Every year, when we are updating our stallions’, notable offspring lists to include on the ISF website, we come across horses and riders who successfully competed at shows but missed opportunities for awards or recognition. They might have won an All-Breeds Championship, or qualified for a championship show or series, but they didn’t declare their intent to participate or other minor disqualifiers.
With a little bit of goal setting and administrative work right now, this time next year, you could be the proud recipient of a gleaming trophy or beautiful cooler–one more way to be recognized for your hard work and dedication. Here’s a primer on a few programs and awards you might want to consider.
Adequan/USDF Year-End Awards
The USDF recognizes horses and riders in a wide range of categories each year. This includes the Open division, Junior, and Young Rider, Amateur, Freestyle, Vintage Cup (50 and over riders) and more.
To participate in the Adequan/USDF Year-End Awards, you must be a USDF participating member and your horse must have a USDF Lifetime Horse Registration when the scores are earned. It’s simple, so don’t miss out. Make sure your memberships are up to date at the start of the show season, which runs from October 1-September 30.
Adequan/USDF All Breeds Awards
Did you know KWPN-NA, FHANA, AHS and many other breed registries offer awards from Training Level to Grand Prix? To be eligible, you need to declare your horse with the USDF by August 1 of the award year. (USDF does accept late declarations through September 30 with a late fee). This can be done on the USDF website here.
Each organization has its own rules for the All Breeds Awards, so be sure to check eligibility requirements with your horse’s breed registry. For example, the KWPN-NA requires the owner of the horse to be a current member of the organization in order for the horse to be eligible for the awards. The horse must be in the owner’s name with the KWPN-NA. For more details about the KWPN-NA, click here.
This is one of the most often missed opportunities for recognition we see each year.
GMO Awards
Are you a member of your local Group Member Organization? Your GMO likely has year-end awards. In most cases, the eligibility is simply membership in the GMO. Why join your GMO? You can meet other local dressage enthusiasts, celebrate each others’ accomplishments, and participate in local educational opportunities.
USDF Regional Adult Amateur Equitation Program
In this program, adult amateur riders qualify for the Equitation Regional Championships by earning 70% or higher in a USDF dressage seat equitation class, or by qualifying for any regional dressage championship class. The rider and owner of the horse must be USDF participating members (or business members for the owner) and the horse must have a USDF Lifetime Horse Registration when the scores are earned. You can find all the rules and a list of qualified riders here.
GAIG/USDF Regional Championships
One of everyone’s favorite shows each year is the GAIG/USDF Regional Championships. With great prizes, awards ceremonies, and the chance to qualify for the US Dressage Finals, Regionals are fun and exciting.
Your region is based on where you live (there are nine regions), but you can also qualify outside your region. To qualify, you must be a USDF participating member, as well as a USEF active or life member. Your horse must have a USDF Lifetime Registration number and a USEF annual or lifetime recording number.
You must compete in two USDF-recognized shows and earn two qualifying scores from two different judges in the highest-level class of the division. For example, Training Level Test 3 for Training Level. The qualifying scores required at each level, dates, locations and full rules can be found here
USDF Breeders Championship Series
This program spotlights top bloodlines and young dressage prospects, with both in-hand and materiale divisions. Horses compete at qualifying breed shows, with the first and second placed horses receiving an invitation to one of nine championship finals. Your horse will need a USDF Horse Identification number or Lifetime Registration number, and the owner needs to be a USDF member. You can find qualifying competitions and complete information about the series here.
FHANA ISF IBOP Cup
Don’t forget that breed organizations also offer a wide variety of awards. For example, FHANA offers the ISF IBOP Cup. To participate, your horse must compete in an IBOP at a FHANA keuring. In addition to the awards at the keuring, the top five horses in North America will receive a cooler. The highest scoring horse will be named the North American IBOP Champion and receive $500. The North American Reserve Champion (second highest scoring horse) will receive $250. To learn more about IBOP testing click here.
Do you want to try for even more awards? Check out your 2023 USDF Member Guide (print and online) for the complete list of programs along with the rules for each one.
