Editing Dressage (section)

== Turnout of the horse ==
[[File:Hannoveraner Dressur Romantic Boy2.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Correct dressage turnout, with braided mane, banged and pulled tail, trimmed legs and polished hooves. Upper level riders wear a shadbelly, white gloves, breeches, tall boots, and spurs.]]

Dressage horses are turned out to a high standard. It is usual for horses to have their [[mane (horse)|manes braided]] (also known as plaited). In [[eventing]], the mane is preferred to be braided on the right; in competitive dressage, however, it is occasionally braided on the left, should it naturally fall there.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} Braids vary in size, but Europeans tend to put in fewer, larger braids, while Americans tend to have more smaller braids per horse. Braids are occasionally accented in white tape, which also helps them stay in throughout the day. The [[forelock]] may be left unbraided; this style is most common with stallions.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} Braids are held in place by either yarn or rubber bands. It is a common misconception that a dressage horse must be braided, however this is not the case, and some riders may choose for various reasons not to braid.

Horses are not permitted to wear "visual enhancements" that might be considered distracting, or that might influence the judge's perception of the horse. Bangles, ribbons, or other decorations are not allowed in the horse's mane or tail. Competitors are not allowed to use black hoof polish on white hooves. Tail extensions are permitted in some countries, but not in FEI-sanctioned competitions.

The [[tail (horse)|tail]] is usually not braided (although it is permitted), because it may cause the horse to carry the tail stiffly. Because the tail is an extension of the animal's spine, a supple tail is desirable as it shows that the horse is supple through its back. The tail should be "banged", or cut straight across{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}} (usually above the fetlocks but below the hocks when held at the point where the horse naturally carries it). The dock is pulled or trimmed to shape it and give the horse a cleaner appearance.

The [[bridle path (horse)|bridle path]] is clipped or pulled, usually only 1–2&nbsp;inches. The animal's coat may be trimmed. American stables almost always trim the muzzle, face, ears, and legs, while European stables do not have such a strict tradition and may leave different parts untrimmed.

Clear hoof polish may be applied before the horse enters the arena. The horse is thoroughly clean. The horse's saliva often forms "foam" about the horse's lips, which is generally considered to be a sign of the horse's submission and acceptance of the bit. Some riders believe that foam should not be cleaned off the horse's mouth before entering the arena due to it being a sign of submission. Conversely, some riders choose to wipe the foam from their horses' mouths prior to entering the arena, as foam can land on the horses' chests and legs. The presence of foam does not necessarily indicate the horse's acceptance of the bit, as certain metals such as German silver may cause the horse's salivation to increase without full acceptance of the bit.

[[Quarter marks]] are sometimes seen, especially in the dressage phase of [[eventing]]. However, they are currently considered somewhat old-fashioned.<ref>{{cite book|title=Grooming Horses: A Complete Illustrated Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Wr5Q-7ZUEIC&pg=PA160|year=2009|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-59921-758-1|page=160}}</ref>

The turnout of a dressage horse is not taken into consideration in the marking of a test.