The Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Dressage Sport Horse Breeding (DSHB) Awards are designed to recognize and celebrate horses that excel in dressage sport horse breeding competitions. These prestigious awards are presented to the highest-achieving horses across all levels of DSHB competition, categorized by their breed. This guide outlines the specific rules, eligibility criteria, and scoring requirements necessary to participate in and win these coveted awards.
Understanding the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds DSHB Award Rules
To be eligible for the All-Breeds DSHB Awards, a horse must be officially declared with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) through a Participating Organization (PO) by August 1st of the award year. Late declarations are accepted with an additional fee: from August 2nd to August 31st with a $100 late fee, and from September 1st to September 30th with a $300 late fee. No declarations will be accepted after September 30th for the current competition year.
The declaration process requires submitting a copy of the horse’s breed papers, the official All-Breeds Awards Declaration Form, and a $45 declaration fee to USDF. For foals awaiting their official breed papers, a letter of eligibility from their PO, confirming their potential to receive papers, can be submitted prior to September 30th. However, these eligibility letters are only valid until December 31st of the foal’s birth year. Owners are responsible for submitting the final breed papers once issued, along with the Declaration Form.
It is crucial for owners to consult the list of participating all-breeds awards POs on the USDF website. Some POs may not offer awards in the DSHB category, so verifying this with your specific PO is essential. Once an all-breeds declaration is made, it remains valid and does not need annual renewal. Changes to the declaration can be made by submitting the Declaration Form, new registry papers from the revised organization, and a $50 change fee to USDF by August 1st of the award year. Both the horse and owner must meet all the requirements of the chosen PO.
Age and Sex Eligibility for DSHB Competition
For competition purposes, a horse’s age is considered one year older on January 1st following its actual birth date. Specific age and sex categories determine a horse’s eligibility for different classes:
- Fillies and Colts: Three years of age and under are only permitted to compete in dressage sport horse prospects classes.
- Mares and Stallions: Four years of age and over may only compete in breeding stock classes.
- Geldings: Geldings of any age are not eligible for breeding stock classes. Geldings aged three and under may compete exclusively in sport horse classes.
Scoring Requirements for the DSHB Awards
To qualify for the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds DSHB Awards, a horse must accumulate a minimum of three scores. These scores must be obtained from at least three different judges at three distinct USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized competitions. Furthermore, the horse must achieve a median score of 65 percent or higher to meet the qualification criteria.
Eligibility Criteria for Horse and Owner
Both the horse and owner must meet specific USDF requirements to be eligible for the awards:
- Horse Registration: The horse must possess a USDF Lifetime Horse Registration (LHR) at the time the scores are earned.
- Owner Membership: 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 recorded.
- Verification: Owners must verify their eligibility with their chosen PO and confirm that an all-breeds declaration has been successfully processed by checking the USDF website.
- Handler: There are no specific membership requirements for the handler of the horse.
Recorded Scores: What Counts
The scores submitted for DSHB awards must adhere to the following guidelines:
- Category Consistency: All scores must originate from the same age and sex category.
- Score Sheet Requirements: Scores must be recorded on USDF DSHB scoresheets that are appropriate for each judging category and current at the time of competition.
- Eligible Classes: Scores from classes where horses are judged individually in-hand are eligible, including the USDF Breeders Championship Series (USDFBC) final in-hand classes. Restricted classes that meet the general criteria also count towards median score calculations, as do individual breed classes. However, scores from amateur or junior/young rider handler classes, group classes, and under saddle classes are not eligible for DSHB all-breeds awards.
- Competition Type: Scores earned from in-hand classes at Regular and Local Competitions are only applicable to USDF year-end award calculations if the relevant USEF division rules specify that these in-hand classes will follow all rules outlined in USEF Sub-Chapter DR-2 Dressage Sport Horse Breeding.
- Final Percentage: Only the final adjusted percentage score, calculated after any callbacks, for each class will be considered for award purposes.
Awards and Recognition
Provided that sufficient horses meet the minimum award criteria, Participating Organizations (POs) are required to award first place in each of the specified age and sex levels, provided they have opted to recognize the DSHB or materiale categories. POs have the discretion to award up to five places within each age/sex level.
The recognized age/sex levels for awards include:
- Fillies and Colts/Geldings of the current calendar year
- Yearling fillies and colts/geldings
- Two-year-old fillies and colts/geldings
- Three-year-old fillies and colts/geldings
- Four-year-old and older maiden mares and yeld mares (not currently bred or nursing)
- Four-year-old and older broodmares (in foal as of January 1st of the competition year or currently nursing – only the mare is judged)
- Four-year-old and older stallions
- All materiale categories
Champions in each age/sex category will be presented with a custom-cast USDF medal. If the PO extends awards beyond first place, second-place winners will also receive a custom-cast USDF medal. Additional prizes may be offered at the PO’s discretion. Champions and reserve champions will be honored on stage at the annual Adequan®/USDF Convention, while certificates will be made available online.
