4646 BD Youth Annual Rider Skill Test Assessment with Claire Moir

Whether you’re training or competing with BD Youth you can work your way through our squad system. Riders will enter at D Squad (until the end of the calendar year of your 11th birthday), C Squad (until the end of the calendar year of your 14th birthday) or C+ Squad (entry level for riders joining BD Youth in the year of their 15th birthday) and progress your way through to reach the A Squad. Instead of looking at traditional dressage movements, Youth riders are assessed on the difference you make to your horse and your level of understanding. The Formal Squad Assessment is a coaching session with a registered BD Youth Assessor who will assess your position, effectiveness and influence on the way of going and level of understanding and knowledge. You will be given a feedback form at the end of the session and advised of the squad level that you have been assigned. All riders are required to be on a squad in order to apply for regional team selection. Riders wishing to apply for Foundation Academies must have been assessed at B squad and above. The process will be a coaching session, with no requirement to ride through either a dressage test or a Youth Rider Skills Test. The session will last around 30 minutes for a private session or 45 for a shared one, with an additional 5 minutes allowed for a debrief at the end. All riders are required to be on a squad in order to apply for regional team selection. Selection for regional teams is based on Rider Skills Test marks where there is more of a focus on performance in a competition environment. Riders will need to have been assessed to ride Rider Skills Tests for the 2021 Rider League (see attachment) and only sheets gained after assessment will count. Riders will enter at D Squad (until the end of the calendar year of your 11th birthday), C Squad (until the end of the calendar year of your 14th birthday) or C+ Squad (entry level for riders joining BD Youth in the year of their 15th birthday) and progress your way through to reach the A Squad. Instead of looking at traditional dressage movements, Youth riders are assessed on the difference you make to your horse and your level of understanding. There are three squads in which riders are placed according to their age. D, C and C+, all riders are required to be squadded every year, but riders only need to be considered for squad upgrade if: You are in C+ Squad, and are performing above that level You won at the Youth Inter-Regionals so must move up a squad level. There is no lower age limit on any of the squads and it is rare for a rider to have the experience and understanding for a squad higher than their entry squad. Moving into a new squad before you are ready could put you at a disadvantage when contesting team places and other opportunities. Please also read the criteria for the Foundation Academy accessed from B Squad upwards https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/get-involved/bd-youth/youth-academies/ There is a Squad Upgrade Sheet for each Squad that will provide you and your parents with feedback from the coach/assessor to show you how you can develop further. Each squad has set criteria and you will be identified as ‘Limited’, ‘Developing’, or ‘Performing’ in each area, this will inform whether you are recommended to upgrade. • If a rider is limited in any area, you shouldn’t move up a squad unless your age requires it. • If you are developing in all areas, you are probably mid-range of your current squad, and will be encouraged to work towards performing in all areas. • If you are performing in all areas, you will be top end of the squad and possibly nearing the time to move up a squad. Further information is attached to this entry and also available on our regional pages on the website. Once a Squad member, riders can ride the Rider Skills Tests for their Squad and use these for team selection or the South & East Rider League Test sheets can be purchased at https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/shop/test-sheets-and-plans/bd-youth-tests/