What happens between the bell and the start of a dressage test?

• The bell: "After the sound of the bell, the Athlete must enter the arena at A within forty-five (45) seconds."
• The clock: the judge at C is responsible for the bell and the time. A 45-second clock should be visible to the rider.
• Late: entering after 45 seconds but within 90 is a technical fault, costing 0.5 of a percentage point from each judge.
• Too late: not entering within 90 seconds means elimination, unless the judge at C has been told of a valid reason such as a lost shoe.
• Too early: entering before the bell is also a technical fault.
• Freestyle: the rider has 45 seconds to signal for the music and must enter within 30 seconds of it starting.
• The salute: "Athletes must take the reins in one (1) hand at the salute."
• The start: the test begins with the entry at A.
• The end: after the final salute, as soon as the horse moves forward. An equipment and blood check follows.
• Before and after: incidents before the beginning or after the end of the test have no effect on the marks.
• A natural break: if the horse starts to urinate or defecate after the bell and before the test, the clock is stopped.

The glossary has the test, the arena, the technical faults entry and the judges.

Riders use the time before the bell to show a nervous horse the arena from outside, and without a limit that could go on indefinitely. The 45 seconds keep a long day of single performances on time, and the two-step penalty separates a few seconds' delay from a pair that cannot be got into the arena.