The stretch circle comes to the Grand Prix: what the new FEI tests change

From 1 January 2027, the first big rewrite of the FEI dressage tests in almost two decades asks Grand Prix horses to stretch on a long rein, then be picked up again without signs of resistance.

The FEI’s Dressage Test Writing Group spent 12 months reviewing the tests and trying changes in live test riding. The stated aim, as Eurodressage reports it, was to keep the tests aligned with the Object of Dressage, with movements that better show suppleness, balance and self-carriage and a difficulty progression that follows the Dressage Scale of Training.

The change getting the most attention is the Grand Prix stretch circle. According to Horse and Hound’s dressage editor Oscar Williams, riders trot a 20m circle starting from R, sitting or rising. Between R and S the horse is allowed to stretch on a long rein, and between S and R the rider retakes the reins and returns to sitting trot. It carries a coefficient of two. The criteria Williams lists are rhythm and balance maintained, a gradual forward and downward stretch of the neck, reins retaken without resistance, and an accurate circle.

Put plainly, the movement tests whether a horse that has just performed highly collected movements can let go of his frame, stay in rhythm and balance, and accept the rider taking the contact back. Whether you call that a demonstration of relaxation, throughness or trust, it is something judges can now score at Grand Prix.

Carl Hester has called for a Grand Prix stretch since autumn 2024, and Williams notes that he said horses stretch better in rising trot. The new test lets riders choose to sit or rise. A trial of the new test format was held in Warendorf earlier in 2026.

Other Grand Prix changes, as reported by Horse and Hound: 34 movements instead of 33, total marks up from 460 to 480, and several changes to the arena lines for the walk and passage work. The Grand Prix Special is officially unchanged, but the FEI confirmed to Horse and Hound a new rein give-and-retake in canter. The collective mark ‘harmony’ becomes ‘harmonious riding’. The new Grand Prix is used at all CDI-W World Cup shows from 1 January 2027.

Lower down the ladder, stretch circles or rein give-and-take movements appear at Prix St Georges, Intermediaire I, young riders, a new junior preliminary test for developing regions, pony individual, children’s preliminary B, and the six-year-old preliminary B. The seven-year-old final keeps its stretch circle and now carries a coefficient. A new Grand Prix test for horses aged 8 to 11 is aimed at national competitions.