Gate Keeper's Manual
How to open and close a dressage arena gate at a USEF/USDF competition



Being a gate keeper at a dressage show is an important job: you're an integral part of the smooth flow of the competition. It's also a fascinating job: you get to watch every ride that goes down the centerline.

This manual, developed by USEF Technical Delegates and experienced show managers, and ably demonstrated by members of the William Woods University dressage department, is intended to make your time as a gate keeper both correct and pleasurable. The accompanying video clips demonstrate the most common gate-keeping situations. Check them out and you'll be good to go!

A few handy hints before you open the gate for that first ride of the day:
  • Before the show: Ask show management about any dress code. At major competitions there's a chance the rides will be televised or live streamed, and management likes their gate people to dress neatly and similarly. See this section of the site for dress recommendations.

  • Before you begin: Determine whether the gate (arena panel) actually needs to be closed for each ride. Remember that if you close the gate for one competitor in a class, you must close it for all competitors in the class! Ask your show manager or Technical Delegate (TD).

  • Before the class: Arrive early enough that you can practice opening and closing the gate before any competitor comes near the arena. You'd think that opening a dressage arena gate would be easy, but some of them are surprisingly difficult, particularly if they're outdoors and the wind is blowing!



Gate person left
Single gate keeper
 Gate person right




At most shows, the gate keeper will be working solo.
Practicing a few times before the class starts will make
things go smoothly once the show gets underway.



Gate person left
 Dual gate keepers
 Gate person right




With two gate keepers working together, synchronicity is vital.

Note that all our examples show the gate keepers -- for safety purposes -- standing well away
from the gate opening as they wait for the horse to enter and leave the arena. Once in a while,
a horse may misbehave while passing through the gate. It's best to remain out of the line of fire!






Gate person left Gate keeping hints Gate person right




A little bit of pre-planning and practice will help your job go smoothly.



Gate person left
 Oh, gosh, no!
 Gate person right




Show management needs to plan ahead, to secure quality help!
A careless mistake by the gate keeper can ruin a test.



Gate person left
 Freestyle surprise!
 Gate person right




Freestyles require particular attention to the horse/rider pair as they begin their test.
It's important to wait for the pair to move toward the C end before closing the gate.



Gate person left
 Best practices
 		Gate person right




Here's a lovely example of excellent gate keeping, as performed at the
2015 US Dressage Finals.








Thanks to students and faculty of the
William Woods University Dressage department
for their help in making this video.