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The Petplan Equine Area Festival series was launched in 2000 and is aimed at grassroots riders. It has grown since then into the biggest British Dressage affiliated competition in the UK. Now affectionately known as ‘the Petplans’ the Area Festivals are a great place to start your British Dressage competition journey!
Key facts
Split into two seasons, summer and winter, the Petplan Equine Area Festivals offer a year-round pathway for riders to qualify and compete, before – hopefully – going on to the Area Festival Championships taking place in April and October each year.
| Petplan Equine Area Festivals | Summer 2023 | Winter 2024 |
| Qualification period | 1 January – 30 June 2023 | 1 July – 31 December 2023 |
| Levels | Prelim to Inter I (including Freestyle to Music) | Prelim to Inter I |
| Sections | Bronze and Silver | Bronze and Silver |
| Area Festivals | July – end August | Mid-January to mid-February |
| Championships | Arena UK, 5-8 October 2023 | NAF Five Star Winter Championships Hartpury, April 2024 |
| Championship 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 |
Area Festival Qualification
Area Festival qualification is based on percentage scores. 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.
| Level | Qualification |
| Prelim to Advanced Medium | Three scores at 63% 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
| Level | Qualification |
| Prelim to Advanced Medium | Two scores at 63% 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) |
Combinations who place in the top two at an Area Festival can earn a coveted spot (providing the minimum score of 63% is achieved) at the Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships held as part of the NAF Five Star Winter Championships at Hartpury in April or at a dedicated Area Festival Championship at Arena UK in October.
Take a look at all of the rules for the Area Festivals in our 2023 Members’ Handbook.
“Supporting the Petplan Equine Area Festivals is incredibly important to the whole team. We enjoy following the progress of all the riders and are very proud to have done so for the past two decades. We were excited when in 2021, the introduction of Freestyle classes to the Petplan Equine Area Festivals opened up a brilliant new way to participate. You can find more information about all the classes including Freestyle as well as videos and educational content both on the Petplan Equine Area Festivals Facebook page as well as our dedicated website; petplanequine.co.uk/area-festivals.” ~ Rosie Bee, Brand Marketing Executive, Petplan Equine
Summer Area Festival Freestyle
If you want to take part in dressage to music in the summer you can qualify for the Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championships from Prelim to Inter I, by taking part in regular day to day BD competitions at your local venues to qualify.
| Venue | County | Date |
| Wellington Riding incl. Music | Hampshire | 18-20 July |
| Myerscough College | Lancashire | 19-23 July |
| Rockrose incl. Music | East Lothian | 14-16 July |
| Beacons Equestrian | Carmarthenshire | 29-31 July |
| Brook Farm Equestrian incl. Music | Essex | 29-30 July |
| Kingswood Equestrian Centre | Staffordshire | 28-30 July |
| Speedgate Events | Kent | 4-7 August |
| Alnwick Ford Equestrian incl. Music | Northumberland | 4-6 August |
| Sheepgate Equestrian incl. Music | Lincolnshire | 8-11 August |
| Kings Equestrian incl. Music | Herefordshire | 9-13 August |
| Bicton Arena | Devon | 11-13 August |
| Field House Equestrian Centre | Staffordshire | 12-15 August |
| Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre incl. Music | Warwickshire | 18-20 August |
| Fenning Farm | Cambridgeshire | 18-20 August |
| Moreton Equestrian Centre incl. Music | Dorset | 19-20 August |
| Port Royal Equestrian Centre incl. Music | North Yorkshire | 24-27 August |
| Sparsholt College | Hampshire | 25-27 August |
“The Petplan Equine Area Festivals have been a great pathway for me to move up the levels of British Dressage and are always brilliantly organised and extremely enjoyable. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging – it’s such a fun experience and I’d recommend giving it a try.” ~ British Dressage member
Membership of British Dressage
- You can ride in Prelim Bronze sections to get your scores for an Area Festival as a Club member on a Club horse. https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/membership/club-membership/
- If you do qualify for a Petplan Equine Area Festival, you and your horse must upgrade to become a Full member to take part. https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/membership/full-membership/
- 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.
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