Dressage Rule Changes Effective Sept. 1

US Equestrian Dressage has several rule changes which were approved by the Board of Directors and will take effect September 1.  A summary of the rule changes is noted below. The complete list can be found here.

DR120 Dress:

•		Spurs are optional during competition in all FEI Tests. Language has also been added to clarify that metal spurs with round hard knobs (metal or plastic) on the shanks are permitted (“Impuls” spur) and the knobs may rotate. (Page 10)
•		Language has been added to clarify that there is no penalty for having cell phones or other electronic devices worn or carried in clothing while competing, as long as they are not in use. (Page 12).

DR121 Saddlery and Equipment:

•		Updated language regarding the shapes and styles of permitted bridle crownpieces and pads. (Page 14).
•		Clarification that a throat latch may be stitched or attached to the crownpiece or browband with a ring, snap, or buckle. (Page 16).
•		A throat latch is required. A jowl strap can be used in addition to a traditional throat latch. The jowl strap must be fitted around or immediately below the horse’s jowl. Nosebands with one to two lower (chin) straps must also have a throat latch. Exception: Micklem Bridle. The back strap (or chin strap) of a noseband cannot also be considered a jowl strap. (Page 18).
•		Single or double jointed snaffles may be used with upper or lower cheeks, full cheeks or Fulmer cheeks. Loose rings may have a narrow sleeve fitted around part of the ring. (Page 20).

DR123 Scoring, Classification and Prize Giving:

•		In Children classes and classes for 7-Year-Old Horses, penalty percentage points must be deducted from both technical judges’ and quality judges’ score sheets. (Page 22).
•		For FEI Children classes: In case of equality of percentages, the competitor with the higher “technical” mark will be ranked highest. If still tied, the highest total median score of the Technical Judges will decide the placing. (Page 24).

DR310 Athletes who are Blind or Have Visual Impairment, Commanders (Readers) and Callers (Living Letters):

•

There shall be no more than four (4) Human Callers placed around the arena and one (1) Caller at X, but athletes with visual impairment are encouraged to use as few Callers as possible. Electronic callers can be placed at every letter. (Page 26).

Minimum Entry Requirements for CDIs – Annex B Updates:

•		An update has been made for athlete/horse combinations interested in competing in CDI5*/CDIO5* events. •    “Athlete/horse combinations have achieved the minimum FEI Criteria to compete at CDI5*/CDIO5* events per FEI Rules and have a minimum of 70% on the USEF 12-month Grand Prix Ranking List. In extraordinary circumstances, for U.S. events only, a waiver may be requested by those athlete/horse combinations that have achieved a minimum of 68% on the USEF 12-month Grand Prix Ranking List. The waiver request will follow the same process as foreign competition waiver requests as seen below” (pg. 2).
•		The updated version of Annex B is available on the USEF website.

Click here to view a complete list of rule changes effective September 1, 2024. Questions? Contact dressage@usef.org.

2025 Events: USEF Dressage Initial Selection and Qualifying Memos

Discover Dressage/FEI North American Youth Championship (NAYC)

July 29 – August 3, 2025

Traverse City, MI

•		Children Selection Memo
•		Junior and Young Rider Selection Memo
•		U25 Selection Memo

U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

August 18-25, 2025

Wayne, IL

•		Grand Prix, Intermediaire I, & Brentina Cup Qualifying Memo
•		Young & Developing Horse Qualifying Memo
•		Youth Division Qualifying Memo
•		Para Dressage Qualifying Memo

European Youth Tours

•		U.S. Dressage European Young Rider Tour Selection Memo
•		U.S. Dressage European U25 Tour Selection Memo

If you have any questions, please contact the USEF Dressage Department Dressage@usef.org or Festival@usef.org.

US Equestrian Open

The US Equestrian Open of Dressage will be formatted based on points accumulated through qualification via the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle test at the CDI level, with the top athletes in the overall standings moving forward to contest the US Equestrian Open Dressage Final. Qualifying events will take place throughout 2025. The Final will be hosted at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, Calif., with $200,000 in prize money set to be distributed to participating combinations and a $50,000 high point series incentive across the qualifiers. Athletes must complete a minimum of two Grand Prix Freestyles at designated US Open series qualifying CDIs within the U.S. during 2025 to be eligible for the series final.

 

The Dressage US Equestrian Open Series Rules can be found on the FEI website here. The full calendar of qualifying events will be available in the coming weeks.

 

For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at USEquestrianOpen@usef.org. For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at cweilminster@usef.org. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at lgriffin@usef.org.

Stay Connected

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The USEF International High Performance Programs and the USEF High Performance Pathway Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, the philanthropic partner to USEF. High Performance Program support is also provided by the USOPC and USEF sponsors and members.