WNYDA Awards Program

The purpose of the WNYDA Awards Program is to recognize member achievements during the competition year.  Awards will be presented at the Annual WNYDA Awards Banquet.

AWARDS CRITERIA
COMPETITION YEAR: The WNYDA 2024 competition year runs from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL AWARDS

The owner(s) & rider of the horse must be a WNYDA member in good standing at the times scores are earned. A WNYDA member who leases a horse is considered to be the owner.
The owner or rider must work eight hours for a WNYDA show, program or committee during the competition year.  The Required Volunteer Hours Form must be signed by the Show/Program Manager, Committee Chair or Board President and mailed (postmarked) or emailed to the Scorekeeper by January 15, 2025.  
If the owner completes the required eight volunteer hours, then their horse is eligible for Horse of the Year Awards, but the rider is not eligible for the Rider of the Year Awards, unless the Rider has also completed the required eight volunteer hours.

SCOREKEEPING AND SCORE REQUIREMENTS

Scores for active WNYDA members as of July 15th of the competition year are automatically eligible for the year end awards. Once volunteer hours are confirmed, the scorekeeper will pull scores from the USDF directly for the Rider and Horse of the Year.
Scores for rider Achievement must still be sent to the scorekeeper by November 1st. 
The age of the rider will be verified based on the recorded age per USDF guidelines to determine if the rider is competing for Junior/Young Rider, Vintage Cup Awards and Junior and Senior Challenge Series Show Divsions. 
Challenge Series Show scores count for the WNYDA Challenge Series awards and the Flying Change Horse of the Year Award (if required USEF/USDF scores are also earned) and the Upstate GMO Schooling Show Achievement award if additional score requirements from a 2nd participating GMO are also received. (see qualifying requirements).
Only scores from USEF/USDF Recognized Competitions count toward awards for Rider Achievement, Horse of the Year, Rider of the Year, Joint Upstate High Point, WNYDA Opportunity Rider of the Year and Flying Change Horse of the Year (if required Challenge Series scores are also earned). Breeding Division scores must be from a USEF Licensed DSHB Judge earned at a USEF/USDF recognized show. At least one of the scores submitted must be from a WNYDA Sponsored Recognized Competition to be eligible for WNYDA awards and Flying Change Horse of the Year Awards. A WNYDA Sponsored Recognized Competition is one with the WNYDA name and logo in the prize list. 
Classes restricted in any way, i.e. Breed, Novice, Opportunity, etc. do NOT count unless otherwise noted. Scores from Amateur Classes DO count toward WNYDA awards, except where noted otherwise.  Scores from Opportunity Classes in USEF/USDF recognized shows count ONLY for WNYDA Opportunity Rider of the Year, but no other awards.

COMPUTATION OF SCORES

Awards are based on a median score, which is the middle score when all scores are placed in numerical order (except the Upstate GMO & Joint Upstate High Point; they use the average).
Awards will only be presented to median scores of 55% or higher (except for Challenge Series and Flying Change Horse of the Year).  And an average score of 60% for the Upstate GMO & Joint Upstate High Point.

AWARDS OFFERED

A.  Rider AchievementB.  Rider of the YearC.  Horse of the YearD. Challenge SeriesE. Breeding Division (DSHB)F. Darla TrophyG. Flying Change Horse of the Year AwardH. WNYDA Opportunity Rider of the YearI.  Upstate GMO Schooling Show Achievement AwardJ.  Joint Upstate High-Point Dressage AwardK. Materiale Horse of the YearL. OTTB Incentive Award

A.    RIDER ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

These awards recognize the achievements of a rider, regardless of the horse(s) ridden.  No rider may win an award in a given category more than once.  Scores are cumulative year over year.  Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements) The categories are:
      Training Level                4 scores of 60% or higher      First Level                       4 scores of 60% or higher      Second Level                  4 scores of 60% or higher      Third Level                     4 scores of 60% or higher      Fourth Level                   4 scores of 60% or higher      FEI Combined Levels    4 scores of 60% or higher from any FEI Level

For each category, a minimum of 4 scores of 60% or higher must be recorded from 2 different competitions and 3 different judges. At least one score must be from a WNYDA Recognized Sponsored Competition.
For Training through Fourth Level, one score for each level must be from the highest test at that level.
Riders are responsible for submitting their scores to the scorekeeper on the Rider Achievement Award Form, along with the required volunteer hours form.

