At a KNHS competition, both rider and horse are subject to a dress and equipment code. Some of it is required (safety), some is allowed within limits, and some is banned. What follows are the broad lines; for the exact, current requirements per discipline and class, knhs.nl is the source, and for international starts, fei.org.
Required Versus Allowed Versus Banned
The regulations work with three categories. Required is what has to be there — an approved helmet in show jumping, correct dress in a dressage test. Allowed within limits is the largest part: a bit is allowed, provided it's on the list; spurs are allowed, provided they're no longer than the maximum size. Banned is whatever can harm the horse's welfare or gives an unfair advantage: a noseband that's too tight, a sharp bit that isn't approved, auxiliary reins in the test.
The practical test happens at the tack check: before or after your test (a fixed exercise you ride for the judge) or round, an official checks clothing and equipment. If something doesn't comply, that can mean a warning, a request to correct it, or, in the most extreme case, elimination.
The Rider's Clothing
Requirements differ by discipline and increase with the class. In broad terms:
| Item | Dressage | Show Jumping |
|---|---|---|
| Headgear | Helmet, or (in higher classes) top hat | Approved helmet, always |
| Jacket | Riding jacket, dark | Riding jacket or club dress |
| Breeches | White or light-colored | White or light-colored |
| Boots | Riding boots, black | Riding boots, black |
| Gloves | Usually required | Recommended |
A few points that often cause confusion:
- Helmet. In show jumping, an approved safety helmet with a fastened chin strap is required in all classes. In dressage, the helmet is required in the lower classes; the top hat is only permitted in certain higher classes, not required. The direction of the regulations has for years been toward more helmet use, including in upper-level dressage.
- Body protector. Required for the cross-country phase of eventing. Usually not prescribed in dressage and regular show jumping classes, but allowed.
- Sponsor branding. The size of logos and advertising on clothing is subject to maximums, especially at higher and international level.
Younger participants and the lowest classes often have more relaxed rules — a neat dark sweater instead of a riding jacket may be allowed there. Check the competition's own schedule, since this differs by show.
Bridle and Bit
This is where most of the detail sits, and it's also where checks are strictest. The starting point: in a dressage test, only approved equipment from the official bit list is allowed, and anything not on it isn't. Show jumping is more flexible on this point.
- Snaffle. The standard bit for the lower dressage classes and young horses. Acts on the tongue and corners of the mouth and is considered the mildest.
- Curb bit (double bridle). Bit and shank combined, with a curb chain. Only permitted from a higher dressage class — in the Netherlands usually from M2 upward. A precision instrument that demands an independent seat and a soft hand.
- Pelham, kimberwick, hackamore. Allowed under conditions in show jumping; not in dressage tests.
- Noseband. May never be so tight that a finger no longer fits underneath. This has been enforced more strictly in recent years, with a measurable check at the inspection. A noseband that's too tight is a welfare issue, not a detail.
Which specific bit model is approved depends on discipline and class and is adjusted periodically. Don't assume a bit that was allowed last season is still on the list this season — check it on knhs.nl (for international competitions: the FEI bit list).
Spurs, Whip, and Boots
These aids aren't intended as punishment but as a signal, and the regulations are calibrated accordingly.
- Spurs. Subject to a maximum length — expect roughly a few centimeters, with a smooth or mild shape in the lower classes. In some dressage classes from M upward, spurs are even required. Sharp or serrated types are reserved for skilled use and aren't allowed everywhere.
- Dressage whip. A long, thin whip with a maximum length (around 120 cm). Allowed in the lower and middle classes; no longer permitted in the test from the highest levels upward.
- Show jumping whip. Shorter than the dressage whip. Its use is limited: tapping too often or too hard leads, under the regulations, to a warning or elimination.
- Boots and wraps. Common in show jumping (open-front tendon boots, fetlock boots). In the dressage test itself, leg protection is usually not allowed, though it is during warm-up. Weight and material requirements have been tightened in recent years.
The precise measurements, the maximum number of taps, and what may or may not enter the ring per class are set out in the regulations for the discipline concerned. Treat the figures above as an order of magnitude, not the letter of the rule.
The Horse Itself
Besides tack, there are requirements for the horse itself. Braiding is customary in dressage but usually not required. A clipped or natural tail and mane are both fine, within what looks neat. The most important welfare point: visible injuries, or blood at the mouth or on the flanks (from the bit or spurs), lead to elimination. That's not a formality but a hard line.
In Short
- Required = safety (helmet, and a body protector for cross-country). Allowed within limits = most of it. Banned = anything that harms the horse.
- Dressage is strict and list-bound; show jumping is more flexible in bit choice.
- Bit, spur length, whip length, and noseband tightness are the points that go wrong at the tack check — check them before you leave.
- Sizes and lists change every season. Treat the figures here as a guideline, and get the current requirements for your discipline and class from knhs.nl, or fei.org for international starts.
See also: Horse Show Packing Checklist · Applying for a KNHS Start Permit · Glossary for Competition Riders