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The most
common
dressage judges are looking for

By Laura Sofie Krebs
Photos: Majken Soelberg

You have probably tried to participate in a dressage competition, and afterwards disagreeing in the judges’ evaluation and grades of your performance. We have therefore decided to inform you on the matter – what do the judges actually look for when you ride. To do so, we have firmly looked into the rules made by Dansk Rideforbund – the Danish version of FEI. These rules are part of the education to become a dressage judge, and they are the foundation for most dressage competitions in Denmark – whether you are competing on a “normal” level or a very high one. And for your information, they are actually simpler than one should think.

When you are educated a dressage judge the most central part of the education is to discover whether the horse is ridden correctly by the rider. This is both the case at the small competitions as well as the big ones. In connection with levels are also different demands in terms of the horse’s performance. But more or less, the judges are looking for the same kind of errors no matter level. For example, they look if the horse deports relaxation, and if the different exercises are performed correctly. Let us have a look at the judges rating scale: 

10: Excellent
9: Very good
8: Good
7: Pretty good
6: Satisfying
5: Approved
4: Unsatisfying
3: Quite bad
2: Bad
1: Very bad
0: Exercise not shown

Overall, the judges distinguish between two types of errors: The ordinary ones, and basic errors.

Ordinary errors

  • Inaccurate riding

  • Few exercises performed 
    with errors

  • Random and mistaken placement of the horses’ head and body

  • Momentarily overexcitement

  • Few errors in connection with the tact

Ordinary errors only occur sometime during the performance. The judges are instructed that ordinary errors will accommodate a lower grade with 1-2 points in the specific exercise. Ordinary mistakes do not affect the grade in the overall impression. The overall impression is the last part of the judges’ statement. But is the riding continuously incorrect several times during a dressage program, it will of course affect the overall impression.

Basic errors:

  • Irregular gaits

  • The horse is pulling or hanging in the rains

  • The horse is not accepting the bit – is either behind it or over it

  • The horse is showing obvious signs of performing behind the vertical line

  • The horse’s body is constantly placed wrongly

  • The horse has the tongue over the bit

  • The horse has a remarkable crooked tail guidance

  • The horse is showing repeatedly disobedience

Overexcitement, galloping on two tracks or a tongue out of the horses’ mouth are considered basic errors, if it is shown this way all through the program. The same is the case if a horse is consequently performing behind the vertical line or has a crooked tail guidance. This is an indication that something is challenging or that the horse is ridden wrongly. A basic error will cause a drastically reduction of the grades – most commonly 2-3 points in an exercise or series of exercises. The difference between ordinary and basic errors are that basic mistakes also impact the overall impression. In other words, a basic error is sometimes the reason for an exercise not being approved at all. 

Correctly performed exercises is shown by a calm, indulgent and flexible horse. It has to follow the riders’ instructions with trust and willingness. The rider also has to show calmness and ride the horse with gentle signals. If you can show this at your next competition you are a long way. 

ERRORS

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Receive our newsletter about the
daily life with horses in your inbox
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New image
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The most
common
dressage judges are looking for

ERRORS

By Laura Sofie Krebs
Photos: Majken Soelberg

You have probably tried to participate in a dressage competition, and afterwards disagreeing in the judges’ evaluation and grades of your performance. We have therefore decided to inform you on the matter – what do the judges actually look for when you ride. To do so, we have firmly looked into the rules made by Dansk Rideforbund – the Danish version of FEI. These rules are part of the education to become a dressage judge, and they are the foundation for most dressage competitions in Denmark – whether you are competing on a “normal” level or a very high one. And for your information, they are actually simpler than one should think.

When you are educated a dressage judge the most central part of the education is to discover whether the horse is ridden correctly by the rider. This is both the case at the small competitions as well as the big ones. In connection with levels are also different demands in terms of the horse’s performance. But more or less, the judges are looking for the same kind of errors no matter level. For example, they look if the horse deports relaxation, and if the different exercises are performed correctly. Let us have a look at the judges rating scale: 

10: Excellent
9: Very good
8: Good
7: Pretty good
6: Satisfying
5: Approved
4: Unsatisfying
3: Quite bad
2: Bad
1: Very bad
0: Exercise not shown

Overall, the judges distinguish between two types of errors: The ordinary ones, and basic errors.

dommer3.png

Ordinary errors

  • Inaccurate riding

  • Few exercises performed 
    with errors

  • Random and mistaken placement of the horses’ head and body

  • Momentarily overexcitement

  • Few errors in connection with the tact

Ordinary errors only occur sometime during the performance. The judges are instructed that ordinary errors will accommodate a lower grade with 1-2 points in the specific exercise. Ordinary mistakes do not affect the grade in the overall impression. The overall impression is the last part of the judges’ statement. But is the riding continuously incorrect several times during a dressage program, it will of course affect the overall impression.

Basic errors:

  • Irregular gaits

  • The horse is pulling or hanging in the rains

  • The horse is not accepting the bit – is either behind it or over it

  • The horse is showing obvious signs of performing behind the vertical line

  • The horse’s body is constantly placed wrongly

  • The horse has the tongue over the bit

  • The horse has a remarkable crooked tail guidance

  • The horse is showing repeatedly disobedience
dommer2.jpg

Overexcitement, galloping on two tracks or a tongue out of the horses’ mouth are considered basic errors, if it is shown this way all through the program. The same is the case if a horse is consequently performing behind the vertical line or has a crooked tail guidance. This is an indication that something is challenging or that the horse is ridden wrongly. A basic error will cause a drastically reduction of the grades – most commonly 2-3 points in an exercise or series of exercises. The difference between ordinary and basic errors are that basic mistakes also impact the overall impression. In other words, a basic error is sometimes the reason for an exercise not being approved at all. 

Correctly performed exercises is shown by a calm, indulgent and flexible horse. It has to follow the riders’ instructions with trust and willingness. The rider also has to show calmness and ride the horse with gentle signals. If you can show this at your next competition you are a long way. 

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