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United States Dressage Federation

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Adequan/USDF All-Breeds Awards

Designed to recognize the accomplishments of specific breeds in dressage, these awards are presented to horses declared for a participating registry/organization (PO) with USDF. While “open” is the standard division and “Training through Grand Prix” are the standard levels for all-breeds recognition, optional division awards can be presented in the following categories: freestyle, adult amateur, junior/young rider, vintage cup, FEI young horse, dressage sport horse breeding or materiale.

General Rules

  • A horse must be declared with USDF for a participating registry/organization (PO) by September 30 of the award year in order to participate in the all-breeds award program. Horses already declared will remain declared for that organization.
  • Horse and owner must meet all requirements of the PO.
  • “Open” is the standard division and “Training Level through Grand Prix” are the standard levels for all-breeds recognition.
  • If competing for all-breeds optional division awards (freestyle, adult amateur, junior/young rider, vintage cup, FEI young horse, dressage sport horse breeding, or materiale) award rules pertaining to that division must be fulfilled.

Training, First, Second, Third, and Fourth Levels

  • Minimum of eight scores:
    • From four different judges
    • From four different competitions
    • Including two at 58 percent or higher from highest test of the level
  • Median score of 60 percent or higher to qualify

Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, and Grand Prix

  • Minimum of four scores:
    • From four different judges
    • From four different competitions
  • Median score of 58 percent or higher to qualify

Eligibility

  • Horse must have a USDF Lifetime Horse Registration (LHR) when scores are earned.
  • Owner must:
  • Rider must be a USDF PM when scores are earned.
  • If interested in competing for awards in an “optional” division, it is the owner’s responsibility to determine which of the optional divisions will be awarded by their all-breeds PO.
  • If competing for optional all-breed division awards – adult amateur, vintage cup or junior/young rider awards, rider must verify this status with USDF by September 30 of the award year.
  • Memberships and horse registrations begin when all application forms and fees are received by USDF. If joining USDF (including changing membership to participating status) or registering a horse at a competition, membership and registration begins the date of application. This date must be in accordance with USDF/USEF dressage division rules.
  • If a horse does not have an existing all-breeds declaration, the owner must make a declaration by September 30 of the award year. Once an all-breeds declaration has been made, it cannot be changed. Horses are eligible for all-breeds awards based on the registry into which the foal is first registered. If the horse is eligible for multiple registrations and not previously recorded with USDF, the owner must make a choice of registry for the purpose of USDF all-breeds awards only. If there is no all-breeds PO for a horse’s breed, the owner may declare for one that is participating before September 30 of the award year.

Recorded Scores

  • All eligible scores are recorded, however, only the top two scores from each individual judge will count towards the median score calculation.
  • The median score is the score exactly between the highest and lowest scores.
  • Freestyle scores are only recorded for freestyle division.
  • Scores must be from open, junior/young rider, adult amateur, or Great American Insurance Group/USDF qualifying and championship classes, other classes specified in the general rules, or from the same classes restricted to horses of the particular breed.
    • If scores are earned in open and breed-restricted classes, the combination of the scores is used to calculate the median score.
    • Classes restricted to horses of a particular breed must be judged by USEF-licensed dressage judge.
    • Scores earned in classes restricted to horses of a particular breed or restricted by height will be recorded for only all-breeds awards.

Awards

  • Registries may award up to five certificates per level per division. Other prizes may be given by the registry at their discretion.
  • Given that there are enough horses that have met the minimum award criteria, in the standard “open” division, POs must award first and second place in each level (Training – Grand Prix). They have the option of awarding up to five places per level.
  • Given that there are enough horses that have met the minimum award criteria, POs must award at least first place in each level of the optional divisions that they have selected.
  • First and second place winners at each level in all standard and optional categories (as determined by their PO) will receive a custom cast USDF medal. All winners (those placed by their association) will receive an award certificate.
  • Only first and second place in each category will be awarded on stage at the Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention.