Awards Offered by ADA

FEI Riders of the Year

Offered in Levels: PSG/Int I, Combined; Int A/B/II and GP
Scores Required: 4
Different Required Shows: 3
Different Required Judges: 3
Minimum of 1 Test 3 Score: No
Volunteerism Requirement: Yes

Volunteer of the Year

Must have minimum of 8 hours volunteer time, no payment of volunteer time and donated hours must not exceed 25% of total volunteer time.

Open to Members and Non-Members. ADA Members may nominate a person by submitting their name to any member of the ADA Board.  If no one person has more than one nomination, the top three (determined by number of volunteer hours) will be submitted to the ADA Board for a vote.  If after all nominations and board votes there is still a tie, preference will go to an ADA member.

Volunteerism/Service

You can sign up for events  by contacting volunteer@azdressage.org.  While we do need your help at our shows and events, the volunteer requirement can be met in a variety of  ways that serve our membership as a whole, like:

• $50 Volunteer Donation (used to spoil our volunteers!) and/or $50 Show sponsorship (class sponsorship, ring, etc. used toward reducing show fees and funding educational events) (4+ hrs credit)
• Donating your facility to host an ADA event (schooling shows, clinics, etc.) (4+ hrs credit),
• Writing articles for our Centerline newsletter (1-2 hrs credit)
  • Submitting Barn News (1/4 –  1/2 hour credit) or
  • Training Nuggets (1/4 hour credit)
  • Organizing a fundraiser for our JR/YRs (4+ hours credit)
  • Serving on an ADA Board or committee, (hours contributed) etc.

AND Volunteering also makes you eligible for ADA Scholarships and Travel Grants!

Qualifying Period: January 1 through December 31

Updates will be posted on the ADA website at www.azdressage.org.

Nomination

Horse and rider combinations must be nominated to be eligible for the ADA Schooling Show Series Year-End Awards, sponsored by Sherlin Consulting Group. Both the rider and horse owner must be current ADA members, and the $10 nomination fee must be received BEFORE any scores will count toward year-end awards. The nomination fee is $10 per horse and rider combination. Riders may compete on more than one horse, but each horse and rider combination must be nominated separately. A horse may be shown by up to two competitors, but each horse and rider combination must be nominated.

Qualifying

Open to any ADA member. Rider and horse owner must maintain current ADA membership throughout the qualifying period for scores to count.

Each horse and rider combination must compete in TWO or more shows and ride in at least one class at each show to have their scores count. To be eligible at a given level, you must have TWO scores at that level.

All scores for Year-End Awards are tabulated using the HIGHEST PERCENTAGE SCORE earned by each horse and rider combination throughout the show year at each level and in each division.

It is the rider’s responsibility to notify the ADA Schooling Show Chair (schoolingshows@azdressage.org) of any changes that affect year-end award status.

Awards

Awards will go to the top four Junior/Young Rider, Adult Amateur, and Open horse and rider combinations at Introductory through Grand Prix levels, including Alternative TOC (e.g. Western Dressage, Gaited) and Eventing TOC.

Champion may not be won more than two times by the same horse and rider combination at the same level.

• TDC Fall Festival I & II (2025)
• ADA Summer Heat/More Heat
• Road Runner North

• Qualifying Period October 1st through September 30th of following year
• 2027 Horse Nominations Form Required
• Updates will be posted on these websites, if required:  ADA, www.azdressage.org; TDC, www.tucsondressageclub.org.
• At least one qualifying score must be from a show hosted by TDC or ADA.

Nomination

Horses must be nominated to be eligible for participation in the Arizona State Championships.  The nominating fee and form must be received BEFORE any scores will count toward qualification.  The nominating fee is $25 per horse.  Since only one horse/rider combination can compete at State Championships, the fee is only paid one time per year and goes toward the horse.  The horse may be ridden by multiple riders during the show year.  Qualifying scores must be earned by the horse/rider combination, even though the nomination fee is paid on the horse.  If multiple riders qualify on the same horse, one rider only may compete in the State Championship classes and the concurrent Arizona Dressage Association Fall Fiesta show.   See State Championship Rule 5.

Qualifying

Open to any Arizona competitor, including student competitor (U.S. citizenship not required).  Rider must be a member of an Arizona GMO (GMO = Group Member Organization of USDF – United States Dressage Federation) by August 31st to ride in the current year’s State Championship show classes held in November.  Rider need not be a member of an Arizona GMO at the time the qualifying scores are earned. (However, Rider MUST be a GMO member at the time any Year End Award scores are earned.)

