After a dressage test, you receive a protocol with marks and brief comments for each movement. Learning to read that sheet gets you more than just the final percentage: it shows you why you scored the way you did, and where the most gains are to be found.
What's on the Protocol
A dressage test consists of a fixed sequence of movements, in a fixed order, at fixed arena letters. Each movement appears as a separate line on the protocol. Per line, you'll typically see:
- The movement — for example "extended trot K–X–M" or "halt and salute at C."
- The mark — a score from 0 to 10, in half points. A 6 is satisfactory, a 7 is more than satisfactory, and an 8 is good. Marks above 8 are rare, and anything below a 4 means something clearly went wrong.
- The coefficient — some more demanding movements count double. A 7 on a double-weighted movement carries more weight than a 7 on a regular line.
- The comment — a brief note from the judge: "short in the neck," "nicely ridden," "tempo changes." This is often more valuable than the mark itself, because it tells you why.
At the bottom are the collective marks and the final percentage. The exact layout and the current tests differ by class and are revised from time to time; the official test sheets and rulebook are on knhs.nl.
How the Final Percentage Is Calculated
All the points earned are added up and set against the maximum achievable. That produces a percentage. As a rough guide:
| Percentage | Roughly what it means |
|---|---|
| below 60% | the basics aren't stable yet, more than one thing went wrong |
| 60–65% | just satisfactory, with clear points to improve |
| 65–70% | a solid test, the training is on track |
| 70–75% | a strong test |
| above 75% | excellent, rare at most competitions |
These bands are rules of thumb, not a hard standard: a 64% in a more demanding class or under a strict judge can be worth more than a 68% in an easy section. So compare your own protocols over time, rather than comparing isolated percentages between different competitions.
The Collective Marks: What the Judge Is Watching For
Below the individual movements are the collective marks (called "general impressions" in some tests). These assess your test as a whole and often carry significant weight. They typically cover:
- The gaits — purity and quality of walk, trot, and canter.
- Impulsion — whether the energy comes from the hindquarters, not just tempo.
- Submission and throughness — whether the horse responds smoothly to the aids, without tension or resistance.
- The rider's seat and use of the aids — how calmly and effectively you ride.
Collective marks often explain why two tests with the same individual marks still end up differently. They reward a horse that moves calmly and through, and penalize tension that you might just about ride around in the individual movements.
Turning the Protocol Into Improvement Points
A single test is a snapshot. The value lies in the pattern across multiple protocols. A workable approach:
- Mark the low scores (5 and below) and read the comment next to them. These are your biggest leaks.
- Look for repetition. If "tempo changes" or "behind the vertical" comes up on multiple protocols, that's a structural training point, not a one-off slip.
- Work out the effect of the coefficients. A mediocre mark on a double-weighted movement costs you more than two lower marks on regular lines. That's often where the quickest gains are.
- Look at the collective marks. If throughness is lagging, the fix is usually in the basics (relaxation, contact), not in the individual figures.
- Watch the transitions. The marks just before and after a transition tell you whether your horse stays in balance or briefly loses it — a common, and very trainable, source of lost points.
Take those few recurring points to your instructor. A protocol is a snapshot from one judge; your trainer sees you every week and can put the notes in context.
In Higher Classes: Multiple Judges
From the more demanding classes onward, a test is sometimes judged by multiple judges at once, each from their own position around the arena. You then receive multiple protocols, and the final score is the average.
Differences between judges are normal: from one position you can see an irregularity that doesn't show from another. Don't give too much weight to a single outlying mark. What's more telling is where the judges agree — that's the signal that something is really there, and that's where the most gains are to be found.
A Few Practical Takeaways
- Don't just read the final percentage — pay attention above all to the comments and the collective marks.
- Keep your protocols and compare them over time; look for recurring points rather than isolated slips.
- Work out where the heaviest-weighted movements are costing you points — that's where the fastest improvement lies.
- An outlying mark from a single judge is noise; repetition across competitions and agreement between judges is signal.
- For the exact test sheets, coefficients, and judging guidelines: consult the official source at the KNHS (the Dutch equestrian federation).
See also: When to Move Up a Class · Glossary for This Level · KNHS — Tests and Regulations