Dressage is often considered the highest expression of horse training. The sport of dressage is designed to improve a horse’s balance, suppleness, and flexibility, as well as improve the communication between horse and rider.
About
In competition, dressage horses and riders perform a series of compulsory movements at the walk, trot and canter in a pre-set pattern. The only exception is the freestyle, which is a special program where the rider can exhibit their personal style and artistry by choreographing required elements to music, they feel is best suited to their horse. Dressage is one of the three Olympic equestrian sports. Like all equestrian disciplines, dressage is a gender-neutral sport with men and women competing against each other equally.
National Dressage Championships
The 2026 National Dressage Championships will be held on October 1–4, 2026 at the Complexe Equestre Becancour, Becancour, QC; and on October 9–11, 2026 at Thunderbird Show Park, Langley, BC.
Tests
Access all EC National Dressage Tests and FEI Dressage Tests here.
High Performance
Programs, ranking and support for the Canadian Equestrian Team
Permission to Compete
In order to compete in a CDI competition sanctioned by the FEI, all horse-rider combinations are required to complete and submit Permission to Compete and FEI registration requests to EC. To help facilitate and streamline the process for athletes to complete these mandatory requests EC has created an online portal.
Athelete Development
EC facilitates the following programs for up-and-coming young athletes to support development and talent identification.
National Ranking
The aim of this pilot program is to encourage participation in EC Sanctioned dressage competitions, to highlight athletic excellence at the national level, and to enhance unity in the sport of dressage across Canada through the creation of an inclusive opportunity for national competition.
Young Horse Development Program
This program promotes and encourages the proper development of young horses using the training scale; identifies talent; encourages owners to keep horses in training with Canadian athletes and prepares horses for future international success.
AWARDS
Recognition for athletes, owners, horses, breeders, and volunteers.
Dressage Levy Program
All EC sanctioned Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Dressage competitions collect and remit $10 per horse entered in the competition to Equestrian Canada. Revenue generated from the Levy is used to support talent identification, personal development and the high performance teams representing Canada at major games.
Dressage Test User Fee
EC and/or the Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) are required to pay a copyright fee for the use of national-level dressage tests (Introductory to Fourth Level). Therefore, a Dressage Test User Fee is applied for competitions using EC National Dressage Tests.
Apply for Grants
Apply for bursaries to elevate your equestrian future, including the Brosda Olympic Bursary and the The Philip Parkes Memorial Coaching Scholarship.
Equestrian Canada Dressage and Para Dressage Committee
The EC Dressage and Para Dressage Committee is responsible for leading the strategy on programs and services for dressage and para dressage development in Canada.
Dressage and Para Dressage Committee
Wendy Christoff
Chair
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BC
Ron King
ON
Brittany Fex
ON
Erin Mccormick
SK
Joanne Bouwhuis
ON
Jody Schloss
ON
Anne Welch
ON
Birgit Epskamp Valkenborg
ON
High Performance Advisory Group (Dressage)
Victoria Winter
Chair
|
ON
Dr. Alan Manning
ON
Wendy Christoff
BC
Lisa Kostandoff
USA
Christilot Boylen
ON
Pia Fortmuller
AB
Inga Hamilton
ON
Ex Officio Members
Christine Peters
ON
James Hood
AB