Aintree International Equestrian Centre > Events > Dressage > Petplan Equine Area Festival

Petplan Equine Area Festival

  • 3rd August 2017
  • By: Jess Wood
  • Comments: 0
Calendar
When:
29th January 2026 – 1st February 2026 all-day
2026-01-29T00:00:00+00:00
2026-02-02T00:00:00+00:00
Where:
Aintree International Equestrian Centre
Contact:
0151 522 2949
Email
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PETPLAN EQUINE AREA FESTIVAL

We are delighted to once again host the above event.

The series, which was launched in 2000 and is aimed at grassroots riders, has grown from 15 Area Festivals around the country with 555 tests completed in its’ first year to over 6,300 dressage tests ridden in the 2018/19 series.

Split into two seasons, summer and winter, the Petplan Equine Area Festivals offer a year round competition pathway with riders qualifying and competing at one of the regional Area Festivals, before going on to the Area Festival Championships taking place in April and September each year.

All entries and stabling must be booked online.

Date Thursday 29th January – Sunday 1st February 2026
Entries Open Open now!
Entries Close

Thursday 15th January at midnight

(Late entries will be accepted subject to class numbers and incur a £5 late entry fee until Monday 26th January. Similarly entries may close early if classes are full)
Schedule
Online Entries & Stables
Times (will be released on Monday 26th January)

Please note – as this is a Championship show, we are unable to take requests for specific times.
Competitor Information
Spectators This event is FREE to come and watch. No ticket required. Please park in the racecourse car park to access the Equestrian Centre. Spectators are welcome to use Tophams cafe which will be open throughout the show.
Prize Money

Prize Money Notice

Anyone that wins prize money at Aintree International Equestrian Centre needs to update their BACS details on their horse monkey profile.

This information will then be used to transfer the prize money to their bank account.

Please note: It is the competitor’s responsibility to provide bank details in order to be paid prize money. Bank details must be provided via HorseMonkey within 7 days of the event, otherwise prize money will be forfeited.
Refunds

Refund Policy

Refunds will not be processed after the close of entries on Thursday 15th January, two weeks prior to the event.
Vaccination Policy

As per our Terms & Conditions and those of British Dressage, all horses/ponies competing at a BD competition at Aintree Equestrian Centre must have had a booster vaccination against Equine Influenza in the PRECEDING 12 MONTHS. 

They must also be 6 days clear of any vaccination and may attend on the 7th day.
PASSPORTS MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION ON REQUEST.
Your co-operation and understanding is appreciated.
Vaccination Policy if stabling

As per our terms and conditions, all horses STABLING at Aintree EC must have had a booster vaccination against Equine Influenza in the PRECEDING 6 MONTHS, and be 6 days clear of having had any vaccination.

The last vaccination must have been between 29th July 2025 and 21st January 2026.

ALL PASSPORTS WILL BE CHECKED ON ARRIVAL. Horses will not be permitted to stable at Aintree if they do not have the correct vaccinations.

Schedule:

DAY CLASSES
Thursday 29th January Inter 1 Bronze & Silver, PSG Bronze & SIlver, Advanced Medium Bronze & Silver, Medium Bronze & Silver, Elementary Bronze
Friday 30th January Elementary Silver & Novice Bronze
Saturday 31st January Novice Silver & Prelim Silver
Sunday 1stFebruary Prelim Bronze

British Dressage prize money rule applies to all classes.

No Prize Money 1-4 Starters
1st Place 5-8 Starters
2nd Place 9-12 Starters
3rd Place 13-16 Starters
4th Place At the organisers discretion

Secretary: Laura Way

Aintree International Equestrian Centre, Aintree Race Course, Omskirk Road, Aintree, Merseyside, L9 5AS
Phone: 0151 522 2949
Email: laura.way@thejockeyclub.co.uk

Venue: Aintree International Equestrian Centre

Aintree Race Course, Ormskirk Road, Aintree, Liverpool, Merseyside, L9 5AS
Phone: 0151 522 2949
Email: info@aintreeequestriancentre.co.uk
Web: www.aintreeequestriancentre.co.uk
Aintree Racecourse is located on the A59, just one mile from the M57 and M58, which link the M62 and M6. Follow the A59 to Liverpool and the AAt Signs as you approach the racecourse for routes to the car parks.

 

NOTE – ALL COMPETITORS

Please ensure that you have read all of the rules in the 2026 Members’ Handbook, especially referring to the Area Festival section.

A combination may not compete at the same level (including music) in both an Area Festival and a Regional in the same season. The Area Festival level must be higher than the Regional if competing in both.

Combinations who score 68% (70% Music) at Regionals, may not compete in an Area Festival at the same level or below in the current and future years e.g. a combination scoring 68% at Novice Silver may not ride in an Area Festival at Novice level or below again.

Combinations who score 68% or higher (70% Music) at the Area Festival Championships, may not compete in an Area Festival at the same level and section or below in the current and future years.

Please be reminded that it is the responsibility of the owners and riders to ensure that combinations are eligible to compete in the classes/sections for which they are entered.

 U21 Riders

The Winter Area Festival Championships will feature U21 sections from Preliminary to Elementary in both the bronze and silver sections, criteria as below:

  • Under 21 riders (those in/up to the calendar year of their 21st birthday)
  • Riders will compete in the Area Festival class at their chosen level/section as normal. The highest placed U21 rider in each class and section (Preliminary to Elementary only) will then qualify for the corresponding U21 Championship class at the Winter Area Festival Championships providing the minimum 63% has been achieved.