DRESSAGE RIDER CATEGORIES
EXPLAINED
From August 1 2010 there will be a national standard of DRESSAGE rider category. This categorising of riders has nothing to do with the level or grading points of a horse, but just the points gained in a particular level by the rider ON ANY HORSE AT ANY TIME .Why did Dressage NZ do this? Well it gives the sport a chance to offer classes defined by rider experience. For example: Organisers can offer a Level 1 Test 1.1 ( old name preliminary) class restricted to CN and C1 riders, and then another class, Level 1 Test 1.1 for riders C2 and above , so that an experienced rider doesn’t compete on a lower graded horse against an inexperienced rider on a lower graded horse.This does not mean that experienced riders can never bring out their young horses at Level 1. It does mean that more experienced riders will not be able to enter classes offered to a lower category of rider.
These rider category rules may seem a bit confusing initially, but please take the time to determine which
category of rider you are, remembering that it is a rider category. It unrelated to the graded level of your
horse. It is determined solely on your experience and performance history as a rider.
Category N (CN) Newcomers. For riders who have never earned grading points at any Level
Category 1 (C1) For riders who have never earned 15 or more grading points at any level above Level 1
Category 2 (C2) For riders who have never earned 15 or more grading points at any level above Level 2
Category 3 (C3) For riders who have never earned 15 or more grading points at any level above Level 3
Category 4 (C4) For riders who have never earned 15 or more grading points at any level above Level 4
Category 5 (C5) For riders who have never earned 15 or more grading points at any level above Level 5
Category 6 (C6) For riders who have never earned 15 or more grading points at any level above Level 6
Category 7 (C7) For riders who have never earned 15 or more grading points at any level above Level 7
Category 8 (C8) For riders who have never earned 15 or more grading points at any level above Level 8
Category 9 (C9) For riders who have earned 15 or more grading points at Level 9 Category M
(Masters) (CM) Masters. For Riders 50yrs & over (age from the beginning of the calendar year that the rider turns 50)
Category Am (Amateur) (CAm) Any rider C5 or below is a CAm rider. A CAm rider may compete in Amateur competitions at any level not more than two levels below that rider’s rider category. Examples: A C5 rider may compete in any CAm competition or series at levels 3,4 and 5. A C4 rider may compete in any CAm competition or series at levels 2,3 and 4.