Riding qualifications in Belgium: understanding the LEWB pathway
Before preparing for a Belgian riding assessment, identify your club’s affiliated organisation and the exact qualification involved. This guide concerns the Ligue Équestre Wallonie Bruxelles, or LEWB. It does not describe a single system covering every Belgian riding centre.
Recognise the qualification names
Within the LEWB pathway, the Bronze and Silver Étriers prepare riders for the Gold Étrier. Assessments are organised through eligible centres and teachers meeting federation requirements. This should not be described as France’s sequence of seven Galops. LEWB Bronze and Silver Étriers
The official catalogue also lists the Diamond Étrier. Under the terminology introduced in 2026, this corresponds to the former premier degré obtained before the change. The new Degré 1 is a separate stage, so both the name and award date matter. Qualification catalogue, 2026 educational regulations
Plan the assessment with your instructor
Obtain the syllabus for the intended qualification and review your current abilities. Separate knowledge to revise, handling tasks requiring supervised practice and mounted exercises that need further work.
Before paying, establish:
- the exact qualification and prerequisites;
- required documents and licence;
- how preparation and assessment are organised;
- whether a horse is supplied;
- the total cost, including centre charges;
- arrangements for absence or a partially completed assessment.
An examination date can provide a useful goal. It should not cause you to rush work that you cannot yet perform reliably.
Arriving with a French qualification
Show your certificate and describe your recent riding. Do not convert a Galop number into an Étrier or Degré yourself. Ask the relevant organisation to confirm any recognition before relying on it for entry.
For competition, holding a qualification does not establish that every entry condition is satisfied. Check the particular class and season with your centre, including any additional administrative requirements.
Keep evidence of your progress
Save your certificate and the syllabus version you prepared. These will explain your experience to a new club more precisely than simply calling yourself an advanced rider. If you intend to work professionally, seek separate advice about teaching qualifications. A rider assessment and a qualification for instructing others serve different purposes. Ask for the current training route instead of assuming that progression through riding tests automatically qualifies you to teach.