You have a startbewijs and want to ride your first competition — but which class do you enter? At the KNHS, classes increase in difficulty, and where you start depends mainly on your discipline and what you and your horse can already do.
How the Class System Works
The KNHS (the Dutch equestrian federation) divides dressage and show jumping into classes that increase in difficulty: B – L – M – Z – ZZ, and in dressage above that, Lichte Tour and Grand Prix. B is the base; each following letter asks for more training.
You don't move up automatically. You move to a higher class once you have enough winstpunten (promotion points) — points you can earn at every competition. Points are recorded on the rider-horse combination, not on you alone — if you later start with a different horse, that new combination starts again from the bottom. See also the term "class" in the glossary.
Importantly, the letters mean something different per discipline. A B in dressage and a B in show jumping are not the same starting point.
Show Jumping: Almost Everyone Starts in B
In show jumping, the entry point is unambiguous: almost everyone rides their first competition in class B.
| Class | Height (indicative) | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| B | up to about 90 cm | first competitions, recreational |
| L | roughly 100–110 cm | first real competitive career |
| M | roughly 115–125 cm | serious training |
A B course is straightforward: a calm route with obstacles around 80–90 cm. If you can jump a clean round of that height at home, with control over pace and line, you're ready. The step up to L (around a meter) follows naturally once you have enough winstpunten in B.
For show jumping, the choice is rarely a dilemma: you start in B and build up. Exact heights and the regulations per class are on knhs.nl.
Dressage: B or L?
In dressage there is a real choice, and this is where the "B or L?" question comes from.
- Class B is a single basic test in walk, trot, and working canter (normal canter tempo), with simple turns, transitions, and a halt. This is the entry level for those who are just starting to compete.
- Class L (L1 and L2) asks for the first collected paces, extended trot, and more precision in the figures. Many combinations begin their real competitive career here.
Most riders who ride a dressage test for the first time choose class B. You get to know the structure of a test, riding the arena letters, and working under a judge's assessment, without the technique already being demanding.
You can start directly in L if your horse already masters the collected paces and extended trot and your instructor confirms that. But that's the exception, not the rule — better to start a class too low than too high.
What a Test or Course Actually Asks
A short comparison of the entry classes helps you choose realistically:
| Dressage B | Dressage L | Show Jumping B | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaits | walk, trot, working canter | + collected and extended | n/a |
| Core demand | clean transitions, straight lines | contact and collection | control over pace and line |
| Obstacle height | — | — | up to about 90 cm |
| Judging | marks per movement, final score as a percentage | same, stricter | penalty points + time |
In dressage, a final score above 60 percent is a solid first competition; above 65 percent you're doing well. In show jumping, it's simple: clear and within the time.
How to Choose
A few rules of thumb:
- Show jumping → start in B. No choice needed.
- Dressage → start in B, unless your instructor says your horse rides the L exercises smoothly and calmly.
- In doubt → choose the lower class. A strong test in B gives you winstpunten and confidence; a difficult test in L mostly gives you a low score and frustration.
- Ask your instructor. They know your riding and your horse and know what the judge expects at a local competition.
Remember that the class you start in isn't a final destination. With winstpunten you move up automatically, and starting in B or L doesn't mean you're missing out — you build up points and move up naturally. Starting too high can get in the way of your enjoyment of the sport altogether.
In Short
- Show jumping: everyone starts in class B (up to about 90 cm).
- Dressage: most start in class B; only go straight to L if your horse already masters the collected paces.
- Promotion runs on winstpunten, automatically — you don't have to "work your way up" yourself.
- When in doubt: a class lower. Ask your instructor and check the current class requirements on knhs.nl.
In Belgium the system is different — no B-to-ZZ ladder but levels with a handicap system: see the guide on classes and levels in Flanders.
See also: Glossary for Competition Riders · Applying for a KNHS Start Permit