New ‘Compete at Home’ Championship for Pony Club Members

Posted on Monday, April 22, 2013 by Heather Dodd

Dressage Anywhere and The Pony Club, are excited to announce the NEW Pony Club Online Dressage Championships! 

All young riders, whether they have their own pony or ride at a Riding School, will have the opportunity to compete against others from all over the country, all without leaving their own yard or field; they may even get the chance compete internationally, as it is hoped that Pony Club Branches and Centres from overseas will also take part! 

The qualifying classes for The Pony Club Online Dressage Championships will run from 1st April – 30th July, with the highest placed riders in each class being eligible for The Online Championships running through 15th August – 30th September.   The qualifiers are open to any young rider, but in order to take part in The Online Championships competitors must be a Member of a Pony Club Branch or Centre.

“This is a marvellous opportunity for riders of all levels, as the tests run from walk and trot up to intermediate to introduce the competitive experience” comments Nereide Goodman, Director of Dressage Anywhere and List 1 British Dressage Judge.  “For regular competitors it gives them a chance to have feedback from a top judge to whom they might not normally have access, and competing from home is fun and develops the ability and confidence of both pony and rider before going to a live competition”.

To take part riders simply need to register, free of charge, online at www.dressageanywhere.com and choose one of four tests from the monthly schedule suitable for their experience, before getting a parent or friend to video their test and uploading it to Dressage Anywhere, or to YouTube. As soon as the test has been judged, by one of a panel of experienced British Dressage judges, the rider is notified and can download their score sheet with comments and marks, before visiting the scoreboard to see their current position in the class.

Lucy Goler, Centre Membership Executive Officer for The Pony Club comments “The Pony Club Online Dressage Championships will be a great opportunity in particular for our Centre Members, who do not have their own ponies, to compete on a national level without the need for the Centre Proprietors to take their ponies off-site. With Pony Club tests at all levels available, it will mean our most novice young riders will have the chance to take part as well as the more experienced, so everyone will benefit”.