Make Sense of Dressage Scores and Feedback

Dressage test sheets can look dense: a diagram, numbered movements, judged directions, marks and comments all occupy the same page. Understanding them is not about memorising a score sheet. It is about learning what the judge saw, why it affected the result, and which part of the ride deserves attention next. That skill helps riders plan training instead of simply reacting to the number at the bottom.

At Schramm Equestrian, Dom and Jimmie Schramm are emerging three-day event riders based in West Grove, Pennsylvania, and dressage forms the foundation of their eventing work. For an event horse, accurate test riding supports the balance and responsiveness needed later in the cross-country and show-jumping phases. A clear reading of the test sheet and judge feedback also gives riders a practical way to coordinate training priorities across an entire campaign.

What the sheet is telling you

A dressage test sheet is more than a collection of numbers. The movement name tells you the required gait or action; the arena diagram shows the route; the letters and dots identify entry points and markers; and any degree or coefficient indicates how precisely the movement must be performed. Experienced riders use those details to build a mental map before they enter the arena.

The numerical score records the quality of each movement. Most dressage marks use a scale from zero to ten in half-point steps, with seven described as very good. A lower score identifies where accuracy, rhythm, impulsion or submission fell away from the ideal. Alongside the marks, the judge’s comments provide a short interpretation of the ride and may identify an error that needs closer attention.

Prepare the test, not just the horse

A useful first pass is to mark every transition, halt, canter depart and change of pace, then note the tempo demanded at each point. Ask what the horse must do immediately before the movement, not only during it. A collected canter transition depends on the preceding half-pause just as much as the transition itself, so the test should be prepared as a connected sequence.

Next, picture the whole test at walking pace or from the arena entrance. Check that you can locate the markers without losing the letter pattern, and rehearse the aids you intend to use rather than inventing them under pressure. Lower-level Australian tests may be ridden from a dictated sheet, while advanced tests are normally governed by a test rider, yet both benefit from the same prior visualisation.

Read judge comments in context

Comments such as “pushing”, “behind the leg” or “out of balance” are clues, not complete diagnoses. They describe the judge’s perception at a particular moment, and that perception may reflect the horse’s training, the rider’s aids, an awkward transition or a temporary loss of rhythm. A useful process is to ask what happened in the seconds before the comment and what the horse was trying to do.

The final percentage is calculated from the movement marks, including their coefficients where applicable, and is then converted to a score out of 100. Rule-based deductions may also apply, and collective marks, when included, summarise qualities such as gait, impulsion and submission across the test. Treat those figures as a pattern to investigate, not a verdict on horse or rider. Judges may prioritise different qualities, so one lower mark should be checked against the video and the written comments before it drives a major training change.

Turn feedback into a training plan

Sort the feedback into technical, horse, rider and management categories. A missed marker may be a rider-accuracy issue; tension through the poll may be a horse-training issue; and a rushed arena entry may belong to management and preparation. Choose one or two priorities that recur across movements. Practising those priorities in a related but simpler exercise often produces more progress than repeating an entire difficult test each day.

Training plans should also match the horse’s real work. For an eventer, a horse that uses energy while trying to maintain balance in the dressage arena may need a different cross-country preparation plan from one that saves energy for the obstacles. Rider conditioning matters too: programmes such as Two Belles Fitness can help an equestrian build a stable core and independent seat, supporting clearer aids without adding avoidable tension.

Account for Australian competition conditions

Australian competition is organised through Equestrian Australia and its state and territory branches, with much of the day-to-day calendar delivered by affiliated clubs. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane have extensive dressage communities, while Adelaide and Perth also support specialist coaching and state competition. This local market rewards regular club access, but it also means riders should check the current national rules and the host branch’s instructions for every level and class.

Animal welfare obligations come from state and territory legislation as well as equestrian rules. Victorian operations must work within the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1981, while NSW operates under the Animal Welfare Act 2010; medication, transport and treatment standards can differ elsewhere. Before travelling or competing, riders should confirm the current requirements with the relevant authority and the event organiser rather than assuming that another country’s or state’s rules apply.

Long-distance float travel is an ordinary part of Australian competition for many horses, so biosecurity, water, ventilation and unloading become practical welfare issues. Early-morning arena bookings and shared club facilities also shape the weekly routine. Lower levels may use a 20 by 40 metre arena and higher levels a 20 by 60 metre arena, with distances normally given in metres, so judges, coaches and riders can use a shared language from Adelaide to Queensland.

Track progress over time

Keep a simple record after each judge: test and level, percentage, movement scores, errors and the exact comments. A spreadsheet, notebook or phone application can show whether a 6 on a canter transition has become a 7, while also revealing whether one difficult movement is affecting several others. Photograph the test sheet and keep the judge comments with the corresponding video, because a remembered remark is often less precise than the original wording.

A single percentage is a snapshot. Judge style, weather, arena surface, horse fitness and the rider’s nerves all vary, so progress is clearer across several outings. Look for repeated technical patterns, improved consistency and better recovery from mistakes rather than a straight upward line. Set one test-specific goal at home, such as a smoother transition into medium trot, then assess it in the next judged round.

Use the sheet to choose what comes next

Turn understanding into action: obtain the current test, identify the movement that most influences the score, and write down the marker, the required tempo and one objective for the next lesson. Read the judge’s comments beside those details. If the comments and marks tell different stories, a qualified trainer can help separate execution from interpretation and build a fair practice plan.

Dom and Jimmie Schramm welcome equestrians who want to connect dressage preparation with a broader eventing programme. Read the test, choose one clear priority, and contact Schramm Equestrian to arrange a discussion.