Compete

All UDS members are eligible to earn UDS Awards. The UDS award year begins December 1st and ends the following November 30th. Year-end award scores must be earned during the membership year (December 1st and ends the following November 30th); and must have been earned at a USEF/USDF/UDS recognized show. It is the RIDER'S RESPONSIBILITY to be a current UDS member at the time the score was earned for the score to be counted towards year-end awards. It is the RIDER'S RESPONSIBILITY to confirm that the recorded horse OWNER is a current UDS member at the time the score was earned for the score to be counted towards year-end awards. EXCEPT if the Rider is a Junior UDS Member, in that case the horse’s owner does not need to be a UDS Member. It is the RIDER'S RESPONSIBILITY to confirm their scores with the Tabulation Committee before the deadline for awards recognition. The horse must also have a USDF Horse identification (HID) or Lifetime Horse Registration number (LHR). Scores will be accepted from USDF and FEI recognized classes with the exception of quadrille, pas de deux, the FEI Young Rider Individual Test, the Young Rider Grand Prix Test and breed-restricted classes. UDS Short Tour scores qualify for Short Tour Series year-end awards only and are not combined with scores from USDF rated shows. Year-end Awards shall be awarded to the same horse-and-rider combination at the UDS Annual Awards Banquet. Awards are limited to no more than two (2) consecutive levels (freestyles included) for a horse and rider combination in the membership year. Any horse-and-rider combination that wins a first place year-end award in training through fourth level may only qualify for a year-end award for the same level and division no more than 2 times as long as the same horse and rider combination continue to advance through the levels. EXCEPTIONS: a. FEI level, Pas de deux, Quadrille and Para. b. In Freestyle Training-Second, the same horse and rider combination may be awarded a Year-end Award no more than 3 times as long as the same horse and rider combination continue to advance through the levels. c. In Freestyle Third-Fourth, the same horse and rider combination may be awarded a Year-end Award no more than two times as long as the same horse and rider combination continue to advance through the levels Year-end awards shall be awarded for the following levels: Training, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Prix St. George Georges, Intermediaire, Grand Prix, Freestyle: Training-2nd, Freestyle: 3rd-4th, Freestyle: FEI, Pas de Deux, Para and Quadrille in Junior-Young Rider, Adult Amateur, and Open Divisions. For Training through Fourth Levels, the Year-end Award shall be based upon the average of the top five (5) scores from three (3) different shows and two (2) different judges. Two (2) of those scores must be from the highest test of the level. Other class scores such as Dressage Medal Seat, etc. do not qualify. For Freestyle levels, FEI level, Pas de deux, and Quadrille, the Year-end Awards shall be based upon the average of the top three (3) scores from two (2) different judges. (Freestyle scores only count toward Freestyle awards). For Para, the Year-end Awards shall be based upon the average of the top three (3) scores from two (2) different judges and all Para grades (1a, 1b,2,3 and 4) will be considered together for our year-end awards. Para riders must have a Dispensation card either from the USEF or the FEI that states their Grade and the allowable compensating aids. Para riders must ride either the FEI Para Team Test, or Individual Championship test for their official Grade. To be eligible for UDS Year End Awards (including Perpetual Trophies and Equine Achievement Awards) riders must complete at least 4 hours of volunteer time that is approved by a UDS Board Member. Members can elect a proxy volunteer to perform their volunteer hours in place of them, as long as the proxy is a direct family member.

Shows are recognized as UDS-only short tour shows. Tests offered must include Intro-2nd Level. Higher level tests may be offered, however scores from those tests would not count towards year-end awards. Scores from the Short Tour Series are NOT transferable to the USEF/USDF licensed judge shows and vice-versa. Judges must be “L” program graduates or otherwise approved by the UDS board of directors. It is the RIDER’S RESPONSIBILITY to be a current UDS member at the time the score was earned for the score to be counted toward year-end awards. Riders need not be UDS members to ride in these shows. However, they will be charged a non-member fee to compete. If the rider is not the horse owner, the owner does not need to be a UDS member to qualify for year-end awards Year-end award scores must be earned during the membership year (December 1st through the following November 30th); and must have been earned by UDS members at Short Tour Series shows. Year-end Awards shall be awarded to the same horse-and-rider combination at the UDS Annual Awards Banquet. Awards are limited to no more than two consecutive levels (freestyles included) for a horse and rider combination in the membership year. Year-end awards shall be awarded for the following levels: Introductory, Training, First, and Second, in Junior-Young Rider, Adult Amateur, and Open Divisions. For Introductory through Second Levels, the Year-End Award shall be based upon the average of the top THREE (3) scores from TWO (2) different shows and TWO (2) different judges. ONE(1) of those scores must be from the highest test of the level. Other class scores such as Dressage Medal Seat, etc. do not qualify. To be eligible for any UDS Year End Awards riders must complete at least 4 hours of volunteer time that is approved by a UDS Board Member. Members can elect a proxy volunteer to perform their volunteer hours in place of them, if the proxy is a direct family member and with UDS approval.

The UDS perpetual trophies are awarded based on scores earned only at UDS/USEF/USDF recognized shows that are physically in Utah and awarded at the UDS Annual Banquet. It is awarded to the highest percentage of that level regardless of the division.

UDS designed this award to spotlight exceptional equine talent. Equine Achievement Awards are awarded to an individual horse. The horse’s owner will receive, as an award, an engraved plaque for the first UDS Achievement Award the horse earns. An engraved notation will be added to the plaque for each subsequent UDS Equine Achievement Award the horse earns. A single horse may be awarded only one (1) UDS Equine Achievement Award at each level; however, a horse may be awarded a UDS Equine Achievement Award at every level. (Scores do not need to be earned with the same rider) There is no time limit for earning qualifying scores. However, because the UDS Equine Achievement Award program began in 2001, only qualifying scores earned during 2001 and later, shall count toward the award. To apply for the equine achievement award, BOTH the horse’s owner and the horse’s rider must be members of UDS at the time the score is earned. The rider must be a UDS member, having a USDF GMO membership number. The owner must be a UDS member, having a USDF GMO membership number. The horse must have a USDF Horse identification (HID) or Lifetime Horse Registration number (LHR). To earn a UDS Equine Achievement Award, the horse must earn five (5) scores at a given level, and each score must be a minimum of: 65% at Training Level 64% at First Level 63% at Second Level 62% at Third Level 61% at Fourth Level 60% at the FEI Levels and Para Scores must come from USDF/USEF recognized shows. Scores from the following classes do not qualify for the Equine Achievement Award: Freestyle, Opportunity, Pas de Deux, & Quadrille. Short Tour scores do not count towards Equine Achievement Awards. See the UDS Policies, Procedures and Rules document for up-to-date details on qualifications for this award.