Sept. 9, 2026
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
Dressage has changed dramatically in the two decades between the two major events this century at Aachen, Germany, the world’s premier equestrian show grounds.
Comparisons over two decades are difficult to make. Breeding may have shrunk as an industry but quality has markedly changed. Costs of being in the equestrian world have sky rocketed. Horse healthcare options have vastly expanded. Behavior by trainers and riders toward horses under their care has been under greater scrutiny than ever before. The impact of that scrutiny has brought about a concerted effort to change not only the appearance of dressage but to usher in the prospect of a complete shakeup.
Changes in dressage between the 2026 World Championships and the 2006 World Equestrian Games–just differrent names for the same event staged once every four years with about the same number of entries, close to 90 combinations.
This year saw three scores above 80% in the Grand Prix while the highest score in the same competition in 2006 was 76.333%.
Another 31 riders and riders scored above 70% and only two were below 60% this year. In 2006, 16 pairs were above 70% and 17 were below 60%.
One element was unchanged–Isabell Werth on the gold medal teams on both occasions.
Isabell as president of the International Dressage Riders Club as she continues to make equestrian history has been active in working with Ronan Murphy, director of dressage at the FEI–the International Equestrian Federation.
Changes to rules, procedures and all the dressage tests as well as a specially appointed task force headed up by the USA’s George Williams that will point the discipline in its future direction will all be considered at the year-end General Assembly that governs inernational horse sports.
“We always maintained it’s not a revolution we need, but an evolution of the sport,” Ronan told DRESSAGE-NEWS after the Aachen championships. “And I think we’ve seen that. I mean, in the past, when we’ve been criticized externally many inside the sports feel very aggrieved at that because they say, ‘but we don’t understand, because we really look after our horses and we really present them in a good way’.
“I have to say that that’s what I see. I see that the passion and commitment that dressage athletes have for their horses is unbelievable and they really, really are focused on that because the sport, by its nature, is to be presented without tension. And I think it’s as simple as that. And I think that’s now what we’re seeing.
“But what was presented here (in Aachen), it just gave me great encouragement. I felt, yes, the message is working, but only because the community is collectively responsible for this and they are delivering that. And I think that’s a beautiful thing to see. I think the sport was, we talk about the goosebumps, but it really was. What we have to continue to deliver all the time at all levels. And that’s the important thing.”
What he described as “clear and robust processes” implemented by the FEI with officials and stewards are helping to deliver this.
“So it’s that collective effort I guess that’s really important for the sport,” he said. “And we must continue to evolve. I mean, we are looking at technology to how that could assist with the judging and assessment, but also assist athletes when they want to review their test or training, etc. So, all of those things are part of this, all of those are tools, but ultimately, it’s the central goal where do you want to go?”
Dressage was now realigning with its mission statement from which, he said, it had deviated a little.
“I think if it’s delivered like it was (at Aachen), then it’s clear to people this is what the sport is to be, right? And we mustn’t accept any deviation from that.”
Ronan said that launching planned changes at the beginning of 2027 required focus on implementation, timed goals and objectives.
In addition to the FEI technical committee a steering group would be established to ensure that plans are implemented and remain on track.
Key will be collaboration between the FEI and stakeholders so that plans can be adapted to react to changes over the next few years.
A vital aspect of change are judges.
The FEI, he said, maintains a very detailed database of 25 million records on scores awarded in the last 10 years. The records include the nationalities of judges, marks awarded by judges for individual movements and the location beside the arena of each judge.
A data analyst has been enlisted to assist in developing a dashboard to not just evaluate the judges but to educate them and assist with progression.
“We’d like more judges to join the sport, we’d like younger judges to become involved in dressage and continue to make it an interesting thing for people to be involved with and to do,” Ronan said.
“I think having this very clear evaluation pathway is a good part because in any subjectively judged sport it can be difficult.”
Similar to some other Olympic sports, dressage will continue to apply technology and analysis to ensure that “the judges we have are fully up to speed with what we’re assessing and aligned with what we’re assessing. In a global sport with many different countries and a very busy calendar, that’s not an easy task. You have to ensure that you have consistency.”
More judges will be needed not just in dressage-heavy areas, he said, as a major part of the strategic plan is development of the sport in areas which may have not had the same history in the sport.”
The 2026 dressage schedule listed riders from 34 nations. with 2006 listing 29 countries including Russia and Belarus that were not permitted this year, plus Ukraine that is engaged in war.
“Sometimes I feel that we haven’t communicated well enough all the things that are happening because it is technical, and those of us who are living it every day are so involved in it, we can talk all day about it,” he said. “But actually, it’s the most important thing is that we explain to everybody, to all our colleagues and friends, what exactly is happening, what the efforts are that are being made, where we’re going, and that we continue to listen. That if there is something that we need to address, we collectively do that. I think that implementing a plan gives us that pathway and process to do that.
“We continue to critically review ourselves and make sure that we continue to deliver the type of dressage that we want, which again I say is no tension.”
