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HDS Recognized Show Year End Awards 

The HDS Year End Awards for USEF/USDF recognized show competitors are offered at each level for Training to Fourth Level as well as for all FEI (PSG to GP) classes combined and all Freestyles combined. In addition, Year End Awards are by division—Youth (JR/YR), Adult Amateur and Open. There is an annual HDS Awards Banquet to recognize the winners. 

QUALIFICATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWED:

  1. Awards will consist of a Champion and a Reserve Champion when qualified riders are available in all 3 divisions: Adult Amateur, Junior/Youth, Open.

  2. Rider must be member of HDS, and horse must be registered with HDS., and in good standing.  

  3. Must have a total of 8 HDS volunteer hours from ANY of the 7 HDS-hosted Horse Shows or HDS-sponsored activities. The 7 shows include the 6 Recognized Shows: Winter, Pollen & Piaffe, Spring Classic, Summer, Laborious, Region 9 Championships and the HDS Schooling Show Championships. People with extra hours can donate them to ANY other HDS member.

  4. The Recognized Show calendar year runs in alignment with the USDF show calendar.  

  5. Riders must have been HDS members at the time each eligible score was received.  

  6. To be eligible for an award, you must have shown in at least TWO HDS hosted Recognized Shows. The top scores will be used no matter where they were received, following the rules for judge duplication, even if the top scores received were not at an HDS show.

  7. Scores from GAIG and SWDC championship classes WILL be included in Year End Award calculation.  

  8. Scores for breed or age restricted classes are NOT eligible.

  9. You may only win at two contiguous levels. If you win at more than two levels, the two highest levels will be used, with the lower level dropped.

  10. For USDF tests - Training to Fourth Level Awards:

    • a. Award winners are determined by the AVERAGE of the top 5 scores of all tests at the same level.

    • b. One judge duplication is allowed. For multiple high scores from the same judge, the highest two scores from that judge will be used in conjunction with the highest score from three different judges for calculating the average. If judge duplications result in not enough scores at the level, the horse/rider combination will not be eligible.

  11. For FEI tests - Prix St Georges to Grand Prix Level Awards:

    • a. Award winners are determined by the AVERAGE of the top 4 scores of all tests at the same level.

    • b. One judge duplication is allowed. For multiple high scores from the same judge, the highest two scores from that judge will be used in conjunction with the highest score from three different judges for calculating the average. If judge duplications result in not enough scores at the level, the horse/rider combination will not be eligible.

  12. For USDF Freestyle Tests:

    • a. Award winners are determined by the AVERAGE of the top 3 scores of all tests at the same level.

    • b. One judge duplication is allowed. For multiple high scores from the same judge, the highest two scores from that judge will be used in conjunction with the highest score from three different judges for calculating the average. If judge duplications result in not enough scores at the level, the horse/rider combination will not be eligible. 

Revised 1/13/2026

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