Lexington, KY (February 22, 2019) - The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) is excited to announce the new USDF Regional Schooling Show Awards Program, which will offer regional recognition to USDF Group Members (GMs), competing in participating non-USEF-licensed/non-USDF-recognized competitions.  This program will operate congruently with the annual USDF membership year of December 1 - November 30, beginning with the 2020 membership year on December 1, 2019. Four award divisions, including open, junior/young rider, adult amateur, and non-professional, will be recognized per region. The open division will offer six levels of recognition (Training, First, Second, Third, Fourth, and FEI), with the junior/young rider, adult amateur, and non-professional offering an additional seventh level (Introductory).

Any non-USEF-licensed/non-USDF-recognized competition is eligible to participate, and may do so by simply submitting an online application and fee to USDF, at least 30 days prior to the start date of their competition. Competitors wishing to participate in the program must be USDF Group Members and submit an online nomination application and fee for each horse/rider combination they wish to nominate.

USDF President Lisa Gorretta explains that, "this new program has been developed to recognize the achievements of USDF Group Members, who choose to participate in schooling shows as their competition path. It will give competitors confirmation of how they stack up against their peers, within their USDF region. This will, in turn, strengthen USDF's Group Member Organizations by providing an additional exclusive benefit of membership! Schooling shows provide and promote dressage education for riders, USDF L Graduates, and licensed judges, as well as local competition management and show volunteers. We hope to welcome more members and competitors into the USDF community, while furthering USDF's mission of recognizing achievement in dressage."

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email [email protected], or call (859) 971-2277.