Shearwater Insurance Ends British Dressage Young Horse Sponsorship

Dressage

Great Britain

Shearwater Insurance, British Dressage's most loyal sponsor of over two decades, has decided to end its British Dressage Young Horse Sponsorship.

British Dressage Young Horse Sponsorship

The series, that supports the early careers of four, five and six-year-old horses and is title sponsor of the "British Young Dressage Horse Championships," has heralded the start of international Grand Prix careers for the likes of Valegro and Uthopia who both notably rode to Olympic glory in 2012.

The series has grown and developed over the past two decades and has proved to be a firm favourite at the National Championships and has been synonymous with the name ‘Shearwater’. However, the time has come for the specialist insurance broker to step back and bring in a change of direction for their sponsorship commitments.

A New Direction to our Sponsorship Strategy

“It has been a successful two decades for Shearwater as title sponsors of the Young Horse classes, but as the economy and the equestrian industry goes through a period of change, we too have taken the decision to bring a new direction to our sponsorship strategy,” commented Daniel Simpson, Commercial Director for Shearwater Insurance.

“As we move in to 2022, we’re now looking to support a wider number of events, venues, individuals and organisations. Each month we receive a significant number of requests from clients, and non-clients, for support. Our change in strategy now looks to offer support to a larger number of these opportunities, which we hope will span across the whole of the equestrian industry, ultimately connecting with more existing and potential clients.”

Work with Wides Equestrian Audience Possible

Eurodressage inquired for a more detailed explanation for the withdrawal of the sponsorship. Daniel Simpson, Commercial Director at Shearwater, told Eurodressage that they are seeking to target a larger audience which they no longer find in the young horse programme.

“Each month we receive a significant number of requests from clients, and non-clients, for support. Our change in strategy now looks to work with the widest equestrian audience possible – those non-competing riders, grassroots, to elite level," Simpson told Eurodressage. "Moving away from the Young Horse sponsorship, that is traditionally more a professional audience, enables us to offer increased levels of support to a larger number of events, venues and individuals, which we hope will span across the whole of the equestrian industry, ultimately connecting with more existing and potential clients.”

End of BD Partnership

Earlier in the year it was announced that Shearwater Insurance would no longer be partners with British Dressage, and no longer providing the Personal Accident and Public Liability Insurance for its members.

10% discount on all policy lines remains active until 31 December 2021 at the earliest.