EV Dressage Squad Program

Victorian Dressage Squads Overview

The Victorian Dressage Squads aim to foster excellence and progression in the sport of dressage by providing structured opportunities for riders to develop their skills, achieve competitive benchmarks, and represent their region with distinction. Central to these squads is the commitment to nurturing talent, encouraging teamwork, and upholding the highest standards of equestrian discipline.

Squad members have the opportunity to receive riding tuition from world-class coaches at a subsidised rate. In addition to mounted sessions, they will participate in a range of off-horse activities, including rider biomechanics, health and wellbeing, sports psychology, social media, sponsorship, team building, and presentation skills.

Intake 2 will offer riders the opportunity to attend three squad weekends.

Tentative dates include:

• March 7-8
• April 18-19
• June 27-28

To support the program, riders are required to contribute volunteer assistance at least once annually. This may include helping with fundraising, lunch coordination, social media, coach transport, and other program-related tasks.

Squad inclusion is via this application only.

If you are already a 2025/26 dressage squad member, you are not required to reapply unless you are seeking to nominate for a higher level squad or have changed horses.  

Riders may apply for squad selection on more than one horse; however, a separate application must be submitted via this online form for each horse ridden.

Applications for the 2025/26 intake 2 close on 19 February 2026. 

To view the full criteria for each squad, please go to the EV website:

•  https://www.vic.equestrian.org.au/dressage

For any further enquiries, please email dressage@equestrianvictoria.com.au

• 2025/26 Squad Year ends 30 June 2026. 

All squad members will be invited to reapply for the 2026/27 intake.  

Selected squad members will receive an official acceptance letter with further details including confirmed squad dates. 

 

 

PERFORMANCES

Please list your top three performance results achieved between January 2025 and today on horse nominated in this application.

Performances must have a minimum of two judges, be official unrestricted classes and not be a junior or young rider class.  

Please note that final squad selections are at the discretion of the Squad Selector team.
While achieving the eligibility scores is an important milestone, it does not guarantee automatic inclusion in the squad program.

 

2025/2026 Dressage Squad Rider Agreement
ATHLETE UNDERTAKINGS:

I acknowledge and agree that, during the Term, I will comply with:

The athlete’s Code of Conduct, EA Member Protection Policy, EA/EV Social Media Policy and EA Anti-Doping Policy;
All policies and procedures of EA and EV as notified to me before or during the Term;
I represent and agree that:

• I am a resident of Victoria and a member of EA;
• I will during the Term and for the period of this Agreement, make myself available for selection to represent Victoria in State and National teams, if selected to do so, unless I have an acceptable reason for not doing so. This does not apply if I or my horse retire or are unable to compete for a given period of time;
• I will not represent any other state during the Term;
• I will comply with attendance requirements at Squad activities (see below);
• I will wear at the request of EV an official uniform or logo when representing Victoria during training, competition or official functions.
• I will immediately advise the selectors if the horse on the squad is sold or becomes unfit to participate in squad activities, or if for some reason I cannot ride for an extended period.

PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS

I agree to ensure that payment is made at least two weeks prior to each squad.
Squad costs can be found on the EV website by accessing the relevant squad criteria.

MEDIA AND PUBLIC STATEMENTS:

I acknowledge and agree that as a member of EA, I am at all times bound by their Constitution, Policies, By Laws and Codes of Conduct and not to participate in conduct that would bring or be seen to as bringing EA, EV, The Dressage Squad and/or its sponsors into disrepute;

I agree that I will raise any issue or concern that I may have in respect to selection, selectors, selection policies, training and squad/team policies and management or conduct of another Athlete and any related matters, only through the DV Committee or the EV CEO;

I agree that nothing in this clause prevents me from factually representing that I am a member of the squad/team and from publicly discussing my and my horse’s athletic performance.

SQUAD ACTIVITIES REQUIREMENT:

Athletes who accept to be a member of the EV squad agree to comply with the following commitment:

To attend a minimum of 2 on horse training weekends per year, with at least one of their identified squad horses and 1 off horse session, i.e. 

a) Lessons / Clinic with organised Coach;
b) Attending  Protocol Test riding sessions as organised by the Dressage Squad Committee.
c) Attending off-horse presentations/activities organised by the Squad Commitee.

To participate in any nominated non-riding activities such as promotion, social or team activities.  Failure to attend the minimum attendance requirements will result in the participant being ineligible to re-apply for the squad for the following 12 months. 

When a squad member is riding as a representative for Victoria at State and National events, such as when a member of a Victorian team, they will ensure that they attend the prize-giving ceremonies, unless an acceptable reason is provided to the chef d’equipe.

SELECTING 'I AGREE' BELOW ACKNOWLEDGES THAT YOU, AS THE APPLICANT NAMED ABOVE, HAVE READ AND ACCEPT THE TERMS & CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.