Talent spotting competition

Are you aged between 11 and 25 and interested in dressage? Do you want to have a great time, learn lots and make loads of new friends? Then you should take part in our Talent Spotting scheme.

You could win training with a dressage trainer of your choice and mentoring from one of Britain's top riders for a year. You don’t need British Dressage (BD) membership or a fancy dressage horse - shaggy Shetlands are welcome.

You will be asked to ride a dressage test at an assessment day. The assessors will be looking at your riding skills and you will probably swap ponies/horses with other riders. After the test, the assessors will have a chat to find out what you thought about the horse and your riding and they will give you some tips.

The assessments are held at weekends and during school holidays from July onwards. The final takes place in October at the prestigious Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in Buckinghamshire.

Everyone will be put into one of three groups:

• ponies, which is for 11 to 16-year-old riders riding ponies only
• juniors, which is for those who are 13-18 years on horses only
• young riders, which is for riders aged 19-25 years on horses only

Eligibility: open to riders aged between 11-15 years riding ponies/horses five years old and above. Riders on the current World Class Start or Potential programmes or who have won their level in the previous year's Talent Spotting Final or who have ridden at their current level/age group in a European team are not eligible.

For the 2008 dates of the regional assessments and final, click here.  To receive the 2008 Talent Spotting information pack, which includes an application form and copy of the test, send an A5 SAE and 40p in stamps to Jeanette Proctor at British Dressage, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2RJ. Please contact Karen Ryder or Jeanette Proctor for further info. The 2008 entry fee is £30.

Find out who the winners were in 2007 by clicking here.

This scheme is made possible through the support of the British Dressage Supporters Club, The Worshipful Company of Saddlers and Kilbees Stud.