Your first dressage test comes down mostly to preparation: a test is a fixed sequence of movements at fixed points in the arena, and the better you know it, the calmer you'll be when you actually ride. Below you'll find how a test is structured, how to memorize it, and what to expect on competition day.
What a dressage test actually is
A dressage test is a prescribed sequence of figures and transitions that you ride in a fixed order. For the entry-level class — Class B (Class B is the lowest entry-level class in the Dutch competition system) — it covers walk, trot and working canter, with simple turns, circles and transitions between gaits. Posting trot is allowed in Class B, so you don't have to sit the trot.
The test is written out on a test sheet: the letters and movement are listed on the left, with space on the right where the judge notes a score and a comment for each element. Each element gets a score from 0 to 10 (with half points). At the end, general scores are added for things like seat and use of the aids. The total is converted into a percentage. As a rough guide: around 60 percent is a solid result for a first test, and above 65 percent is good.
You ride the test alone, and in most entry classes, from memory. The judge usually sits at letter C, at the far end of the arena.
The arena and the letters
A dressage test is ridden in a rectangular arena. For the lower classes, that's usually a 20-by-40-meter arena. The letters around the arena mark where you begin or finish a movement.
The letters along the wall, starting from the entrance and going clockwise:
| Position | Letters |
|---|---|
| Short side (entrance) | A |
| Long side | F – B – M |
| Short side (judge) | C |
| Long side | H – E – K |
On the imaginary centerline sit D, X (the center of the arena) and G. Many riders remember the order with a mnemonic; which one you use doesn't matter, as long as you know without thinking where every letter is. At a competition, the letters are marked on boards along the fence, so you don't have to guess.
Memorizing the test
Learning a test is a step separate from riding it. A few methods that work, often combined:
- Walk the test on foot. Step it out literally in your living room or driveway, with the letters in mind. Your body remembers the route better than your head does.
- Draw it out. Sketch the arena on paper and trace the lines. That way you can see at a glance where you change rein and where the transitions fall.
- Read it aloud. "Enter at A in working trot, track right at C" — the rhythm of the sentences helps it stick.
- Ride it in sections. Practice separate parts rather than always riding the whole test. Otherwise your horse learns the sequence too and starts anticipating things like the canter transition.
Pay extra attention to the transitions when learning: where you switch from trot to walk, where you pick up canter. Those are the moments where you gain or lose the most points.
Many competitions allow a reader in the entry-level classes: someone who calls out the test from the sidelines. That takes the pressure off memorizing it. Check the competition rules or with the organizer beforehand whether it's allowed for your class (the section of the competition for a specific level) — it varies by class and by competition.
Competition day itself
Arrive in good time, so your horse can get used to the surroundings and you can warm up calmly. A new venue with noise, other horses and flags often takes a bit of getting used to.
The broad outline of how it goes:
- Warming up. Loosen and supple your horse up in the designated warm-up area. Be mindful of other combinations (you and your horse together); right-of-way rules apply (keep left, give plenty of room when passing).
- Checking in. Report to the competition secretary's office or the judge as instructed, so they know you've arrived.
- A lap around the arena. Just before your start time, you're usually allowed to ride around the outside of the arena to let your horse settle.
- The bell signal. The judge signals with a bell or horn that you may begin. From that moment you usually have a short window to enter the arena at A.
- The test. Ride your route, look ahead to the next letter, and keep breathing. A small mistake isn't a disaster; keep riding.
- The salute. The test begins and ends with a salute at halt: reins in one hand, a brief bow of the head.
If you make a mistake in the sequence, the bell often rings again. The judge will then tell you where to continue. An error of course costs a small deduction, not disqualification — it only becomes a problem if you repeatedly lose your way.
Clothing and tack
For the entry-level classes, neat, tidy riding clothes are sufficient: proper breeches, riding boots or chaps with jodhpurs, a neat jacket or gilet, and an approved safety helmet. The horse is groomed neatly, with its mane plaited if you like. The permitted bit and bridle vary by class; in Class B you ride in a plain snaffle, not a double bridle.
The exact requirements for clothing, bridlework and permitted equipment are set out in the KNHS (the Dutch equestrian federation) competition rulebook and can change. Always check the current rules at knhs.nl or ask your instructor, so you don't run into surprises.
In short
- A dressage test is a fixed sequence of movements at fixed letters; know the arena well enough that you never have to think about where a letter is.
- Learn the test separately from riding it: walking it out, drawing it and practicing it in sections works better than always riding the whole test.
- Check whether a reader is allowed — that takes the pressure off memorizing it.
- Arrive in good time, warm up calmly, and just keep riding after a small mistake.
- Look up clothing and equipment requirements at the official source; they vary by class and sometimes change.
See also: Which class should you start in? · Applying for a KNHS start permit · What to bring to a competition · Level: First competitions