Red Gorilla Combined Training
Two disciplines, one championship! The Red Gorilla® Combined Training series offers a unique opportunity to fine-tune your dressage and showjumping skills.
How to qualify
There are seven classes to choose from, which start at Introductory and go through to Elementary, with the relevant show jumping height attached to each class. To qualify for the Red Gorilla Combined Training Championship, simply place in the top two in any class, at any qualifier. If the top two have already qualified, it will be passed down to the next eligible competitor.
Need to know:
- Introductory classes are eligible to combinations who've not competed at Elementary or above.
- Preliminary and Novice are eligible to combinations who've not competed at Medium or above.
- The Elementary class is eligible to any combination at any level/eligibility no matter of their previous competition record
Tests and showjumping height
| BD test | Showjumping maximum height |
| Intro 1 (2024) | 60cm |
| Prelim 1 (2024) | 70cm |
| Prelim 2 (2024) | 80cm |
| Novice 1 (2024) | 80cm |
| Novice 2 (2024) | 90cm |
| Elementary 1 (2024) | 80cm |
| Elementary 2 (2024) |
90cm |
2025 Qualifier dates and entries
| Venue | Location | Date |
| Solihull Equestrian Centre | West Midlands | 25 January |
| Beacons Equestrian | Carmarthenshire | 22 February |
| Pickering Grange Equestrian | Leicestershire |
22 February |
| Moreton Equestrian Centre | Dorset | 01 March |
| Bury Farm Equestrian Village | Buckinghamshire | 02 March |
| Holmside Hall Equestrian | Durham | 02 March |
| Alnwick Ford Equestrian | Northumberland | 08 March |
| Lime Kiln Farm | Norfolk | 08 March |
| Allens Hill Competition Centre | Worcestershire | 09 March |
| West Wilts Equestrian Centre | Wiltshire | 16 March |
| Golden Cross Equestrian Centre | East Sussex | 16 March |
| Kelsall Hill | Cheshire | 22 March |
| Brook Farm Training Centre | Essex | 22 March |
| Scottish National Equestrian Centre | West Lothian | 22 March |
| Chard Equestrian | Somerset | 22 March |
| Northallerton Equestrian Centre | North Yorkshire | 05 April |
| Ponderosa Equestrian Centre | Newport | 06 April |
| Muirmill Equestrian Centre | East Ayrshire | 13 April |
| Championships | ||
| Weston Lawns Equestrian Centre | Warwickshire | 09 - 11 May |
Need to know:
- The same horse and rider must compete in both phases, a horse/pony may not compete in more than two classes on the same day.
- The dressage phase is run under British Dressage rules, as well as competitor dress and tack and equipment. No whips are allowed in the dressage phase at the championships.
- The show jumping phase is run under British Showjumping Club rules, is timed accordingly as well as competitor dress and tack and equipment. Whips are permitted in this phase at the championships.
- The course will consist of eight to twelve fences.
- Any faults that occur will be deducted from the marks awarded in the dressage phase. The winner is the combination with the highest score.
Want to find out more? Check out our member's handbook for all of the rules.
How to get started
In issue 8 of the BD magazine, read our fascinating feature on how to get started in Combined Training with multi-discipline superstar Louise Bell. It's full of great tips on how to introduce your horse to poles and fences, what to get right and how to deal with common issues in the early stages. We've also got some handy videos on our YouTube channel showing how to accurately measure your distances when practicing at home, watch them below!
Membership
Combinations may hold a minimum of an BD Community Membership and Horse Registration and compete on a Class Ticket. Please note that for the Championships, all horses and riders must upgrade to a minimum of a Club Membership and Club Horse Registration.
