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Dressage Riding Explained: Definition, Movements, Requirements for Horse and Rider
In Rhythm to Collection
In many contexts, the word "dressage" suggests that an animal is being taught a fundamentally pointless trick simply because the trainer wants it to – rather like a poodle taught to beg. In dressage riding, when everything goes well, it is entirely different. The purpose of training a horse in dressage is to turn a flight animal into a strong, calm riding horse and to preserve its health in the long term.
Dressage Riding – Table of Contents
What Is Dressage Riding?
Dressage riding – many people think of a discipline in which elegantly dressed riders demonstrate, in often highly impressive fashion, how capable their horse is and how well and harmoniously they work together with their mount.
Dressage is the merging of two living beings into one, in which both willingly give their best and communicate through the subtlest of signals – and the gentle yet powerful dance that results from it. —
But even those who want nothing to do with white breeches and the piaffe need dressage in order to ride their horse well and keep it healthy.
The German Equestrian Federation (FN) writes:
"Dressage riding involves the gymnastic development and careful training of the horse. This increases its performance capacity, preserves its health and, above all, continually refines the harmony between horse and rider."
In: Further Training for Riders and Horses, Guidelines for Riding and Driving, Vol. 2.
The German Equestrian Federation (FN) writes:
"Dressage riding involves the gymnastic development and careful training of the horse. This increases its performance capacity, preserves its health and, above all, continually refines the harmony between horse and rider."
In: Further Training for Riders and Horses, Guidelines for Riding and Driving, Vol. 2.
The Goal Is a Well-Schooled, Well-Gymnasticized Horse
The horse is not a riding animal by nature. Turning it into one without harming its health is a long, demanding training process that requires comprehensive knowledge of the animal's anatomical and psychological prerequisites.
Although humans have, over the course of history, bred the horse to meet their needs as a riding and driving animal, the horse's anatomy was never really designed to carry weight on its back. —
Different cultures have repeatedly found somewhat different solutions to this task. Dressage riding is the European solution. Its principles are rooted in experience gathered over centuries, beginning with ancient Greece. Anyone who follows them benefits from this enormous body of knowledge.
The goal of dressage training is a well-schooled horse – a horse that can carry its rider without pain or health problems, and that can be ridden well and beautifully in every respect: safely, without tension, willingly, and pleasing to the eye. A fundamental prerequisite for this is that the horse learns to adapt its natural posture and movement patterns to the additional load of the rider's weight. This is precisely the purpose, the so-called gymnasticizing of the horse, behind the typical dressage exercises.
The goal of dressage training is a well-schooled horse – a horse that can carry its rider without pain or health problems, and that can be ridden well and beautifully in every respect: safely, without tension, willingly, and pleasing to the eye. A fundamental prerequisite for this is that the horse learns to adapt its natural posture and movement patterns to the additional load of the rider's weight. This is precisely the purpose, the so-called gymnasticizing of the horse, behind the typical dressage exercises.
Through dressage, the horse learns to balance this imbalance [caused by the rider] and to rebuild the natural elasticity and dynamism of its way of moving. —
Competing Is Part of Dressage Riding for Many
It is entirely possible to practise dressage purely for its own sake – simply to train a well-schooled horse. In practice, however, the idea of competition, of entering a dressage show, is often part of the picture. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that – competition can, in a positive sense, spur riders on to their best performances.
Critics of dressage riding point out, however, that in the fight for points and outward recognition, especially in the higher levels of dressage, the most important goal – the wellbeing of the horse – can sometimes be lost from view … keyword: rollkur.
Critics of dressage riding point out, however, that in the fight for points and outward recognition, especially in the higher levels of dressage, the most important goal – the wellbeing of the horse – can sometimes be lost from view … keyword: rollkur.
What the FN writes about the ethical principles of the horse enthusiast is, from a literary point of view, very good. It could not be put better. Today's dressage scene, however, is a long way from these FN principles. —
Gymnasticizing Through Dressage Is the Foundation for Every Equestrian Discipline
The growing popularity of other riding concepts, such as Western or classical riding, is also connected to the criticism of dressage sport described above. However, it is important not to overshoot the mark here. Criticism of certain negative developments is not the same as criticism of the idea of dressage itself. Whether classical riding, Western riding, natural horsemanship or Légèreté: gymnasticizing the horse through movements that are, at their core, dressage movements, plays an indispensable role in every variant of riding training.
From the trail rider balanced in the saddle going up and down hills, to the show jumper who can only manage the turns and distances between the fences with a horse ridden and gymnasticized to a dressage standard: there is no getting around dressage. —
And even if you only want to go for a hack – it is only through dressage that your horse develops the obedience, balance and strength that you both need out in the countryside.
How Do You Learn Dressage Riding?
There is no way around a solid foundation in dressage: it is just as indispensable for event riders, show jumpers, endurance riders, working equitation riders and trail riders as it is for leisure riders without any particular sporting ambitions. And even if you prefer classical/baroque riding or Western riding, you will go through training that has a great deal in common with dressage training.
