Online bareback dressage competition raises money for equine charities

An online dressage contest is running an innovative fundraiser for Christmas.

Interdressage, a website that offers riders the opportunity to compete online by submitting videos, has introduced a new class for daring dressage riders to compete bareback.

“The Christmas Pudding Bareback Challenge” requires competitors, riding without a saddle, to bounce their way through one of the Interdressage walk and trot and starter tests.

Each competitor will receive a sponsorship form to raise money for The Blue Cross and the Animal Health Trust.

“We want to raise as much money as possible for these two very worthwhile charities,” Karina Hawkridge of Interdressage told H&H.

“We thought by making it a bareback class, we could encourage a bit more sponsorship!”

Karin continued: “We work closely with the Blue Cross – they feature in our monthly news letter, and have one complimentary entry to our competitions per month.

“but we are hoping to raise sufficient funds to make a contribution to both charities. At the moment we are averaging about 100 entries per month, and so we are hoping for a good turnout.”

With entries closing on 7 January, those brave enough to test their power to stay on top will have plenty of time to perfect their bareback balance — and raise some sponsorship — before recording their test.

For more information visit www.interdressage.com

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now