Petplan Equine, the UK’s specialist equine insurance provider, and British Dressage have announced competition dates for the 13th annual Petplan Equine Area Festivals.

One of UK equestrian sport’s longest running sponsorships, The Petplan Equine Area Festivals have become known in the dressage world as ‘The Petplans’ and are recognised as the country’s foremost competition series for amateur dressage riders.

The qualifiers run from August to October and culminate in a final held alongside the British Dressage WinterChampionships at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire the following April. Held at 17 venues throughout the UK The Petplan Equine Area Festivals attract around 3,000 amateur dressage riders and provide a rare opportunity to compete in top class arenas and experience true championship conditions.

Any horse and rider combination that has achieved a minimum of two scores of 62% or above for Preliminary to Elementary level or 60% or above for Medium to Prix St Georges at any affiliated competition since 1st January 2012 can take part in one of the 17 Petplan Equine Area Festivals that run from August to October this year.

The 2012 series kicks off at Warwickshire’s Weston Lawns and West Wilts Equestrian Centre in Wiltshire from 17th–19th August 2012 and riders will be aiming to qualify for one of ten Petplan Equine Area Festival Championship titles ranging from Petplan Equine Area FestivalPreliminary Champion to the Petplan Equine Area Festival Prix St Georges Champion.

The competition is also open to non-members of British Dressage, who may qualify for the Area Festivals on ‘Class Tickets’. However, once the scores have been obtained the rider must become a full member of British Dressage in order to take part in the Area Festival. All horses too must be registered before entering the Area Festival.

Isabella Von Mesterhazy, Head of Marketing for Petplan Equine said: “We are very proud to support this fantastic competition, which continues to go from strength to strength. As someone who has recently returned to competitive riding, I know how much this opportunity means to the dedicated amateurs who are the lifeblood of British Dressage.”

Maggie Jackman, British Dressage Sponsorship Manager, commented; “The Petplans are one of the most popular competitions in the UK dressage calendar and give thousands of riders the chance to be part of something really special and gain valuable experience. For many, competing in the Championship will be the pinnacle of their careers but for some it may be an important step on the road to even greater success.”

The dates of the 2012 Area Festivals are as follows:

VENUE
COUNTY
DATE

Weston Lawns
Warwickshire
17-19 August

West Wilts
Wiltshire
18-20 August

Rowallan Activity Centre
Ayrshire
24-26 August

Sparsholt College
Hampshire
26-27 August

Norton Heath
Essex
31 August-2 September

Wellington Riding
Hampshire
3-6 September

Kingswood EC
Staffordshire
6-9 September

Tall Trees
Cornwall
7-9 September

Northallerton EC
North Yorkshire
22-23 September

Patchetts EC
Hertfordshire
22-24 September

Sheepgate Equestrian
Lincolnshire
6-7 October

Gordon Dressage Group
Aberdeenshire
6-7 October

Allens Hill
Worcestershire
5-7 October

Pachesham EC
Surrey
13-15 October

Arena UK
Lincolnshire
20-21 October

Myerscough College
Lancashire
27-30 October

Pencoed
Glamorgan
27-29 October

Further information on how to enter for the Area Festivals is available from the Petplan Equine website at www.petplanequine.co.uk/events/dressage.asp

To enter an Area Festival or to purchase ‘Class Tickets’ contact British Dressage on 024 766 98830 or visit www.britishdressage.co.uk