Competition year for the State Championships qualifying is from October 1st through September 30th of the following year.  Horse/rider combinations must earn two (2) qualifying scores under two (2) different judges from USEF/USDF-recognized “open” Dressage classes offered at Dressage competitions recognized by the ADA and TDC and held in the State of Arizona between October 1 and September 30 of the following year in any test of the level.   ***A minimum of one qualifying score must be from a TDC or ADA-hosted show.*** (Dressage competitions interested in obtaining recognition from the ADA and TDC, please contact scores@azdressage.org for details.)  Riders who use a qualifying score from a recognized non-ADA/TDC-hosted Dressage competition may be responsible for submitting proof of qualifying scores (copies of signed score sheets or USDF scores report) to the State Championships Show Secretary with their show entry and understand that their name(s) may not appear on any published qualifying lists.

Horse/rider combinations which have won a State Championship may no longer compete in a State Championship competition, in that division, at that or a lower level (Grand Prix Level excepted).

Horse/rider combination must declare Rider’s status (Open, Adult Amateur or Junior/Young Rider) and must provide proof of eligibility to show management.

Competition

Qualifying competitions must be USEF licensed and open (NOT Breed Restricted!) Dressage classes must be USDF-recognized.  Non ADA/TDC-hosted competitions must apply annually before November 1st for ADA/TDC recognition.  Email scores@azdressage.org for details.

Qualified horse/riders/level will be published in the TDC Transitions and the ADA Centerline and on the TDC website (tucsondressageclub.org) and the ADA website, (azdressage.org).  Copies of the list of qualifiers will be sent to all Arizona GMO’s.  Any rider who does not appear on the qualifying list (and who believes that s/he has indeed qualified) must supply a photocopy of the face of both qualifying test sheet rides OR copies of USDF records of qualifying rides to the show secretary upon entering Arizona State Dressage Championship classes.

1. Championship Classes will be double-judged.
2. The highest test of the level will be ridden from memory.
3. NO WHIPS may be carried in Championship Classes.
4. Cross-entering divisions is not permitted unless at levels that do not offer separate divisions.
5. At no time during the Championship or the concurrent Open Show may any horse entered in the Championship competition be ridden by anyone other than the rider entered in the Championship competition on that horse (Exception: grooms riding on loose rein).  Further, any horse entered in the Championship competition, even if entered at two levels, must be ridden by the same rider throughout all days of the competition, including any Open Show held in conjunction with the Championships show. Two shows held over the same weekend will be considered a single show.  This rule applies as soon as the horse is on the grounds.
6. Championship Classes will follow US Equestrian Federation and FEI rules regarding attire and equipment Ring stewards will check saddlery and inspect bits of each horse immediately after it has completed its test and has left the arena.  Any discrepancy to the saddlery or equipment rules will entail immediate elimination (See DR121.8).
7. Horse/rider combinations that have won a State Championship may no longer compete in a State Championship competition, in that division, at that or a lower level (Grand Prix Level excepted).
8. In the event of a tie (equality of total points) for Champion and/or Reserve Champion in Championship classes, the collective marks will determine first, second and/or third places (i.e., when a tie for first place is broken by collective marks, tied competitors will receive first and second places, etc.) If collective marks are equal, the tie will remain unbroken (i.e., two first places will be awarded, next third place, etc.)  This policy for breaking ties will also apply to subsequent placing in the class.  In the case of a tie (equality of total points and collective marks) for Champion, prize money, (if offered) for Champion and Reserve Champion will be combined and divided equally between the competitors.  See USEF Rules DR123.3 and DR123.6.

AWARDS

• Award and ribbon to Champion. Reserve Champion ribbon and ribbons 3rd through 6th place in each Championship class.
• Championship class scores will count towards ADA and/or TDC Year End Awards.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARDS CEREMONIES

• Riders placing in State Championships classes must be present, mounted and in full riding attire for award ceremonies.
• Horse leg wraps may be white or black.
• Competitors may decline to participate in the victory round.
• Failure, without prior permission of the competition manager, to be present and properly attired will eliminate the official score and placing, and the next highest score will move up.
• If Awards Ceremonies are scheduled in conflict with a competitor’s/horse’s preparation or scheduled ride, the competitor and/or horse will be excused from the Awards Ceremony. Management will attempt to allow the rider and/or horse to be recognized at a subsequent Awards Ceremony at that show, if requested.
• The tentative schedule and procedure for the Awards Ceremony schedule will be posted in the show secretary’s office by noon on the day prior to the start of the competition.