Under 25 training opportunities
Regional Training
BYRDS Regional Training is open to ALL riders of 25 years and under. BYRDS Regional Training Days are aimed at giving riders a thorough basic training, in order to enable them and their ponies/ horses to develop their skills and progress as far as they wish.
Training sessions / Camps
Each region will run at least one session during the school holidays, one of which will be a two-day camp. Camps will include training sessions, test riding, unmounted workshops as well as social activities so that riders and their parents get to know each other.
Riders do not have to join British Dressage for their first few sessions but will be encouraged to join British Dressage as a non competing member thereafter. Riders who wish to compete in affiliated dressage must be full members and also register their pony/horse.
BYRDS High Performance Camps
British Dressage are pleased to release details of their new initiative designed to help top A and B Squad riders develop further.
Individualised training and development programmes will be offered to riders attending “High Performance Camps” in the North and South of the country in the early part of 2012.
The camps are designed to “sit” between Regional Training, the BEF Excel Talent Programme and Squad Training and will provide a platform for development.
The High Performance Camps will be held on the following dates and venues. The cost of each camp will be £180 to include one nights stabling. Both venues have the benefit of on-site cafes for refreshments throughout each weekend.
North
21 / 22 January 2012 Willerby Hill Competition Yard, Willerby, N Yorks
25 / 26 February 2012 Willerby Hill Competition Yard, Willerby, N Yorks
17 / 18 March 2012 Willerby Hill Competition Yard, Willerby, N Yorks
South
28 / 29 January 2012 The College Eq Centre, Keysoe, Beds
11 / 12 February 2012 The College Eq Centre, Keysoe, Beds
10 / 11 March 2012 The College Eq Centre, Keysoe, Beds
Find out more and apply here
Fledglings
This is an opportunity to start training at an early age, from 6 to 11 years. Instruction is usually in small groups with instructors dedicated to give a correct foundation to riding that will enable a young rider to progress in any chosen sphere.
Fledglings sessions are included and run alongside BYRDS Regional Training. There is no compulsion to move onto BYRDS but many children do take this route. The training offered is complementary to that delivered by The Pony Club and simply offers more personal attention and year round training.
Dates and venues of BYRDS and Fledgling activities will be listed in the British Dressage magazine on the Regional Training pages and on the regional pages of the British Dressage website.
Regional Squads
Squads will be developed within the Regions and an Inter Regional Team competition will be held each year. Combinations who show particular talent will be encouraged by their Regional Development Officer or BYRDS Regional Representative to apply for National Training.
Regional Teams
Regions also select teams for Friendly Internationals in Ireland, the Home International and the BYRDS U25 Championships at Sheepgate.
Riders who are selected/invited to compete on BYRDS Regional teams must be full competing members of British Dressage and ponies/horses must be registered unless they are competing at Preliminary level and competing at either the BYRDS Inter-Regional Squad competition, BYRDS Home International or BYRDS U25’s Championship at Sheepgate. For all other competitions such as the Friendly Internationals at Marlton and Cavan; the Irish competitions, riders must be full competing members and ponies/horses must be registered.
Regional Selection Policy
BEF EXCEL TALENT PROGRAMME
The Excel Talent Programme aims to produce a pool of up and coming talented riders across the England Regions who are not currently on the BEF's World Class Programme.
The Excel Talent Programme has been set up through funding from Sport England and is being co-ordinated by the BEF, in partnership with the three Olympic and one Paralympic disciplines of eventing, dressage, showjumping and para-equestrian dressage.
The Programme, will provide selected riders with the opportunity to have access to top equestrian specialists including: coaches, physiotherapists, psychologists, vets and nutritionists via a series of rider performance camps.
The programme runs on a 2 year cycle and details of the 2011-2013 applications are below:
Selection Timetable
For selection criteria for all disciplines please click here. Application Forms will only be available to download from this website on the Application opening date.
Application opening date : 1st August 2011
Application closing date : 31st August 2011
Please note applications will not be accepted or considered for selection before 1 August 2011 or after 31 August 2011.
Important: Rider Age Groups:
A rider’s age will be based on F.E.I. ruling which is the age the rider becomes in a given year. The calendar age is taken from the beginning of a calendar year that a rider’s age is reached until the end of a calendar year that a rider’s age is reached.
For example; a rider who is 15 years may apply for the 16 – 18 year old category if they have their 16th birthday in 2011. A rider who is 18 years old and has their 19th Birthday in 2011 should apply for the 19 – 21 year old age group. This ruling then applies to all age groups.
BEF Excel Talent Programme Contact:
Becky Phillips
Email: Becky.Phillips@bef.co.uk
Telephone: 02476 698812
