The FEI Dressage Committee has promoted two Dressage judges from Denmark and the Netherlands to 5* status, the highest ranking in the FEI system.

With their new 5* status, which comes into effect on July 1st, Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN) and Mariette Sanders-Van Gansewinkel (NED) will now be eligible to officiate at major FEI Dressage events, including Olympic Games, FEI World Equestrian Games™, FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals and FEI Championships at Grand Prix level.

There is a three-year probation period for all new 5* Dressage Judges, after which the judges are evaluated.

These latest promotions brings the number of 5* Dressage judges to 33.

“We are very pleased to see these young judges achieving the level of knowledge and skill sets needed for promotion to the highest rank of judges in the world,” said FEI Dressage and Para-Dressage Director Trond Asmyr. “It shows their dedication and strong commitment to the sport.”

The complete list of FEI Dressage judges can be found here.