12 min read Last updated: January 2026 Torn between starting in BD Quest or jumping straight into regular British Dressage? This guide shows when to begin with Quest and exactly when to switchonce youre consistently scoring 63%+so you can build confidence, qualify smartly, and plan a season that targets My Quest top five scores or BD Area Festival points. Quick Summary Short on time? Here are the key takeaways. Area: Choose Quest First What To Do: Join BD Club membership, enter My Quest or Team Quest at Intro/Prelim/Novice, and use a Winter or Summer season to build ring-craft. Why It Matters: Lenient judging and no points record make it a low-pressure start. Common Mistake: Skipping Quest and meeting harsher scoring before youre settled. Area: Move to Regular BD What To Do: Switch to points classes when youre reliably scoring 63%+; enter Bronze/Silver at your level and start collecting qualifiers. Why It Matters: Three 63%+ scores open the Area Festival pathway. Common Mistake: Staying in Quest once youre already competitive in regular BD. Area: Points & Sections What To Do: Track your percentages and convert to BD points (111 for 6080%+); check youre in the correct Bronze/Silver/Gold section. Why It Matters: Correct points and sectioning control progression and eligibility. Common Mistake: Expecting points from Intro/Quest or entering the wrong section. Area: Leaderboards & Finals What To Do: My Questtarget five strong scores; Team Questplan outings to finish top 15 regionally and nominate your Semi-Final early. Why It Matters: Focused scheduling secures Finals/Nationals opportunities. Common Mistake: Chasing every show instead of targeting venues/tests you ride well. Area: Entry Limits & Workload What To Do: Keep to two Team Quest tests per horse per day and a maximum of four including My Quest; build rest weeks after busy runs. Why It Matters: Staying within limits protects soundness and keeps scores consistent. Common Mistake: Over-competing one horse or breaking test caps. Area: Team Setup & Tactics What To Do: Form a 34 rider team, mix levels if helpful, and remember the best three scores count; ride for different teams on different horses if needed. Why It Matters: Smart composition maximises team totals while keeping it fair. Common Mistake: Riding twice for the same team on the same day or missing the two-month Semi-Final change window. Area: Test Choice & Prep What To Do: Start with lower-numbered tests (e.g., Prelim 2/7), memorise with BD sheets/TestPro, and practise full tests and collectives at home. Why It Matters: Simpler patterns build accuracy and confidence early. Common Mistake: Entering complex tests too soon and leaking marks on basics. Area: Membership & Gear What To Do: Hold Club membership for Quest; upgrade to full BD to earn points; pack compliant hat/boots, grooming kit, spare numnah and season-appropriate rugs. Why It Matters: The right membership and kit prevent entry issues and show-day stress. Common Mistake: Entering points classes without full membership or arriving with non-compliant/insufficient gear. In This Guide What is British Dressage Quest? How does Quest differ from regular BD? How do qualifications and leaderboards work in Quest? How do BD points and sections work in regular classes? Should you start with Quest or go straight to BD? What should you enter and how should you plan your season? What gear do you actually need for a smooth BD debut? What are the biggest pitfalls and the easiest fixes? Thinking about stepping into affiliated dressage but not sure whether to start with Quest or jump straight into regular British Dressage? Youre not alone and the good news is theres a clear, confidence-building pathway for every rider and horse.Key takeaway: Start with BD Quest if youre new to affiliated dressage, then move into regular BD once youre consistently scoring 63%+ and want to earn points toward Area Festivals.What is British Dressage Quest?British Dressage Quest is BDs entry-level route with two strands My Quest (individual) and Team Quest (teams) at Intro, Prelim and Novice, open to Club members only. The Quest calendar runs Summer (1 Jan31 Aug) and Winter (1 Sep31 Dec) seasons across the UK.Quest is designed to be welcoming and relaxed while still giving you structured goals. If youre eligible for Bronze sections at Intro, Prelim or Novice under BD rules, you can take part in one or both strands. Team Quest lets 34 friends compete together (best three scores count), while My Quest focuses on your individual progress within your BD region (determined