Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about The Equestrian 25 Autumn Challenge
Getting Started
Activities
Completion
Special Situations
Getting Started
The complete challenge costs £25 as a one-time payment. This includes:
- An activity log for you to record your activities (emailed within 24 hours)
- Up to 9 weeks to complete your challenge
- Red completion rosette
- Free UK postage for your rosette
- Email support throughout your challenge
No hidden costs, no monthly fees - just one payment and you're set!
The challenge runs for everyone from 20 September through 20 November 2025.
This means: All participants start on 20 September or later and must complete their 25 activities by 20 November - no exceptions.
Absolutely not! The challenge is designed to be inclusive of all types of riders:
- Lesson riders: Count your lessons, plus any ground work with school horses
- Loan horses: Part loans and full loans count completely
- Shared horses: Activities with shared horses count
- Multiple horses: You can complete activities with different horses
Many successful participants are lesson riders who supplement with theory study and ground work.
All experience levels are welcome! The challenge is self-paced and you choose activities appropriate for your level:
- Beginners: Focus on lessons, ground work, and theory learning
- Intermediate: Mix of riding, training, and skill development
- Advanced: Include competition prep, training variety, and helping others
- Professionals: Teaching, judging, and continuing education count
Activities & Logging
Perfect! The challenge is designed for exactly this situation. With 25 activities over 9 weeks (20 September - 20 November), you need roughly 3 activities per week.
If you only ride 1-2 times per week, supplement with:
- Ground work sessions with horses
- Attending equestrian events and clinics
- Volunteer work at equestrian facilities
- Additional lessons or training sessions
Example weekly plan: 1 lesson + 1 ground work session + 1 clinic attendance = 3 activities
Limited Access Riders: If you qualify as a lesson rider with limited horse access, you may count up to 8 activities from theory study and care/maintenance under our exception policy.
There's no minimum time requirement! We focus on consistency rather than duration.
- A 15-minute ground work session counts
- A 3-hour competition counts as one activity
- A 30-minute theory study session counts
- A quick riding session counts
The goal is to maintain regular engagement with your equestrian interests, regardless of available time.
Competition days can count as multiple activities if they genuinely involve separate activities:
Example - Show Day:
- Activity 1: Pre-competition schooling session
- Activity 2: Dressage test
- Activity 3: Show jumping round
However, don't artificially split single activities. Use common sense - if it feels like one continuous activity, log it as one.
Exception Activities include theory/learning and extensive care/maintenance tasks. They may only be counted under specific circumstances:
You may use Exception Activities if you are:
- Horse owner with injured horse: Your horse is on veterinary stall rest
- Lesson rider: You only have access to horses through riding schools
- Rescue volunteer: You volunteer at an equine rescue/rehabilitation facility
Exception Activities include:
- Learning: Books, videos, courses, theory study
- Care & Maintenance: Detailed grooming, tack cleaning, equipment maintenance
Important Limits:
- Maximum 8 activities from exception categories (1/3 of your challenge)
- Must justify your exception status when submitting
- Focus should remain on direct horse interaction when possible
Exception Activities include theory/learning and extensive care/maintenance tasks. They may only be counted under specific circumstances:
You may use Exception Activities if you are:
- Horse owner with injured horse: Your horse is on veterinary stall rest
- Lesson rider: You only have access to horses through riding schools
- Rescue volunteer: You volunteer at an equine rescue/rehabilitation facility
Exception Activities include:
- Learning: Books, videos, courses, theory study
- Care & Maintenance: Detailed grooming, tack cleaning, equipment maintenance
Important Limits:
- Maximum 8 activities from exception categories (1/3 of your challenge)
- Must justify your exception status when submitting
- Focus should remain on direct horse interaction when possible
No, unless you need an exception for lesson horse, injured horse, etc. Basic horse care counts when it involves direct horse interaction and you need an exception:
- Grooming sessions where you're working with the horse
- Leading horses to/from turnout
- Handling during hoof picking and basic care
Exception Activities: Extended care & maintenance activities (in-depth grooming, tack cleaning, feeding routines) may only be counted under these conditions:
- Your horse is on veterinary stall rest
- You're a lesson rider with limited horse access
- You're volunteering at an equine rescue
Maximum: 8 activities from exception categories
The focus is on activities that involve meaningful interaction with horses rather than just maintenance tasks.
