What small penalties are there in dressage apart from riding mistakes?
I · Intermediate · The test · 3 of 5Half a percentage point from each judge, for things such as entering with a whip, leaving boots or bandages on the horse, coming in before the bell or more than 45 seconds after it, using the voice repeatedly or not taking the reins in one hand to salute. These faults never lead to elimination.
How it works
- The deduction: "zero-point five percentage points (0.5%) will be deducted per fault by each Judge".
- Not cumulative: the deductions "are not cumulative and will not result in Elimination".
- A whip: entering the space round the arena, or the arena, with one.
- Boots and bandages: on the horse's legs when entering.
- Dress: a discrepancy such as no gloves.
- The bell: entering before it sounds, or more than 45 seconds after it but within 90.
- Freestyle: entering after more than 30 seconds of music.
- The voice: "Using voice or clicking the tongue repeatedly".
- The salute: not taking the reins in one hand.
- If the test has started: the judge at C stops the rider, an assistant may remove the item and the rider continues from where they stopped. Marks already given stand.
- Who decides: the judge at C, and the other sheets are marked to match.
- Freestyle length: a freestyle that is too long or too short loses 0.5 from the artistic score.
The glossary has the technical faults entry, the tack, the penalty points entry and the freestyle.
Tricky cases
A rider forgets to drop the whip and rides half the test with it. Are they eliminated?
No. It is a technical fault. The judge at C stops them, the whip is removed and they continue with 0.5 off from each judge.
A rider clicks the tongue once to wake the horse up. Is that a fault?
No, on the wording. The fault is using the voice or clicking the tongue "repeatedly".
Do three technical faults add up to elimination, as errors of course do?
No. Technical faults do not result in elimination.
Is carrying a whip allowed in the warm-up?
Yes. One whip of up to 1.20 metres is allowed in the practice area. It must be dropped before entering the space round the competition arena.
Why the rule exists
These are breaches of procedure and not of riding, and the penalty is sized to match. Elimination would be out of proportion for a forgotten pair of leg boots. A fixed half point marks the mistake without deciding the competition.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Technical faults | 0.5 each from each judge | FEI Dressage 424.4.2.2 |
| Errors of course | 2 points, and elimination for a second | FEI Dressage 424.4.1.1 |
| Forbidden equipment found at the check after the test | Elimination | FEI Dressage 434.8 |
From the rule book
Fédération Équestre Internationale, Dressage Rules 2026, articles 424.4.2, 424.4.3 and 434.2. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FEI Dressage Rules 2026 (PDF).