Demystifying Dressage Grading Points
While the “upgrading” points system is specified in the Dressage Rule Book (Clauses 1.16, 1.16.1), it
is confusing to most of us. However, it is important that we all make an effort to understand it and
implement it correctly as none of us wants to do the wrong thing and compete at a level when we
are not eligible.
What events attract upgrading points?
Upgrading points are awarded for ALL Official Competitive competitions, including Young Rider
competitions, but excluding freestyles, young horse and participation competitions, regardless of
any restrictions, for example, age, breed, etc. So if you are riding in an official competitive
competition that is restricted to riders over 30 years of age, or to horses that are Quarter Horses,
you will attract upgrading points if you achieve the percentage requirements.
When are upgrading points awarded?
Upgrading points are awarded as per the table below, when you earn these percentages in a test
that is ABOVE the level that your horse is graded at. Points are awarded on a percentage basis,
regardless of your place in the class.
Between 60% to 61.999%
Between 62% to 63.999%
Between 64% to 65.999%
Between 66% to 67.999%
Between 68% to 69.999%
Between 70% to 71.999%
72% and over
1 point
2 points
3 points
4 points
5 points
6 points
7 points
How does an Upgrade to a new level occur?
When you first register your horse with Equestrian Qld/Australia (providing it is not imported), you
will receive a Dressage Performance Card and the horse will have 0 grading points. For every official
competitive test that your horse does above Preliminary, if he gains a percentage of 60% or above,
he will accrue grading points as per the table above. It is your responsibility to keep his performance
card updated. When he has accrued 30 points, he moves up to the next level, i.e. Novice, and his
upgrading points are set back to 0. From now on you can only ride your horse in Novice and above
tests and for each official competitive test that your horse does above Novice, if he gains a
percentage of 60% or above, he will accrue grading points as per the table above. When he has
accrued 30 points, he moves up to the next level, i.e. Elementary, and his upgrading points are set
back to 0. And this continues as he moves up the levels until he reaches FEI – at which point you’ve
reached the top of the levels. Note that horses can only upgrade one consecutive level at a time,
that is, if your horse is graded Novice and you accrue all of your upgrading points riding Advanced
tests, your horse will be upgraded to Elementary, not straight from Novice to Advanced.
Scenarios
To help clarify the upgrading points system further, here are some scenarios.
1. My horse has just been registered and has 0 upgrading points. I ride him in the following official
competitive tests:
Preliminary 1.1
67.234%
Preliminary 1.2
65.123%
Novice 2.1
66.456%
No upgrading points are awarded for the Preliminary tests and 4 points are awarded for the Novice
test due to the percentage gained. So after this event, my horse has 4 upgrading points.
2. My horse has 25 upgrading points, and I ride him in the following official competitive tests:
Preliminary 1.2
64.134%
Novice 2.1
65.123%
Novice 2.2
68.700%
No upgrading points are awarded for the Preliminary test, 3 points are awarded for the Novice 2.1
and 5 points are awarded for the Novice 2.2. So after this event, my horse has 33 upgrading points.
This means he is now graded Novice, and his upgrading points are re-set to 0.
3. My horse is graded Novice and has 15 upgrading points, and I ride him in the following official
competitive tests:
Novice 2.2
68.700%
Elementary 3.2
63.555%
Elementary 3.3
65.999%
No upgrading points are awarded for the Novice test (because the horse is graded Novice), 2 points
are awarded for the Elementary 3.2 and 3 points are awarded for the Elementary 3.3. So after this
event, my horse has 20 upgrading points and remains graded Novice.
4. My horse is graded Advanced and has 26 upgrading points, and I ride him in the following official
competitive tests:
Advanced 5.2
68.700%
Prix St Georges
68.000%
No upgrading points are awarded for the Advanced test (because the horse is graded Advanced), 5
points are awarded for the Prix St Georges test. So after this event, my horse has 31 upgrading
points and therefore he moves up a level to be graded FEI.
5. My horse is graded Elementary and has 24 upgrading points, and I ride him in the following
official competitive tests:
Advanced 5.2
63.700%
Advanced 5.3
66.000%
2 points are awarded for the Advanced 5.2 test and 4 points are awarded for the Advanced 5.3 test.
So after this event, my horse has 30 upgrading points and therefore he moves up a level to be
graded Medium.
If you are in any doubt about your horse’s current grading and eligibility to compete at the level you
want to enter an event at, please contact the Equestrian Qld office for clarification.