B.     RIDER OF THE YEAR 

These awards recognize the achievements of the rider in a given competition year regardless of level.  Awards are determined based on the scores for the horse/rider combination.  Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements)

Awards may not be won by the same rider/horse combination at the same level more than one consecutive year unless there are no other eligible riders.
Rider must have completed their volunteer hours to be eligible.

The Rider with the highest median score regardless of level is presented with a trophy as noted below.

Rider of the Year Awards	Qualifications
Overall Rider of the Year in memory of Captain Gyulay Nadasy	This award is given to any member with the highest median score from the winners of the Open/Professional, Vintage, Adult Amateur and Junior/Young Rider Awards.
Junior/Young Rider of the Year in honor of Major Anthony Rethy	This award is given to any Junior / Young Rider member with the highest median score. A competitor is a Jr/Young Rider until the end of the calendar year in which he/she reaches age 21. Scores must be earned in Open or Junior/Young Rider classes for the Junior/Young Rider Award.
Vintage Cup in memory of Ruth Fauldauer	This award is given to any member with the highest median score who has reached 50 years of age as of December 1 of the previous year. Scores must be earned in Open or Adult Amateur classes for Vintage Cup.
Adult Amateur WNYDA Millennium Board Trophy	This award is given to any Adult Amateur member with the highest median score. A competitor is an Adult Amateur if they hold a valid USEF membership card with Adult Amateur status. A competitor is an adult from the beginning of the calendar year in which he/she reaches age 22. Scores must be earned in Open or Adult Amateur classes for Adult Amateur.
Open/Professional trophy in honor of Reseda and Aberfoyle	This award is given to any Professional member with the highest median score. A competitor is a Professional if they hold a valid USEF membership card with Professional status. Scores must be earned in Open classes only for the Open/Professional Award.

C.  HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

These awards recognize achievements of the horse, regardless of the rider in a given competition year.   Awards are given at each level for Training through Fourth, one award for FEI levels and one Musical Freestyle Award.  Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements). No horse may win Horse of the Year at the same level more than one consecutive year unless no other horse is qualified at that level. At FEI and Freestyle, a horse may win Horse of the Year more than one consectuive year if qualified at a higher level.  All scores must be from recognized USEF/USDF Competitions.

The highest median score (which is the middle score if you list your scores in numerical order) will be used to determine the winner.  Note that one of the scores must be from a WNYDA Sponsored USEF/USDF Recognized show. The following scores are used as part of the determination of the median score:

Training, First and Second Levels – highest 5 scores from at least 2 shows, 3 different judges. One of the scores included must be from a WNYDA Sponsored USDF/USEF recognized show. Two of the scores must be 55% or higher from the highest test within the level.
Third and Fourth Levels – highest 3 scores from at least 2 shows, 3 different judges.  One of the scores must be from a WNYDA Sponsored USDF/USEF recognized show.  One of the scores must be 55% or higher from the highest test within the level.
FEI and Freestyle (all levels) –  highest 3 scores from at least 2 shows, 2 different judges.  One of the scores must be from a WNYDA Sponsored USDF/USEF recognized show.

The Horse with highest median score at each level noted is presented with a trophy.

Level	Trophy	Original Trophy Donated by
Training	WNYDA Trophy in memory of Taffy	Donated by Sharon and Gary Grefrath
First	WNYDA Rufus Wesson Memorial Trophy	Donated by Andrea Linblad
Second	WNYDA Trophy in memory of Ida Mizelle Joseph	Donated by WNYDA in honor of Ida Mizelle Joseph, founder and first president 1974-1979
Third	WNYDA Third Level Champion Trophy	Donated by George & Ida Mizelle Joseph of Bridlewood Farm
Fourth	WNYDA Trophy in honor of Madame de Farge	Donated by Carl & June Batzing
FEI	WNYDA Trophy in memory of Dominick	Donated by Herbert & Jane Rissinger
Musical Freestyle	WNYDA Musical Freestyle Trophy	Donated by Elsie Kellerman

D.  CHALLENGE SERIES AWARDS

These awards recognize rider achievement, regardless of the horse(s) ridden in a given competition year, at the WNYDA CHALLENGE SERIES shows.  Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements) Every Challenge series show will have JR and SR divisions.  A Junior is 21 and under, a Senior is over 21 years of age.

