Complete Guide to Federated Dressage in Spain

Updated: June 2026. Guidance based on current RFHE regulations.

Federated dressage in Spain is regulated by the Royal Spanish Equestrian Federation (RFHE) under the international frameworks of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Categories and regulations may evolve; it is advisable to check with the RFHE for the current version before competing.

The Training Scale: The Theoretical Foundation

Before discussing categories, it's important to understand the German training scale—an internationally accepted conceptual framework. It proposes six progressive pillars that any dressage horse must master:

Rhythm. Regular cadence in all three gaits.
Suppleness. Horse relaxed, without tension.
Contact. Connection without tension between the rider's hand and the horse's mouth.
Impulsion. Drive from the hindquarters, forward energy.
Straightness. Horse straight, not lateralizing.
Collection. Concentration of the gaits, flexed hindquarters, greater expression.

Each dressage level works on these elements with progressive demands. A rider who understands the scale plans their work better.

RFHE Categories: From Novice to High Competition

The RFHE structures competitions into categories by rider age and technical level. The common categories (consult updated regulations):

Categories by Rider Age

Children. Up to 14 years old (approximate).
Pony Riders. Riders up to 16 years old riding ponies.
Juniors. 14-18 years old.
Young Riders. 16-21 years old.
Seniors. Adults in general.

Technical Levels in Adult Dressage

Tests are structured by technical difficulty:

Promotion

Introduction to competition. Trot and canter in their basic variations, without advanced lateral movements or flying changes in series. Suitable for riders with 1-3 years of experience.

Preliminary

First official level. Basic gaits with slightly more technical demands. Sitting trot, precise transitions between gaits.

Elemental (Dressage 1)

Gaits in different variations: free walk, extended walk, medium trot. Introduction of soft lateral movements.

Medium (Dressage 2-3)

Lateral movements (leg-yield, shoulder-in, half-pass). Collected gaits. Collected and medium canter.

Intermediare I

Flying changes on a straight line, canter pirouettes. Greater expression and collection.

Intermediare II

Flying changes in series, introductory piaffe, incipient passage.

Grand Prix

Highest level. Piaffe, passage, flying changes every stride, perfect pirouettes. This is the level for the Olympic Games.

Tests: The Specific Routines

Each level has several tests (or "reprises"): choreographed sequences that the rider performs from memory. The movements are pre-established, and judges score each movement from 0 to 10 with decimals.

Tests are learned by heart. Serious riders work on each test for weeks or months before competing. There are even tests (starting from left to right) and odd tests (the other way around).

The Dressage Arena

Tests are performed in a 20x40 meter arena (basic categories) or a 20x60 meter arena (medium and high categories). The arena has letters marked at specific locations (A, K, V, E, S, H, C, M, R, B, P, F) that indicate the points where movements are to be executed.

Learning the letters and their positions is one of the first steps in competitive dressage. Each movement in the test is linked to specific letters in the arena.

Regulatory Equipment

For the Rider

Approved helmet VG1. Mandatory.
Jacket. Black, dark blue, or club color in basic categories. Black or dark blue tailcoat in Intermediare II and above.
White shirt with stock tie.
Breeches. White or beige.
Boots. Tall, leather, black.
Gloves. White at high levels. Dark gloves accepted in basic categories.
Whip. Regulated length (consult category regulations).
Spurs. Not mandatory but common at intermediate levels and above.

For the Horse

Dressage saddle. Deep seat, long straight flaps.
Bridle. Snaffle bridle with cavesson in basic levels. Double bridle (snaffle + curb bit with curb chain) in Intermediare I and above.
Saddle pad. White or sober color. Rectangular in classical dressage.
Bandages or boots. NOT allowed in competition (only in training).

License and Federation

To compete officially, the following are required:

RFHE federative license or corresponding regional federation license.
Federated horse with an annual license.
Up-to-date documentation for vaccinations (especially equine influenza) and equine passport.
Civil liability insurance.

Approximate cost: €60-100 for the rider's annual license + €30-80 for the horse's license + entry fees for each test (€30-100 depending on the test).

Typical Calendar for a Dressage Rider

While each rider customizes their schedule, a typical competition season:

January-February. Preparation. Technical work, gait improvement. First competitions in mild climates (Andalusia, Levante).
March-June. Active season. Monthly regional competitions, possible training camps.
July-August. Partial break. Some summer competitions but less activity.
September-November. Closing season with championships.
December. Scheduled rest for horse and rider.

Dressage Horses: Common Breeds

In high-level international classical dressage, certain breeds dominate:

KWPN (Dutch Warmblood). Predominant in world-class competition.
Hanoverian. Another historical German sport horse.
Westphalian, Trakehner, Oldenburg. Other German sport horses.
Pura Raza Española (PRE). Emblematic Spanish horse, specializing in dressage with expansive and elevated movements.
Lusitano. Portuguese cousin of the PRE, also a reference in classical dressage.

PRE and Lusitano horses particularly excel in exhibition and "haute école" tests. In international FEI competition, KWPN and Hanoverians are more commonly found on the podiums.

How to Choose Your First Competition

If you have been riding seriously for 1-2 years and are considering competing, the usual path is:

Talk to your instructor about your actual level.
For the first time, participate in an internal club competition, without a federative license, to get a feel for the atmosphere.
After 1-2 internal competitions, apply for a license and compete in a regional Promotion test.
Progress through categories according to results and technical consolidation.

Skipping stages does not work. Riders who progress slowly but consolidate their skills tend to go further in the long run than those who rush without a solid foundation.