Dressage

Note: These are rules and regulations are for dressage competitions in Sweden. I am not very familiar with rules and regulations in other countries so I can't guarantee that these are valid in any other country.

Dressage Arena
The dressage arena can be 20mx40m or 20mx60m depending on which test you are riding.

 

Dressage Fence
The dressage fence should be about 30cm high and should be designed so that a horse can't get stuck in it. Metal or rope is not allowed to use. The rules also says that it should be light in colour, white is the most common. The letters marking out the places on the arena should be dark and on a light background. The letters can be marked at the wall in smaller indoor arenas but most often they're placed outside the dressage fence. The arena is marked as above (of course the letters inside the arena are not marked).

Dressage arena, showing the letters outside the dressage fence.

Judges
Depending on what test you are riding and on what "level" you compete, one, three or five judges can judge a class. We have 4 "levels" you can compete on; local, regional, national and elite. I've made a simple diagram to give you an idea:
 

Test	Local	Regional	National	Elite
Grand Prix Kür			3	5
Grand Prix Grand Prix Special			3	5
Int II			3	5
Int IB Int I			3	3
Prix St Georges MSV A		3	3	3
MSV B MSV C		1	1	3
LA LB LC LD LE	1	1	1	3

One judge is always placed at "C". At competitions with 3 judges they can be placed at C, B and E or C, M and H. At competitions with 5 judges they are placed at C, B, E, M and H. Every judge also has a secretary who sits next to them.

Rider's Equipment
A rider should wear a helmet, light breeches (commonly white), riding boots, riding jacket, light turtleneck or shirt and spurs. A white tie or stock tie may be used. Riding gloves are common to use. Safety vests are allowed to wear under or over the riding jacket.
At MSV A and above, riders are allowed to wear a tail-coat riding jacket. Riders over 18 years are also allowed to wear a hat instead of a helmet at these tests.

Policemen and militaries are allowed to ride in their uniforms.

A rider warming up her horse.

Horse Tack
A horse should be wearing a visible number (either on the bridle or at the saddle pad) at all times.
In all classes below and including LA:4, the horse should wear a snaffle bridle. Between LA:4 and MSV B:4 the rider can use a snaffle bridle or a double bridle. At MSV B:4 and above, a double bridle should be used.

As for a snaffle bridle, Cavesson bridles, flash bridles, drop noseband bridles and figure-8 bridles are allowed. A double bridle should have a cavesson noseband.

Saddles should be of English type with stirrups, stirrup leathers, girth and saddle pad. Half pads under the saddles are allowed.

Any leg protection and whips are forbidden in the arena but they are allowed when you warm up the horse. A whip may not be longer than 1m for ponies and 1.2m for horses.

A fly bonnet may be allowed if the judge has issued an exemption.

Braided manes and tails are allowed but nowhere it says that they have to be braided. Anyway braided manes are VERY common.

Another rider warming up her horse. If you look at her equipment and the tack of the horse you know that she's competing at least MSV A

Examples of suitable models
There are many good dressage models out there and I will just give some examples of models that I think would be suitable. I don't own all of the lovely models below as the pictures are taken at different liveshows I've attended. The thing when it comes to choosing your horse is to take a look at the horse, what is the horse doing? Then choose a suitable test and I use references! An explanation card with what test and what movement your model is performing is very helpful!

Breyer Horses of the World Totilas

Caprice

Breyer Sm. G4 Dressage Horse

Breyer Tr. Totilas

Eberl Valentino (second horse) and Eberl Absinth (third horse)

Schleich Dressage Mare



Breyer Tr. Salinero

 

 

I hope someone will have some use of this information :) If there is something you feel is missing or something you want me to include for the next equestrian disciplines post, please make a comment :)