Petplan Equine, one of the UK’s specialist horse insurance providers has sponsored the Area Festivals for 17 years and is looking to the future with an even bigger competition for 2017/18.

The new Petplan Equine Area Festivals which will involve more horse and rider combinations than ever before, has had a whole new range of Festivals added. There will be twenty-seven Petplan Equine Area Festivals, and eight Petplan Equine Festival Finals finally culminating in the Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships at Hartpury College (April 2018). Also there will be a dedicated competition for under-18 riders.

Starting in May 2017, the Petplan Equine Area Festivals will take place across the UK from Aberdeenshire to the Channel Islands. The new format is hoped to increase participation so that even more grassroots riders have the chance to qualify to go to an Area Festival with all the atmosphere of a top dressage event. For those under 18-years-old, this new section was introduced as a result of feedback from British Dressage members asking for an age limited competition for young riders.

“Working with British Dressage to develop the new look Petplan Equine Area Festivals for 2017/18 has been very exciting,” said Petplan Equine Marketing Executive, Kate Hopkins. “The Area Festivals have been a huge success and we want as many riders as possible to experience the thrill of competing in championship-style conditions, so are encouraging all grassroots riders to aim for the stars! We are looking forward to continuing our long standing partnership with British Dressage and being part of Festival Fever in 2017.”

This sponsorship with Petplan Equine, which is now continuing into its eighteenth year is highly valued in the equestrian community and currently about a third of all British Dressage members take part with undoubtable this increasing in 2017 as more events take place.

“Next season will herald a new chapter for this dressage favourite and to have Petplan Equine involved for this momentous year, with commitment for a further two, makes it all the more exciting,” said British Dressage CEO, Jason Brautigam. “We hope our current members will benefit from increased opportunities to taste the big time whilst inspiring riders looking to join to come on board with the aim of qualifying.”
www.petplanequine.co.uk/area-festivals/