How do the team and individual competitions work at a dressage championship?
I · Intermediate · The competition · 5 of 5There are three competitions, each with its own medals. Every rider rides the Grand Prix, which decides the team result from each nation's three best scores. The best 30 go on to the Grand Prix Special, and the best 18 from that ride the Freestyle. Each competition starts again from zero.
How it works
- Three competitions: "The Grand Prix (Team Championship Competition) the Grand Prix Special (Individual Competition) and the Grand Prix Freestyle".
- Medals: awarded for all three.
- The Grand Prix: open to all entered riders.
- The team result: "the highest total scores of their three (3) best Athletes".
- The Special: open to the 30 best from the Grand Prix.
- The Freestyle: open to the 18 best from the Special, including ties for 18th place.
- A national limit: only the three best riders from one country may ride the Freestyle.
- From zero: there is "no adding of percentages" between competitions. All riders start each one with nothing.
- One horse: a rider may not ride more than one horse in each competition.
- A rest day: to be scheduled, preferably before the Freestyle.
- Individual ties for the first three places: the higher median of the judges' scores decides.
- Team ties: the team whose third counting rider has the better result is placed higher.
The glossary has the Grand Prix, Special and Freestyle entry, the dressage ties entry, the freestyle and the marks and percentage entry.
Tricky cases
Does a rider's Grand Prix score count towards the individual medals?
No, not directly. It decides who goes on. The Special and the Freestyle are each scored from zero and have their own medals.
A nation has four riders in the best 18 of the Special. Do all four ride the Freestyle?
No. Only the three best from one country may take part.
A team has four riders. Do all four scores count?
No. The team result is the total of its three best.
Is this the Olympic format?
It depends. This is the format for FEI world and continental championships. The Olympic Games have their own regulations, which were not read.
Why the rule exists
Using the Grand Prix for both the team result and as the first cut means every rider's test matters twice. Starting each later competition from zero makes it a fresh contest that a rider can win on the day, and the limit of three a nation keeps the final from becoming one country's training session.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World and continental championships | Grand Prix, Special and Freestyle as above | FEI Dressage 402.2 |
| Other continental championships and games | The same three-step shape at a lower test level | FEI Dressage 402.3 |
| Olympic Games | Separate regulations, not read | FEI Dressage 401 |
| Ordinary internationals | The organiser chooses from set schedules of tests | FEI Dressage 407 |
From the rule book
Fédération Équestre Internationale, Dressage Rules 2026, articles 402.2, 402.3, 425.2 and 425.4. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FEI Dressage Rules 2026 (PDF).