Once your startbewijs is sorted, the next step is registering for a specific competition. You enter through the KNHS. There are five steps: finding the show, choosing the right section, registering, paying, and waiting for the start list.
If you don't have a startbewijs yet, read Applying for a KNHS Start Permit first. This guide assumes your membership, startbewijs, and startpas are already arranged.
Where You Enter
Official competitions in the Netherlands run through the KNHS (the Dutch equestrian federation). You do the actual registration online in your personal account, MijnKNHS. That's also where you'll find your membership, your startbewijs, and your horse's startpas (its competition record).
The competitions themselves are listed in the competition calendar. You can filter it by:
- Discipline — dressage, show jumping, eventing, driving, and the other disciplines each have their own sections.
- Class — you look for a section that matches the class your combination is eligible to start in.
- Region and date — useful for keeping travel time and planning manageable.
The exact screens and buttons in MijnKNHS change from time to time. The steps below describe the process in broad outline; for the current interface, knhs.nl is the source.
Choosing the Right Section
A competition is made up of several parts called "sections" — each with its own class or height. You register for one such section, not for "the competition" as a whole. When choosing, pay attention to a few things:
- Class and level. You may start in the class your combination is qualified for, and sometimes one class higher if the organizer allows it. What you may not do is start lower than your winstpunten (promotion points) allow.
- Test or course. In dressage, each section states which test is ridden (for example, a fixed class B or L test). In show jumping, the height and the type of course are stated.
- Rider and horse category. Some sections are split by age (ponies, juniors, seniors) or by pony versus horse size.
Not sure which class you belong in? Check Dutch Competition Classes Explained. For your first starts, that's usually the lowest class in your discipline.
Entering Step by Step
Registration broadly works like this:
- Find the competition in the calendar. Filter by discipline, class, region, and date until you find a section that fits.
- Check the section's conditions. Which test or height, which age or size category, and whether there's a maximum number of entries.
- Select your combination. You choose yourself as the rider and the horse with its matching startpas. If you ride more than one horse, make sure you tick the right combination.
- Register and pay the entry fee. The entry is usually only final once the entry fee has been paid.
- Keep the confirmation. You'll receive a confirmation of your entry, which also states how and when you can withdraw if needed.
Keep in mind that popular competitions can fill up. So don't register at the last moment if you want to be sure of a spot.
Closing Date, Start List, and Start Time
You can register until the closing date. That's often a few days to about a week before the competition; it varies per competition, so check it per section. After the closing date, the organizer processes the entries and draws up the start list.
| What | When (approximate) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | until the closing date | MijnKNHS |
| Start list published | a few days before the competition | competition page / organizer |
| Start time known | with or shortly after the start list | start list |
You read your start time from the start list. Make sure you arrive well in time to warm up and check in with the competition secretary. In dressage, the start time is usually tight; in show jumping, the section can run late — factor that into your planning.
Withdrawing and Costs
If you can't start, withdraw in time, preferably before the closing date. Whether you get the entry fee back depends on when you withdraw and on the competition's rules:
- Withdrawing before the closing date usually costs nothing.
- Withdrawing after the closing date often means the entry fee is forfeited, since the start list has already been drawn up by then.
- Not showing up without withdrawing can mean not only losing the entry fee but also being temporarily barred from registering. So always withdraw, even last-minute.
The entry fee itself is usually around €25 to €75 per day per discipline, depending on the competition and the class. A broader picture of what a competition year costs is in Horse Riding Costs in the Netherlands. The organizer publishes the exact rates and withdrawal policy with the competition.
In Short
Find the competition in the KNHS calendar, choose a section that matches your discipline and class, register your combination through MijnKNHS, and pay the entry fee before the closing date. A few days before the competition, the start list appears with your start time. If you can't make it, withdraw in time. For the current procedure and rates, knhs.nl is always the source.
In Belgium, entering works through the calendar of the national federation there, and different licenses and classes apply — see Competing in Belgium.
Once you've registered, it's time to prepare: What to Bring to the Competition covers what to pack, and Building Points Efficiently helps you choose which sections to start in.
See also: Applying for a KNHS Start Permit · Dutch Competition Classes Explained · What to Bring to the Competition