Understanding dressage from both sides of the arena
Every dressage rider has wondered it at some point: what exactly is the judge looking for? A mark of six on an extended trot can feel like a mystery when you thought it was your best yet. And for trainers, turning the comments on a score sheet into a clear plan for the next lesson isn't always straightforward.
From November 1-5, 2026, the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation (UAEERF) will host an FEI ESEE program at The Royal Stables in Abu Dhabi, designed to close that gap. For five days, judges, trainers and riders will learn side by side, connecting what happens at the judges' table with what happens in daily training and in the competition arena.
What is the FEI ESEE program?
ESEE stands for Equestrian Sport Educative Event. It's part of FEI Solidarity, the international federation's program for helping national federations grow their sport from the ground up.
The idea is simple: rather than flying people abroad for courses, bring the education to them. An ESEE is a hands-on workshop delivered by FEI Solidarity technical experts, mixing classroom theory with practical sessions. It's built around a key insight: judges, coaches and riders learn more when they learn together. Coaches get to turn what judges expect into real performance, with real horses, in front of the people who will be marking it.
One thing worth knowing upfront: an ESEE is an educational program, not an FEI judging qualification. Participants in the Abu Dhabi program will receive an FEI/UAEERF certificate recognising their participation.
You can read the FEI's own overview of the format here.
Who is it for?
The Abu Dhabi program brings together three groups: judges, trainers and riders. Each attends on different days, according to the preliminary schedule.
Date | Who attends | Led by |
|---|---|---|
1 November | Judges only | Irina Maknami |
2 to 4 November | Judges, trainers and riders | Irina Maknami and Diana Al Shaer |
5 November | Trainers and riders only | Diana Al Shaer |
The middle three days are where the real exchange happens, with everyone in the same room and the same arena.
The program is best suited to riders working at Medium level and above. Places are allocated by selection, though the Federation aims to accommodate everyone who applies. Observers are also welcome, as long as they register in advance.
What can participants expect?
This isn't a week of lectures. The program moves between the classroom, the judges' box and the arena, so theory is tested in practice almost immediately.
Shadow judging at the CDI. Judges work in pairs during the CDI running alongside the program at The Royal Stables, taking turns to judge and to scribe. Afterwards they compare marks and talk through where and why they differed.
Classroom and video sessions. Recorded tests are reviewed together, with open discussion of the marks and what earned them.
Arena sessions. Riders and trainers work through tests and individual movements, with practical input on how to improve them.
Shared discussion. The thread running through the week: linking what judges reward with how horses are actually trained.
Most days are expected to run from 10am until around 5 or 6pm, subject to the final schedule.
Why it matters for UAE dressage
Dressage in the UAE has grown quickly, and growth needs people as much as it needs horses and arenas. Judges, trainers and riders who share a common understanding of the scale of training make the whole system stronger.
For judges, structured shadow judging and open discussion of marks build consistency and confidence. For trainers, seeing a test through a judge's eyes makes score-sheet comments easier to act on. For riders, the payoff is clarity: knowing what a movement needs to show, not just how it should feel.
Programs like this are an investment in the local dressage community. They won't transform a score overnight, but they help everyone involved speak the same language, which is where better horsemanship starts.
Meet the educators
The program is led by two names well known in international dressage, both with a long record of supporting the sport in this region.
Irina Maknami is an FEI 4* dressage judge who has officiated at European Championships and FEI World Cup Finals, and served on the FEI Dressage Committee from 2018 to 2022. She is no stranger to Abu Dhabi, having directed a national judges' course here in 2023. She will lead the judges' sessions.
Diana Al Shaer is Chair of the FEI Dressage Committee, elected in 2025. A former international Grand Prix rider for Palestine, she was the first Arab woman to compete in dressage at the FEI World Championships, and has long championed dressage across the Middle East and North Africa, including as chair of the dressage committee for FEI Regional Group VII. She will lead the trainer and rider sessions.
How to apply
Dates: November 1-5, 2026
Venue: The Royal Stables, Abu Dhabi
Who can apply: Judges, trainers and riders; riders ideally at Medium level and above
Attendance days: Judges November 1-4; trainers and riders November 2-5
How places are allocated: By selection, with the aim of accommodating all applicants
Fees: Free
Closing date: Wednesday 28 October 2026
Observers: Welcome; registration required
Certificate: FEI/UAEERF certificate for participants
Apply or enquire: dressage@uaeerf.ae
See the schedule full schedule
Click here for the full five day outline of courses.