Completion & Rosettes
Horse injuries are part of equestrian life, and you can still complete the challenge!
If your horse is on veterinary stall rest, you qualify for Exception Activities:
- Ground work (hand walking if vet approved)
- Direct horse interaction and care
- Up to 8 activities from theory study and care/maintenance
- Veterinary-approved rehabilitation exercises
Alternative approaches:
- Focus on other horses if you have access (lessons, volunteer work)
- Use the time for valuable equestrian learning
- Attend clinics and educational events
- Research and plan for when your horse returns to work
Remember: You still need to complete 25 activities total, with a maximum of 8 from exception categories. The focus should remain on horse interaction when possible.
Many participants find injury periods lead to valuable learning and skill development they wouldn't have pursued otherwise.
Unfortunately, late submissions cannot be accepted for rosettes. The 20 September - 20 November timeframe is part of the challenge structure with all activity logs required to be sent to us by 1 December 2025.
However:
- You've still made progress towards your equestrian goals
- You can register for future seasonal challenges
- Consider what prevented completion and plan accordingly next time
- The 9-week timeframe provides plenty of flexibility for most situations
We're always happy to provide guidance for future challenges.
Our delivery timeline:
- Submit log: Immediate confirmation email
- Review: Within 48 hours
- Dispatch: Within 5 working days via Royal Mail
- Delivery: 3-5 working days (standard UK post)
Total time: Usually 7-12 days from submission to delivery
All UK delivery is included in your £25 fee - no additional charges!
You'll receive a red rosette - the classic colour for 1st place and achievement.
Features include:
- High-quality ribbon construction
- Central badge with "Equestrian 25 Autumn Challenge"
- 3 tier rosette design
- Suitable for display in tack rooms or alongside other achievements
It's designed to sit proudly with your other equestrian awards and rosettes.
Special Situations
Horse injuries are part of equestrian life! You can still complete the challenge:
- Ground work: Hand walking (if vet approved), grooming, basic care
- Theory focus: Use the time for learning - books, courses, videos
- Other horses: Help friends, volunteer at stables, or take lessons on other horses
- Rehabilitation: Vet-approved rehab exercises count as activities
- Planning: Research and plan for when your horse returns to work
Many participants find injury periods lead to valuable learning and skill development.
British weather is unpredictable! The challenge timeframe allows for weather flexibility:
Rainy day alternatives:
- Indoor school work (if available)
- Stable-based activities (grooming, tack cleaning)
- Theory study sessions
- Equipment maintenance and organisation
- Planning and goal-setting for future activities
Remember: indoor activities count exactly the same as outdoor ones!
For significant illness or injury that prevents equestrian activity for extended periods, contact us immediately.
Extensions are only considered for genuine medical situations with appropriate documentation.
Minor illnesses (colds, etc.) are expected to be accommodated within the 8-week timeframe through:
- Theory study while unwell
- Planning and research activities
- Catching up when recovered
Absolutely! Professional equestrians can include work-related activities as regular challenge activities:
- Teaching lessons: Each lesson or session counts as a full activity
- Training horses: Each training session counts normally
- Competition judging: Each competition day counts as an activity
- Clinic instruction: Teaching at clinics counts fully
- Professional development: Attending courses and seminars
Professional activities count as regular challenge activities - they involve direct horse interaction and equestrian expertise. No exception category limits apply.
The challenge encourages all forms of equestrian engagement, including professional activities. Your work as an instructor contributes to the broader equestrian community and absolutely qualifies!
Still Have Questions?
We're here to help! Contact us for any queries about the challenge:
Email: [email protected]
Response Time: Within 24 hours
We want you to succeed in your challenge, so don't hesitate to ask!