United States Dressage Federation

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Adequan/USDF Materiale Horse of the Year

These awards were implemented to recognize horses’ outstanding achievement in materiale classes throughout the year. Awards are presented in the following categories: three-year-old fillies, three-year-old colts and geldings, four- and five-year-old mares, and four- and five-year-old stallions and geldings.

General Rules

• Minimum of three scores
  • From three different USDF-recognized/USEF-licensed competitions
• Median score of 65 percent or higher to qualify

Eligibility

• Horse must have a USDF Lifetime Horse Registration (LHR) when scores are earned.
• Rider must be a USDF Participating Member (PM) when scores are earned.
• Owner must be a USDF PM or Business Member (BM) 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 begins the date of application. This date must be in accordance with USDF/USEF dressage division rules.
• For competition purposes, the age of a horse is considered to be one year old on the first day of January following the actual date of foaling.
• Horses must be at least 36 months of age to participate in materiale classes.

Recorded Scores

• Each score will be recorded only once.
• 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.
• Scores must be from the same age/sex category.
• Scores must be from USDF Materiale Class Scoresheets that are current at the time of competition and earned at USDF-recognized/USEF-licensed competitions.
• If two or more judges are scoring one class, the average of their scores will count as one score, regardless of whether judges evaluate on the same or with separate scoresheets.
• Must be from open materiale classes or from USDF competitions which have previous performance requirements for entry eligibility.
  • An open materiale class is defined as any class that is open to all horses within the specified age and sex group. There are no restrictions based on breed, size previous performance, qualifications, residence, or membership of owner, breeder, or handler.
  • Must be listed as a “materiale” class, not an “under-saddle” class in prize list/results to count for this award
• Only the final adjusted percentage score for each class will be counted.

Awards

• Certificates and prizes are awarded to the owner and will be awarded at the Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention.
• All awards winners will receive personalized certificates sponsored by Adequan®:
  • Five in each age/sex category
• Categories to be awarded:
  • Three-year-old fillies
  • Three-year-old colts and geldings
  • Four- and five-year-old mares
  • Four- and five-year-old stallions and geldings
• Champion and reserve champion at each level will receive a commemorative plaque sponsored by Adequan®.
• Champions will also receive a wool cooler.
• The highest scoring champion’s name will be engraved on the Sunshine Sport Horse Association perpetual trophy. This trophy is on permanent display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame.

Return to Year-End Awards