Anyone who sits on a horse, whether to train for sport or "just" to roam through forest and field, places a load on the horse. It is the rider's job to develop the horse through training so that it can do this work without coming to harm. —
The best way to learn dressage riding is with a riding instructor. Once the basics are in place, you can continue working on your own. If you need new impulses, you can get them from fellow riders at your riding club, from books and videos, at seminars, workshops and courses, or during riding holidays.
How Do Beginners Learn Dressage Riding?
For beginners, the usual way into dressage riding is a riding course at a riding club. Here you will find qualified riding instructors and experienced, well-trained school horses that will teach you the basics.
The first lessons usually take place as individual lessons on the lunge: the horse moves on a long line around the instructor. You learn to balance yourself on the horse at all tempos and gaits and to adopt the correct riding seat. Later, in group or individual lessons, you learn the basics of giving the aids and your first dressage movements: halting, circles and transitions between the gaits.
In the horse industry directory of the German Equestrian Federation you will find all riding clubs affiliated with the FN.
The first lessons usually take place as individual lessons on the lunge: the horse moves on a long line around the instructor. You learn to balance yourself on the horse at all tempos and gaits and to adopt the correct riding seat. Later, in group or individual lessons, you learn the basics of giving the aids and your first dressage movements: halting, circles and transitions between the gaits.
In the horse industry directory of the German Equestrian Federation you will find all riding clubs affiliated with the FN.
Dressage Riding: Riding Badges
On your way from beginner to accomplished rider, you have the opportunity to confirm your progress by taking the riding badge examinations. These are exams set and certified by the FN, with a theoretical and a practical part, in which you demonstrate your riding ability as well as your knowledge and skills in handling the horse. The riding badges are numbered from 10 to 1; 10 is the badge for beginners, 1 the one with the highest requirements.
Regardless of whether they take part in competitions, many riders also want their practical riding ability and theoretical knowledge checked by experts and hopefully confirmed to a high standard. —
But the riding badges are also your ticket to competitive sport: if you want to take part in an LPO dressage show beyond the beginner class, you need at least Riding Badge 5 (from 2026 called Tournament Sport Badge Class A).
The Golden Riding Badge has a special status: the FN's highest award is not given out as part of an exam, but for outstanding competition success in class S, the highest test class.
The Golden Riding Badge has a special status: the FN's highest award is not given out as part of an exam, but for outstanding competition success in class S, the highest test class.
Dressage Riding: What Aids Do You Need?
Aids are signals that the horse can understand, telling it what to do. In dressage riding, the goal is to work with what are known as fine aids – light signals that cause the horse no pain whatsoever and are barely perceptible from the outside. For example, barely noticeable leg pressure or a light take-up of the reins should be enough to make the horse move off or halt. Kicking with the legs or yanking on the reins does not correspond to the ideal of dressage.
These are the aids you need for dressage riding:
The school horses on which you learn to ride already know all of these aids. You will learn to make yourself understood by the horse by applying the aids correctly, clearly and with the right timing.
These are the aids you need for dressage riding:
- Leg aids: Light pressure with the leg, applied on one or both sides, at or behind the girth. Leg aids can drive the horse forward, drive it sideways or contain it.
- Rein aids: Taking up or yielding, on one or both sides, in various positions of the hand. Rein aids are used to flex the horse, guide it sideways, turn it, slow it down or bring it into an uphill balance.
- Weight aids: Loading (on one or both sides) or unloading. Weight aids are used for riding straight, for collecting, for turns or in lateral work.
- Seat aids: Tensing (tilting) the pelvis. Seat aids can, for example, signal the start or end of a more complex aid.
- Voice aids: Using voice commands plays a very minor role in dressage riding itself – you may use them, but it is not really the custom. Voice aids are, however, very important when backing young horses.
The school horses on which you learn to ride already know all of these aids. You will learn to make yourself understood by the horse by applying the aids correctly, clearly and with the right timing.
Horses are our teachers! Any perfectly ordinary, average horse will show me whether I am giving it aids it can understand, or whether I am making it impossible for it to move fluently and in balance with me. Listen to what a four-legged teacher is trying to tell you, and learn from it, instead of silencing and subjugating it. —
How does a horse learn the aids?
If you have your own young horse, it is your responsibility to make sure your horse learns the meaning of the aids. This task belongs in the hands of an experienced rider or trainer. As a rule, young horses are first trained in hand and on the lunge using voice commands, rein aids and whip aids. When actually being backed, the commands the horse already knows are then always combined with the new weight and leg aids until the horse has understood their meaning. Positive reinforcement is always used here: praise, and possibly small rewards, when something has been done correctly.
Weight and leg aids also have their own logic: the small shifts of the rider's weight put the horse off balance. The movement the horse makes to rebalance itself is exactly the one the weight aid was asking for. It is similar with leg aids: the horse instinctively yields to the pressure applied – and thereby moves in the desired direction. That is exactly why it is so important that the aids are really given correctly.
