The competition season has started in Malaysia for 2025. Here are some rules and tips that all dressage competitors / coaches  need to know.

From the FEI Judging Manual : The object of Dressage is the development of the horse as a happy athlete in a positive mental & physical state through harmonious education, allowing the horse to be calm, supple, loose and flexible, but also confident, attentive and keen, thus achieving perfect understanding with the rider.

These qualities are revealed by: • The freedom and regularity of the paces, • The harmony, lightness and ease of the movements, • The lightness of the forehand and the engagement of the hindquarters, originating from a lively impulsion, • The acceptance of the bridle, with thoroughness without any tension or resistance.

The Horse thus gives the impression of doing, of its own accord, what is required. Confident and attentive, submitting generously to the control of the Athlete, remaining absolutely straight in any movement on a straight line and bending accordingly when moving on curved lines.

In Malaysia, we use the same tests and rules, as used in Australia. The tests and rules can be found using this link below:
https://www.equestrian.org.au/Dressage-rules

Basic rules:
1. At a competition, only the rider competing is allowed to ride the horse. Your trainer / coach cannot train or warm up your horse at all during the all competition days

2. Preparatory classes are the starting level of dressage tests. Horses graded Preliminary / horses yet to be graded,  can enter Preparatory level

3. Each time a horse competes in an official competition, the horse will get grading points according to the competition level and percentage obtained in the tests. The horse is graded according to its ability and can compete in the graded level, plus the level directly above it. To find out more about the grading system and what grade your horse is, contact EAM

4. The horse can only compete in 2 consecutive dressage levels. The levels are as follows: Preparatory → Preliminary → Novice → Elementary → Medium → Advanced → PSG upwards

5. One horse can only be ridden by one rider in Preliminary tests upwards

6. A horse can enter maximum 3 classes a day (jumping included)

EXAMPLES :

Chico = Horse graded at Preliminary

• Entries : Horse Chico and rider A
Preparatory and Preliminary     √
Preliminary and Novice              √
Preparatory and Novice              Χ
Preliminary and Elementary     Χ

• Entries : Horse Chico and riders A and B
Preparatory, rider A and Preliminary, rider B             √
Preliminary, rider A and Novice, rider B                       Χ
Preparatory, rider A & B, and Preliminary, rider C    √
Preparatory, rider A and Novice, rider B                      Χ

Baba = Horse graded Novice, rider A only
• Preliminary and Novice              Χ
• Preparatory and Novice              Χ
• Novice and Elementary              √
• Novice and Medium                    Χ

7. The warm up arena is the areas designated for warming up before your event. Final warm up area is normally inside the main arena, where the dressage arenas are set up. The competition arena is the dressage arena where your competition happens

8. Coaches cannot go inside the competition arena to coach riders. The diagram below is a common arena set up used in Malaysia

9. If you are riding more than 1 test, and cannot remember your tests, you can get a caller to read / call out each test movement for you. The judge should be informed beforehand

10. Section 2 of the rules explains more about dressage and what is required from each movement

11. The judge’s decision is final and cannot be appealed

12. Example of faults:
• Use of voice = minus 2 marks from the movement
• Outside assistance (getting instructions or coaching from someone outside) = can be eliminated
• Error of courses : 1st EOC = minus 2 marks, 2nd EOC = minus 4 marks, 3rd EOC = elimination
• Not taking one hand of the rein to salute = minus 0.5%
• Entering the arena before the bell / with horse boots / without gloves = minus 0.5%
• Lameness = elimination
• Fresh blood = elimination
• Leaving arena with all 4 legs = elimination
• Horse’s tongue out = major contact issue. Mark deducted from movement each time tongue is seen

Other faults and penalties can be found in the rule book

13. Dressage or general-purpose saddles are allowed. Gear that is not allowed – horse boots and martingale (in competition arena), draw reins, decoration on mane for plaits, etc. If using a headset to coach, your student is only allowed to have one ear phone / one ear piece.
Section 5 of the rules explains about what gear and tack is allowed.

Other guidelines:

1. Check the riding order for your riding times

2. Check your dressage test. Up to Novice, you are allowed to go sitting or rising trot, but some movements must be done in rising. If you are allowed to go rising in trot and your horse works better when you rise, then use your rising trot

3. After the event, you should collect your test sheet from the secretariat and read the comments given by the judge so that you can improve on certain parts of your test. How to understand your dressage test sheet
https://www.1mingong.com/your-dressage-test-sheet-explained/

4. If you are riding in 2 classes and the 2 riding times are too close together, speak to the Secretariat AS SOON AND AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE

5. If doing two classes, your horse should have a break of at least 30 minutes between each class

6. Check with the stewards or secretariat if classes are running late or on time

7. Plan your warm up accordingly, especially in hot weather / riding in the hot part of the day. Do not make your horse too tired to do the test

8. As a rider, you are allowed to stick to your riding time, even if the class is running early

9. You have to be ready to enter the arena at your riding time, and not be late

10. Presentation of horse and rider is important. Make sure you are tidily dressed = boots polished, hair tied neatly or in a hair net, collar is buttoned up, etc. Your horse should also be well presented = well groomed, tack clean, noseband / browband straight, etc

12. You are allowed to come to the judge, after the class is over, with your test sheet to ask for their feedback

USEFUL LINKS

FEI is the main governing body. Some useful links are as below:
https://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/organisers/dressage/tests
https://inside.fei.org/fei/disc/dressage/rules (also look at FEI Judging Manual)

Noseband tightness will be measured according to the method below:
https://inside.fei.org/fei/disc/dressage/rules/changes-2025

https://www.equestrian.org.au/Dressage-rules

https://www.1mingong.com/quality-marks-vs-technical-marks/