The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) offers All-Breeds Awards to recognize the accomplishments of horses in dressage, specifically highlighting achievements within their respective breeds. These awards are presented to horses that are declared for a participating registry or organization (PO) with USDF. While the “Open” division and the standard levels from Training through Grand Prix are the primary categories for all-breeds recognition, the program also allows for optional division awards. These can include categories such as freestyle, adult amateur, junior/young rider, vintage cup, para-dressage rider of the year, USEF four-year-old, FEI five- and six-year-old, materiale, and dressage sport horse breeding. Owners interested in understanding the nuances of these awards should familiarize themselves with the specific rules and eligibility criteria. Learn more.
Specific All-Breed Award Rules
To be eligible for the All-Breeds Awards, several specific rules, in addition to the general year-end award guidelines, must be met. A horse must be declared with USDF and associated with a participating organization (PO) by August 1 of the award year.
Declaration Process and Deadlines
Declarations can be made by submitting a completed All-Breeds Awards Declaration Form, a copy of the horse’s breed papers, and the $45 declaration fee to USDF. Late declarations are accepted with a fee: August 2-31 incurs a $100 late fee, and September 1-30 incurs a $300 late fee. No declarations will be accepted after September 30 for the current competition year.
Owners can find the list of all-breeds awards POs on the USDF website. Once an all-breeds declaration is made, it remains valid and does not need to be renewed annually. Changes to a declaration can be made by submitting the All-Breeds Awards Declaration Form along with a copy of the horse’s registry papers from the new organization and a $50 change fee by August 1 of the award year. It is crucial for owners to ensure that both the horse and owner meet all the requirements set forth by their chosen PO.
Eligibility Requirements
Horse and Owner Qualifications
The horse must possess a USDF Lifetime Horse Registration (LHR) at the time the scores are earned. The owner must hold a USDF Participating Membership (PM) or Business Membership (BM) and be a member in good standing with USDF when the scores are achieved. Furthermore, the owner is responsible for verifying eligibility with their PO and confirming that an all-breeds declaration has been submitted by checking the USDF website. The rider participating in competitions must also have a USDF PM and be in good standing with USDF at the time the scores are earned.
Optional Division Considerations
For those interested in competing for awards in optional divisions, such as freestyle or young rider categories, it is the owner’s responsibility to determine which optional divisions are offered by their specific all-breeds PO. Specific eligibility criteria for these optional categories must be met, and riders must also verify their status (e.g., adult amateur, vintage cup, or junior/young rider) by September 30 of the award year.
Score Requirements for Awards
The criteria for score submission vary depending on the dressage level.
Training, First, Second, Third, and Fourth Levels
To qualify for awards at these levels, a minimum of eight scores is required. These scores must be from at least four different judges and obtained at four different USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized competitions. Crucially, two of these scores must be 60 percent or higher from the highest test of the level. The median score must be 60 percent or higher to qualify.
Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, and Grand Prix
For the higher levels of competition, Prix St. Georges through Grand Prix, a minimum of four scores is necessary. These scores must also originate from four different judges and be from four different USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized competitions. Similar to the lower levels, the median score required to qualify is 60 percent or higher.
Recorded Scores and Award Distribution
Musical Freestyle scores are exclusively recorded for the musical freestyle category. Scores can be earned from various classes, including open, junior/young rider, adult amateur, Great American Insurance Group/USDF qualifying and championship classes, and other specified classes. Scores from classes restricted to horses of a particular breed are also accepted.
Score Combinations and Breed-Restricted Classes
If scores are achieved in both open and breed-restricted classes, the combination of these scores is used to calculate the median score. It is important to note that classes restricted to horses of a particular breed must be judged by a USEF-licensed dressage judge. Scores earned in these breed-restricted classes will only be recorded for the all-breeds awards.
Award Distribution
Provided there are enough horses that have met the minimum award criteria, POs are mandated to award first and second place in each level (Training through Grand Prix) in the standard open category. They have the option to award up to five places per level. For optional categories that a PO chooses to recognize, at least first place in each level must be awarded, provided the minimum criteria are met. Champion and reserve champion at each level in the open category will receive a custom cast USDF medal. Similarly, champions and reserve champions in recognized optional categories will also receive a custom cast USDF medal, if recognized by the PO.
Other prizes may be offered at the discretion of the PO. Only the champions and reserve champions will be recognized on stage at the Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention. Certificates for award recipients will be made available online. For those interested in the broader aspects of horse breeding and equestrian events, understanding programs like these is essential. Exploring resources on natural breeding in horses can provide further context on the equestrian world.
