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 over 6,900 starters during the 2021 season – the biggest British Dressage affiliated series in the UK. This season also marks the 23rd year of Petplan Equine’s partnership with British Dressage in bringing you the Petplan Equine Area Festivals.
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 2023 | Summer 2022 | |
| Qualification period | 1 July - 31 December 2022 | 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 | NAF Five Star Winter Championships, TBC | Arena UK in 6-9 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. |
Summer Area Festival Qualification
Area Festival qualification follows a percentage based method, to achieve your required number of scores within the designated qualification periods detailed below. Scores 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 scores you need to take part. For multiple Area Festival qualifications a combination requires a further set of three or two scores depending on the level.
Area Festival scores
| Level | Qualification |
| Prelim to Advanced Medium | Three scores at 60% or above (scores to be from one section) |
| Prix St Georges and Inter I | Two scores at 60% or above (scores to be from one section) |
Freestyle scores
| Level | Qualification |
| Prelim to Advanced Medium | Two scores at 63% or above (scores to be from one section |
| Prix St George and Inter I | Two scores at 60% or above (scores to be from one section) |
Combinations who place in the top two (unless a class is split and then only the winners qualify) will earn a coveted spot (providing the minimum score of 63% is achieved) at the Petplan Equine Area Festival Summer Championships at Arena UK 6 - 9 October.
Need to know:
- Combinations can ride in as many Area Festivals they qualify for unless they achieve qualification for the Championships.
- A combination may not compete at the same level (including music) in both an Area Festival and Regional in the same season. The Area Festival level must be higher than the Regional if competing in both in the same season.
- Combinations already qualified for the Summer 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 Summer Area Festival qualification period runs from 1 January - 30 June 2022 with Area Festivals taking place in July and August 2022.
Summer Area Festivals
| Venue | Location | Date |
| Wellington Riding incl. Music | Hampshire | 19 – 21 July |
| Myerscough College | Lancashire | 21 – 24 July |
| Beacons Equestrian | Carmarthenshire | 23 – 25 July |
| Brook Farm Equestrian Club | Essex | 29 – 31 July |
| Kingswood Equestrian Centre | Staffordshire | 29 – 31 July |
| Rockrose Equestrian Centre incl. Music | East Lothian | 08 - 10 July |
| Speedgate Events incl. Music | Kent | 05 – 08 August |
| Alnwick Ford Equestrian incl. Music | Northumberland | 05 – 07 August |
| Sheepgate Equestrian incl. Music | Lincolnshire | 09 – 12 August |
| Kings Equestrian incl. Music | Herefordshire | 10 – 14 August |
| Bicton Arena | Devon | 12 – 14 August |
| Field House Equestrian Centre incl. Music | Staffordshire | 13 – 16 August |
| Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre | Warwickshire | 19 – 21 August |
| Fenning Farm | Cambridgeshire | 19 - 21 August |
| Moreton Equestrian Centre incl. Music | Dorset | 20 – 21 August |
| Port Royal incl. Music | North Yorkshire | 25 – 28 August |
| Sparsholt College | Hampshire | 26 – 28 August |
Qualifying for the Summer Championships 2022
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 Summer Area Festival Championship at Arena UK, Lincolnshire in 6 - 9 October.
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 (competing) or Full (non-competing) member too.
For Prelim Silver and Novice level and above both you and your horse need to be a Full (competing) 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:
