Dressage Tasmania Pathway Process

A sporting pathway provides levels of participation to inform a decision on how you want to participate. It typically involves development, instruction, performance opportunities and levels of participation.

The Australian Sports Commission states in its FTEM (Foundation – Talent – Elite – Mastery) program: Whatever the motivation, we are on a pathway, although sometimes the pathway chooses us. Link here.

Dressage Tasmania offers various levels of rider involvement, from come-and-try to Performance Squad and interstate competition – and everything in between. This provides a pathway to follow, and along the way, to decide what level of participation you are comfortable with.

To begin, Equestrian Australia and/or Dressage Tasmania membership is essential to attend events. Some training/development days require specific Dressage Tasmania membership.

Day membership is offered at $15 per event to assist in deciding if this is what you want to do.

Dressage Tasmania full membership is offered at $84 per year. A six month memberships is offered for the first half and second half of the year, providing opportunities to come and try dressage at a discounted rate in the first part of the season.

All Dressage Tasmania events are run under the Equestrian Australia Dressage Rules, available here.

Helmet tagging is essential to ride at Dressage Tasmania events to ensure they are compliant with safety standards. Tagging is available at all events, so bring your helmet so it can be inspected and tagged if compliant. Details can be found here.

Dressage provides tests from Preparatory to FEI Level: Preparatory, Preliminary, Novice, Elementary, Medium and Advanced – then FEI Level tests. You can access the range of tests here.

How to Begin:

• Access the Dressage Tasmania event calendar here link.
• Contact for information and support: [email protected]
• Choose your first event and enter via Nominate for Ground Familiarisation as a Day Member.
• Repeat as many times as necessary until comfortable to move forward. There is no pressure to advance.
• Attend a training/development day to access instruction and/or to test-drive a dressage test.
• Repeat as many times as necessary to help you feel comfortable and confident.
• Enter your first competition in a Protocol, All Abilities and/or Competitive/Participant classes.
• Repeat as many times as necessary to help you feel comfortable and confident
• At your own pace, continue to enjoy dressage. There is no expectation that you proceed up the Levels at any pace, but as you develop and train your horse, you may wish to take up the option of increasing the challenge. 
• Dressage Tasmania offers opportunities to those wanting to pursue a higher level of performance with the State Development Squad and the State Performance Squad. Find out more here.
• A Dressage Facebook page provides updates and information on activities and initiatives – link here.

Dressage Tasmania Zones

Zones are responsible for running dressage events in Tasmania. A Day Coordinator is available at events to help and provide information. Each region has a Zone: South, North West and North, you will be a member of a Zone depending on where you live.

Feel free to contact the Zone in your region if you have any questions.

Contact emails:

Northern Zone: [email protected]

North West Zone: [email protected]

Southern Zone: [email protected]

Commonly used definitions

• All Abilities tests are designed for those who may not be confident to ride a competitive test. Find out more here.
• Arena is a 60m x 20m rectangle with specific letters placed around it, in which dressage tests are performed.
• Arena Familiarisation allows you to take your horse to an event for exposure, to have a ride around a warm up area, and possibly an arena if not all are being used, to get a feel of what a dressage event is all about. It’s an opportunity to chat to other participants, or day organisers, and ask questions.
• Class is the division in which a rider enters to compete at a dressage competition (see below).
• Day coordinator is an individual who is responsible for running a dressage event.
• Development/training day designed to provide instruction on current training level and future goals. Often from EA accredited Coaches or Judges. (Those providing instruction at Dressage Tasmania events need to be EA accredited.)
• EA Test Levels are stages of dressage tests from Preparatory to Preliminary, Novice, Elementary, Medium and Advanced, see link to tests here. A Preparatory test is designed as a starter and may only involve walk and trot.
• FEI short for Fédération Equestre Internationale or the International Federation for Equestrian Sports is the international governing body of equestrian sports. Dressage tests at a higher level than Advanced come under FEI can be found here Para Dressage also comes under FEI.
• Gear check is mandatory after a test performance at a dressage competition, by an EA accredited Steward, or individual appointed by a Steward.
• Freestyle dressage, often referred to as "kur," allows riders to create their own routines to music that incorporate a series of predetermined movements.
• Judge scores and provide comments for riders at competitions, according to EA accreditation Level.
• Para dressage is the Paralympic equestrian discipline of dressage for athletes with physical or visual impairments, performed under the same principles as standard dressage but with classification-based competition.
• Protocol tests allow you to ride a test and be scored with feedback instead of  being included in the competition. The judge will provide instructions on how to improve.
• Steward EA accredited individual responsible for ensuring the safety and fair play of a dressage competition, including gear check, focusing on the welfare of the horse.
• Test N Tell ride a pre-determined test in front of an accredited Judge, gain feedback and tips on how to improve.
• Virtus is a dressage structure for those with an Intellectual Impairment.
• Writer uses an electronic tablet to record a Judge’s scores and comments at competitions.
• Young Horse 4, 5, 6 and 7 year old tests may be offered, assessed from 1 August.
• Young Rider a category of competition offered at Dressage Tasmania events.

Class structure

• Club Restricted classes are for those who are Dressage Tasmania members but not EA members. Classes do not provide qualifiers for State Championships.
• Participant classes are for those who are EA Participant members, who may also be a Dressage Tasmania member.
• Official Competitive classes are open to EA members, who may also be a Dressage Tasmania member.

Printable version:  Pathways April 2026.pdf