If you have your own young horse, it is your responsibility to make sure your horse learns the meaning of the aids. This task belongs in the hands of an experienced rider or trainer. As a rule, young horses are first trained in hand and on the lunge using voice commands, rein aids and whip aids. When actually being backed, the commands the horse already knows are then always combined with the new weight and leg aids until the horse has understood their meaning. Positive reinforcement is always used here: praise, and possibly small rewards, when something has been done correctly.
Weight and leg aids also have their own logic: the small shifts of the rider's weight put the horse off balance. The movement the horse makes to rebalance itself is exactly the one the weight aid was asking for. It is similar with leg aids: the horse instinctively yields to the pressure applied – and thereby moves in the desired direction. That is exactly why it is so important that the aids are really given correctly.
Dressage Movements
Dressage movements are not circus tricks that you teach your horse for fun – they are exercises that serve a very specific purpose: gymnasticizing the horse. In a dressage movement, you deliberately use the aids your horse already knows to promote its balance and carrying power through very particular movement sequences. When working on many movements, so-called cavaletti poles – light poles placed close to the ground in the horse's path – can also be very useful.
1. Dressage Movements for Beginners and Advanced Beginners
The first dressage movements you will ride with your horse include the so-called:
In the more advanced dressage classes, the following are added, among others:
3. Dressage Movements of the Haute École
The dressage movements of the Haute École include:
1. Dressage Movements for Beginners and Advanced Beginners
The first dressage movements you will ride with your horse include the so-called:
- School figures (the track along the rail is the line at the edge of the arena's boundary that is used most when riding). Here the aim is to ride a particular figure in the arena with the horse. For beginners these are straight lines, diagonals, serpentines and circles.
- Changes of gait in the three basic gaits, i.e. transitions between walk, trot and canter.
- Rein-back,
- Flying changes – the change from right to left canter lead or vice versa,
- Stretching the reins out of the hand, and
- Giving and retaking the reins – here the rider briefly lets the reins go slack, while the horse is expected to maintain its frame, rhythm and tempo.
In the more advanced dressage classes, the following are added, among others:
- Lateral movements – the horse's sideways movement (shoulder-in in the simplest, preparatory form, travers in the more advanced variant),
- Turns on the haunches, and
- Extended walk, trot and canter – particularly ground-covering variants of the basic gaits, in which the horse stretches to the maximum.
3. Dressage Movements of the Haute École
The dressage movements of the Haute École include:
- Tempi changes – repeated changes between right and left canter lead, each after a specific number of strides,
- Piaffe – the collected trot on the spot,
- Passage – the highly collected, dance-like trot with high knee action and an extended moment of suspension, and
- Pirouette – a turn on the haunches performed at canter.
The Correct Structure of a Dressage Lesson
Dressage movements are demanding for your horse. Make sure to structure your training correctly into a loosening phase, a working phase and a relaxation phase, and vary your training sessions.
Also beware of over-working the horse, and keep inserting walk breaks in which you give the horse complete rein freedom and let it stretch out at a long walk. It is also advisable not to work in the same way every day, but after days on which high demands have been made, to ride another day with only natural, fresher gaits in a less collected frame. —
Training Tips and Dressage Movements at Home
Of course, you can (and should!) ride dressage movements at home whenever possible – that is, without a professional arena and "supervision" from your riding instructor. After all, you will only reach your goals if dressage also becomes part of your everyday riding.
Gymnasticizing school figures such as circles, voltes, figure-eights, serpentines and squares can be ridden on any level ground. Garden chairs work very well for improvising a slalom course. And yard brooms can easily stand in as cavaletti poles.
Dressage Out on the Trail
Instead of simply plodding through the countryside, changes of gait, rein-back, turns on the haunches and halts (coming to a rapid stop from any gait) should also be part of your standard programme when out hacking.
Gymnasticizing school figures such as circles, voltes, figure-eights, serpentines and squares can be ridden on any level ground. Garden chairs work very well for improvising a slalom course. And yard brooms can easily stand in as cavaletti poles.
Dressage Out on the Trail
Instead of simply plodding through the countryside, changes of gait, rein-back, turns on the haunches and halts (coming to a rapid stop from any gait) should also be part of your standard programme when out hacking.
Many dressage movements are twice as much fun, or even come more easily, out in the open than in an arena. —
You can also make good use of the natural conditions for gymnasticizing: roots, branches or other obstacles that must be stepped over encourage the horse's attentiveness and force it to actively lift its legs. Bends and forks in the path are a natural opportunity to flex the horse. Voltes can be ridden beautifully around trees or at crossings. Hills, too, are wonderful: riding uphill trains the hindquarters and encourages the horse to round its back; riding downhill stimulates flexion of the hocks.
The Training Scale of Dressage Riding
On the way to a perfectly gymnasticized riding horse, the horse passes through a series of stages in its dressage training that, in a certain sense, build on one another. Dressage movements aim to give the horse the abilities it needs at its current stage.
