Petplan Equine Area Festivals
The Petplan Equine Area Festivals are the perfect target for BD riders looking to have a taste of the big time at a championship-feel event!
The series, which was launched in 2000 and is aimed at grassroots riders, has grown from 15 Area Festivals around the country with 555 tests completed in its’ first year to over 6,300 dressage tests ridden in the 2018/19 series.
Split into two seasons, summer and winter, the Petplan Equine Area Festivals offer a year round competition pathway with riders qualifying and competing in the Area Festivals, before going on to the Area Festival Championships taking place in April and October each year.
Petplan Equine Area Festivals Hub
Whether you're a seasoned Petplan Equine Area Festivals competitor, or you're considering trying the Area Festivals for the first time, our Petplan Equine Area Festivals Hub has everything you need to help you along your journey.
Key facts
| Winter 2022 | Summer 2022 | |
| Qualification period | 1 July - 31 December 2021 | 1 January - 30 June 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Levels | Prelim to Inter I | Prelim to Inter I (including Freestyle to Music) |
| Sections | Bronze and Silver | Bronze and Silver |
| Area Festivals | Mid January - mid February | July - end of August |
| Championships | Held at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships | Arena UK in October |
| Dressage tests | Prelim 19, Novice 23, Elementary 53, Medium 73, Advanced Medium 91, FEI PSG 2009 and FEI Inter I 2009 | Prelim 19, Novice 23, Elementary 53, Medium 73, Advanced Medium 91, FEI PSG 2009 and FEI Inter I 2009, current freestyle tests. |
Qualification
Area Festival qualification follows the same points based method as other major BD championships, including the summer and winter regionals. Achieve your required number of points within the designated qualification periods detailed below. Points can be gained at regular BD shows at your local venues. Take a look at the table below to choose your level and find out how many points you need to take part.
How points are scored
| Percentage scored | Points awarded |
| 60.00 - 61.99% | 1 |
| 62.00 - 63.99% | 2 |
| 64.00 - 65.99% | 3 |
| 66.00 - 67.99% | 4 |
| 68.00 - 69.99% | 5 |
| 70.00 - 71.99% | 6 |
| 72.00 - 73.99% | 7 |
| 74.00 - 75.99% | 8 |
| 76.00 - 77.99% | 9 |
| 78.00 - 79.99% | 10 |
| 80.00% and above | 11 |
Qualifying Points Required
| Level | Points | Offshore Points |
| Prelim, Novice, Elementary Bronze | 7 | 4 |
| Prelim, Novice, Elementary Silver | 9 | 5 |
| Medium and Advanced Medium Bronze | 4 | 2 |
| Medium and Advanced Medium Silver | 6 | 3 |
| PSG and Inter I Bronze | 2 | 1 |
| PSG and Inter I Silver | 4 | 2 |
Winter 2022 Area Festivals
Get ready for the 2022 Petplan Equine Winter Area Festivals:
| Venue | County | Date |
| Keysoe | Bedfordshire | 13 – 15 January |
| Vale View Equestrian | Leicestershire | 20 – 23 January |
| Parwood Equestrian Centre | Surrey | 27 – 30 January |
| Solihull Equestrian Centre | West Midlands | 27 – 31 January |
| Aintree International Equestrian Centre | Merseyside | 03 – 06 February |
| Prestige Equestrian LLP | Gloucestershire | 03 – 06 February |
| Northallerton Equestrian Centre | North Yorkshire | 11 – 13 February |
| Morris Equestrian Centre | East Ayrshire | 12 – 14 February |
| Beacons Equestrian | Carmarthenshire | 19 – 21 February |
| Kingston Maurward College | Dorset | 21 – 24 February |
Combinations who place in the top two (unless a class is split and then the winners only qualify) will earn a coveted spot (providing the minimum score of 63% is achieved) at the Petplan Equine Area Festival Winter Championships at Hartpury, Gloucestershire.
Need to know:
- One score (60%+) for each level/section must be gained from a qualifying test (refer to British Dressage tests in use).
- No points can be split from an individual score or carried forward to a further qualification.
- Combinations can ride in as many Area Festivals they qualify for unless they achieve qualification for the Championships.
- Combinations already qualified for the Winter Area Festivals Championships may not compete in further Area Festivals in the same season.
- From the Area Festivals, combinations will need to finish in the top two of their class to qualify for the Area Festival Championships (minimum percentage to be obtained). Any unfilled places will be awarded by the wild card system.
- The Winter Area Festival qualification period runs from 1 July - 31 December 2021 with Area Festivals taking place in January and February 2022.
Membership
You can ride in Prelim Bronze sections to get your scores for an Area Festival as a Club member on a Club horse. If you do qualify for a Petplan Equine Area Festival, you and your horse will need to become a Full member to take part. Don't forget, if you own a horse taking part in the Petplan Equine Area Festivals, you'll need to be a Full or Premier Club member too.
For Prelim Silver and Novice level and above both you and your horse need to be a Full member and have a Full horse registration to gain your scores.
Area Festival Rules
Take a look at the complete Area Festival, especially rule 176, in our Members' Handbook:
