United States Dressage Federation

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Adequan/USDF Dressage Horse of the Year

USDF’s most prestigious honor, the dressage horse of the year awards recognize horses that achieved high scores throughout the competition year at each level, Training through Grand Prix.

Training, First, Second, Third, or Fourth Levels

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

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

• Must have a minimum of four scores:
  • From four different judges
  • From four different competitions
  • Including two at 58 percent or higher from highest test of level
• 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 have a USDF Participating Membership (PM) or Business Membership (BM) when scores are earned.
• Rider must have a USDF PM when scores are earned.
• 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 begin the date of application. This date must be in accordance with USDF/USEF dressage division rules.

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 not eligible.
• Score equivalents:
  • FEI Junior Preliminary Tests = Third Level Test 2
  • FEI Junior Team and Individual Tests, FEI Young Rider Preliminary and Consolation Tests = Fourth Level Test 1
  • FEI young Rider Team Test = Fourth Level Test 3
  • FEI Pony Team and Individual Tests = Second Level Test 4

Awards

• Certificates and prizes are awarded to the owner.
• All award winners will receive personalized certificates sponsored by Adequan®:
  • Twenty at each level for Training, First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Prix St. Georges
  • Fifteen at each level for Intermediate I, Intermediate II, and Grand Prix
• Champion and reserve champion at each level will receive a commemorative plaque sponsored by Adequan®.
• Champions will also receive a wool cooler.
• The Adequan®/USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year is also the recipient of the Colonel Thackeray Award and will have its name engraved on a silver trophy, which is on permanent display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame.
• No more than the top five awards at each level are presented at the Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention.

Return to Year-End Awards