National Dressage Levels by Country
Contents
Dressage levels vary by country: each national federation runs its own ladder with its own names, tests and promotion rules. Below the international FEI levels, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom each maintain independent systems that carry riders from beginner classes to the threshold of international sport. Understanding how the systems relate is useful for competing or training abroad — and essential for reading sale adverts, where a horse’s level is quoted in whichever system the seller grew up with. The glossary maps the most common terms.
German levels (E to S)
Germany’s system progresses through five national levels: E (Einsteiger, entry), A (Anfänger, beginner), L (leicht, light), M (mittelschwer, medium) and S (schwer, difficult). The FEI levels begin above S-level.
E-level requires no formal qualification. To start in higher classes under the FN’s LPO competition rules, riders need the relevant performance badges (Reitabzeichen) and an annual performance classification (Leistungsklasse); the badge exams combine dressage and jumping elements, reflecting the German preference for all-round riders. Advancement between classes then depends on placings recorded in the rider’s official results record.
Double bridles become optional during L-level work and standard from M-level onward. The system emphasises straightness and throughness early, with more collection demanded at higher levels.
Dutch levels (B to ZZ)
The Netherlands organises its ladder as B (Basis), L1 and L2 (licht, light), M1 and M2 (midden, medium), Z1 and Z2 (zwaar, difficult), and the national top classes ZZ-Licht and ZZ-Zwaar. The FEI levels follow.
Progression in the Dutch (KNHS) system is points-based. Industry reporting describes the mechanism as roughly one promotion point for a test above 60%, two above 65% and three above 70%, with promotion to the next class after accumulating the required points. Classes are often large, so consistent scores take genuine quality. The exact thresholds are set in the KNHS rules and should be checked there before relying on them.
US levels (Introductory to Fourth)
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) oversees the national dressage levels: Introductory, Training, First, Second, Third and Fourth. These are followed by the FEI levels, starting with Prix St Georges.
Introductory and Training Level emphasise rhythm, relaxation and basic gaits. First and Second Level introduce lateral work and lengthenings. Third Level adds collection, medium extensions and flying changes. Fourth Level, the final national level, introduces tempi changes and working pirouettes, preparing combinations for Prix St Georges, which begins the FEI system and requires horses to be at least seven years old.
The US system has no formal qualifying exams; progression depends on trainer assessment and competition performance.
British levels (Intro to Advanced)
British Dressage (BD) structures its national levels as Introductory, Preliminary (Prelim), Novice, Elementary, Medium, Advanced Medium and Advanced. BD publishes tests for both 20 × 40 m and 20 × 60 m arenas; lower-level tests commonly use the short arena, and the 2024 test revision added 20 × 40 m tests at Elementary and Medium as well.
Within each level, competition is divided into three sections — Bronze, Silver and Gold — based on accumulated points, so combinations of similar experience compete against each other. Eligibility to start at Prix St Georges is governed by criteria in the BD Members’ Handbook, historically tied to qualifying scores at Advanced; thresholds change between rule cycles (BD lowered its Area Festival qualifying mark to 62% from 2026, for example), so check the current handbook.
Intro tests include only walk and trot. Canter is introduced at Prelim. Lateral work begins at Elementary; flying changes appear at Advanced Medium. The structured points system creates a clear pathway with built-in verification of readiness at each step.
Equivalence table: national levels across systems
| US level | British level | German level | Dutch level | Approx. movements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory | Intro | — | — | Walk, trot; simple circles; stretching |
| Training | Prelim | E | B | Working canter; lengthenings; leg-yield |
| First | Novice | A | L1/L2 | Medium gaits; serpentines; 10 m circles |
| Second | Elementary | L | M1/M2 | Shoulder-in; rein-back; simple changes |
| Third | Medium | M | Z1/Z2 | Half-pass; counter-canter; flying changes |
| Fourth | Adv. Medium / Advanced | S | ZZ-Licht | Working pirouettes; 3–4 tempi changes |
| (FEI begins) | Prix St Georges | (FEI) | (FEI) | Half canter pirouette; 3-tempi changes |
The table shows approximate equivalences based on movement requirements; exact difficulty varies with test composition and judging standards. When a sale advert quotes a level, the article on schoolmasters and young horses covers what such claims are worth in practice.
Key differences in philosophy and practice
Germany emphasises exam-based advancement and all-round rider development. Most German shows offer both dressage and jumping, and many riders compete in both disciplines.
The Netherlands uses a points system requiring consistent scoring evidence of competence. Large competitor fields at most levels mean high standards for placings.
The United States relies on coach recommendation and self-assessment. There is no exam barrier between levels, allowing faster advancement but also wider variation in readiness.
The United Kingdom combines test difficulty with a sectioned points system, ensuring fair competition between riders new to a level and those accumulating points.
Tack and bridle requirements by level
Single (snaffle) bridles are standard at the lower levels of every system. Double bridles become optional or standard at the mid-to-upper levels:
- Germany: optional from L-level; standard from M-level.
- Netherlands: varies by test; typically optional through Z1, standard from Z2.
- US: optional from Second Level onward at national shows.
- UK: snaffle through Elementary; double bridle optional from Medium, standard at Advanced.
Progression timelines
A competent amateur rider with regular lessons typically needs:
- First national level (Training, Prelim, A, L1): 6–18 months of consistent training.
- Mid-level (Third Level, Medium, M, Z1): 4–8 years in total.
- Advanced national level (Fourth Level, Advanced, S, ZZ-Licht): 8–15 years; many riders take longer.
- FEI levels (Prix St Georges onward): 10–20+ years, and significant horse talent.
These timelines vary widely with prior experience, horse quality, trainer expertise and competition frequency. Buying a horse already established at the target level shortens them — that trade-off is the subject of the schoolmaster-versus-young-horse decision.
How levels relate to training stage
All the systems broadly align with the training scale — rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection. The lower levels test the first three elements; the mid-levels emphasise the middle two; the upper levels demand all six.
A horse schooling at Training/Prelim level may show correct rhythm, suppleness and contact. The same horse at Third Level/Medium must add impulsion and straightness. Only at Fourth Level/Advanced and above is true collection consistently demonstrated and judged — which is why the movements that depend on it, such as flying changes and pirouettes, enter the tests where they do.
Frequently asked questions
What are the German dressage levels? Germany grades classes E (Einsteiger, entry), A (Anfänger, beginner), L (leicht, light), M (mittelschwer, medium) and S (schwer, difficult). The FEI levels begin above S. Riders need performance badges (Reitabzeichen) and an annual performance classification to start in the higher classes.
What does it mean if a horse competed at A-level in Germany? An A-level record means the horse has competed successfully in A-level (Anfänger) classes under the German LPO, showing basic obedience, rhythm and straightness — roughly comparable to British Novice or US First Level in training stage, though the test content differs. The Reitabzeichen is a rider qualification, not a horse record.
How do British and US dressage levels compare? Approximately: Prelim ≈ Training Level, Novice ≈ First Level, Elementary ≈ Second Level, Medium ≈ Third Level, and Advanced Medium/Advanced ≈ Fourth Level. The equivalence is by movement content, not exact test difficulty.
At what age can a horse start competing in dressage? Most systems admit horses from around three or four years old in young-horse divisions. FEI young-horse classes run for five-, six- and seven-year-olds, and horses must be at least seven to start at Prix St Georges. Exact age-of-horse rules are set by each federation.
Do I have to start at the lowest level? Not everywhere. The US has no formal gate and British riders may enter above Introductory. Germany and the Netherlands require proof of qualification — rider badges or accumulated promotion points — to start in higher classes.