DRESSAGE 2022

Sunshine Tour Championships are for AMATEUR competitors, professionals are excluded from competing in the Sunshine Tour. Our definition of a ‘professional’ is someone who earns money from:

1. Training, schooling, breaking or competing horses/ponies.
   • People who work with horses for care, e.g. grooms, vet nurses and only participate in exercising of horses, e.g. hacking & lunging for exercise but not schooling, training, competing or breaking client’s horses can qualify.
2. Buying and/or selling horses for profit.
3. Teaching and/or training riders.
   • Instructors who only teach in a riding school with riding school horses/ponies and do not teach people on their own horses can qualify.
4. Judging affiliated classes in the same discipline as your competition (paid or unpaid).

2022 DRESSAGE QUALIFICATION
If you record your qualification within one month of qualifying (for July shows, by 7^th August), you will be given a Unique Qualification Number for each qualification earned. Horse/rider combinations can compete in 2 levels of championship, you can compete on one or more days. Your championship classes must not exceed 2 levels (Intro, Prelim, Novice, Elementary) and must be consecutive; e.g. if you’ve qualified for Intro, Prelim & Novice, you can compete in Prelim & Novice championships but not Intro & Novice championships. Warm up classes can cover 3 levels.

Each Qualification Number allows you to enter one championship class:
At the same level as your qualification test     OR     a level above your qualification test.

You DO NOT have to compete in exactly the same TEST as your qualification, only the same LEVEL or above.

TOURS are groups of classes, divided by competence and measurable points/winnings restrictions – please respect the spirit of each level as well as the letter of the law. You CAN compete across Tours if you fit the restrictions. SMALL TOUR includes Intro, Prelim & Novice classes. GRAND TOUR includes Prelim, Novice & Elementary classes.

If you are outside the restrictions for the class that you qualified in, you can voluntarily upgrade to a higher level.

SMALL TOUR DRESSAGE
Horse/Pony (with any rider): Not to have earned more than 20 BD points, with none earned at Novice level or above. If horse/pony has more points than permitted, but NONE earned during the period 1^st January 2020 to the date of this year’s Sunshine Tour Championship, they are eligible.
Rider (with any horse): Not to have earned any points at BD Novice level or above; not to have competed at BE Novice or above.
Combination: BD Intro Bronze restrictions apply.

GRAND TOUR DRESSAGE
Horse/Pony (with any rider): Not to have earned more than 50 BD points, with none earned at Elementary level or above. If horse/pony has more points than permitted, but NONE earned during the period 1^st January 2020 to the date of this year’s Sunshine Tour Championship, they are eligible.
Rider (with any horse): Not to have earned any points at BD Elementary level or above; not to have competed at BE Intermediate or above.
Combination: BD Prelim Bronze restrictions apply.

Printable Version

Dressage is guided by the British Dressage Rule Book.  You can refer to the tack & clothing information sheet HERE and the full BD rule book HERE. You are only required to wear one bridle number.

Important note for championship  classes – no whips or callers.

You can qualify in unaffiliated competitions, either open or restricted classes and select the championship section relevant to you according to Rules & Restrictions.

Intro Dressage
BD Intro or centre’s own Walk & Trot classes
Pony Club or Riding Club tests restricted to walk and trot

Prelim Dressage
BD Prelim tests
Pony Club Novice or Riding Club Prelim

Novice Dressage
BD Novice tests
Pony Club Intermediate or Riding Club Novice

Elementary Dressage
BD Elementary tests
Pony Club Open or Riding Club Advanced

Junior Dressage
Junior riders taking part in Intro, Prelim, Novice and Elementary classes

Not eligible….. Teams, training classes, clinics, quadrilles or ‘virtual’ competitions.

