The Organising Committee (OC) of Dressage WA (DWA) would like to thank you for your support of our 2025 Advanced Feeds Youth Dressage Festival
- Entries open through Nominate on Tuesday 11th March 2025
- Entries Close at 7pm on Friday 28th March 2025
The 2025 Advanced Feeds Youth Dressage Festival will be run in accordance with the documents listed below. These Rules cannot provide for every eventuality. In any unforeseen or exceptional circumstances, it is the duty of the appropriate Official(s) to make a decision in a sporting spirit and adhere as closely as possible to the intention of these Rules:
INDEMNITY
Neither the Organising Committee (Dressage WA), Equestrian Western Australia or The State Equestrian Centre accept any liability for any accident, damage, injury or illness to horses, riders, grooms, owners, ground spectators, or any other person or property whatsoever. All competitors in entering undertake to accept this statement of liability. Refer EA Dressage Rule 3.3.
EVENT OFFICIALS
Event Director Gabriella Robson (0408 900 702), Email: [email protected]
Chief Steward - Saturday TBA
Chief Steward - Sunday TBA
AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF HORSE AND/OR RIDER FOR COMPETITION
Refer EA National Dressage Rule 4.1
- EA or affiliated organisations conducting the dressage competition(s) on behalf of EA shall be empowered to refuse any entry, with or without stating reasons. They shall be the sole judges of the eligibility according to these rules of any horse or rider to compete in any particular level and may transfer any entry of any such horse or rider to any lower or higher-ranking level.
- Should the OC reject your entry, you will receive a full refund of your entry fee. All refunds will be completed after the Event.
The OC reserves the right to amend the Schedule of Events/Program at any time before and during the Event.
Dressage Western Australia (DWA) reminds all attendees at the Youth Dressage Festival of the following “Codes of Conduct” which are to be adhered to at all times.
- FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse
- EA General Code of Conduct
- EA Code of Conduct for EA Members, Administrators, Directors and Officers
- EA Code of Conduct for Officials
- EA Code of Conduct for Participants
- EA Code of Conduct for Parents and Guardians
- EA Code of Conduct for Spectators
- EA Code of Conduct for Coaches
A copy of the FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse can be found here:
Code_of_Conduct_Welfare_Horse_1Jan2013.pdf (fei.org)
Copies of each EA Code of Conduct, as listed above, can be found here: (effective as of April 2024)
Refer to Dressage Rule 1.6 - and General Regulations Article 169.6.3 - for the potential penalty in relation to complaints about incorrect behaviour towards Event Officials or any Other Party connected with the Event (other rider, member, journalist, public etc).
- Withdrawals (Scratchings) and Refunds – No competitor shall withdraw from a competition within 8 hours of its commencement without the permission of the OC. A written statement must be provided to the OC (Refer rule 10.4)
- Entry fees will not be refunded after the closing date of entries unless a medical or veterinary certificate (not from a Chiropractor or Farrier) is to be produced within 24 hours of the completion of the Championships. In such cases, 50% of the entry fees will be retained by the OC. The Volunteer Levy and the Ambulance Levy is non-refundable.
- Entry fees will be refunded in full for scratchings notified in writing, before the closing date.
- All refunds will be completed after the Event.
PROTESTS
Protests to the Ground Jury (via the Technical Delegate) must be in writing and accompanied by a fee of $150.00. Attention is drawn to Rule 1.6 of the EA Dressage Rules, and EA General Regulations (Article Numbers 165 to 169 inclusive). No deposit is required for protests concerning abuse of horse.
PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE OF COMPETITIONS FOR EACH DAY
SATURDAY 5th April – START TIME 8.00AM (arenas and order of classes to be advised with the draw)
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Preliminary Horse 1.1
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FEI Children’s Team Test – riders aged 12 – 14 years (horse & ponies)
FEI Pony Team Test – riders aged 12 - 16 years (ponies)
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Preliminary Pony 1.1
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FEI Junior Team Test – riders aged 14 - 18 years (horses)
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Novice Horse 2.1
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FEI Young Rider Team Test – riders aged 16 – 21 years (open)
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Novice Pony 2.1
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FEI Prix St Georges – riders aged 16 -25 years (horses & ponies)
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Elementary 3.1
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FEI Intermediate II – riders aged 16 – 25 years (horses & ponies)
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Elementary Pony 3.1
Medium 4.1
Advanced 5.1
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Participant Prep 1
Participant Prep 2
Participant Novice 2.1
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Participant Novice 2.2
Para Classes by request
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SUNDAY 6th April – START TIME 8.00AM (arenas and order of classes to be advised with the Draw.)
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Competitor Novice 2.1
Competitor Novice 2.2
Competitor Pony Novice 2.1
Competitor Pony Novice 2.2
Competitor Medium 4.1
Competitor Medium 4.2
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FEI Children’s Individual Test – riders aged 12 – 14 years (horse & ponies)
FEI Pony Individual Test – riders aged 12-16 years (ponies)
FEI Junior Individual Test – riders aged 14-18 years (horses)
FEI Young Rider Individual Test – riders aged 16-21 years (open)
FEI Intermediate I, riders aged 16 – 25 years (horses & ponies)
FEI U25 Grand Prix, riders aged 16 – 25 years (open)
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Participant Preliminary 1.1
Participant Preliminary 1.2
Para Classes by request
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Age Groups
EA tests: Open to riders 8-25 riding ponies and 10-25 riding horses.
