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USEF/USDF Dressage Seat Medal Program

US Equestrian has announced a presidential rule modification to allow an alternative option of qualifying for the 2021 USEF Dressage Seat Medal (DSM) Finals in case of the cancellation of a 2020 Dressage Seat Medal Semi-Final. Currently, this modification only affects Region 5 riders. Click below if you would like to read more about this modification.
Presidential Modification Ranking List 

Under the presidential modification, if a 2020 DSM Semi-Final is cancelled, athletes who reside in that region have two options to qualify for the 2021 DSM Finals:

Option 1:

They may compete in a semi-final in another region and qualify by placing in the top two of their class.

Option 2:

Alternatively, athletes may qualify using scores earned in any qualifying Dressage Seat Equitation (DSE) class held at a USEF Licensed/USDF Recognized Dressage Competition between August 1, 2019 and November 30, 2020:

  1. In order to qualify under this method, two scores must be earned during the qualifying period;
  2. If both scores are earned in the same weekend (whether the same or different competitions), the scores must be from two different judges;
  3. Those two scores will be averaged and ranked, and the top two athletes in that region will receive the USEF invitation to the 2021 DSM Finals;
  4. If an athlete earns more than two scores, only the two highest scores will be averaged and counted toward the athlete’s ranking;
  5. Only athletes with a minimum average score of 75% will receive an invitation;
  6. If one of the top two athletes does not accept the invitation to the 2021 DSM Finals, the third ranked athlete will be invited, provided that athlete has a minimum average score of 75%;
  7. Any ties in the ranking list will be broken in favor of the athlete who achieved the highest score in their second DSE class being used to compile their average;
  8. Only athletes who reside or were entered to compete in a region where a 2020 DSM Semi-Final is cancelled may use this method of qualifying for the 2021 DSM Finals.

The full details of the presidential modification can be found here: https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/alternative-2021-usef-dressage-seat-medal-finals


Rider Resources
Competition Management Resources
Judge Resources

The USEF/USDF Dressage Seat Medal (DSM) Program, for riders ages 18 and under, celebrates excellence in equitation and strives to develop a solid foundation for future success in the dressage arena.

The DSM Program is made up of three types of classes:

  • Dressage Seat Equitation classes are offered at USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized dressage competitions. If you compete in an eligible Dressage Seat Equitation class and earn a qualifying score of 70% or above, you may qualify to compete in the USDF DSM Semi-Finals.
    • Walk/trot and restricted equitation classes are not eligible.
  • The USDF Dressage Seat Medal Semi-Finals are held at each of the nine Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championships. There are two age divisions in the USDF DSM Semi-Finals: 13 and under, and 14–18. The top two placed riders at the USDF DSM Semi-Finals are invited to compete in the USEF DSM Finals. If one of the top two riders in any Semi-Finals class does not wish to compete in the Finals, the third-place rider in the respective class will be allowed to compete.
    There are two ways to qualify for the DSM Semi-Finals:
    1. By earning a qualifying score of 70% or above in any eligible Dressage Seat Equitation class (except walk/trot and restricted classes) held at a USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized dressage competition during the qualifying period of January 1 through the end of the qualifying period of the respective regional championship competition the athlete will be attending.
      2020 Semi-Final Qualified Rider List 
    2. By qualifying for the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Championships.
      2020 Regional Championship Qualified Rider List 

  • The USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals are held in conjunction with the US National Dressage Championships or other designated competition. Riders will compete in the USEF DSM Finals in the same age division in which they rode at the Semi-Finals.
    The top two placed riders at each of the USDF DSM Semi-Finals are automatically invited to compete in the USEF DSM Finals. If one of the top two riders in any Semi-Finals class does not wish to compete in the Finals, the third-place rider in the respective class will be invited to compete.

Want to see what Dressage Seat Equitation is all about? Check out the video footage from the 2019 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals!

Dressage Seat Medal Finals Videos 

Please note, the above link takes you to the main Festival of Champions video. Scroll down for the specific Dressage Seat Equitation classes. The Dressage Seat Medal Finals class videos are titled:

  • USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals 14-18
  • Dressage Medal Finals 13&U

Quick Links

2020 Semi-Finals Dates and Locations  2020 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals 

Resources:

For questions regarding qualifying and/or the USDF Dressage Seat Medal Semi-Finals, please contact youth@usdf.org or call (859) 971-2277.

For questions regarding the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals, please contact Hannah Niebielski at HNiebielski@usef.org

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