British Dressage is proud to welcome the Draught Horse Championships into its competition calendar this year. Riders of these majestic breeds will now have the opportunity to qualify for a prestigious championship on Saturday 5 November 2016 at Keysoe in Bedfordshire.
Heavy horses and part-bred heavy horses are becoming familiar sights at BD shows – and it’s no surprise as they are more than proving themselves able within the white boards. These gentle giants of the horse world have been man’s loyal working partner for hundreds of years and were indispensable to generations of pre-industrial farmers.
Draught horses and draught crossbreds are versatile breeds used today for a multitude of purposes, including farming, draught horse showing, logging, recreation, and other uses. They are commonly used for crossbreeding, especially to light riding breeds such as the Thoroughbred, for the purpose of creating sport horses. These horses, with their high work ethic and amenable dispositions, are capable performers under saddle.
Which breeds are eligible?
Draught breeds to include but not exclusive to:
- Ardennais
- Ariegeois
- Bashkir
- Belgium Draft
- Boulannais
- Breton
- Clydesdale
- Fjord
- Haflinger
- Irish Draught
- Italian Heavy Draft
- Jutland
- Noriker
- Norman Cob
- North Swedish
- Percheron
- Schleswig Draft Horse
- Shire
- South German Heavy Horse
- Suffolk Punch
- Vladimir Heavy Draft
What levels do they run at?
- Intro
- Prelim
- Novice
- Elementary
In all sections - Gold, Silver and Bronze
Who can compete?
- This is open to existing Full/Quest/BYRDS Club members or anyone who has never competed BD before who has a native pony.
- There will be one section for pure-breds and one section for part-breds at the Championship.
- They are run under BD/Quest rules and combinations must be eligible for the level at which they wish to compete.
What do I need to be a member of to be able to qualify?
- To qualify for The Draught Horse Championships, riders need to be a minimum of a Quest/BYRDS Club member (£25) on a BD Associate registered horse (free of charge). This allows the combination to compete at Intro and Prelim levels as well as compete in the finals. Novice will require class tickets to compete unless you are a Full BD member. BD will provide two free class tickets to anyone who is not a Full member who would like to try and qualify.
- To qualify your horse or pony must be registered with one of the draught breed societies, on either the full or part bred list.
How do I qualify?
- Qualification period is between the 1 January 2016 and 30 September 2016.
- A horse and rider combination just need to achieve two scores at 60% or above in regular BD or Quest competitions at the level they wish to compete at.
- Achieving the two scores gives direct qualification to the Championships.
What shows can I get my scores at?
- Scores can be gained in any regular BD affiliated or Quest competitions. To see a list of competitions please visit the Fixture List and Schedules area.
- Score sheets from Area Festivals, Regionals, Championships, Team Quest Regional or National final may not be used towards qualification.
Can I compete at different levels?
- Combinations may compete and qualify at different levels but can only compete in two levels/classes at the final.
How to do I know when I have qualified?
- Once you have achieved your two qualifying scores, you need to log that you are qualified with BD.
- Please send an email to Karen Beaumont or a letter to Karen Beaumont, British Dressage, Meriden Business Park, Copse Drive, Meriden, West Midlands CV5 9RG, stating where and when you achieved your two scores to qualify.
- You will then receive an invitation to the final after the qualifying period has ended.
What happens at the final?
- The final takes place on Saturday 5 November 2016 at Keysoe in Bedfordshire.
- There will be two sections per level: A – Pure-bred B – Part-bred.
I still have questions, who should I contact?
Karen Beaumont; British Dressage: email or 02476 698909