FEI classes as per follows:
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Class
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Age
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FEI CHILDRENS
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10 – 14 years
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FEI PONY
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8 – 16 years
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FEI JUNIOR
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14 – 18 years
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FEI YOUNG RIDER (YR)
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16 – 21 years
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Prix St Georges
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16 – 25 years
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Intermediate I
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16 – 25 years
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Intermediate A
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16 – 25 years
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Intermediate B
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16 – 25 years
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Intermediate II
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16 – 25 years
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Grand Prix U25
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16 – 25 years
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Note: Age of competitor is their age as of 31st December 2025
The competition programme may change depending on entries received; therefore, it may be necessary to re-schedule some competitions to another day. A draft plan will be available within a week of entries closing.
Competitions for Medium and Advanced are open competitions for both horses and ponies. Separate ribbons may be presented to ponies depending on the number of entries. Riders riding elementary/medium ponies that fit the age requirements should enter the FEI Pony Competitions (8-16 years).
Championships will be awarded for the following; Participant Prep, Participant Preliminary, Competitor Preliminary, Preliminary Pony, Participant Novice, Competitor Novice, Novice Pony, Elementary, Elementary Pony, Medium, Advanced, FEI Children (Preliminary & Team), FEI Pony (Team & Individual), FEI Junior (Team & Individual), FEI Young Rider (YR Team & Individual), FEI Small Tour (PSG & Inter 1), FEI Big Tour (Intermediate II/ U25Grand Prix). Champion/Reserve: Champion and Reserve for each level will be determined by using EA Dressage rules for National Championships.
Championship rugs will be awarded for the following levels: FEI Children (Preliminary & Team), FEI Pony (Team & Individual), FEI Junior (Team & Individual), FEI Young Rider (YR Team & Individual), FEI Small Tour (PSG & Inter 1), FEI Big Tour (Intermediate II/ U25Grand Prix). Champion/Reserve: Champion and Reserve for each level will be determined by using EA Dressage rules for National Championships.
Entries & Eligibility
WA Youth Festival- Age: This event is open to riders aged 10 years and until the end of the calendar year they turn 25 on horses, and from the calendar year a rider turns 8 years until the end of the calendar year a rider turns 25 years on ponies. Some FEI competitions have age restrictions.
FEI Children’s competitions (run under EA rules) are open to riders from the beginning of the calendar year they turn 10 years until the end of the calendar year they turn 14 years.
FEI Pony competitions (run under EA rules) are open to riders from the beginning of the calendar year they turn 8 years until the end of the calendar year they turn 16 years.
FEI Junior (run under EA rules) is open to riders from the beginning of the calendar year they turn 14 years until the end of the calendar year they turn 18 years.
FEI Young Rider is open to riders from the beginning of the calendar year they turn 16 years until the end of the calendar year they turn 21 years.
FEI Small Tour competition is open to riders from the beginning of the calendar year they turn 16 years until the end of the calendar year they turn 25 years.
Big Tour competition is open to riders from the beginning of the calendar year they turn 16 years until the end of the calendar year they turn 25 years.
Height: Horses – exceeding 149cm with shoes, 148cm without shoes, Ponies – not exceeding 149cm with shoes and not exceeding 148cm without shoes.
Ponies: Please note that all ponies must be measured before entering the Championships and a current height certificate must be produced on request. If a complaint is lodged re the height of a horse/pony and a valid measurement certificate cannot be produced to verify the height, the OC may request the horse/pony be measured within 30 days. Refer rule 4.8.3.3
Official Grading: This will be taken at the date of close of entries. Refer EA dressage rule 4.8.3 for grading eligibility.
EA level competitions are open to registered horses/ponies with a dressage license, graded Prelim/Novice; Elementary; Medium; Advanced. Horses entered in all FEI competitions must have performance at the level entered (refer performance). Refer rule 10.2
A horse may compete in a maximum of two tests per day at all levels all levels (Refer rule 4.8.1 c and d)
Draw: Competitions are limited to 35 competitors. The OC reserves the right to rank horses if necessary. A revised draw may be necessary the day before the competition to allow for withdrawals. The onus is on the competitor to confirm/check their start times the day before the competition. The draw may change up to 6pm on any day throughout competition and will be posted on line and at the rider
Entries: Only online entries will be accepted at www.Nominate.com.au Incomplete information may result in the entry not being accepted. Late entries will only be accepted at the discretion of the event organiser and include a $100 late fee.
Prize Giving: It is compulsory for all placegetters to be present at prize giving. Rosettes and prizes/prize money will not be awarded to riders who do not attend the presentation.
Performance
Riders who enter the Open FEI Small Tour (PSG, Int. I) can enter the FEI Young Rider Team or Individual competitions. Riders entering FEI Children’s, FEI Pony and FEI Junior can enter EA classes as well, as long as the horse or pony is only ridden in a maximum of three EA tests in one day or two FEI tests.
Horses or ponies may compete in two (2) consecutive levels. For example, preliminary/novice; medium/advanced. They may compete in three (3) tests only per day at EA level and two (2) tests only per day when at least one, is an FEI level.
FEI tests are the FEI tests found in this link: https://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/organisers/dressage/tests
The FEI tests do not always align directly with EA levels however, riders should be aware that they can only ride over two consecutive competition levels at any competition.
For the purpose of competing at the WA Youth Festival, the FEI tests are to be considered as below. Performance at the respective EA or PSG level is required:
FEI Young Rider - Prix St Georges
FEI Pony – Elementary Level
FEI Junior – Medium Level
FEI Children- Novice Level