Anyone learning to ride in Flanders sooner or later runs into the certificate system of Paardensport Vlaanderen (the Flemish equestrian federation). Since the system's overhaul, it's officially called Rozetten: six levels with which a rider shows step by step what they know and can do. This guide explains how the levels are structured, what's tested, where you take an exam, and roughly what it costs.
Six Levels, Three Components
The system has six clearly defined levels, Rozet 1 through Rozet 6. You can start at any level, from age six onward — an adult beginner doesn't have to start at Rozet 1 if they're already further along. Three components are tested per level:
- Paardenkennis (horse knowledge): theoretical knowledge about the horse and riding.
- Horsemanship: practical skills alongside the horse, such as care and handling.
- Rijvaardigheid (riding skill): practical skills on horseback.
For Rozet 1 through 3, the theory test is oral; from Rozet 4 onward, it's written. Anyone who passes all three components receives a Rozet as proof of that level. Knowledge and skills are deepened across disciplines; only at Rozet 6 does the work become discipline-specific.
What a Rozet Gets You
A Rozet isn't a requirement to be allowed to ride or take lessons — Paardensport Vlaanderen itself confirms that you don't need a certificate to compete. It is, however, a concrete benchmark for your progress, and the higher levels open up a follow-on path: Rozet 5 gives access to the Initiator course, Rozet 6 is the admission requirement for the Trainer C course at the Vlaamse Trainersschool (the Flemish Trainers School). So for anyone aiming toward instructing, the Rozet track is the first step.
One caveat: since the overhaul, there are no more exemptions based on prior experience or results — you go through each level with its own exam.
Where and How You Earn a Rozet
Exams are organized by affiliated clubs, not directly by the federation. A club can offer an open exam (also accessible to non-members), a closed exam (members only), or a mixed exam. The examiner is appointed and paid by Paardensport Vlaanderen itself; the club arranges the arena, the equipment, and the preparation. Ask your riding school or club whether and when they organize a Rozet exam, and whether the preparatory lessons are included in the regular lesson fee.
Costs
The federation invoices an amount per participant to the organizing club; the club itself sets the additional price for horse rental, venue, and preparatory lessons. As a guideline, the rates Paardensport Vlaanderen charges the club:
| Level | Cost (member / non-member) |
|---|---|
| Rozet 1 | free (administered by the club or instructor) |
| Rozet 2 through 4 | €20 / €25 |
| Rozet 5 and 6 | €25 / €30 |
On top of that comes the optional workbook and textbook per Rozet, which costs €15. The final bill for the rider themselves depends on what the club adds on top of that.
Difference With the Netherlands
The Dutch counterpart runs through the FNRS ruiterbewijs (rider certificate), with the F-proeven (F tests) as its basic series. The common denominator is the same idea: a step-by-step proof of basic skills, not a competition qualification. The execution does differ, though. The FNRS ruiterbewijs is tied to recognized riding schools and revolves mainly around practical riding skill; the Flemish Rozetten test three separate components side by side (paardenkennis, horsemanship, rijvaardigheid) and build toward an official instructor pathway. A Dutch rider learning to ride in Flanders therefore starts with a new track — one certificate doesn't replace the other.
In Short
The certificate system of Paardensport Vlaanderen has been called Rozetten since the overhaul: six levels that test paardenkennis, horsemanship, and rijvaardigheid separately, from age six onward and without exemptions. A Rozet isn't a competition requirement, but it is a concrete benchmark and the route to an instructor pathway from Rozet 5 onward. Your own club organizes the exams, at a rate of €20 to €30 per level. For the current conditions and the application process, paardensport.vlaanderen is the designated source.
See also: Learning to Ride in Flanders · Signs of a Good and Safe Riding School · Competing in Belgium Explained · Glossary for beginners · Level: Just Starting Out