Our Mission - "To advance the Art of Dressage and to encourage and foster horsemanship in all its forms."

The Yarra Valley Dressage Club was formed in March, 1979 when a group of friends joined together keen to share their interest in dressage with other like minded people in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. 61 members paid $3.00 to join the club.  Judges were paid $10.00. The club ended the year with a profit of $180.15.

Often during those early days members competed where the arena was drawn on the ground with lime or at Hutton Lodge or in a paddock on a member’s property. Riders paid $3.00 to ride a test and competed for prize money of $5.00 / $10.00. Some of the earliest members are still members of Yarra Valley Dressage Club today.

The Yarra Valley Dressage Club was incorporated in 1984 and the mission, as it is today, is to advance the art and sport of dressage and to encourage and foster horsemanship in all its forms. 

During the 1980’s, the Club regularly used the grass car park at the Yarra Glen Racecourse. Unfortunately in 1986, the club was prohibited from using this area as patrons attending the races had complained about stepping into horse manure as they alighted from their cars.

1990 was the bumper year for memberships, with over 230 members.  Usually the club has around 100 members at any one time.

The Club has used many venues around the Yarra Valley in subsequent years -  Seville Pony Club grounds, Flowerfield, Wandin Park and the Lilydale and Yarra Glen Hunt Club. Today Shirley Heigths Equestrian Centre in Gladysdale is our home venue.

Yarra Valley Dressage Club is a friendly, welcoming and inclusive club catering for riders of all levels and horses and ponies of all breeds and types.

• We provide a club members competition most months and alternate between a club day(normal test riding day) and a protocol day (30 minutes with the judge).  Lunch is always included.  
• Members can bring young horses for arena familiarization during the lunch break without having to ride a test.
• Members receive cut price entry fees for all YVDC official open competitions.
• Club Leaderboard – points are allocated for placings at club and official open competitions with trophies awarded to winners of each level at the AGM.
• On offer are  periodic training clinics with leading clinicians.
• Two social functions per year – the AGM in August and the Christmas Party on December club day.
• In addition, Yarra Valley enter a team each year in the Victoria Inter Club Teams Challenge in July or August if we have the numbers.