Summary Rules

1. Hats, Boots and Gloves must be worn
2. No martingales or non-permitted tack including bit guards
3. Film from C, the judges position
4. Your horse or pony must wear boots or bandages if you wear a competition jacket
5. If filming on a smartphone, hold the device in the landscape orientation
6. Zooming – you must include some zoom when the rider is at the A end of the arena

Sound must be recorded to ensure competitors are not receiving coaching during their test.

Entry fees will not be refunded once an entry has been accepted.

Online shows reserves the right to refuse an entry without stating a reason.

Sample Video as an entry.

What happens next?

Entry fees: Entry fees and prize money for classes are shown in the schedule. Please refer to the schedule and flyer for details.

Video quality: If the quality of a video is considered too poor to be judged, the competitor will be given the opportunity to submit a further video without charge.

Refunds will not be made except in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the management. Such cases will be dealt with on an individual basis.

Late entries: The closing date for each entry is the 10th of the month and the video for the competition is the 26th of the month. After this time entries and videos cannot be received and no refunds will be made.

Prizes and Rosettes see shows schedule and flyer for details

Commanders or callers may be used.

Salutes should be made with reins and whip (if carried) in one hand and the free hand lowered to the rider’s side and the rider should nod their head.

Trot sitting or rising (or a mixture of both) may be ridden in all British Dressage tests up to and including Elementary and all Pony Club tests. Rising trot is allowed at Medium level from both medium and extended trot. Sitting trot should be ridden in FEI unless stated otherwise on the test sheet.

Errors: When a competitor makes an error of course – takes the wrong turn, omits a movement, etc. 2 marks will be deducted. If the movement is not performed then a mark equal to the average of the collectives marks is given as well as deducting 2 for the error. If the competitor makes an error of test – trots rising instead of sitting or at the salute does not take the reins in one hand – he must be penalised for error. If 3 errors of course are made the competitor will be eliminated.

Also, see Principles of Dressage for further definitions of paces and movements.

You will need: (This is a guideline, don’t worry if you don’t have an arena)

A flat location slightly larger than the arena you want to make.

• Allow for an extra 1-2 metres all round so that you have room to place your markers a little way back from the sides of your arena.
• Markers for the corners and sides of the arena.
  • For the corners you could use posts or stakes if you want to make a more permanent arena or something like jump wings, upturned buckets or cones for a temporary arena.
  • For the sides of the arena you could use fencing, jump poles or ropes laid on the ground.
  • Most tack shops can supply ready-made dressage boards to mark out an arena.
• Prix Caprilli Test
  • You need two fences at a height of 60 cm. Positioned on the line EXB. Fence 1 (jumped from trot) is placed 2 meters in off E. Fence 2 (Jumped from trot) is placed 2 meters in off B and fence 3 (jumped from canter) is fence 2 jumped in the opposite direction. So trot fences jumped from left rein and fence 3 jumped from the right rein.
• Dressage markers
  • You could use upturned buckets or cones with the letters painted on or make your own markers from off-cuts of wood. You can also buy ready-made markers.
• Tape measure
  • If you don’t have a long enough tape measure you could use a ball of string and mark it off in metres with a marker pen or you could hire a trundle wheel or a long tape measure from most hire shops.

When you have everything ready, you can mark out the arena

1. Using the measurements in the diagram for the size of arena you want to make, place your markers at the corners of the arena.
2. To check that your arena is square next measure the long diagonals and make sure that they are the same as each other.
3. It’s not essential but it will help you to ride a straight line if you can mark the sides of the arena. Make sure that you have left space to enter along the long side, e.g. at K or at F.
4. Next place your dressage markers using the diagrams above for reference. Make sure that each pair of markers is opposite each other and that all the letters can be clearly seen if you stand at C.

Ensure that all the tools and instruments used to mark out the arena are removed before you enter on your horse.