It has long been generally recognized that a horse-and-rider team that wants to make progress in the art of dressage – whether for personal enjoyment or in sport – must climb the six steps of the classical training scale. —
The German Equestrian Federation (FN) – the most important authority on equestrian sport in Germany – lists the stages of training as follows:
1. Rhythm
Rhythm means: the horse moves evenly, in space and in time, in all gaits. You can hear this (walk: four-beat, trot: two-beat, canter: three-beat) and see it.
2. Suppleness
Suppleness is the opposite of tension – under the rider's influence, the horse moves willingly, with an energetic alternation of muscular tension and relaxation, and a loosely swinging back and tail.
3. Contact
The word "contact" describes the light, soft connection to the rider's hand that the horse actively seeks and maintains via the bit and reins. Contact cannot be achieved by pulling on the reins. It comes about when the horse trustingly stretches forward into the rider's hand.
4. Impulsion
When a horse has impulsion, it makes greater use of the thrust from its hindquarters for forward movement than it typically would "by nature". Impulsion arises when the horse's hind hooves land clearly further under the belly (it "steps under its centre of gravity"). This stepping-under not only enables a more dynamic forward movement, but also relieves the forehand, which is under greater strain from the rider's weight.
5. Straightness
Straightness means that, as the hind hooves step under, they land exactly in the track of the front hooves – including when riding on bent lines. This ensures the healthy, even loading of muscles, tendons and joints. Straightening exercises correct the natural crookedness found in many horses, in which either the right or the left hind leg lands outside the track of the corresponding front leg and therefore contributes less thrust.
6. Collection
Collection is a posture of the horse in which the hindquarters take on a maximum amount of weight, thereby achieving maximum relief and increased mobility of the forehand. Collection is achieved when the hind legs step under the belly with bent hocks, the back is rounded with the croup lowered, the neck is brought back and raised, and the head is lowered.
1. Rhythm
Rhythm means: the horse moves evenly, in space and in time, in all gaits. You can hear this (walk: four-beat, trot: two-beat, canter: three-beat) and see it.
2. Suppleness
Suppleness is the opposite of tension – under the rider's influence, the horse moves willingly, with an energetic alternation of muscular tension and relaxation, and a loosely swinging back and tail.
3. Contact
The word "contact" describes the light, soft connection to the rider's hand that the horse actively seeks and maintains via the bit and reins. Contact cannot be achieved by pulling on the reins. It comes about when the horse trustingly stretches forward into the rider's hand.
4. Impulsion
When a horse has impulsion, it makes greater use of the thrust from its hindquarters for forward movement than it typically would "by nature". Impulsion arises when the horse's hind hooves land clearly further under the belly (it "steps under its centre of gravity"). This stepping-under not only enables a more dynamic forward movement, but also relieves the forehand, which is under greater strain from the rider's weight.
5. Straightness
Straightness means that, as the hind hooves step under, they land exactly in the track of the front hooves – including when riding on bent lines. This ensures the healthy, even loading of muscles, tendons and joints. Straightening exercises correct the natural crookedness found in many horses, in which either the right or the left hind leg lands outside the track of the corresponding front leg and therefore contributes less thrust.
6. Collection
Collection is a posture of the horse in which the hindquarters take on a maximum amount of weight, thereby achieving maximum relief and increased mobility of the forehand. Collection is achieved when the hind legs step under the belly with bent hocks, the back is rounded with the croup lowered, the neck is brought back and raised, and the head is lowered.
As early as 1884, Steinbrecht wrote that complete suppleness can only be achieved in the collected lateral movements. Collection onto the hindquarters, too, such as in the piaffe, allows the horse to move in a visibly supple and dynamic way. —
It is also important to understand, however, that the individual trained abilities cannot really be isolated from one another as neatly as the linear form of the training scale suggests. There are always effects running back from the higher stages to the lower ones: acquiring the higher abilities also improves the basic abilities in turn.
Impulsion comes before straightness in the training scale, yet full impulsion can only be developed once straightness has been established. —
How Is Dressage Riding Organised in Germany?
In Germany, the organisation of equestrian sport lies in the hands of the German Equestrian Federation (Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung, FN). It is the largest national equestrian sport association within the international umbrella organisation, the Fédération Équestre Internationale.
Where Can I Find the Rules for Dressage Riding?
The FN publishes the rulebooks that are important for German dressage sport. The most important documents are:
- The Guidelines for Riding and Driving: among other things, these describe the correct execution of all dressage movements.
- The Test Booklet for Riding: contains standardised tests for the dressage examinations of the various classes.
- The Rules for Competitions (Leistungs-Prüfungs-Ordnung, LPO): governs the running of competitions in performance-oriented equestrian sport (requirements for the participation of riders and horses, permitted equipment, judging procedures).
- The Rules for Recreational Competitions (Wettbewerbsordnung, WBO): the equivalent of the LPO for recreational competitions, open to all riders regardless of level or club membership.
- The Training and Examination Regulations (Ausbildungs-Prüfungs-Ordnung, APO): governs the training of riders and riding instructors as well as the requirements for awarding the riding badges.
What Types of Dressage Shows Are There?
