As a reminder, the FEI issued new dressage tests for the following levels, effective January 1, 2009: Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I and Freestyle, Intermediaire II, Grand Prix, Special, and Freestyle, Young Rider Grand Prix, and all Junior and Young Rider tests (including Team, Individual, and Freestyle).

These new test versions must be used by all USEF-licensed dressage competitions and CDI’s beginning January 1, 2009, and for all 2009 USEF High-Performance, USEF National, and North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) qualifying and championships. Of particular note to young riders, the Prix St. Georges test will now be used as the Team Test (not the Individual Test), and a new Individual Test has been issued and must be used.

The FEI has just announced that the FEI Young Horse Tests have now also been updated regarding the deductions/penalty points. The movements remain the same. Mirroring this change, the USEF Dressage Committee has also now updated the USEF Four-Year-Old Test. Please be sure to use the updated score sheets for your Young Horse classes.

In addition, please be reminded that ALL of the above FEI tests have a new coefficient system, which is also reflected in updated versions of the Pony and Children’s Tests (although these are not new tests, just updates, as the movements remain the same as previous editions).

FEI tests are available for free download from the FEI website at www.fei.org/Disciplines/Dressage/Organisers/Pages/Dressage_Tests.aspx.

USEF has obtained permission from the FEI for U.S. organizers to use the new FEI tests in a legal-size, double-sided format. Heather Petersen has been kind enough to re-format the new tests and they are available for download from her website at http://petersendressage.com/Show/FEITests.