The United States Dressage Federation announced a new USDF Regional Schooling Show Awards Program, which will offer regional recognition to USDF Group Members, competing in participating non-USEF-licensed/non-USDF-recognized competitions. This program will operate congruently with the annual USDF membership year of Dec. 1 – Nov. 30, beginning with the 2020 membership year on Dec. 1, 2019. Four award divisions, including open, junior/young rider, adult amateur, and non-professional, will be recognized per region. The open division will offer six levels of recognition (training, first, second, third, fourth and FEI), with the junior/young rider, adult amateur, and non-professional offering an additional seventh level (introductory).

Any non-USEF-licensed/non-USDF-recognized competition is eligible to participate, and may do so by simply submitting an online application and fee to USDF at least 30 days prior to the start date of their competition. Competitors wishing to participate in the program must be USDF Group Members and submit an online nomination application and fee for each horse/rider combination they wish to nominate.

“This new program has been developed to recognize the achievements of USDF Group Members, who choose to participate in schooling shows as their competition path,” said USDF President Lisa Gorretta. “It will give competitors confirmation of how they stack up against their peers, within their USDF region. This will, in turn, strengthen USDF’s Group Member Organizations by providing an additional exclusive benefit of membership. Schooling shows provide and promote dressage education for riders, USDF L Graduates and licensed judges, as well as local competition management and show volunteers. We hope to welcome more members and competitors into the USDF community while furthering USDF’s mission of recognizing achievement in dressage.”

Both competition management and competitors may sign up to participate in the program beginning in July 2019.