What you need for a dressage competition
A dressage competition needs more than a ring and a start list. You will need clearly marked arenas, judging equipment, horse-care supplies, paperwork, communications and practical facilities for riders and officials. Plan quantities around the number of entries, judges and helpers, then add spares for printing, power and cleanup. The checklist covers items that are easy to overlook, such as extra bib holders, water buckets, extension leads and lighting for early starts or late finishes.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Party tentqty 2
- Folding tableqty 8
- Chairqty 80
- Bar stoolqty 4
- Judges' tableqty 2
- Jury chairqty 6
- Waste binqty 8
Sports equipment
- Dressage ring
- Dressage letters
- Warm-up arena letters
- Ring barrier
- Marker coneqty 20
- Bib numberqty 50
- Bib holderqty 50
- Cleaning kitqty 2
- Wheelbarrowqty 2
- Forkqty 4
- Pitchforkqty 2
- Water barrelqty 4
- Drink bucketqty 10
- Hay netqty 10
Equipment
- Laptopqty 2
- Printer
- Extension cordqty 4
- Power stripqty 4
- Mobile phoneqty 4
- Two-way radioqty 6
- Sound speakerqty 2
- Wireless microphone
Lighting
- Construction lampqty 4
- String lightsqty 2
Tableware
- Coffee cupqty 60
- Water glassqty 80
- Wine glassqty 40
- Plateqty 80
- Forkqty 80
- Knifeqty 80
- Spoonqty 60
Kitchen
- Coffee makerqty 2
- Kettleqty 2
- Thermosqty 4
- Cool boxqty 4
- Serving platterqty 8
- Tray for toppingsqty 6
- Bread knifeqty 2
- Cutting boardqty 4
- Pliersqty 6
- Serving spoonqty 4
- Bottle openerqty 3
- Pitcherqty 6
Decorations
- Competition flagqty 12
- Table runnerqty 8
- Notice boardqty 2
- Arrow boardqty 6
- Clipboardqty 8
- Winner's ribbonqty 30
- Rosetteqty 30
- Prize boxqty 10
Cleaning
- Broomqty 4
- Dustpan and brushqty 3
- Mopqty 4
- Bucketqty 4
- Hand broomqty 4
- Toilet brushqty 2
- Cleaning sprayqty 4
- Soap dispenserqty 4
- Dishwashing tubqty 2
Catering
- Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Beer - 48 cans
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 cans
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Rosé - 3 bottles
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Butter - 4 packs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Aged cheese - 1 kilo
- Ham - 1 kilo
- Chicken breast slices - 750 grams
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Jam - 4 jars
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Bell pepper - 1 kilo
- Lettuce - 4 heads
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 4 kilos
- Bananas - 3 kilos
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Snacks - 6 bags
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Muesli bars - 60 pieces
- Allergy-free cookies - 12 pieces
- Chocolate - 6 bars
- Ice cubes - 10 bags
- Napkins - 400 pieces
- Paper cups - 100 pieces
- Paper plates - 100 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 packs
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 3 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles
- Nitrile gloves - 2 boxes
- Tablecloths - 8 pieces
- Printer paper - 2 packs
- Ballpoint pens - 30 pieces
- Highlighters - 2 sets
- Tape - 6 rolls
- Staples - 2 boxes
Tips
- Prepare one complete judging station per judge: table, chair, printed score sheets, pens, a laptop or clipboard, and protection from rain or sun. Keep spare pens and blank sheets at the secretary’s table.
- Count bib numbers and holders against the final start list, then pack at least 5% extra. Riders can lose or damage a number, and late changes are easier to handle when spares are ready.
- Allow one water barrel and several drink buckets for horse areas, with hay nets and a wheelbarrow, fork and pitchfork placed where paddock supervisors can reach them. Arrange this before horses arrive, not during the first class.
- Test every communication and power item at least 24 hours before competition day. Check the wireless microphone, speaker, two-way radios, extension cords, power strips and printer together so you can fix compatibility or cable problems in time.
- Keep a separate cleanup and safety point with a cleaning kit, waste bins, marker cones and construction lamps. Lamps are particularly easy to forget when setup starts before daylight or the timetable runs into the evening.
Frequently asked questions
- How many dressage bib numbers do I need?
- Provide one bib number and holder for every horse or rider on the final start list, plus at least 5% spare. For 40 entries, prepare 42 numbers if possible, or at minimum 2 additional sets.
- How many judges’ tables and chairs are needed for a dressage competition?
- Plan one judges’ table and one jury chair for each judge, then add one separate table and chair for the secretary or scoring desk. Confirm the number of judges when the officials are appointed, preferably at least 2 weeks before the event.
- How early should I print dressage score sheets and start lists?
- Print the score sheets and working copies of the start list 24 to 48 hours before the first class, once registrations and times are final. Keep spare blank sheets for scratches, class changes or reprints.
- How much water and horse-care equipment do I need?
- Provide at least one water barrel and two drink buckets for each active horse area, then add more if the route from the water point is long. Put hay nets, a wheelbarrow, fork and pitchfork in place before the first horse arrives, ideally 60 minutes before warm-up opens.
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