Dressage Plus Sponsorship Team 2027

Applications for the Dressage Plus Sponsorship Team 2027 are now open.

8 sponsorship positions available Australia-wide

I’m excited to once again open applications for the Dressage Plus Sponsorship Team for 2027.

For more than a decade, the Dressage Plus Sponsorship Team has been about much more than putting a logo on a rider or offering a few freebies.

It’s about supporting riders who genuinely want to grow.

Riders who are willing to work on themselves as well as their horse, learn new skills, strengthen their mindset and keep showing up through the highs, setbacks and everything in between.

In 2027, I’ll be selecting eight riders to work with and support throughout the year.

Who can apply?

The Dressage Plus Sponsorship Team is open to riders aged 16 years and over, Australia-wide.

You might compete through EA, Pony Club, HRCAV or another association, at grassroots level through to FEI, or simply enjoy riding without the competition bug.

Your level isn’t what matters most to me.

Your attitude, willingness to learn and commitment to your own growth are.

Who am I looking for?

I’m looking for riders who are dedicated to their riding and genuinely interested in developing the mindset side of their performance.

You might be working through competition nerves, overthinking, self-doubt, confidence challenges, fear or comparison.

Or perhaps you’re already riding confidently and have some exciting performance goals ahead, but recognise that training your mindset can help you perform at your best when the pressure is on.

You don’t need to have everything figured out.

But you do need to be willing to learn, take action, try the tools and be an active part of the support available to you.

Because being a Dressage Plus Sponsored Rider isn’t just about what you receive. It’s about what you do with the opportunity.

You don’t need a big social media following

This isn’t an ambassador program or a search for riders with the biggest social media following.

The Dressage Plus Sponsorship Team is about investing in riders who are committed to their development, willing to work on their mindset and ready to make the most of the support available to them.

Your attitude, willingness to learn and what you’ll bring to the team matter far more to me than your follower count.

More than a sponsorship, it’s a team

If you’re selected, you won’t be doing 2027 alone.

You’ll become part of a supportive group of like-minded riders who understand the ups and downs that come with horses, training and competing.

There’ll be people to celebrate the proud moments with, talk through the challenging ones, learn alongside and remind you that you’re not the only rider who sometimes gets stuck in their own head!

My goal is to create a space where riders feel supported to grow, not pressured to be perfect.

What you’ll receive as a Dressage Plus Sponsored Rider

Each of the eight sponsored riders will receive:

• 12-month Compete with Confidence Club membership – value $597
• Access to The Rider’s Focus Method competition mindset training
• Monthly live Zoom mindset coaching and training through CWC Club
• Access to the supportive CWC rider Facebook community
• Discounted private 1:1 Mindset Coaching sessions with Danielle throughout the year – just $70 per session (normally $120)
• Ongoing email and message coaching support
• A 2027 Dressage Plus Performance Diary, posted to you – value $39
• Regular opportunities to share and celebrate your progress through Dressage Plus social media
• Your own Sponsored Rider profile on the Dressage Plus website
• The support of your fellow Sponsored Riders and the wider CWC community throughout the year

Total sponsorship value: $840 per rider.

Across the team, Dressage Plus will provide more than $6,720 worth of coaching, education, resources and support to our eight Sponsored Riders throughout 2027.

Already purchased your 2027 Performance Diary? Please don’t hold off ordering one because you’re applying for sponsorship. If you’re selected for the team, the amount you paid for your diary will be credited towards your first private 1:1 coaching session.

What I ask from you in return

I want this to be a genuine two-way partnership.

If selected, I’ll ask you to make use of the coaching and resources available, be open to learning and trying new mindset tools, participate in the Sponsored Rider Team and CWC community, and share occasional updates about your riding and mindset journey throughout the year.

An important part of being a Dressage Plus Sponsored Rider is also helping me spread the message about the value of mindset coaching to more riders. This means being comfortable sharing relevant Dressage Plus social media posts, commenting or engaging with posts where appropriate, tagging Dressage Plus in occasional riding updates, and helping increase awareness of the support available to riders.

I don’t expect you to constantly promote Dressage Plus or turn your social media into an advertising page. Instead, I’d love you to genuinely share your experience when something from Dressage Plus has helped you, whether that’s leaving a review, sharing a mindset tool or post that resonated with you, or talking about something you’ve taken away from a coaching session, CWC training or resource. Those genuine experiences can help another rider realise that mindset support could help them too.

You’ll also need to be comfortable with Dressage Plus celebrating your progress through social media and website updates, and providing honest feedback or a testimonial about your experience during the year.

You don’t need perfect results, a perfect horse or a perfect year.

I’m much more interested in riders who are willing to show up, take action, learn, grow and support the people around them.

What can mindset support look like?

FEI Small Tour rider Melissa Hoskings-Taafe has been part of the Dressage Plus Sponsorship Team for 12 years now.

Like so many riders, Melissa has experienced the mental challenges that can come with competing, including comparison, pressure and learning how to move forward after mistakes.

Through our work together, she has developed a calmer approach to competition and a stronger ability to refocus when things don’t go to plan.

“My mindset towards competing has changed so much due to Dani’s support.”

Melissa’s journey is a great reminder that mindset work isn’t about becoming a rider who never feels pressure or has a difficult day.

It’s about developing the skills to handle those moments differently and continuing to grow alongside your horse.

Key dates for 2027

Applications open: Monday 7th December 2026
Applications close: Midnight Thursday 31 December 2026
2027 Sponsored Rider Team announced: Sunday 3 January 2027

All applicants will be contacted by email with the outcome.

Ready to put yourself forward?

If you’ve read this page thinking, this sounds like me, I’d love you to apply.

Take your time with the application and answer honestly. I’m not looking for the rider with the fanciest answers or biggest results.

I want to get to know you, where you’re at with your riding, what you’d love to achieve and how you approach your own growth.

Important tip: I recommend saving your longer answers somewhere before pressing Submit, just in case technology decides to throw a buck!

Once you submit your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

If you don’t see it within a few minutes, please check your Junk, Spam or Promotions folder and add info@dressageplus.com.au to your contacts or safe sender list.

Ready?

Questions or having trouble applying? Email info@dressageplus.com.au and I’ll be happy to help.

Good luck!

Danielle Pooles
Dressage Plus