Moving up to a higher class feels like a reward, but it's mainly a question of timing. At the KNHS (the Dutch equestrian federation), you move up partly on points and partly on your own judgment — and it's that second part that makes the difference between progressing smoothly and getting stuck for years.
How Promotion Works at the KNHS
You move up in dressage and show jumping on winstpunten (promotion points): the KNHS keeps a points table per discipline and class. Above a certain threshold, you're required to move up to the next class — riding too long in the same class while scoring well above that threshold isn't allowed, because it gives an unfair advantage over riders just starting out.
Two things matter here:
- Points are recorded on the combination (you and your horse together), not on you as a rider. If you start with a new, inexperienced horse, that combination starts again from the bottom — even if you yourself have been riding Z for years.
- Relegation is, in principle, not possible. Once you're in M, you stay in M (or higher). That means a too-early promotion isn't a temporary misstep, but places you at a level you don't yet belong at for a longer stretch of time.
The exact points thresholds and the current points table per discipline change from time to time and are published on knhs.nl. So don't rely on a fixed number from this guide — check with the federation.
Allowed to Promote vs. Ready to Promote
Having enough points means you're allowed to move up, not that you're ready for the work in the higher class. The difference between the classes lies in schooling, not in a few tenths of a point on your test.
| Class | What's New (Dressage) | Jump Height |
|---|---|---|
| L | First collected paces, extended trot | ±100–110 cm |
| M | Flying changes (from M2), more collection | ±115–125 cm |
| Z | Full collection, series of changes, beginnings of piaffe | ±130–135 cm |
A horse competing at M dressage has serious schooling behind it — that's no accidental step. The jump to Z asks for substantially more again: from here on, the proportion of combinations that keep climbing gets small. The heights and test elements above are indicative; the official tests and requirements are set out in the KNHS rulebook.
Signs You're Ready for the Next Class
Moving up makes sense once the basics are stable, not when you just clear the threshold on one good day. Watch for these signals:
- You score the winstpunten consistently, across multiple competitions and with different judges — not through one outlier.
- The new elements of the higher class (for example, the flying change for M2) already work reliably at home, not only on a good training day.
- Your horse stays relaxed and in balance as the difficulty rises; the collection comes from the hindquarters, not from the hand.
- Your instructor or coach also thinks it's time. An outsider who watches you ride weekly judges more soberly than you do yourself after a nice test.
In short: you're ready when the current class comes easily to you and the first building blocks of the next one are already in place.
When It's Better to Wait
Promoting too early is a common mistake, and because relegation isn't possible, you pay for it for a long time. Postpone if:
- You earned the points with barely-passing tests in which the basics (purity, rhythm, relaxation) were actually still shaky.
- Your horse can only meet the higher demands with too much hand or tension — you'll get stuck as soon as the test gets harder.
- Your young or recently acquired combination still needs to build trust; time spent in the current class pays off later.
- You're mainly doing it for the status of a higher class. A neat, relaxed L test says more about your riding than a tense M test that just scrapes by.
Schooling a horse takes time. Riders who build a genuinely solid foundation in the current class typically move up more smoothly later than those who rush upward.
The Horse, Not Just the Rider
Promotion is about the combination. An experienced rider on a young horse has to give the horse time to grow along physically and mentally — you don't build collection and carrying power in the hindquarters in a few months. Conversely, a schoolmaster horse can carry a less experienced rider upward with it.
If in doubt, pay attention to the physical load: the higher classes demand more strength and suppleness. If you see signs of stiffness, irregularity, or resistance that doesn't go away, a check by the vet or an experienced instructor is wiser than pushing on to the next class.
In Short
- You're allowed to move up once you have enough winstpunten; whether you're ready is determined by your combination's schooling.
- Wait for consistent scores and for new elements that already work at home — not for one good test.
- Remember that relegation isn't possible: too early a step puts you at too high a level for a long time.
- Let your coach help decide, and keep an eye on your horse's health.
- Always check the current points table and test requirements with the source.
See also: Glossary for this level · Level: Competing More Seriously · KNHS — Classes and Regulations