What do dressage riders have to wear, and what equipment is allowed on the horse?
Officials' detail · The competition · 2 of 2A protective helmet at all times when mounted, a single-colour tailcoat or jacket, white or off-white breeches, a stock or tie, gloves and dark boots. In the arena the rider may not carry a whip, and the horse may not wear leg boots or bandages. Earphones while competing mean elimination.
How it works
- Headgear: "a properly fastened Protective Headgear has to be worn by all Athletes" at all times when mounted. It may be shaped like a top hat.
- Compulsory dress: dark protective headgear, white or off-white breeches, a white or off-white stock or tie, gloves and dark riding boots.
- Coat: any single-colour tailcoat or jacket. Stripes and multi-coloured coats are not permitted. Discreet accents are.
- Weather: in great heat the ground jury may allow riding without a jacket, and in rain a light waterproof.
- Uniform: military and police riders may wear service dress.
- Spurs: optional.
- Compulsory tack: a dressage saddle, stirrups, a saddle pad and a bridle with noseband and bit or bits.
- Bridle: a snaffle or a double bridle at the levels listed in the rules. A snaffle only for ponies, children and the youngest horses.
- Whip: "it is forbidden to carry a whip of any kind while competing in the arena". One of up to 1.20 metres is allowed in the warm-up.
- Boots and bandages: forbidden on the horse's legs while competing.
- Ears: ear hoods are permitted and may reduce noise. Earplugs are forbidden in competition.
- No decoration: no paint on the horse and nothing that hides a wound.
- Earphones: "strictly prohibited" while competing, on pain of elimination. One earphone is allowed in training and warm-up.
- The check: a steward inspects the tack straight after the horse leaves the arena.
The glossary has the tack, the athlete, the horse, the technical faults entry and elimination.
Tricky cases
Can a rider still wear a top hat?
No, not a plain one. Protective headgear is compulsory whenever mounted. A protective helmet made in the shape of a top hat may be used.
A rider forgets gloves. Are they eliminated?
No. A discrepancy in dress such as a lack of gloves is a technical fault, costing 0.5 of a percentage point from each judge.
Does a Grand Prix horse have to wear a double bridle?
It depends on the level of the event, and the list in the rules read covers the lower and middle levels, where either is allowed. The full requirements are in a separate FEI tack document that was not read.
Can a horse wear a fly mask in the arena on a hot day?
No. Fly masks are forbidden in the competition arena. Ear hoods are allowed if they do not cover the eyes.
Why the rule exists
The dress keeps the picture plain so that the judges look at the riding. The equipment rules have a sharper purpose: dressage claims to show a horse working willingly, so the things that could force or mask that, such as a whip, hidden padding or a voice in the ear, are kept out of the arena.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Competition arena | No whip, boots or bandages | FEI Dressage 434.2; FEI Dressage 434.10 |
| Warm-up | One whip, and boots and bandages, allowed | FEI Dressage 434.2; FEI Dressage 434.8 |
| Ponies, children, five and six year old horses | Snaffle bridle only | FEI Dressage 434.1 |
| Jumping and eventing | Different dress and tack under their own rules | ../jumping/ and ../eventing/ sets |
From the rule book
Fédération Équestre Internationale, Dressage Rules 2026, articles 424.4.2.2, 431 and 434. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FEI Dressage Rules 2026 (PDF).