In Germany, there are two types of dressage shows: recreational competitions (WBO shows) and performance tests (LPO shows). WBO shows are governed by the Rules for Recreational Competitions, LPO shows by the Rules for Competitions.
Entry for WBO and LPO shows is done online via the FN's Nennung Online portal.
Entry Requirements for WBO Shows
WBO shows are the ideal way into competitive sport, as entry requirements are very low: to take part, you generally need neither a competition licence nor club membership or proof of performance.
Entry Requirements for LPO Shows
To take part in an LPO show, you must:
Finding a Show
The FN's website offers a show search – here you can display all the shows taking place within a given period and radius of your home.
Entry for WBO and LPO shows is done online via the FN's Nennung Online portal.
Entry Requirements for WBO Shows
WBO shows are the ideal way into competitive sport, as entry requirements are very low: to take part, you generally need neither a competition licence nor club membership or proof of performance.
Entry Requirements for LPO Shows
To take part in an LPO show, you must:
- be a member of an FN-affiliated riding club,
- purchase a paid annual competition licence,
- register your horse with the FN as a competition horse,
- and already hold FN-recognised proof of performance such as riding badges or performance class ratings.
Finding a Show
The FN's website offers a show search – here you can display all the shows taking place within a given period and radius of your home.
The Classes of Dressage Riding
The FN distinguishes between test classes and performance classes.
Test Class
The test class describes the requirements of a given dressage test.
Performance Class
The performance class indicates the rider's level of ability. In a given test class, riders may only start once they have reached a certain performance class. You apply to the FN for classification into a performance class. We have compiled the requirements for classification in the following table.
From performance class 5 onward, most riders move up through show success. The route via the riding badges (2 for class 4, 1 for class 3) is a less commonly used alternative.
Test Class
The test class describes the requirements of a given dressage test.
- Class E: Introductory
- Class A: Beginner, further divided into levels A* and A**
- Class L: Easy
- Class M: Medium, further divided into levels M* and M**
- Class S: Advanced, further divided into levels S*, S**, S*** and S**** (Grand Prix)
Performance Class
The performance class indicates the rider's level of ability. In a given test class, riders may only start once they have reached a certain performance class. You apply to the FN for classification into a performance class. We have compiled the requirements for classification in the following table.
| Performance Class | Requirements | Entitles Participation in Test Class |
| L7 | None | E |
| L6 | Riding Badge 5 / from 2026 Tournament Sport Badge Class A | A and E |
| L5 | Riding Badge 3 or Riding Badge 4 / from 2026 Tournament Sport Badge Class L | L and A |
| L4 | Riding Badge 2 or successes in L tests or completed training as a certified horse professional (Pferdewirt) specialising in riding, or amateur riding instructor (Trainer A) | M, L and A |
| L3 | Riding Badge 1 or successes in M tests or Pferdewirtschaftsmeister specialising in riding training | S, M, L and A |
| L2 | Golden Riding Badge or successes in M and S tests | S, M, L and A |
| L1 | Successes in S and Grand Prix tests | S, M, L and A (A only as part of a qualifying test for young horses) |
From performance class 5 onward, most riders move up through show success. The route via the riding badges (2 for class 4, 1 for class 3) is a less commonly used alternative.
What Equipment Do I Need for Dressage Riding?
The right equipment makes many things a little easier – riding included. On top of that come safety requirements where you should never cut corners.
Clothing for Riders
When training, safety and comfort come first. At a dressage show, however, strict rules apply to clothing.
Clothing for Dressage Training
When training with your horse, you don't need to impress anyone. What matters is comfortable clothing that lets you ride well – and that minimises your risk in the event of an accident.
Dressage shows have dress codes that you must follow if you don't want to stand out for the wrong reasons. The relevant rules can be found in the FN's LPO Equipment Catalogue.
To make a good impression with your horse at a dressage show, you should bear the following in mind:
Clothing for Dressage Training
When training with your horse, you don't need to impress anyone. What matters is comfortable clothing that lets you ride well – and that minimises your risk in the event of an accident.
- Head protection: a riding helmet is an absolute must.
- Upper body: practical, comfortable but rather close-fitting, suited to the season. Not a must, less important than for jumping or trail riding, for example, but a sensible "fall insurance policy" for dressage riding too: the airbag vest.
- Hands: riding gloves are also not a must, but highly recommended: if the lead rope or reins slip abruptly through unprotected hands when there is a problem with the horse, this can cause extremely unpleasant friction burns. Suitable gloves also improve grip and protect against blisters.
- Leg wear: comfortable and as non-slip as possible. Jeans or leggings are fine, but proper riding breeches are more practical. Unlike jeans, their seams are designed not to chafe while riding. And unlike ordinary leggings, dressage breeches have a non-slip full seat that runs from the seat down the insides of the legs to the lower leg. This so-called full-seat grip provides very good hold in the saddle and makes it easier to adopt the correct seat.
- Footwear: ankle boots or riding boots without laces and with a small heel are a must, trainers are a no-go. Sturdy, robust soles and a shaft that reaches at least to the ankle protect your feet. The small heel prevents your foot slipping too far into the stirrup and getting caught in the event of a fall.
