Skip to Main Content

United States Dressage Federation

Home » Frequently Asked Questions » Awards FAQs » All-Breeds Award Program FAQs

All-Breeds Award Program FAQs

  1. What is the Adequan/USDF All-Breeds Award program?
  2. How does my horse become eligible for this program?
  3. What memberships/registrations do my horse and I need to have?
  4. How many shows and scores do I have to have to be eligible for an All-Breeds Award?
  5. Do I have to submit my scores at the end of the competition season?
  6. I have a foal competing in the in-hand classes. He does not yet have his registration papers and probably will not have the papers by September 30th. What can I do?
  7. I have quite a few horses. How do I know if they all have All-Breeds declarations?
  8. What if my horse is not listed in the All-Breeds preliminary standings and I think he should be?
  9. What if I complete a transfer of ownership with USDF and my horse is already ranked in the All-Breeds preliminary rankings, will he stay there?
  10. Do all POs award certificates in all possible categories and levels?
  11. What is the cut off date for eligibility for All-Breeds awards?
  12. When do the All-Breeds Awards become final?

What is the Adequan/USDF All-Breeds Award program?

All-Breeds awards are designed to recognize the accomplishments of specific breeds in dressage. This is a joint awards program between USDF and specific breed registries or performance organizations.

Back to top

How does my horse become eligible for this program?

USDF needs a copy of your horse's breed papers. With these, generally, USDF can automatically declare your horse for the proper All-Breeds Participating Organization (PO). They can be mailed, faxed or emailed to allbreeds@usdf.org Make sure you put your horse's USDF number on the copy so we know for sure who they belong to. If the horse cannot be automatically declared, the owner will receive an email or phone call requesting a written declaration.

If you horse is registered with a registry that does not participate in the All-Breeds program, you must make a written declaration for an "Award Registry". Before making a written declaration USDF strongly suggests that you contact the registry in which you are interested, to make sure your horse is eligible for an award through them. A written declaration can be made via email, and must include the owners name and USDF number, the horses name and USDF number, and the declared registry. USDF still needs a copy of the horse's breed papers, even if the original registry doesn't participate in the All-Breeds program.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A LIFETIME DECLARATION; ONCE IT'S BEEN MADE IT CANNOT BE CHANGED.

You can see a list of the All-Breeds POs on our Web site. The list of All-Breeds Participating Organizations is updated daily until June 1, so if your PO isn't listed, contact them to ascertain whether or not they are planning to participate in the current year.

Back to top

What memberships/registrations do my horse and I need to have?

The horse must be USDF lifetime registered and the rider/owner must be USDF Participating Members at the time the scores are earned. You must also contact your PO to make sure you meet their eligibility requirements. Each PO has different requirements and USDF does not have that information.

Back to top

How many shows and scores do I have to have to be eligible for an All-Breeds award?

For the "open" division, the standard All-Breeds division, the following requirements must be met:

  • Training, First, Second, Third, and Fourth Levels
    • Minimum of 8 scores
      • 4 different judges
      • 4 different competitions
      • Including 2 at 58% or higher from the highest test of the level
      • Median score of 60% or higher to qualify
  • Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, and Grand Prix
    • Minimum of 4 scores
      • 4 different judges
      • 4 different competitions
      • Median Score of 58% or higher to qualify

If competing for All-Breeds optional division awards (freestyle, adult amateur, junior/young rider, vintage cup, FEI Young Horse or dressage sport horse breeding) award rules pertaining to that division must be fulfilled.

To see a full list of rules and requirements see your USDF Directory or the USDF Web site.

Back to top

Do I have to submit my scores at the end of the competition season?

No, USDF keeps track of your scores through out the entire competition season, but competitors are responsible for monitoring their horse's score check to make sure all show results have been submitted and are entered into the USDF database correctly. You can access the USDF score check on our Web site.

Back to top

I have a foal competing in the in-hand classes. He does not yet have his registration papers and probably will not have the papers by September 30th. What can I do?

Owners of foals may request a letter from their breed association stating that the foal is eligible for All-Breed awards from that registry. Submit a copy of that letter to USDF. (This can also be an email from the association registrar.)

Back to top

I have quite a few horses. How do I know if they all have All-Breeds declarations?

You can access your owner's portfolio here on the Membership portion of our Web site. After you type in your USDF number, it will show you the horses owned by you and whether they have breed papers and an All-Breeds declarations on file.

Back to top

What if my horse is not listed in the All-Breeds preliminary standings and I think he should be?

Check your USDF Directory and current year score check to make sure that all of your scores have been entered at USDF and that you have met the USDF minimum requirements. If you have, then contact your All-Breeds Participating Organization to make sure that you've met their minimum requirements and they have marked your horse as "eligible" in their All-Breeds list.

Remember the All-Breeds preliminary standings only update once a week. If you've met everyone's requirements and have been marked as "eligible" by your PO, please wait a week to view the updated rankings before contacting USDF or your PO.

Back to top

What if I complete a transfer of ownership with USDF and my horse is already ranked in the All-Breeds preliminary rankings, will he stay there?

Yes, if a transfer of ownership is completed with USDF, the horse will be flagged in the preliminary rankings. This flag will alert the All-Breeds PO that this horse has already been marked as "eligible" but there has been an ownership transfer done and they need check to make sure the new owner is "eligible". If the new owner is not "eligible" per the PO, the horse will be removed from the rankings and will not receive an award.

Please note: The owner at USDF as of September 30th will be the owner listed in all USDF Publications and on Awards Certificates.

Back to top

Do all POs award certificates in all possible categories and levels?

No, the POs are required to award at least 2 and up to 5 certificates at each level within the open division, training level-grand prix. They have the option of awarding at least 1 and up to 5 certificates in all levels of adult amateur, junior/young rider, vintage cup, musical freestyle, FEI 5-and 6-year-old, materiale, and dressage sport horse breeding awards. Please check the USDF Web site for an unofficial list of the awards each registry has agreed to present. It is the competitor's responsibility to determine what All-Breeds awards are being given by the PO.

Back to top

What is the cut off date for eligibility for All-Breeds awards?

USDF must have your horse's breed papers and All-Breeds declaration on file by September 30th of the current competition year. If they are not in the office on or before September 30th, your horse will not be eligible for an All-Breeds award for that season. There are no exceptions to this deadline.

Back to top

When do the All-Breeds Awards become final?

With this new process All-Breeds awards will be final at the same time as the USDF year end awards; there will not be a time lapse between award finalization, as there has been in past years. No changes to the awards standings can be made by the competitor or PO after October 15 5:00pm EST of the current competition year. No exceptions!

For specific questions regarding the Adequan/USDF All-Breeds Award Program, please contact allbreeds@usdf.org

Back to top