by postcode). Its a brilliant stepping stone from unaffiliated to affiliated without the pressure of points.Quest is the perfect starting point if you are new to British Dressage. With two championships to aim for it is perfect if you want to have fun and take part in a relaxed competition where team spirit and personal progress are the most important factors. EquiTeam (BD-affiliated guidance)In the UK, the split seasons suit our weather: plenty of indoor options in the Winter season (SepDec), and a full slate of venues across all regions year-round. Minimum Club membership is required for horse and rider for Quest, which keeps initial costs down compared to full BD membership. Youll find the official overview and eligibility details via BD and companion guides at Your Horse and EquiTeam.How does Quest differ from regular BD?Quest classes dont award BD points and judging is generally more lenient than regular BD, while regular BD awards points for 60%+ at Prelim and above and runs Bronze/Silver/Gold sections.In regular affiliated BD (Prelim level and higher), you earn points based on your percentage: 60.0061.99% = 1 point, scaling up to 80%+ = 11 points. No points are awarded for Intro, music, Young Horse or Team Quest classes. Those points determine progression and eligibility within BDs three sections (Bronze, Silver, Gold), designed to group riders by experience. See BDs official competing page for the full structure: British Dressage Competing.By contrast, Quest is separated from the points system entirely; its there to build confidence, ring-craft and consistency without affecting your BD points record. Experienced UK riders often note Quest scoring is closer to unaffiliated, even when run at the same venue and on the same day as regular BD classes:Yes completely agree, quest is more lenient than bd, even if on same day as bd. More like unaffiliated... Horse & Hound ForumIf youre brand new to BD, that leniency can be a big positive it helps you settle, get feedback, and work towards achievable qualifications before you step into points classes.How do qualifications and leaderboards work in Quest?In Team Quest, the best three scores from 34 riders make your team total and the top 15 teams in your region reach Semi-Finals; winners progress to the National Championships at Bury Farm in October. In My Quest, your top five scores count to regional leaderboards, the top 20 in each region head to Regional Finals, and the top four from each of eight finals go to Nationals.Heres how to use the structure to your advantage:Team Quest: You can compete at Intro, Prelim or Novice and even mix levels within a team. You can nominate and change your preferred Semi-Final within two months of your first competition ideal if your plans or team composition evolve. Full rules and FAQs are on BDs site: Team Quest FAQs.My Quest: Your region is fixed by your postcode, and the leaderboard updates weekly. Because only your best five scores count, smart scheduling really pays off. Keep an eye on standings through the season via Your Horses Quest guide and BD communications.Test limits: A horse can do a maximum of two Team Quest tests per day (same or different teams/levels) and a total of four tests per day including My Quest. Riders cant ride twice for the same team on the same day but can ride for multiple teams on different horses/levels (BD Team Quest FAQs).Results admin: If a result is missing or looks wrong, first check your horse/rider eligibility and that the show submitted results correctly, then email teamquest@britishdressage.co.uk with details (BD Team Quest FAQs).At Just Horse Riders, we recommend you set a season goal early: for example, Top 20 My Quest regional finish at Prelim or Team Quest Semi-Final qualification. Then plan shows to build five strong My Quest scores or enough Team Quest outings to sit inside the top 15 regionally.How do BD points and sections work in regular classes?Regular BD awards 111 points for 6080%+ at Prelim level and above and groups riders into Bronze, Silver and Gold, with Bronze/Silver riders needing three 63%+ scores to reach Area Festivals.Once youre ready to collect points, youll enter standard BD classes at your chosen level. Percentages translate into points starting at 60.00% (1 point) and escalating to 11 points for 80%+ see the BD framework here: BD Competing. The Bronze, Silver and Gold sections exist at each level (Prelim, Novice, Elementary, etc.) so you compete against similar experience. Many riders new to BD will be in Bronze.For Bronze and Silver