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 safety helmet for everyone mounted on the showground, 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 | Approved safety helmet, in all classes | Approved safety 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 | Not required (any color) | Not required |
A few points that often cause confusion:
- Helmet. An approved safety helmet with a fastened chin strap is required for everyone mounted on the showground, in every discipline and every class. The top hat in dressage was abolished nationally on January 1, 2021; internationally, the FEI had already banned it as of 2020.
- 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 class Z2 upward, and optional even there; since April 1, 2024, a curb-and-bradoon bridle (stang-en-trenshoofdstel) may no longer be used in Z1. 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. Must leave a minimum of 1.5 cm of clearance; at the tack check this is measured with a gauge or a pressure meter. This has been enforced more strictly in recent years. 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 in the KNHS Harnachementgids (tack guide) on knhs.nl, the regularly updated overview of approved bits and tack (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. Allowed in all classes except Bixie, but never required in any KNHS class. They're subject to a maximum length (3.5 cm for ponies, measured from the boot), with a smooth or mild shape in the lower classes. Sharp or serrated types are reserved for skilled use and aren't allowed everywhere.
- Dressage whip. A long, thin whip with a maximum length of 120 cm (ponies: 100 cm). Allowed in the test through class L2; from M1 upward, the whip may no longer be carried into the test.
- 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). Bandages have been banned everywhere on the showground since April 1, 2024, including during warm-up; other boots are allowed during warm-up, but not in the dressage test itself. 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: at national KNHS competitions, visible injuries and blood at the mouth or on the flanks (from the bit or spurs) lead to elimination. Internationally, the FEI softened the blood rule for show jumping in late 2025 to a recorded warning on the first occurrence; check which rule applies for your competition level.
In Short
- Required = safety (helmet in every class, and a body protector for cross-country). Spurs and gloves are never required. 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.
Sources (verified September 2, 2026): KNHS: Correct competition dress for dressage and show jumping · KNHS: Curb-and-bradoon bridle from Z2 (April 1, 2024) · KNHS: Bandages no longer allowed on the showground · KNHS: Which spurs am I allowed to use · KNHS: Explanation of the ban on nosebands that are too tight
See also: Horse Show Packing Checklist · Applying for a KNHS Startpas · Glossary for Competition Riders