Dressage rules and scoring

Each dressage test includes a series of moves that are judged out of a maximum of 10. In dressage, marks are awarded from 0 to 10 on every move and are based on the following guidelines: 

​

• 10 - Excellent

• 9 - Very good

• 8 - Good

• 7 - Fairly good

• 6 - Satisfactory

• 5 - Sufficient

• 4 - Insufficient

• 3 - Fairly bad

• 2 - Bad

• 1 - Very bad

​

Where a move is not executed, the mark for that move will be ‘0’. Half marks may be awarded. In EC’s Eventing Dressage Tests (EV85-EV110) the move: ‘free walk on a long rein’ is weighted with a coefficient of ‘2’ and, when scored, is worth double marks. During the tests, marks are deducted for errors of course and errors of test.

Errors of course (going off course, omitting movements) are penalized as follows:

• First error by 2 penalty points.

• Second error by 4 penalty points.

• Third error results in elimination.

Errors of test (e.g. not entering the arena in time, using your voice while riding, not taking the reins in one hand during the salute, rising instead of sitting at trot and vice versa) are penalized as follows: 

• Every error of test incurs 2 penalty points.

• Errors of test aren’t cumulative and therefore don’t result in elimination.

Some Causes of Elimination in Dressage

• Not entering after 90 seconds (without a valid reason).

• Lameness (no appeal).

• Leaving the arena with all four feet of the horse during your test.

• Any resistance longer than 20 seconds.

​

The marks/movement, along with the collective marks are added together, deducting any error of course or test. The total of a riders ‘good marks’ is converted into percentage of the total number of points available for that test. That percentage figure is then subtracted from 100 to calculate the penalties for the purposes of their overall score. Higher percentages (i.e., more successful dressage tests) result in lower penalty marks. The lower the final score, the better the performance in eventing dressage scoring. Eventing dressage scores are presented to one decimal place on the final results.

​