Minimum of 3 scores from at least 2 different challenge series shows for any test at the same level at a WNYDA Challenge Series Show is required to qualify.  Riders may qualify at more than one level if the minimum of 3 scores (from at least 2 different challenge series shows) per level is met.
Award champion and reserve champion for JR and SR at each level.  All other qualified riders get a certificate of recognition.
The median score will be used to determine award winners – all scores from WNYDA Challenge Series shows will be used in calculating the median.  Challenge series secretaries will submit scores on behalf of all riders. Riders do not need to submit scores.
Riders must provide proof of eight volunteer hours worked by sending a completed and signed volunteer hour form to the Scorekeeper by the deadline to be considered eligible for this award.

The rider with the highest median score is presented with a trophy.

E.  BREEDING DIVISION (DSHB)

This award recognizes the qualifying colt, gelding or filly from foal to 3 years of age, and stallions and mares 4 years old and older, in a given competition year.  Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements). The final test score with total adjusted points (for conformation, movement and general impression) from a USDF Sport Horse Breeding Stock or Prospect (In-Hand) from USDF scores will be used.  The highest overall score will count if the horse was also shown at the WNYDA Breed Show when WNYDA hosts a show in that calendar year.  Scores from an IBC Class and the Regional Finals Classes are excluded.

Volnteer hours for the horse's owner must be completed.
Horse must be owned by a WNYDA member in good standing, but may be shown (handled) by a non-WNYDA member.
If enough eligible horses for this award, the year end award may be split by age and/or gender based on the decision of the WNYDA board. Although the highest soverall score would be listed on the trophy.

The young or breeding stock horse with the highest Breed Score from a USEF Breed Recognized Judge, is presented with a trophy.

F.  DARLA TROPHY

The Darla Award is a trophy donated in 1999 by a group of friends in memory of Darla Schwark, a former Mendon Pony Clubber who went on to major league dressage in the Gladstone, N.J. area until her untimely death in 1998, at the age of 30.  While still living in this area, she was involved with many of us, training and teaching both horses and riders.  After moving to N.J., she made frequent return trips to visit family, and continued to teach and inspire.  This trophy will be awarded to the rider with the highest FEI score of 60% or higher (not including Musical Freestyle) from the WNYDA Summer Festival show who is an active WNYDA member at the time of the competition. This Trophy will be awarded at the WNYDA Awards Annual Banquet. 

G.  THE FLYING CHANGE HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award recognizes riders and their horses making the transition from schooling to recognized shows. Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements).

Minimum of 2 scores, from any test, at the same level from WNYDA Challenge Series Shows AND a minimum of 2 scores, from any test, at the same level from recognized USEF/USDF Competitions is required to qualify.
One of the scores submitted must be from a WNYDA Sponsored USDF/USEF Recognized show.
All scores must be earned by the same Horse/Rider team.
Awards will only be presented to median scores of 60% or higher.
The JR and SR (JR is 21 and under, a SR is over 21) with the highest median score, regardless of level, is presented with an award.
Scores must be submitted on the WNYDA Score Reporting Form, along with copies of the fronts of the tests, and postmarked to the WNYDA Scorekeeper by the listed deadline to be eligible.
Riders must provide proof of eight volunteer hours worked by sending a completed and signed volunteer hour form to the Scorekeeper by the listed deadline to be considered eligible for this award.
Award may not be won by the same horse, at the same level, more than one consecutive year unless there are no other eligible winners. 

H.  WNYDA OPPORTUNITY RIDER OF THE YEAR

This award recognizes less experienced amateur riders in a given competition year. Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements) An Opportunity Rider is one that enters Opportunity classes in WNYDA USEF/USDF Recognized Dressage Competitions.

Rider must be an amateur and not a professional (a professional is someone who receives remuneration for having or sharing the responsibility for instruction, teaching, schooling, coaching or advising any rider on the training of any horse at any time, past or present). The rider must be recorded as an Amateur by the USEF/USDF.
 Scores must be submitted on the WNYDA Score Reporting Form along with copies of the fronts of the tests and postmarked to the WNYDA Scorekeeper by the listed deadline along with the required volunteer hours form.
A minimum of 4 test scores from at least 2 different competitions and 2 different judges from the WNYDA Opportunity Classes offered at WNYDA Sponsored USEF/ USDF Recognized competitions.
A rider may not win this award more than once.

The rider/horse combination with the highest median score, is presented with a trophy.