sections, you typically need three qualifying scores of 63% or higher at your level to reach the Area Festivals, held twice yearly (Winters in JanFeb, Summers in JulAug). Successful Festival results can lead you onwards to Nationals; in many cases, the top two per Festival progress, so those 63%+ scores are your first big milestone (EquiTeam).Gold sections allow experienced riders on novice horses to stay developing at an appropriate level under BDs rules, which keeps the sport fair while prioritising correct training over chasing rapid level changes. If youre unsure about your section, BDs choosing a competition guide is very helpful: BD Choosing a competition.Should you start with Quest or go straight to BD?Start with Quest if you want a supportive, relaxed entry and minimal admin; step into regular BD once youre reliably around 63%+ and ready to collect points for Area Festivals.Heres a simple decision framework:Choose Quest if: youre new to affiliated dressage, youd like a more forgiving judging environment, you want to compete with friends as a team, or you just need mileage at Intro/Prelim/Novice without affecting your points record. Quest requires Club membership only for horse and rider.Choose regular BD if: youre averaging 60%+ at Prelim or above, want to earn BD points, and have Area Festivals or Regionals in your sights. Aim for 63%+ to tick off qualifiers efficiently and progress. Full BD membership is required to earn points.Many UK riders blend the two: a Winter Quest season to build confidence indoors, then a Spring pivot into points classes as scores solidify. This approach suits our weather patterns, keeps horses fresh, and gives you two championship pathways. As Stephanie Verge, Quest Officer for BD, puts it:We welcome everyone anyone whod like to join in the fun! Depending on your goals, you can join as an individual competing within My Quest, or join with friends as a team and compete in Team Quest or even try both. Riders just need to be eligible to compete in bronze sections at intro, prelim or novice, according to BD rules. Your HorseWhat should you enter and how should you plan your season?Start with lower-numbered tests at your level (e.g., Prelim 2) and build show mileage across the Summer (JanAug) or Winter (SepDec) Quest seasons, keeping to a maximum of four tests per horse per day.Test design matters. In BD, lower-numbered tests at each level are typically more straightforward (fewer movements, simpler patterns). Picking something like Prelim 2 or 7 is a smart way to settle nerves while you polish accuracy and transitions. Use the Dressage TestPro app recommendation via EquiTeam or buy official BD test sheets to memorise movements, then school parts in isolation before stringing full tests together at home.Keep these planning rules in mind:Entry limits: A horse may do two Team Quest tests per day and a maximum of four tests per day including My Quest (BD Team Quest FAQs).Team logistics: You cant ride twice for the same team on the same day, but you can ride for multiple teams on different horses/levels. That keeps things fair and horses fresher.Regional strategy: In My Quest, only your top five scores count so target venues where you ride well, pick kind tests, and time outings to keep your horse peaking.Semi-Final nomination: For Team Quest, nominate a Semi-Final early, but you can change it within two months of your first comp if plans shift.Quick tip: Build in rest weeks after intensive blocks, especially if youre also hunting, eventing or showjumping through the winter. UK surfaces and weather can sap energy protect soundness and keep training playful.What gear do you actually need for a smooth BD debut?You need safe, compliant rider attire and practical horsewear; prioritise fit, comfort and weather-appropriate rugs for UK conditions.While BD rules outline attire, comfort and function should drive your packing list. Our customers often find that getting the basics right removes 90% of competition-day stress. Build your kit with:Rider essentials: A well-fitted skull cap or peaked hat that meets current standards and smart boots or gaiters. Explore approved riding helmets and hats, dressage-friendly riding boots, and tidy womens competition clothing for a polished, rule-compliant look.Legwear: Supportive, grippy jods or breeches help you sit still in the sitting trot. See our curated womens jodhpurs and breeches collection for show and schooling picks.Horse comfort: Protect limbs for warm-up and travel with horse boots and bandages, and pack a spare numnah. For coat shine