Press room

Petplan Equine, the UK’s specialist equine insurance provider, and British Dressage are pleased to announce competition dates for the 14th 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 which run from August to November culminate in a final held alongside the British Dressage Winter Championships at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire the following April. Held at 18 venues throughout the UK, The Petplan Equine Area festivals attract over 2,500 amateur dressage riders and provide a rare opportunity to compete in top class arenas and experience true championship conditions.

Participation, in one of the 18 Petplan Equine Area festivals that run from August to November this year, is open to any horse and rider combination that has achieved a minimum of three scores of 62% or above for Preliminary to Elementary level or two scores of 60% or above for Medium to Prix St Georges at any affiliated competition since 1st January 2013.

The 2013 series kicks off at Oldencraig Equestrian Centre from 15th – 19th August 2013 and riders will be aiming to qualify for one of ten Petplan Equine Area Festival Championship titles ranging from Petplan Equine Area Festival Preliminary Champion to the Petplan Equine Area Festival Prix St Georges Champion. There is an open and restricted class at each level except Prelim and Prix St Georges.

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 an Area Festival itself. Also all horses must be registered before entering the Area Festival.

Isabella Von Mesterhazy, Head of Marketing for Petplan Equine said: "Once again it is with a sense of pride that we continue our support of this fantastic competition. I am delighted to see that last year more than 500 horse and rider combinations qualified for the finals – this shows how popular dressage is becoming as a sport and how the Area festivals themselves are going from strength to strength."

Maggie Jackman, British Dressage Sponsorship Manager, commented; "The Petplans give thousands of riders the chance to participate in a really special competition series held at first class competition venues through which they gain invaluable experience. Attracting over 2,500 starters, the Petplans have become one of the most popular competitions on the British Dressage calendar. 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 2013 Area festivals are as follows:

PETPLAN EQUINE AREA FESTIVALS 2013
Venue	County	Date
Oldencraig	Surrey	15 – 19 August
The Cabin	Aberdeenshire	16 – 18 August
Port Royal	Yorkshire	17 – 18 August
Celaeron	Ceredigion	17 – 19 August
Moreton	Dorset	17 – 19 August
Aintree	Merseyside	24 – 25 August
Norton Heath	Essex	30 August – 1 September
Wellington	Hampshire	2 – 5 September
Kingswood	Staffordshire	5 – 8 September
Chester Hall (Speedgate)	Kent	7 – 9 September
Vale View	Leicestershire	14 – 15 September
Chemin Le Roi	Guernsey	4 – 6 October
Sheepgate	Lincolnshire	4 – 6 October
Summerhouse	Gloucestershire	11 – 13 October
Holmside Hall	Durham	18 – 20 October
SNEC	West Lothian	20 October
Myerscough College	Lancashire	26 – 30 October
Bury Farm	Buckinghamshire	1 – 3 November

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

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For more information please contact:

Name	Telephone	Email
Charlotte Collyer	0208 707 8335	charlotte.collyer@allianz.co.uk

Petplan Equine is the UK's leading horse insurance provider offering a wide variety of flexible horse insurance and rider insurance policies which cater for all levels of experience.

Established more than 20 years ago, Petplan Equine is part of Allianz Insurance, one of the largest general insurers in the world.

For more information about a Petplan Equine horse insurance policy, please visit:
petplanequine.co.uk/insurance/quote.asp

Note to editors:

• Petplan Equine was founded in 1988.
• It is part of Allianz Animal Health, the largest provider of animal health insurance in the world and part of Allianz – one of the largest general insurers in the UK.
• In addition to horse and pony insurance options, Petplan Equine provides dedicated products for veteran horses and rider only insurance cover.
• It is the sister brand of Petplan, the largest provider of small animal insurance in the UK.
• Petplan Equine believes in supporting the equine community and provides more financial support to equestrian sports and activities than any equine insurance provider in the UK.
• The Pet Plan Charitable Trust was founded in 1994 to raise much needed funds for animal welfare and veterinary projects. Money is raised by Petplan and Petplan Equine customers giving an optional £1.50 to the Trust when they take out or renew their policy. To date, almost £5 million has been awarded by the Trust.
• Petplan and Petplan Equine are specialist insurers. As such, the company employs more horse riders and owners than any other and more former veterinary practice staff than any other to ensure the provision of specialist knowledge.
• Petplan Equine is the only insurer to offer illness and accident cover for older horses, up to the age of 25 as long as the policy is taken before your horse reaches the age of 20.