Dressage shows have dress codes that you must follow if you don't want to stand out for the wrong reasons. The relevant rules can be found in the FN's LPO Equipment Catalogue.
- Head protection: dark riding helmet.
- Upper body: white or cream shirt/blouse or blouse-like top with a stand-up collar or stock (a kind of unisex tie made of fine fabric), black or dark-coloured jacket.
- Hands: in classes M and S, light-coloured gloves are compulsory.
- Leg wear: white or cream riding breeches.
- Footwear: tall black riding boots.
To make a good impression with your horse at a dressage show, you should bear the following in mind:
- Show saddle pad: the LPO makes no specific requirements here, but it is something of an unwritten rule that horses compete with a white or cream saddle pad.
- Mane: trim evenly and plait.
- Hooves: clean and polish with hoof grease or hoof oil.
- Coat: brush clean and shiny, possibly use a coat-shine spray (avoid the saddle area due to the risk of slipping!); clip the winter coat.
Never put on completely new riding equipment for the show itself – try out bridle and saddle in the days beforehand. The same goes for your own outfit. —
Bridlework for Dressage Riding
Dressage is usually ridden in a snaffle bridle. Riders in the higher performance classes also use a double bridle.
Snaffle Bridle
In the lower performance classes of dressage, riding is done in a snaffle bridle. According to the LPO equipment catalogue, the following are approved for shows:
The Swedish noseband resembles the English version but has a somewhat wider, softer nose strap that, thanks to a pulley-style deflection buckle, can be fastened with less pressure – and is therefore potentially more horse-friendly. The English or Swedish noseband becomes a combined noseband through an additional flash strap under the lower jaw.
With the Hanoverian noseband, the nose strap sits lower and thus acts as a flash strap. The Mexican noseband consists of a nose strap and flash strap that cross over the bridge of the nose.
The Micklem bridle is also called an anatomical bridle: it resembles the Hanoverian bridle, but the straps are routed so as to specifically avoid pressure- and pain-sensitive points on the horse's face.
Double Bridle
The curb bit is a leverage bit that considerably intensifies the rein aids. With a curb, it is possible to steer the horse with genuinely minimal, virtually imperceptible effort. At the same time, it is very easy to hurt the horse if you cannot dose your aids well. For this reason, only very experienced riders should use the curb.
Snaffle Bridle
In the lower performance classes of dressage, riding is done in a snaffle bridle. According to the LPO equipment catalogue, the following are approved for shows:
- English noseband
- Swedish noseband
- English or Swedish combined noseband
- Hanoverian noseband
- Mexican noseband
- Micklem bridle
The Swedish noseband resembles the English version but has a somewhat wider, softer nose strap that, thanks to a pulley-style deflection buckle, can be fastened with less pressure – and is therefore potentially more horse-friendly. The English or Swedish noseband becomes a combined noseband through an additional flash strap under the lower jaw.
With the Hanoverian noseband, the nose strap sits lower and thus acts as a flash strap. The Mexican noseband consists of a nose strap and flash strap that cross over the bridge of the nose.
The Micklem bridle is also called an anatomical bridle: it resembles the Hanoverian bridle, but the straps are routed so as to specifically avoid pressure- and pain-sensitive points on the horse's face.
Double Bridle
The curb bit is a leverage bit that considerably intensifies the rein aids. With a curb, it is possible to steer the horse with genuinely minimal, virtually imperceptible effort. At the same time, it is very easy to hurt the horse if you cannot dose your aids well. For this reason, only very experienced riders should use the curb.
You have to be doubly careful with a double bridle, have an even softer hand and, if anything, give even more than usual. —
Until the end of 2025, riding with a double bridle – that is, with two pairs of reins – was compulsory from test class S upward. On some shows it was already expected in class M**. From January 2026, this has changed: not only the German FN but also the international umbrella organisation FEI have decided to let riders in these test classes choose freely between a snaffle and a double bridle. Only in the Grand Prix class S**** does the double bridle remain compulsory.
Can You Ride Dressage Bitless?
Rein aids are part of dressage, and contact – the horse's active stretching into the bit – is even one of the indispensable stages of the dressage training scale. So can dressage also be ridden with a bitless bridle? Opinions differ on this.
The FN takes the view that riding without a bit is not compatible with classical riding theory. The equestrian sport organisation permits bitless bridles at its shows only as an exception, when a veterinarian certifies that riding with a bit is not possible for health reasons. Many advocates of bitless bridles, on the other hand, argue that dressage riding is entirely possible with a rope halter, bosal or similar.
One thing is certain: you can ride finely without a bit. On the one hand, a bitless bridle naturally still allows for rein aids (although applying them precisely and gently does take some real skill!). Contact could then be defined as a posture in which the horse, with a rounded back, an actively stepping-under hindquarters and a stretched neck, seeks contact with the reins. And on the other hand, seat and leg aids should dominate in fine riding anyway. So it is possible, bitless too, to guide the horse through all the stages of the training scale.
Can You Ride Dressage Bitless?
