Entering a Recognized Show (Simplified?

By Mary Lou Gallagher, Technical Delegate and NODA Director at Large As I am writing this, I can see the wind turning 6 inches of snow into a knee-high drift by my door. So why am I writing about a NODA horse show that’s four months away, in June? The answer is the Covid pandemic. It ruined most of the 2020 show season and will still affect show operations for 2021. The secretary’s office will remain closed to competitors. Riders who used to wait until their arrival at the show to renew their memberships or handle other entry problems will find their entry rejected. So now’s the time to get all your paperwork in order.

I am starting with requirements for the horse because

some things cannot be done online. All horses entered in the show must have 3 documents: a Coggins test that has to be included with the entry form, a vaccination record, and a USDF number for the horse. The Coggins must use the same name as will be found on the entry form. Vaccination records are not included with the entry but must be brought with you to the show. The Coggins test must be dated within 12 months of the show date and the vaccinations must be dated within 6 months. Schedule a vet appointment before May if either document is due to expire before June

The USDF requires a horse identification number (HID)

for all horses entered into a dressage show. (One important exemption – horses entered only in Introductory and/or opportunity classes do not need a HID.) The HID number will stay the same even if the horse if is later sold or upgraded to a Lifetime registration. Applications can be competed online if the horse has never been previously assigned a number. If you are an owner without a USDF number for yourself but are planning to become a member, I would suggest you go online to USDF and become a member first. Once you get your own USDF number, then go ahead and complete the horse’s application for its HID. This can all be done within a week’s time. Horses do not need to have a USEF number unless you plan on qualifying for regional championships. More about this later.

Matters become more complicated if you bought your-

self a new horse that already has a USDF number. You will need to submit a Transfer of Ownership which cannot be completed online. The USDF lists what documents can be submitted as proof of the new ownership, but the point is that these documents have to be mailed with the transfer to the USDF office. You need to get this done as soon as possible.

Now let’s talk about requirements for the humans

whose names go on the entry form. Since recognized shows can be an expensive proposition, I am going to offer 3 approaches to meeting your USEF and USDF Membership Requirements: a cheap way, a reasonable way, and a “let’s go for it all” way. We’ll start in the middle, the way most riders take. 1. For riders who plan to attend two or more Recognized Shows and want to earn rider medals, but are not interested in qualifying for the Regional Championships, here’s what you need to do. a. Join USEF, online. Annual membership fees for the USEF are $80 while the Show Pass fee for non-members is $45 per show. Simple math will tell you that two nonmember fees will cost more than the membership itself. An added bonus for amateur riders is that the USEF Amateur Card comes free with the membership—and you must have an Amateur Card to enter any class designated as “adult amateur”. b. Complete the SafeSport program. Since 2019, all members of the USEF who have passed their 18th birthday and now enter a recognized show (whether as a rider, owner, trainer and/or coach), must first complete the SafeSport program before being eligible to compete. A new member

of USEF, will have to finish a core program that will take about 2 hours to complete. Participants renewing their membership will take a shorter refresher course every year. These programs can be accessed online. Google “Accessing the Required SafeSport Training” to find detained information for both the core and refresher modules. c. Join NODA (or any of the other Group Member Organizations of the USDF) Part of your NODA membership fees pay for a USDF Group Membership (a USDF requirement). This group membership allows you to participate in USEF/ USDF recognized shows without paying a USDF nonmembership fee ($25 per show). Group members can still submit their scores for the USDF Rider Award programs such as Rider Performance awards or the Bronze Medal. Make sure that you join NODA now. You won’t have an active membership until your NODA membership is forwarded to the USDF office. Don’t wait until May. d. Apply for a USDF HID for your horse. You will not need any USEF number for the horse. e. Owners and Riders. If you are not the owner of the

horse you are showing, then the owner must have the same USEF/USDF memberships listed above (or pay the non-member fees) and the horse must have a USDF HID

in the name of the actual owner. If two or more people own the horse, only one of the owners must be a member to avoid paying the non-member fees. When filling out an entry form, make sure you list the owner who is the member.

2. For those riders who plan to ride in the Regional Championships, things become more complicated and expen-

sive. (“Let’s Go For It All!) a. Join the USEF. Non-members may not attempt to qualify for Regionals. B. Complete the USEF SafeSport program. See above c. Apply for a participating membership in the USDF. A group membership does not make you eligible to qualify. You can sign up online and your membership number will remain the same as your group membership d. Get a USDF lifetime registration for the horse. If your horse already has a HID, then you only have to pay for the upgrade. The horse number itself will remain the same— just the status has changed. e. Get either a USEF Annual or lifetime recording for the horse. Some horses may have a free USEF HID but it won’t let you qualify for regional championships. f. Owners and Riders. The owner must have the same

level of USEF/USDF memberships as the rider to qualify

the horse for the regional finals. The owner must also have the horse listed with both the USEF and USDF in his/ her name. g. Regional Championships. If you had not originally planned to qualify for the Regionals and later change your mind, you can always apply for the USDF participating membership on line as well as upgrade your USEF and/or USDF HID numbers. This can be done online, but scores earned previously to the membership upgrade will not count for qualification. 3. Opportunity Classes. A relatively cheap choice now

exists for the riders who do not want to spend lots of

money this year but want the chance to participate in the recognized shows. The way to avoid membership and/or HID fees would be to sign up for only Opportunity Classes. Shows in our area will generally be offering opportunity classes each day at Introductory, Training Level, and First Level. These classes must have the word “Opportunity” in the title. When you enter only these classes and/or the USDF Introductory (Walk-Trot) classes, you are exempt from all non-member and horse registration fees. The downside of the Opportunity classes is that the results will not count for any USEF or USDF award programs. The NODA Board, however, has voted to allow these scores to be used for schooling show awards.

Memberships and horse registrations can be confusing. Hopefully this article has helped you complete your entry form in time for the opening day of entries.

Do You or Your Horse Have Something to Celebrate?

A milestone? A new horse? A new experience?

NODA Wants to Celebrate with YOU!

Send a photo & details to Mosie Welch mosie-editor@nodarider.org

News and Updates from Karen Puchalsky NODA’s Dressage Foundation GMO Liaison www.dressagefoundation.org

Before I became the NODA Delegate for The Dressage Foundation, I admit I knew little about the organization. I thought it might be helpful if I shared information about The Dressage Foundation and how this organization helps support the dressage community.

The Dressage Foundation was established in 1989 by Lowell Boomer, who was also the founding organizer of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) in 1973. The mission of The Dressage Foundation is to cultivate and provide financial support of the advancement of dressage in the United States.

For over 30 years donors have generously provided funds to create a better dressage community. Grants are available for riders of ALL ages and levels, new or seasoned dressage instructors, judges of all ranks, nonprofit organizations hosting educational events and much more.

Grants include FEI/High Performance, Educational Events, Adult Amateurs, Youth & Young Adults, Instructors, Judges, Para-Equestrians, Technical Delegates, Show Management, Breeders, and Century Club grants.

Please take a few moments and go to The Dressage Foundation’s website www.dressagefoundation.org to learn more about this amazing organization and how you can benefit from their programs and grants. Enjoy the sunshine! Karen

More Information on NODA’s Recognized Shows Sponsorship Opportunities Sponsorship Levels and sign-up page 14 Detail and FAQ’s, page 13 of this newsletter!