Qualifier Classes 2022

QUALIFICATION PERIOD:  Eventer’s Challenge & Arena Eventing 1st November – 31st July
Dressage, Show Jumping & Showing 1st January – 31st July

Before you Start: Check that the competitor AND the horse / pony are eligible to compete at the Championships.  Rules & Regulations for each discipline are available in the ‘Championships’ pages.

Step 1: Register your horse / pony. You’ll only need to do this once for the 2022 qualifying season, we’ll issue a Horse/Pony Registration number. Registrations open soon HERE

Step 2: Find out where to qualify and check which Showing Qualifier Classes or Show jumping, Dressage and Eventing Qualifier Classes are eligible for qualification. If you cannot find a registered venue near you offering relevant competitions, there are options available, so please email us on register@sunshinetour.co.uk !

Step 3: Compete at a registered centre / show / club and achieve 1st to 4th in an eligible class in dressage, show jumping, showing and eventer’s challenge/arena eventing. Make sure you take a note of all the qualification information.

For your convenience, you can download a Personal Qualifier Booklet (for best result, print double sided) to take with you and fill out with the information on the day. Please note this qualification booklet is for your personal use only and we do not accept this as proof of qualification.

Step 4: Record your qualification (online forms currently under review for 2022) and submit evidence of the qualification i.e. a link or screenshot / photo of online results from the showground.

Step 5: We will process your qualification for you and email you a Unique Qualification Number (usually within 14 days of your registration).

Any questions: Email register@sunshinetour.co.uk for help.

Ride – Compete – Qualify – Repeat.  Record each qualification, you will need a unique qualification number for each championship class that you want to enter. A guide to how many championships you can enter is below.

Note: qualification does not guarantee a place in the championship, entries are open from 8th to 14th August and are taken in order of receipt and some classes may fill on the first day of entries. T&C’s apply, it is the responsibility of the competitor to read the Rules and Schedule before entering. The Sunshine Tour is exclusively for unaffiliated and amateur riders, competing with unaffiliated horses and ponies.

Guide to How Many Championships
Dressage: Each horse/rider combination can compete over 2 levels e.g. Intro & Prelim or Prelim & Novice or Novice & Elementary. Each time you qualify, you can enter one championship class. You can’t enter a championship class at a lower level than your qualification, but you can go up. So if you’ve qualified at Prelim, you could not enter an Intro championship, but you could enter Prelim or Novice. No qualification needed for open/warm up classes.
Show Jumping: Each time a horse/rider combination qualifies they can compete in one championship. You can’t have more than 20cm gap between the heights of championships you compete in. You can compete higher than your original qualification or 5cm lower e.g. if you’ve qualified at 70cm then you can compete at 65cm or higher.  You can enter warm up, fun classes, clear round and derby challenge without any extra qualification.
Showing: each horse/competitor combination’s qualification allows you to enter 2 championship classes, as long as the other class is relevant and the same horse/competitor combination. If you’re qualified class isn’t at a time you can get there or clashes, you can swap to another relevant class. You can also enter the training/warm up/open classes without any further qualification.
Eventers Challenge: Each time a horse/rider combination qualifies they can compete in one championship. You can’t have more than 20cm gap between the heights of championships you compete in. You can also enter open & warm up classes.

We’re very proud to have grown from a little show to a huge championship and be able to offer you a sponsorship package, we offer individual and business sponsorship packages. From just £70 you can have your name in the schedule and enjoy a VIP Pass for 2 people including refreshments in the Dick Saunders pavilion. If you have a business that you’d like to promote, we can help with advertising in the schedules, banners on the showground and Facebook & website links. We have lots of packages available, please see Sponsorship Packages for the options available or ask for a bespoke package to suit your needs.

You may already know all about the Sunshine Tour and the popularity of taking part in a fabulous championship at the famous showground at Hickstead? If you’d like to know more, here’s a bit About the Sunshine Tour.

If you would like to become part of the Sunshine Tour, please get in touch with Rebecca on 07904 898696, email office@sunshinetour.co.uk or message us via Facebook.