Rein aids are part of dressage, and contact – the horse's active stretching into the bit – is even one of the indispensable stages of the dressage training scale. So can dressage also be ridden with a bitless bridle? Opinions differ on this.
The FN takes the view that riding without a bit is not compatible with classical riding theory. The equestrian sport organisation permits bitless bridles at its shows only as an exception, when a veterinarian certifies that riding with a bit is not possible for health reasons. Many advocates of bitless bridles, on the other hand, argue that dressage riding is entirely possible with a rope halter, bosal or similar.
One thing is certain: you can ride finely without a bit. On the one hand, a bitless bridle naturally still allows for rein aids (although applying them precisely and gently does take some real skill!). Contact could then be defined as a posture in which the horse, with a rounded back, an actively stepping-under hindquarters and a stretched neck, seeks contact with the reins. And on the other hand, seat and leg aids should dominate in fine riding anyway. So it is possible, bitless too, to guide the horse through all the stages of the training scale.
Training a horse well and finely in dressage, whether with or without a bit, requires a great deal of talent, knowledge, feel and time. Anyone who chooses the bitless option must be aware that it requires a little more of everything, and that in the event of a correction they always have fewer options available than a rider who can work on the more sensitive mouth of the horse. —
The Right Saddle for Dressage Riding
First of all: you can gymnasticize your horse for dressage in principle in any saddle. You are most likely to run into problems in a jumping saddle, which makes it difficult or even impossible to adopt the correct dressage seat with a long leg. But dressage has been ridden in jumping saddles too.
Still, the same applies to choosing a saddle for dressage as everywhere else: good equipment makes many things easier.
Still, the same applies to choosing a saddle for dressage as everywhere else: good equipment makes many things easier.
A Dressage Saddle Promotes the Correct Dressage Seat – With or Without Knee Blocks
A proper dressage saddle is specifically designed for dressage riding. Above all, this means that it makes it much easier to adopt the dressage seat – and, with it, the correct seat and leg aids. A deep seat and long, straight-cut saddle flaps contribute particularly to this.
Many dressage saddles also have more or less pronounced thigh blocks, meant to give the rider's leg support in the correct position. Whether such blocks are really necessary, or perhaps even counterproductive for a truly good, free dressage seat, is a matter of some controversy.
Many dressage saddles also have more or less pronounced thigh blocks, meant to give the rider's leg support in the correct position. Whether such blocks are really necessary, or perhaps even counterproductive for a truly good, free dressage seat, is a matter of some controversy.
A pronounced seat depth combined with large blocks that fix the rider's thighs in place is a flawed development in saddle design. Riders ask for it because it gives them a feeling of security. The opposite is actually the case, however, because it significantly impairs both suppleness and the rider's ability to influence the horse. —
Dressage Saddles Often Have a Fairly Small Bearing Surface
Dressage saddles are flat-panel saddles. That means their saddle tree results in a fairly small bearing surface – compared, say, with Western saddles. This is not necessarily comfortable for the horse: the smaller the area the rider's weight acts on, the greater the pressure on those parts of the horse's back. That means you really should not sit in such a saddle for extended periods, in order not to overload the horse's back. One to one and a half hours is roughly the limit here.
Why such a small bearing surface? One could argue that the increased pressure has an attention-heightening effect in a certain sense: in a dressage test, after all, the horse is not supposed to be comfortable, but highly alert and ready to perform.
It is also often said that dressage saddles improve contact with the horse and transmit fine aids especially well. This too has to do with the small bearing surface: the smaller the area of the horse's back that the rider's weight acts on, the greater the pressure the saddle exerts – and the greater, and therefore clearer, the changes in pressure caused by your weight or seat aids.
Why such a small bearing surface? One could argue that the increased pressure has an attention-heightening effect in a certain sense: in a dressage test, after all, the horse is not supposed to be comfortable, but highly alert and ready to perform.
It is also often said that dressage saddles improve contact with the horse and transmit fine aids especially well. This too has to do with the small bearing surface: the smaller the area of the horse's back that the rider's weight acts on, the greater the pressure the saddle exerts – and the greater, and therefore clearer, the changes in pressure caused by your weight or seat aids.
You Can Ride Just as Finely with Wider Panels
It is also true, however, that you can ride just as finely in a saddle with a larger bearing surface – if you know how. Good Western riders manage this, for example, despite the notably large bearing surface of a Western saddle.
Horses have a fantastic feel for their rider. With a correctly given, precisely placed aid, there is therefore no need at all to "lay it on thick". What matters more for the precise transmission of the aids is then the perfect fit of the saddle.
Horses have a fantastic feel for their rider. With a correctly given, precisely placed aid, there is therefore no need at all to "lay it on thick". What matters more for the precise transmission of the aids is then the perfect fit of the saddle.
What Does the FN Say About the Saddle Required for Shows?
In the LPO equipment catalogue, the FN sets out the following requirements for the saddle:
- A flat-panel saddle of English design with a saddle tree is required: this excludes baroque saddles with pronounced side panels (not English design) just as much as Western saddles (a stock saddle, not a flat-panel saddle) and treeless saddles.
