Area Festival riders stories

Competing in Area Festivals is achievable for riders and horses from all backgrounds and experience.

Area Festival Freestyle with Rosie

Part one: The floorplan

Meet Rosie and her pony Jack who are aiming for the Summer Area Festival at Elementary Freestyle. We'll be following their journey in this three-part series on how they created their floorplan, chose their music and then put it all into practice getting their qualifying scores. In part 1 Rosie tells us how they created their floorplan!

 

Part two: The music

Catch up with Rosie and her pony Jack who are aiming for the Summer Area Festival at Elementary Freestyle. We'll be following their journey in this three-part series on how they created their floorplan, chose their music and then put it all into practice getting their qualifying scores. In Part 2 Rosie looks into creating her music to match her floorplan, all while keeping her personal song choices in mind!

 

Part three: The test

Meet Rosie and her pony Jack who are aiming for the Summer Area Festival at Elementary Freestyle. We'll be following their journey in this three-part series on how they created their floorplan, chose their music and then put it all into practice getting their qualifying scores. Part 3 Jack and Rosie head off to get their qualifying scores, hear about their training and the judges comments.

 

Heading to an Area Festival with Megan

Part one: Training 

We caught up with Megan, a first time Area Festival rider who made her way to Beacons Equestrian for her Winter Area Festival! In part one she took us along for the journey with the wonderful Larry on their hacks and training clinics.

 

Part two: The warm up

Part two of Megan's and Larry's journey to their Petplan Winter Area Festival! First time Area Festival rider is making her way to Beacons Equestrian but in this episode they headed to a practice show and competed in Quest to give themselves some experience!

 

Part three: The show

Megan and Larry make their way to their Petplan Winter Area Festival at Beacons Equestrian in part three! They take us along with them to the show - see the venue, watch their test and listen to their advice on anyone wanting to give it a go.

 

A day in the life

We caught up with some riders at Onley Summer Area Festival to see what they love about the Petplan Area Festivals, why they compete in the series and about their journeys so far! See behind the scenes at an Area Festival and what you may expect at your next show. 

 

Living their Mamma Mia dream

Shelley and Sprout competed in first season at the Petplan Area Festivals and qualified for the Petplan Summer Area Festival Novice Freestyle Bronze Championship. Dancing their way around the arena to a ABBA medley with a massive smile on their faces, it was a delight to watch! Hear all about their story below.

 

Championship Stories

Ahead of the Petplan Summer Area Festival Championships we caught up with a few riders who had qualified. Hear all about their journey so far, their qualifying tests and the preparations they have been doing in the run up to the big day.

Meet Laura and Borough’s Doorman: Prelim Bronze Freestyle

 

Meet Koren and Black Forest ll: Elementary Silver

 

Meet Charlotte and Doylan Samara: Novice Bronze 

 

Over a decades’ worth of memories at the Petplan Area Festivals

The Petplan Area Festivals are all about the journey - gaining new experiences and having the chance to compete at some of the UK’s biggest venues all while dancing with your horse and making memories to last a lifetime. We met up with two riders who have done just that!

Meet Hannah and Kansas NS

From twisting off a shoe the night before a competition to coming second in the Summer Area Festival Championship Prelim Bronze.

Meet Patricia and Z

A fluke field accident, they were told they would never compete again, Z proved them wrong to come 6th at the Petplan Equine Summer Advanced Medium Championships!

Meet Cheryl and Remy

Cheryl was determined to get back to Hartpury after competing at Prelim, Novice and Elementary there a few years ago. With Remy by her side and three attempts at qualifying did they make it back? 

Meet Laura and Barry

Starting with British Dressage Quest as a freshly backed five year old to now dancing at the Petplan Area

Don't forget to also find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram for competition updates, rider stories and much more! Tag us in your own Area Festival pictures using #PetplanFestivals for your chance to be featured.