What dressage judges’ comments really mean (and how to use them at home)

Most riders have stood at the side of the arena, test sheet in hand, trying to work out what the dressage judge’s comments actually mean. Sometimes it’s the handwriting that’s the challenge. More often, it’s the comment itself.

Turning a five-word remark into something useful to work on at home isn’t always straightforward, especially if you’re new to the sport. A note such as “needs more engagement” or “lacks balance” can feel frustratingly vague when what you really want is clear direction.

It’s worth remembering that judges aren’t there to coach you. Their job is to assess what they see in that moment and mark it against the directives for each movement. With limited space and time, their comments have to be brief and to the point.

I’ve had the questionable honour of reading hundreds of test sheets over the years. While I can’t help you decipher a hurried scrawl from a fading biro, I can translate some of the most common phrases and explain what they usually mean for your dressage training at home.

Before diving in, keep this in mind: most comments relate to one of three things – the horse’s way of going (rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collectively known as scales of training), test accuracy (hitting your markers and riding the correct shapes), or cooperation (what would’ve previously been described as submission). If you can identify which category the remark falls into, it becomes much easier to know what to work on.

Way of going

Needs more suppleness

Suppleness comes from being even on both reins and bending through the body without resistance. If the horse feels stiffer one way, falls out through a shoulder or resists a change of bend, that unevenness will show in the mark.

Losing balance

Often, this means the horse is falling onto the inside shoulder, particularly on circles or in lateral work. You may notice the tempo change or the line drift. Often the horse isn’t carrying enough weight behind to stay organised.

Lacking or losing rhythm

Rhythm is the regularity of the footfall. Walk should stay clearly four-beat, trot two-beat, canter three-beat. If the steps become hurried, uneven or tense, the score will drop.

Irregular

A comment no one wants to see. Judges use “irregular” rather than “lame” if a horse appears momentarily unlevel. Even a brief loss of regularity affects the mark.

Needs more energy or impulsion

Impulsion is controlled pushing power from the hindquarters. It does not mean faster. It means more active, engaged steps that create lift and presence within the correct tempo.

Behind the leg

The horse isn’t reacting promptly to the leg aid. They may feel sluggish, or run onto the forehand instead of stepping through correctly.

Inconsistent to the contact

Contact should be soft, elastic and steady. If the connection changes from stride to stride – behind the bit, above it, fussy in the mouth – the judge will see a lack of acceptance.

Against the hand

The horse is resisting the contact. They may lift their head, snatch at the reins or lean heavily. Often this is linked to tension or imbalance.

Behind the vertical

The nose is carried behind the vertical line from the poll. This can stem from tension, loss of balance or too much hand.

Above the bit or hollow

The horse lifts their head and drops their back away from the contact. The outline looks disconnected rather than through and supple.

Straightness

A horse is straight when the hind feet follow the forefeet on straight lines, and the body matches the curve on circles. Comments such as “quarters in”, “crooked” or “on two tracks” all point to a loss of alignment.

Could be more uphill

A classic – too much weight is being carried on the shoulders. The horse may rush or struggle to maintain fluency because he isn’t sitting enough behind.

Needs more ground cover

The strides are too short. In medium paces or free walk, the horse isn’t clearly lengthening and stepping through enough to cover more ground.

Needs to show more difference

The judge wants a clearer contrast between working and medium paces. If the horse simply quickens rather than truly lengthens, this comment appears.

Running

Instead of lengthening the stride, the horse has increased the tempo. More speed, not more reach.

Needs to flow more freely forwards

The movement looks restricted. The horse may be tight through the back, behind the leg or lacking confidence to travel forward.

Accuracy

Circle not round/loops not even/not centred

The shape or placement of the movement wasn’t correct. Even with a good way of going, inaccurate geometry will cost marks.

Halt not square or immobility not maintained

In halt, the horse should stand balanced and square, then remain still. A resting hindleg or fidgeting lowers the score.

Cooperation

Submission or acceptance of the aids

Often used interchangeably, the submission comment isn’t about dominance. Spooking, resistance, tension or ignoring the leg can all be reflected in this mark.

Still unsure what the comment means?

If you’re still unsure what a comment means, look back at the directive for that movement in the test. Ask yourself: was the judge marking the way of going, accuracy, or cooperation? Do that, and a cryptic five-word remark becomes a clear schooling goal.

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