- With regard to saddle padding, it is noted that a widened bearing surface of the saddle panels on the horse's back is also permitted. This means: dressage saddles with Iberosattel®'s extra-wide Comfort panel are FN-compliant.
Does the Saddle Affect Dressage Performance?
The answer is yes: the saddle does affect dressage performance.
- For one, you need a saddle that makes it easy for you to adopt the correct dressage seat with a long leg and a relaxed pelvis: only then do you swing correctly with your horse and can place your aids correctly.
- Almost more important still is the correct fit of the saddle. Good riders can usually sit correctly even in a saddle that doesn't particularly encourage it – but an ill-fitting saddle is a problem there is no getting around.
But even for the best rider, it is impossible to find a shared swing with the horse's back when sitting on an ill-fitting saddle. —
An ill-fitting saddle can potentially cause a whole series of serious problems that directly impair dressage performance:
- Pain: if the saddle presses or rubs, the horse cannot work in a supple, relaxed way.
- Tension: protective postures adopted to avoid pain, such as pushing away or fixing the back, impair impulsion.
- Restricted freedom of movement: if the saddle does not offer enough shoulder freedom, this impairs ground cover and the quality of the gaits. If the saddle presses in the loin area, it prevents the horse from stepping under with the hindquarters.
- Disrupted communication: an ill-fitting saddle does not sit evenly and therefore cannot transmit weight aids precisely.
- Disrupted balance: if the saddle sets the rider too far back or forward, the horse's and rider's centres of gravity are no longer on a vertical line. This throws the horse off balance – with plenty of negative consequences for posture, movement and the giving of aids.
Dressage Saddles from Iberosattel®: Horse-Friendly, Comfortable, Performance-Enhancing
At Iberosattel®, it has long been our mission to develop comfortable, and above all optimally fitted, riding saddles. It is especially important to us to find thoroughly satisfying saddle solutions for short, broad, round-backed horses too – the stepchildren of saddle fitting.
The demands on a saddle that fits as well as possible are high:
And don't worry: we think of the rider too. Our saddles are wonderfully comfortable to sit in. They can be adapted in every respect to your personal taste. And, thanks to our Amazona solutions, they provide additional relief on long rides for the sensitive areas around the pubic bone and seat bones.
Find out more about Iberosattel® dressage saddles here!
And here is what our customers say:
Gunnar Wiedner: "We have been training our horses with Ibero saddles for many years now. And for good reason: these saddles meet our requirements for demanding dressage work with the most varied horses and breeds. With the Amazona Dressage Comfort and the Dressage Andaluz we have once again found the ideal saddles for our work.
We place great value on having our saddles checked regularly – because horses are constantly changing, more or less, through training. The Iberosattel® team, through its work and support, ensures an optimal fit for both rider and horse."
Katrin S.: "My Dressage Andaluz 'luxury armchair' is honestly worth every cent. If only I had known sooner how much an Iberosattel® would do for me and, of course, for my horse, and what wonderful service is available from Michael Henn, I would have switched to an Iberosattel® much sooner. I could have spared my horse a fair amount of discomfort."
Rebekka I.: "Now that I've had a while to enjoy my Sevilla saddle, I simply wanted to say thank you. The saddle fits perfectly, my darling horse simply gets on great with it. My riding instructor was also completely won over, because it offers such amazing shoulder freedom, and you really notice it in the gaits."
The demands on a saddle that fits as well as possible are high:
- Shoulder freedom
- Wither freedom
- Loin freedom
- Sufficiently wide spinal channel
- Perfectly fitted, adjustable tree width
- Precisely adjusted, extra-wide padding
And don't worry: we think of the rider too. Our saddles are wonderfully comfortable to sit in. They can be adapted in every respect to your personal taste. And, thanks to our Amazona solutions, they provide additional relief on long rides for the sensitive areas around the pubic bone and seat bones.
Find out more about Iberosattel® dressage saddles here!
And here is what our customers say:
Gunnar Wiedner: "We have been training our horses with Ibero saddles for many years now. And for good reason: these saddles meet our requirements for demanding dressage work with the most varied horses and breeds. With the Amazona Dressage Comfort and the Dressage Andaluz we have once again found the ideal saddles for our work.
We place great value on having our saddles checked regularly – because horses are constantly changing, more or less, through training. The Iberosattel® team, through its work and support, ensures an optimal fit for both rider and horse."
Katrin S.: "My Dressage Andaluz 'luxury armchair' is honestly worth every cent. If only I had known sooner how much an Iberosattel® would do for me and, of course, for my horse, and what wonderful service is available from Michael Henn, I would have switched to an Iberosattel® much sooner. I could have spared my horse a fair amount of discomfort."
Rebekka I.: "Now that I've had a while to enjoy my Sevilla saddle, I simply wanted to say thank you. The saddle fits perfectly, my darling horse simply gets on great with it. My riding instructor was also completely won over, because it offers such amazing shoulder freedom, and you really notice it in the gaits."