and neat plaits, our grooming collection has plaiting bands, sprays and brushes that withstand British drizzle.Seasonal rugs: Through SepDec (Quest Winter), many clipped or fine-coated horses are comfier turned out in 180300g fills on cold, wet days. Browse insulating winter turnout rugs and cosy stable rugs to keep condition and coats consistent.Supplements and on-the-day calm: For horses needing digestive or joint support during busier show periods, see our supplements range, including trusted brands like NAF.UK travel safety: If you hack to the venue, add hi-vis rider gear so youre seen in low winter light or show-day showers.Trusted brands: Many BD riders favour durable, smart pieces from LeMieux, Shires and WeatherBeeta for everyday training through to show day.At Just Horse Riders, we recommend packing the day before, with a printed test sheet and a hand-written warm-up plan. Its simple but incredibly effective under pressure.What are the biggest pitfalls and the easiest fixes?The biggest pitfalls are chasing scores without a plan, over-competing one horse, and misunderstanding eligibility; avoid them with a clear season goal, strict test limits, and regular leaderboard checks.Heres how to stay on track:Set your target now: Top 20 My Quest regional or Top 15 Team Quest into Semis. Everything else flows from that.Pick kinder tests: Start with lower-numbered tests at your level to build accurate lines, corners and halts before you add complexity.Cap the workload: Never exceed four tests per horse per day (including My Quest), and vary venues/surfaces to protect soundness.Schedule deload weeks: UK winter footing and travel are taxing. Book physio or an easy hacking block after big show runs.Score-tracking discipline: In My Quest, only the top five scores count plan 68 runs aiming to bank five strong ones rather than chasing every weekend.Section sense: Double-check Bronze/Silver/Gold eligibility before entering regular BD. It saves admin headaches and keeps your progress clean.Practice test-riding: Use TestPro or printed sheets, ride full tests at home on the clock, and school the collectives (suppleness, contact, impulsion) every week.Pro tip: If your horse tightens at shows, warm up 10 minutes shorter than at home and ride an ultra-familiar pattern before you go in. Staying under threshold often adds 23% to your test through better relaxation.FAQsAre Quest scores really more generous than regular BD?Yes. Rider consensus indicates Quest judging is more lenient and closer to unaffiliated standards, even at joint venues, making it confidence-building for newcomers (Horse & Hound Forum).Do Quest classes give me BD points?No. Quest classes dont award BD points. Points start at 60%+ for Prelim and above in regular BD only, with 111 points awarded depending on your percentage (British Dressage).What membership do I need for Quest vs regular BD?Quest requires Club membership for both horse and rider. To earn points in regular BD classes, youll need full BD membership and horse registration (Your Horse).How do I qualify from Team Quest and My Quest?Team Quest: best three scores from your 34 rider team create your total; top 15 teams per region to Semi-Finals; winners to Nationals at Bury Farm (October). My Quest: your top five scores count; top 20 per region to Regional Finals; top four from each of eight finals to Nationals (Your Horse).How many tests can my horse do in a day at Quest?Up to two Team Quest tests per day and a maximum of four tests per day in total when including My Quest. You cant ride twice for the same team on the same day (BD Team Quest FAQs).When should I move from Quest into regular BD?When youre reliably around 63%+ at your level and want to collect points for Area Festivals (three 63%+ scores needed at Bronze/Silver). Move sooner if you and your coach feel youre already competitive in regular sections.Whats the smartest first test to enter?Start with a lower-numbered test at your level (for example Prelim 2) because these are typically simpler and help you bank a confident early score (BD Choosing a competition).Ready to plan your first season? Build your kit, pick your first test, and map three shows now then let Quest or BD points give your training real direction. If youd like help choosing the right gear for the British weather or your first call-up, our team at Just Horse Riders is here to help. Shop the Essentials Everything mentioned in this guide, ready to browse. Shop Riding HelmetsShop Riding BootsShop Competition WearShop Jodhpurs & BreechesShop Boots & Bandages