Sport & Results

Competing in Germany: Entries, Licenses, and Timetables

From making your entry to post-competition care: Here's how to prepare for a competition in Germany according to FN rules, meet entry deadlines, and plan your arrival and warm-up.

Equidara editorial team · 7 October 2026 · 4 min read

The process of starting a competition, from entry to arrival and the class itself — AI-generated image

To compete in Germany, the German Equestrian Federation (FN) states you'll need a valid annual competition license or a 'taster' license (Schnupperlizenz), and you must have submitted your entry. On the day of the show, there are further steps: you declare your readiness to start, check the timetable, familiarize yourself with the showgrounds, and prepare your horse for the class. The exact deadline for declaring your readiness to start will be listed in the official schedule. The rules in this article are based on the FN's guidelines and apply to competitions in Germany.

Registration: Entries and Competition License

Your entry is your registration for the competition. However, it's not enough to simply enter. In addition to a valid annual competition license or 'taster' license, you must declare your readiness to start at the show office. This confirms that you will indeed be competing in the respective class.

The deadline for this is the declaration deadline. According to the FN, this is generally no later than one hour before each class, but sometimes it can be as early as the day before. The official schedule is definitive. If the declaration deadline is the day before, you must declare your readiness to start accordingly earlier.

Preparing Your Horse, Equipment, and Travel

Depending on the start time of your class and your travel duration, the FN recommends preparing your horse and equipment the day before the competition. This includes thorough grooming and tidying, and braiding if necessary. Also, clean your tack and check it for any damage.

To ensure a stress-free journey and show day, you should practice loading and traveling with your horse well in advance. Factor in potential traffic jams for your journey. Also, be prepared for the possibility of getting lost despite using navigation, especially when traveling to a competition for the first time.

A companion can help you with loading, unloading, and getting ready. They can clarify questions at the show office and ensure you are at the warm-up arena and ready to start on time.

Arrival: First Orient Yourself and Check the Timetable

Upon arrival, the FN recommends clarifying the location of the warm-up arena and the competition arena, and how to get there, even before unloading your horse. Afterward, check online or at the show office to see if the timetable has changed.

These regulations apply to the use of the arenas:

Riding is permitted in the warm-up arenas and on the path from the trailer to them.
Lunging is possible in designated areas. The organizer's regulations or those of the supervising judges apply.
You may only inspect the competition arena mounted with the express permission of the judges, either before the class begins or during a designated break.

Planning Your Warm-Up Time on Competition Day

You can determine how much warm-up your horse needs by practicing at home under competition-like conditions. Set a start time and plan your preparation accordingly. According to the FN, the duration you determine, plus ten minutes for unforeseen circumstances, will give you a good guideline for the competition.

Many horses take longer to relax in an unfamiliar competition environment. The FN usually recommends an additional ten minutes for acclimatization. However, excessively long waiting times can exhaust horses. And too many horses in the warm-up arena make preparation difficult for everyone.

Structure your warm-up like your training at home, with your usual walk breaks after the loosening phase. The warm-up arena is for preparing for the upcoming class. It is not for stubbornly practicing movements that didn't work at home.

In the warm-up arena, observe the arena rules specified by the FN:

Keep the track clear at the walk.
Pass right shoulder to right shoulder.
Riding on the whole track has priority over circles.

For Show Jumping: Warm-Up and Course Walk

For preparation before a show jumping class, the FN suggests approximately half an hour as a guideline, which depends on the individual horse. With two minutes per start, this means you begin your loosening work about 15 to 17 horses before your turn.

The judges will signal with a bell when the fully built course is open for walking. You should always inspect the course on foot before the class. Only competitors in show attire and their trainers are permitted on the jumping arena for this purpose. After the class has begun, a course walk is only allowed with the express permission of the judges.

After the Class: Care for Your Horse and Observe the Prize-Giving

After the class, attend to your horse first. Before heading back to the trailer, your horse should be able to move loosely and relax in the warm-up arena.

According to the German Competition Rules (LPO), as presented by the FN, pairs placing first to sixth in Germany must participate in the prize-giving ceremony and lap of honor. If you have a valid reason not to participate, such as a concurrent class with another horse, clarify this with the responsible judges.

Common questions

What license do I need to compete in Germany?

According to the FN, you need a valid annual competition license or a 'taster' license. You must also have submitted your entry for the competition.

Is my entry sufficient to be able to start?

No. According to the FN, you must also declare your readiness to start at the show office. The declaration deadline is generally no later than one hour before the class, but sometimes it can be as early as the day before. The official schedule is definitive.

What should I clarify first upon arrival?

The FN recommends clarifying the location of the warm-up arena and the competition arena, and how to get there, even before unloading your horse. Also, check online or at the show office to see if the timetable has changed.

How much time do I need for warm-up before a show jumping class?

The FN suggests approximately half an hour as a guideline, which depends on the individual horse. With two minutes per start, you begin your loosening work about 15 to 17 horses before your turn.

Sources

Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN): Ankunft, Startbereitschaft, Meldeschluss und Vorbereitung am Turniertag – pferdesport-deutschland.de

Written by Equidara editorial team. Last checked: 7 October 2026.