A dressage judge is responsible for assessing a dressage test and is a certified official. The assessment of a dressage test is done at all levels. Dressage depends on judges because they have to judge the rider during their test. A dressage judge is open and transparent and judges what they see at that moment.[1]
A dressage judge must first obtain a certificate to judge. A judge is then a certified official and has the authority to judge official national and if possible international competitions. To become a member of the jury, a judge must undergo education through the national sports federation in the country in which the member of the jury is active. A jury member starts at the bottom of the base, after which he or she educates to a higher level. The form of education differs per national federation. The highest level to judge is the Grand Prix, which is also the highest level in dressage.
Certified national Grand Prix jury members can follow the training to become an international jury member at the FEI if the national federation reports the judge above. The highest level as an international jury member is Level 4 status, formerly known as 'O' jury member or 5* judge. With this status, a Level 4 judge is authorized to judge major championships, such as the World Equestrian Games and the Olympic Games.[2][3]