I.   UPSTATE GMO SCHOOLING SHOW ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

This award recognizes riders and their horses from all levels – Introductory and up with scores from GMO sponsored Schooling Shows.  Only one award will be given regardless of age or level.  Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements).

Criteria and Process: Submit two scores from a GMO sponsored schooling show of at least 60% and above from two different judges from two different GMOs. 
Participating GMOs for this award are: Western NY Dressage Association, Cayuga Dressage & CT, Central NY Dressage & CT. 
Riders must provide proof of eight volunteer hours worked by sending a completed and signed volunteer hour form to the Scorekeeper by the deadline to be considered eligible for this award.
Report scores to the score keeper using the Upstate GMO Schooling Show Achievement Award form.

J.    JOINT UPSTATE HIGH POINT DRESSAGE AWARD

This award recognizes riders and their horses from all levels – Introductory and up with scores from USEF/USDF Recognized Competitions.  Only one award will be given regardless of age or level.  Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements).

Criteria:  4 scores from USEF/USDF sponsored competitions at the qualifying level at least 2 of the scores must be from 2 different participating GMO sponsored shows (participating GMOs for this award are: Western NY Dressage Association, Cayuga Dressage & CT, Central NY Dressage & CT) and 3 different judges. One of the scores must be from the highest test within the level. The 4 scores will be used in calculating the average (mean) score.
Only averages of 60% or higher qualify, with the same rider/horse combination.
Awards may not be won by the same rider/horse combination at the same level more than one consecutive year unless there are no other eligible winners.
Opportunity classes do not count towards this award.
Participating GMOs for this award are: Western NY Dressage Association, Cayuga Dressage & CT, Central NY Dressage & CT. 
Riders must provide proof of eight volunteer hours worked by sending a completed and signed volunteer hour form to the Scorekeeper by the deadline to be considered eligible for this award.
Report scores to the score keeper using the Joint Upstate High Point Dressage Award form.

K.   MATERIALE HORSE OF THE YEAR

This award recognizes the qualifying horse in a given competition year competing in the Materiale Classes.   Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements).  Scores from the USDF Materiale Classes with be used.

Horse needs to have shown in at least one WNYDA recognized competition USDF Materiale class.
The highest score from any USDF recognized competition Materiale class will be used to determine the winner, even if the highest score was not obtained at the WNYDA recognized competition USDF Material class.
Owner and Rider must be a WNYDA member in good standing at the time score is earned with completed volunteer hours.

L.    OTTB INCENTIVE AWARD

Sponsored by Kait Webster and Equine Exposure LLC.  This award recognizes any horse/rider combination of a WNYDA member in good standing competing on an OTTB (Off the Track Thoroughbred).   Qualifying Requirements: (see rules regarding Eligibility and Score Requirements). Award is based on median score (the middle score when all scores are placed in numerical order).  Recipient will be awarded a high point award and ribbon.  

This award is open to all levels and categories of riders (Junior, Senior, Open, Adult Amateur) and any level of horse (Intro through FEI).
Submitted scores must all be from the same level.
Scores must be earned at any WNYDA USEF/USDF Recognized show or any WNYDA Challenge Series show or any combination of those two.
Three scores must be submitted from at least 2 different judges.
Score must be submitted on the WNYDA Score Reporting Form along with copy of the front of the test and the horses' Jockey Club papers and postmarked to the WNYDA Scorekeeper by the deadline to be considered eligible for this award along with the required volunteer hours form.
Winner of the OTTB Incentive Award will be awarded a high point award and ribbon. Only 1 award will be given out, regardless of rider status and/or level.

Trophy	Original Trophy Donated by
Challenge Series Trophy	Dorothy Hokanson and Carol Lorenc

Trophy	Original Trophy Donated by
DSHB Horse Trophy	Donated by Black Points Farm

Trophy	Original Trophy Donated by
Darla Trophy	Donated by Marilyn Aldrich, Peg Barisone, Barb Ilardi, Elise dePapp, Anne and Erika dePapp, Linda Bean Torchia, Mary Seccombe, Carol Wallinga, Nancy Webber, Diane Tichell, Joyce Ulinski-Schmid and Stone Thistle

Trophy	Original Trophy Donated by
WNYDA Trophy in memory of Maybe Someday (Beau)	Donated by Linda Bean Torchia and Janet Connor

western NY Dressage Association