Mid-Ohio Dressage Association
Enhance. Involve. MODAvate.
Qualifications and Procedures Annual awards are open to all MODA members in good standing. There is an annual fee to participate in the Horse Awards, whereas Rider Awards are included in your membership fee. The awards year shall run from October 1 through September 30. There are four classifications of riders: Youth Rider: is a person who has not reached his/her 21st birthday by December 1 of the previous competition year. Fill in birth date field on the Awards Submission Form and check “Junior” There are two divisions of competitions: Schooling Shows: are usually local and smaller in size, and are hosted by local GMOs, clubs or barns. They are usually used by riders and horses to gain experience, practice test riding and get the feel of competition without the financial commitment of the Recognized Shows. Recording Scores It is the responsibility of the rider/owner to submit the scores to the Awards Chairperson. Scores must be earned at MODA Approved or USEF/USDF Recognized shows using current USEF, USDF or FEI tests. Scores earned from USDF “Opportunity Classes” are accepted under the Recognized Division. The name of the show, date of the show, score and name of the judge must be readable. Please print any information that is not readable. If two or more judges are scoring one ride, the average of their scores will count as one score. Hors d’concours scores do not count. Scores are cumulative for Horse Performance and Rider Awards and need not be earned in one year. Once you collect all the scores necessary for an award, fill out the Award Submission Form and send it and a copy of the front of the test sheet to the Awards Chairperson. Scores and preliminary standings will be available for viewing online. All scores MUST be postmarked no later than October 15. Final date for making corrections to tabulations posted on MODA website is October 25.
Adult Amateur: is a person who has reached his/her 21st birthday by December 1 of the previous competition year and does not accept remuneration for horse services as defined by USEF Rule GR1306. Fill in birth date field on the Awards Submission Form and check “Adult Amateur”
Open Division: is open to riders of any category, however a rider may receive awards in only one division per competition year
Senior Challenge Rider: is a person who has reached 50 years of age or older as of December 1 of the previous year. Fill in the birth date field on the Awards Submission Form and check “Senior Challenge”
Recognized Shows: are licensed by the USEF and recognized by the USDF and scores attained may count toward regional or national level year end awards or qualify for regional or national championships.
Rider Awards
These awards are included in your annual membership fee; rider awards do not require volunteer hours. Each rider award may be earned one time. Scores are cumulative and need not be earned in one year. The Senior Challenge Award may be earned only one time per level per horse/rider combination.
*Qualified Rider: Four scores of 55% or above at Training Level
*Bronze Medal: Four scores of 55% or above at Training Level and four scores of 55% or above at First Level
*Silver Medal: Four scores of 55% or above at First Level and four scores of 55% or above at Second Level
*Gold Medal: Four scores of 55% or above at Second Level and four scores of 55% or above at Third Level
*Fourth Level: Four scores of 55% or above at Fourth Level
*Prix St. George: Four scores of 50% or above at Prix St. George
*Intermediate I: Four scores of 50% or above at Intermediate I
*Intermediate II: Four scores of 50% or above at Intermediate II
*Grand Prix: Four scores of 50% or above at Grand Prix
*Senior Challenge: Four scores of 55% or above at a level (50% or above for FEI levels). Rider must be 50 years of age or older as of December 1st of the previous year.
Horse Awards
To be eligible the horse must be registered annually with the Awards Chairperson on or prior to the date of the first competition for which scores will be counted. This and all other deadlines will be determined by postmark. The horse must be owned and ridden by a MODA member at the time the scores are earned. If the rider is not the owner, both must be members. Handlers are exempt.
For Horse Awards the owner, rider or designated representative, must donate eight (8) hours of service to MODA, Region 2 or USDF. This includes volunteering at USEF recognized dressage shows. A designated representative is any individual who has agreed to transfer their service hours to a member. Hours donated at the Mid Ohio Classic competition will be counted double (work four (4) hours and earn eight (8) hours of volunteer time). If you’re showing, bring a friend as his/her hours would count—there are plenty of jobs that do not require any experience. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator or Awards Chairperson if you have questions about how and where to obtain service hours. Report volunteer hours to the Volunteer Coordinator by October 15. No year-end scores will be tabulated until the above requirements are met.
