These are exciting times for British Dressage - from medals on the world stage to the wave of new people taking part in Team Quest – the sport is enjoying a surge in popularity, and this is reflected by the healthy status of BD sponsorships for 2015. This year, British Dressage is delighted to be welcoming new sponsors to the sport, working with its existing band of ongoing supporters, and providing a beneficial association for them all.
Two key title sponsors remain in place for BD’s two flagship events, so we look forward to the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships at Hartpury in April and the LeMieux National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh in September. 2015 is NAF’s sixth successive year as backer of the winter championships and LeMieux returns for their second year at the helm of the nationals in September.
The full house of 2014 winter championship sponsors remains in place for 2015 – KBIS, Blue Chip Feed, Equitop Myoplast, Albion Saddlemakers, Charles Owen, Baileys Horse Feeds, Spillers and Nupafeed - the only difference being that GFS has retitled its class the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle, in line with their Professional Dressage Solutions range.
On to September, there are exciting changes to the line-up of supporters for the LeMieux National Dressage Championships. Leading horse feed manufacturer TopSpec, which sponsored the intermediate II in 2014, has transferred its support to the medium championships, freeing up the crowd-pulling intermediate II which is now secured by Monarch Equestrian, a world leader in the design and build of high quality stabling and equestrian equipment.
Nettex, which formulates and manufactures one of the most extensive ranges of animal health products, is the new sponsor of the elementary championship, and Equine Construction has signed up for the prestigious advanced medium championship. Equine Construction is a specialist equestrian building firm, offering a complete end-to-end build solution, from the planning phase through to final completion.
Familiar names synonymous with the world of dressage will once again be on the billing at Stoneleigh - BackinAction, Dodson & Horrell, Fairfax Saddles, Saracen Horse Feeds, KBIS and Shearwater Insurance, which also supports the young dressage horse championship series with its final at Hartpury in July.
Riders and owners across the UK will be delighted to learn that equestrian insurance provider Petplan Equine is to continue its support of the country’s foremost competition series for amateur dressage riders, the Area Festivals. This will be their 16th year as title sponsor, making it one of UK equestrian sport’s longest running sponsorships. The Petplan Equine Area Festivals, or ‘Petplans’ as they are best known in the dressage world, run from August to October and culminate in a final at the winter championships next year.
Longstanding backer, Nirvana Spa, has once again demonstrated its support of para athletes. The luxury day spa and members’ club in Wokingham, Berkshire, is sponsoring the Nirvana Spa Para Dressage Winter Championships at Vale View Equestrian Centre, Leicestershire, in March, as well as the new ‘Volunteer of the Month’ award. And Centaur Biomechanics has once again put its name to the Regional Championship commemorative plaques. The company, which is dedicated to helping horses and riders improve their performance and soundness, is providing all competitors at the regional finals with a memento of their day.