Breeder of Distinction Award Application
Helpful Hints
- "Breeder" is the person or entity listed on a horse's official breed registry papers as defined by the breed registry. A change in the name of the recorded breeder can only be authorized or performed as an official entry on the registration paper, by the registry that issued the paper.
- Must have official breed registry papers on file for all relevant horses at the time of application.
- Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.
- No membership requirements at the time the scores are earned.
- Eligible scores must come from classes in which all USDF eligibility requirements were met for competition.
- Breeder must have a current USDF Group, Participating, or Business Membership, at the time of application. If required memberships are not in place by program application deadlines, the application will not be processed and the award(s) will not be awarded in that calendar year.
- Awards will be presented at the Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention.
Helpful Hints
- Please do not submit a USDF Breeder of Distinction Award application until all score requirements have been met.
- Please review the Breeder of Distinction Award rules and requirements as listed on this page, or in the USDF Member Guide. Questions?
- You are not required to submit copies of scoresheets.
- To locate your USDF number, click here.
- Submission of a USDF Breeder of Distinction Award application does not guarantee the award will be issued. The USDF office verifies that all award requirements have been met.
- USDF members with questions as to whether they have met all requirements for USDF Breeder of Distinction Awards may contact USDF for verification, or verify scores earned via USDFscores.com.
Application Process
- Breeder must submit application and fee to USDF, online, using the official USDF Breeder of Distinction Award application, after all of the required scores and points are earned.
- To be awarded a USDF Breeder of Distinction Award in the current calendar year, applications are due by September 30 with a $25 processing fee.
- Late applications submitted October 1 through October 15, will have a $75 late fee. This late fee is in addition to the $25 processing fee.
Scores and Points Conversion
- Scores must be earned in DSHB, materiale, or USDF Breeders Championship Series Final classes held at USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized dressage competitions which occurred from October 1, 2000, forward.
- If two or more judges score one ride or in-hand presentation, the average of their scores counts as one score. A judge panel will be considered different if at least one member of the panel is changed.
- Scores may be used multiple times for progressive awards.
- A breeder may be awarded only one award at each level.
- Scores must be from scoresheets that are current at the time of the competition.
- Scores must be earned in DSHB classes which are open to all horses and ponies of the appropriate age and sex, and not subject to any entry restriction, USDF Breeders Championship Series Final (in-hand or materiale championship classes), or Materiale classes which are open to all horses and ponies of the appropriate age and sex, and not subject to any entry restriction. Scores earned in Individual Breed Classes (IBC), or scores earned in otherwise restricted in-hand or materiale classes will not be eligible. Scores from eligible in-hand or materiale classes will be converted to points values as follows:
- 80% or higher = three points
- 77.000-79.999% = two points
- 75.000-76.999% = one point
- 72.000-74.999% = one-half point
- No points will be awarded for any scores ranging from 71.999% or lower, regardless of class type.
Bronze Award
- A total of thirty points are required.
- Must have thirty points accrued by horses bred by the breeder from eligible in-hand classes.
- Materiale scores are not eligible to count towards this award.
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Horses must have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to be eligible.
- Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.
- Scores must be earned by three or more horses bred by the breeder.
- Scores must be from a minimum of four different judges.
- At least one score of 72.0% or higher must be from a USDF Breeders Championship Series Final class.
Silver Award
- A total of sixty points are required.
- Must have fifty points accrued by horses bred by the breeder from eligible in-hand classes.
- Must have ten points accrued by horses bred by the breeder from eligible materiale classes.
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Horses must have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to be eligible.
- Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.
- Scores must be earned by four or more horses bred by the breeder.
- Scores must be from a minimum of five different judges.
- At least three scores of 72.0% or higher must be from USDF Breeders Championship Series Final classes.
Gold Award
- A total of one hundred points are required.
- Must have seventy-five points accrued by horses bred by the breeder from eligible in-hand classes.
- Must have twenty-five points accrued by horses bred by the breeder from eligible materiale classes.
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Horses must have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to be eligible.
- Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.
- Scores must be earned by five or more horses bred by the breeder.
- Scores must be from a minimum of six different judges.
- At least five scores of 72.0% or higher must be from USDF Breeders Championship Series Final classes.
- At least one score of 72.0% or higher must be from a USDF Breeders Championship Series Materiale Championship class.