Denmark, the country most visibly driving reform in sport horse welfare, starts 2025 with a raft of regulatory change in national competitions – including optional nosebands and partial provision for bitless bridles.

The Danish Ride Forbund (DRF)’s new rules apply from January 1 in competitions categorised from A (the most advanced) down through B, C, D and E. At national dressage events a noseband is now optional at all levels, and a bitless bridle may be used in dressage at the lower levels C, D and E. The double bridle in dressage is already optional.

Spurs must be no longer than 2cm, measured from the heel of the boot to the tip, in both pony dressage and jumping (compared with 4cm in FEI.)

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