will then notify Sheepgate Equestrian of your eligibility.

There is also a team competition with riders invited from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland vying for a place in the Sheepgate Challenge. Most teams are selected through BYRDS regional training. If you would like to be considered, send progress reports and copies of your score sheets at 60% or more to the relevant chief selector for your age group. Their names and contact details are listed below. Check out British Dressage Rules 2008 for full qualification criteria.

There is a lot on offer for unaffiliated riders with unregistered horses or ponies, who can take part in the popular Pony, Junior and Young Rider Sheepgate Dressage Derbies. The derbies involve four riders in each final riding their own and each other’s horses, having qualified from the two qualifying classes the previous day.

You can find more details on the Sheepgate Equestrian website www.sheepgate.co.uk. For all enquiries contact sarah@sheepgate.co.uk. For more information about requirements for the FEI classes, click Britain's Under-21 squads.