The same Horse/Rider Combination may receive the first place horse award in a given division/level three (3) times. This does not apply to FEI Level and Freestyle.
Divisions:
Each division will be split into the following categories: Youth, Adult Amateur, and Open
Schooling Division: MODA Approved Schooling Shows, the average of the four (4) highest scores from a minimum of two (2) judges will be used. For Freestyle, the average of the two (2) highest scores from two (2) different judges will be used. For FEI levels the test with the highest score will be used. The first place winner in any division must have a minimum percentage of 50%. Awards will be presented for the following levels:
*USDF Intro Level A & B
*USDF Intro Level C & Training Level 1
*Training Level 2 & 3
*First Level
*Second Level
*Freestyle
*Additional Levels (if applicale)
Recognized Division: USDF/USEF Recognized Shows:
The average of the scores from a minimum of five (5) tests and a minimum of three (3) different judges will be used. Two (2) of the five (5) scores must be from the highest test in the level. For FEI levels, the average of the scores from a minimum of three (3) scores from three (3) different judges will be used. For Freestyle, the average of the three (3) highest scores from three (3) different judges will be used for First through Fourth levels. For FEI levels the test with the highest score will be used. All of the above averages must be 55% or higher to qualify. Awards will be presented for the following levels:
*USDF Intro Level A & B
*USDF Intro Level C & Training Level 1
*Training Level 2 & 3
*First Level
*Second Level
*Third Level
*Fourth Level
*FEI
*Freestyle
In-hand Sport Horse Breeding Awards:
The average of the scores submitted will be used. A minimum of two (2) scores from two (2) different judges must be submitted. Both Schooling & Recognized Divisions are offered.
Performance Horse Awards:
Scores are cumulative and need not be earned in one year. Each level of performance to be certified requires ten (10) scores of 55% or above (50% or above for FEI levels). The scores must be from at least four (4) different judges, and from at least four (4) different shows. Four (4) of the scores must be from the highest test of the level.
The Perpetual Trophies
Except where specified, Freestyle and In-Hand Sport Horse scores are not eligible toward perpetual trophies. All winners will receive a personalized award and may keep the perpetual trophy for one year.
Good Morning Memorial Trophy:
The Houze family, in memory of their Hanoverian mare Good Morning, donated this perpetual trophy. It was established to give special recognition to an out standing dressage mare. The winner is selected from all registered mares that qualify in any division of the Annual Horse Awards, and is presented to the owner of the mare having the highest average percentage.
MODA High Percentage Trophy:
This perpetual trophy is donated by Polly Hixson to give special recognition to a MODA Adult member. The winner will be the Adult rider scoring the highest percentage for any dressage test at the May or August MODA Schooling Show.
Freestyle High Percentage Award:
This perpetual trophy is donated by Lynn Hamler in memory of her Grand Prix partner, Wolken. The winner is the horse/rider combination with the highest average Freestyle percentage earned from USEF/USDF Recognized Competition.
Golden Apple Award:
This perpetual trophy is donated by Kerrie Matesich of Dogwood Grove Farm in honor of her lifetime partner, Aarod Sheton, who is still successfully competing and teaching riders the art of dressage at the age of 29. The winner is the highest scoring horse over the age of 18.
MODA Youth High Percentage Award: This perpetual trophy is donated by Jodie McKenzie of MacMeadow Farm in special recognition of a MODA Youth member. The winner will be 16 years of age or younger, in good standing, with the highest average of four tests at any one level. Tests will be accepted from any MODA Approved Schooling Show.
The Vision Award:
This perpetual trophy is donated by Lavender Meadows Sport Morgans in honor of non-traditional breeds of horses excelling in the sport of Dressage. The winner is selected from all non-European warmbloods or horses that are not of Spanish heritage scoring the highest average percentage in the Annual Horse Awards, Intro through Grand Prix.