The British Dressage (BD) Petplan Space Festivals have turn out to be a cornerstone of grassroots dressage, providing 1000’s of riders the possibility to compete in a championship-style setting. With over 6,500 rivals collaborating in 2024, it’s the most important affiliated dressage collection within the UK – and it continues to develop.
Whether or not you’re moving into the sector for the primary time or aiming for a spot on the prestigious Space Competition Championships, this collection provides the proper steadiness of ambition, problem and enjoyable.
What are the Space Festivals?
The Space Festivals present bronze and silver degree riders with a structured and accessible pathway into affiliated competitors, providing the joy of a championship-style occasion with out the strain of competing in opposition to high professionals. A step up from common BD competitions, every check is judged by three judges as a substitute of 1 and features a post-test vet verify, guaranteeing a real championship expertise.
With two championship seasons – summer time and winter – riders can qualify and compete year-round at venues throughout the UK, with the possibility to progress even additional to the distinguished Space Competition Championships.
The Summer season Space Competition Championships happen at Enviornment UK in October, whereas the Winter Space Competition Championships are hosted at Addington in April – alongside the NAF 5 Star Winter Dressage Championships.
Winter season: 1 July – 31 December
Summer season season: 1 January – 30 June
The collection runs from prelim to inter I ranges, with sections for bronze and silver riders, guaranteeing honest and aggressive lessons for all.
How do you qualify for Space Festivals and the championships?
Qualification for the Space Festivals relies on a proportion system, which means you’ll want to attain a set variety of minimal scores inside the particular qualification interval to safe your house.
You’ll be able to acquire your scores by competing at common BD affiliated reveals. This allows you to progress at your individual tempo whereas competing in a well-recognized setting earlier than stepping onto the larger stage at an Space Competition.
The precise variety of scores required will depend on the extent you’re competing at.
✔ Prelim to superior medium – Three scores of 63% or above✔ Prix st georges (PSG) and inter I – Two scores of 60% or above
To safe a spot at both championships, you should end within the high two of your class at an Space Competition. Combos can enter as much as two Space Festivals per season on the identical degree and part, except they qualify for the championships on their first try.
BUT if you happen to’re not within the high two, a major variety of wildcards are issued every season to the subsequent highest-placed mixtures at every degree throughout all of the Space Festivals. In 2024, over 130 wildcards had been issued throughout the degrees.
Different guidelines to think about
Riders can not compete on the identical degree (together with music lessons) in each an Space Competition and a regional inside the identical season. If getting into each, the Space Competition degree should be at the next degree than the regional.
There are rating restrictions for future eligibility:
Combos who rating 68% or greater (70% for music lessons) at a regionals can now not compete on the identical or decrease degree in an Space Competition – each within the present and future seasons
Equally, mixtures scoring 68% or greater (70% for music) at an Space Competition championship can not enter an Space Competition on the identical degree and part or under in any future seasons
If a rider has competed at a Premier League, they’ll’t compete at an Space Competition at that degree or under
Love dressage to music?
The summer time season options an thrilling freestyle to music class, the place you possibly can showcase your horse’s rhythm and expression – why not take it to the subsequent degree and provides designing your individual freestyle a go?
To qualify it’s good to rating:
✔ Prelim to superior medium – Two scores of 63% or above in common lessons✔ PSG & inter I – Two scores of 60% or above in common lessons
The highest two from every class will then transfer ahead to the Summer season Space Competition Championships.
Do I want a BD membership?
Sure. To qualify for an Space Competition at prelim bronze degree, riders can earn their scores as a BD membership member on a club-registered horse. Nevertheless, in the event that they efficiently qualify, each the rider and horse should improve to full membership earlier than they’ll participate within the competition itself.
For these competing at prelim silver and all ranges upwards, each the rider and horse should already maintain full (competing) membership and a full horse registration with the intention to acquire qualifying scores.
Horse possession additionally comes into play. In case you personal a horse collaborating within the Space Festivals, you should be a full (competing) or full (non-competing) member, even if you happen to’re not the one using.
The way to get began
✔ Be part of British Dressage: Join a membership membership (£60) or a full membership (£187 for each horse and rider)✔ Study Your Exams: Use the BD TestPro App or buy checks from the BD Store✔ Get out competing – earn qualifying scores at your native BD competitions✔ Monitor your progress – Keep watch over your scores and make sure you meet the necessities in time✔ Enter your Space Competition – As soon as certified, choose your occasion and prepare for the problem – and hold your eye out for wildcards!
You may additionally be excited by:
Quest is a grassroots collection, providing a enjoyable, pleasant and accessible strategy to expertise affiliated competitors.
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow
Competing in affiliated dressage can appear daunting at first, however British Dressage provides alternatives for riders of all ranges.
Credit score: Lucy Merrell
You do not want a flashy warmblood to compete in affiliated dressage – every type and breeds of horse and pony are welcome.
Credit score: Jon Stroud Media
With regards to studying a dressage check, there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy.
Credit score: Lucy Merrell
Credit score: Future
Keep in contact with all of the information within the run-up to and all through the foremost reveals and occasions throughout 2025 with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe at the moment for all it’s good to know forward of those main occasions, plus on-line studies on the motion because it occurs from our knowledgeable workforce of reporters and in-depth evaluation in our particular commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Arrange your limitless web site entry now
H&H dressage and sport horse editor
Oscar graduated from York St John College with a grasp’s diploma in Literature in 2021 and joined Horse & Hound in October 2023. Oscar labored for high dressage rider Emile Faurie for 4 years after ending an equine administration course at school. Below Emile’s tutelage, Oscar competed on the 2015 Nationwide Dressage Championships and travelled with Emile’s horses to CDIs at Aachen, Vidauban, Saumur and Achlieiten. Oscar continues to compete in dressage, alongside his day job.
