We call on the Equestrian Australia National Dressage Committee (EADC) to honour Section 1.2 of the EA Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse and make these requested rule changes:

1.2.1 “At all stages during the preparation and training of competition horses, welfare must take precedence over all other demands “ 

1.2.1.c “Tack must be designed and fitted to avoid the risk of pain or injury”

The EADC is solely responsible for the strategic direction of dressage in Australia. These individuals alone have the power to implement these changes:

In 2025 the sport’s social licence is under unprecedented pressure.

Denmark and the Netherlands have already implemented identical reforms with zero disruption and widespread praise.

We therefore request the EADC to make the following two immediate rule changes effective 1 January 2027 (or earlier if possible):

1.  Bitless bridles
Permit approved bitless designs (side-pull, cross-under/LG-type, or soft hackamore with shank ≤ 16 cm) in all official EA dressage competitions from Preparatory to Elementary inclusive by simply adding the three designs to the existing Equipment Annex illustrations.
Review after 12 months with a view to extension to Medium and above in 2028.

2.  Rising trot fully optional at ALL levels + protection of the horse’s back

 •  Rising (posting) trot is permitted at every level of competition, from Preparatory to Grand Prix inclusive, with no score advantage or disadvantage.

 •  When a rider chooses to sit the trot and the horse shows clear discomfort caused by the rider’s seat (hollowing, blocking, tail swishing/clamping, irregular rhythm, shortened stride, tension), the judge deducts –2 marks per affected movement using the existing “use of voice” penalty box already on every score sheet.

These changes require only:

• three new pictures in the Equipment Annex

• one new sentence in the Judges’ Directives

No new forms, no new training, no extra cost.

Rising trot is already fully optional at every level in Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and several German states – their Grand Prix horses have not fallen apart.

Pony Club Australia already allows bitless case-by-case.

The welfare of the horse is paramount.

The EADC has the authority and the duty to act now.

Please sign and share widely.

Let’s make Australian dressage kinder, fairer, and future-proof.

Initiated by

Paula Lasersohn

EA Member 1010527

[Your State] – December 2025