U-25s / BYRDS

In 1989, businessman Egon von Greyerz went to support his daughter at the European Young Rider Dressage Championships. There, he met up with his daughter’s trainer Dane Rawlins. They noticed how much other countries were enjoying working and socialising as a team. The British riders, on the other hand, were meeting for the first time and the trainers and parents barely knew each other.

Egon and Dane decided this had to change, so they set up the British Young Rider Dressage Scheme, known as BYRDS. Today, if you are aged between 8 and 25, you can have quality, affordable training and meet other likeminded riders, parents and trainers at the same time. An important part of BYRDS is for everyone to get to know each other, so you can support and learn from each other as well as having fun with your new friends during the clinics and on the show circuit.

If you have ambition and talent, BYRDS can help you make it to the top. You can apply for our Young Professionals Award and our regional development officers (RDOs) are always on the lookout for riders with potential during BYRDS regional training sessions to put forward for BYRDS national training viewing days. The next step up is getting on to a squad and our ultimate goal is to see you riding for your country.

BYRDS became an integral part of BD in 2004 and separate BYRDS membership is no longer required.

TASS

If you would like help to make it to the top, you might like to apply for the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). It is for anyone aged 15-25 who is a student of some kind. Click here for more details, inclduing the 2008/9 application form. There is also more info on the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) website.

To view the BEF Child Protection Policy document, click here. This can also be found on www.bef.co.uk under Legal & Ethical.

SPORTS AID

SportsAid nominations are now open in an effort to financially support talented young sports individuals and help them achieve sporting success. Riders will be nominated by their NGBs and cannot apply directly. The criteria as set by SportsAid and the NGB’s states that nominees must:

1. Be a member of the GB/England team or squad member
2. Live and train in England
3. Be between 12 and 18 years old (up to 25 for Para Dressage)
4. Not be in receipt of any other funding such as a TASS or Lottery Award
5. Not earn over £8,000
6. Meet the minimum competitive criteria as follows:

(For Dressage) Pony Training Squad (FEI Level) - achieving 68% at Medium or Pony FEI. Junior Training Squad (FEI Level) - achieving 68% at Advanced Medium or above.

To view the full SportsAid Framework for the British Equestrian Federation click here