Golden oldies: dressage championships for veteran horses and riders
Older riders or those with veteran horses will able to enjoy a special dressage championship this year.
The veteran horse and rider championships ran for the first time in 2015 through British Dressage (BD) and the Veteran Horse Society (VHS).
Due to the popularity of the classes, the championships will run for a second time this year.
The classes are open to horses foaled in 2001 or earlier featuring two sections — one for horses aged 15-19 and another for those aged 20 and older. There is also a veteran rider championship for riders aged 55 and older.
The championships will take place at Vale View, Leicestershire, from 14-16 Ocober, from intro to advanced. There will also be a prix st georges championship for horses aged 15-19.
To qualify for the championships, riders need to be a minimum of BD quest club member on an associate horse with the organisation. All horses must also be associate-registered with VHS.
This level of membership allows combinations to compete at intro and prelim levels. Those wishing to compete at novice or higher will require class tickets to compete.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
BD will provide two free class tickets to anyone who is not a full member with BD who would like to try and qualify at novice and above.
Combinations can qualify for the championships until 30 September. To do so, they must achieve two scores at 60% or above in regular BD or quest competitions at the level at which they wish to compete.
By achieving the two scores, combinations qualify directly for the championships.
Related articles:
- Showing veteran comes out of retirement for Olympia
- New dressage championship for veterans
- 8 ways to keep your veteran horse healthy
Once riders have achieved the two qualifying scores they must email karen.beaumont@britishdressage.co.uk to register for the final.
They will then receive an invitation to the final after the qualifying period has ended.
For more information contact Ms Beaumont at the above email address or call 02476 698909.
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
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.