USEF Committee Members
marianne ludwig
anne gribbons
george williams
jayne ayers
sam barish
kathy connelly
melissa creswick
jan ebeling
janet brown foy
lisa gorretta
lendon gray
hilda gurney
scott hassler
carol lavell
janine malone
debbie mcdonald
axel steiner
elizabeth williams
linda zang
Suggested criteria:PERFORMANCE STANDARDS PROPOSAL
Revised 8/3/07
After gathering comments and feedback for several years from officials and exhibitors, the USEF Dressage Committee would like to implement a system of rider qualification through the dressage levels called "Performance Standards". This system, inspired by existing European models, would only apply for riders competing at Third Level and above beginning with the 2010 competition year. The mission of Performance Standards is to fully prepare riders with positive competitive experiences in order to be able to successfully move up the levels, while supporting the welfare of the horse.
The Levels will be named:
Training - Second: BASIC
Third/Fourth: MEDIUM
Prix St. Georges/Intermediare I: ADVANCED
Intermediare II/Grand Prix: INTERNATIONAL An Asterisk (*) will be added to denote a foreign rider.
POINTS:
*There will be no negative points
60% - 62.99% One Point
63% - 65.99% Two Points
66% - 68.99% Three Points
69.00% & above Four Points
Points will be earned at USEF/USDF or FEI recognized competitions. Points can not be earned in dressage classes, sections or divisions in USEF Regular Competitions (restricted breed competitions). Freestyle scores and FEI Young Horse Tests do not count towards points. Any test of the level may be used to accumulate points. FEI tests (junior, young rider etc) can accumulate points as 'equivalent' national levels. These equivalent levels are shown on a chart in the USEF rule book DR 119.2. At least two rides must be of the highest test of the level. These points will track with the rider, not with the horse. Once the rider has earned a designation, it will be permanent. There will be no need to re-qualify.
This system does not apply to dressage classes, sections or divisions in regular competitions. (In other words there are no qualifying requirements to show at breed shows in dressage divisions).
Riders may enter any USEF Training, First or Second Level class at a recognized competition without any qualifying points. Riders may also ride the following FEI Tests at recognized competitions without any qualifying point: FEI Pony, USEF Four-Year-Old, FEI Five-Year-Old, and the FEI Six-Year-Old tests.
You may move up in the middle of the season, once the scores are verified by USDF. You may not move up in the middle of a show.
In order for qualifying points to be recorded, the rider must be a USDF Participating Member and a USEF Member at the time the points are earned. Membership blanks are available from USDF (location) and USEF (location). Verification of membership (membership numbers and cards) from USEF/USDF must be received by the rider before points may be accumulated.
If the rider has been 'grandfathered' into the system and plans to ride Third Level or above at a recognized show (USDF, USEF or FEI), they must be a USDF Participating Member and a USEF Member in order to compete at those levels.
The following system will apply for recognized competitions:
Training, First, Second Level: NO QUALIFYING NEEDED (BASIC LEVEL)
To move from Second Level to Third/Fourth Level: (MEDIUM LEVEL) A rider will need 20 points from three different USEF judges. A panel (of two or more) will count as ONE judge. There will be no limit on points a rider can receive from any panel of 2, 3 or 5 judges. At least two of the tests used for points must be from Second Level Test Four. The remainder of the points may be from any Second Level test.
To move from Third/Fourth Level to Prix St. Georges/Intermediaire I: (ADVANCED LEVEL) A rider will need 10 points from THREE different USEF judges. Same rule for panels as above. At least two of the tests used for points must be from Fourth Level Test Three. The remainder of the points may be from either Third or Fourth Level Tests.
To move from Prix St. Georges/Intermediare I to Intermediaire II/Grand Prix: (INTERNATIONAL LEVEL) A rider will need 8 points from THREE different USEF/FEI judges. Same rule for panels as above. At least two of the tests used for points must be from Intermediaire I. The remainder of the points may be from Prix St. Georges.
ONLY FEI Juniors, FEI Young Riders, Brentina Cup riders, and Developing Horse Riders who are entering U.S. National Championship or NAJYRC QUALIFYING shows are exempt from qualifying to compete.
FOREIGN RIDERS: May qualify using the USEF System as long as membership requirements are met. Or, the rider may prove competition ability with a letter from their National Federation. This proof must be submitted to Jennifer Keeler at USEF.
GRANDFATHERING:
1. If you have appeared on a long list form 1999-Nov. 30, 2009 with USET/USEF you will be allowed to compete at any level
2. If you have competed at the festival of Champions from 19856 to Nov. 30. 2009 you will be allowed to compete at any level
3. USDF Bronze Medal winners from 1974 to Nov. 30, 2009 will be allowed to compete at the MEDIUM level
4. USDF Silver Medal winners from 1974 to Nov. 30, 2009 will be allowed to compete at the ADVANCED level and below.
5. USDF Gold Medal winners from 1974 to Nov. 30, 2009 will be allowed to compete at the INTERNATIONAL level and below.
6. Active USEF judges (listed in the USEF judges roster as of Nov. 30, 2009) will be grandfathered as follows:
*"r" Dressage Judges may compete at the MEDIUM LEVEL
*"R" Dressage Judges may compete at the ADVANCED LEVEL
*"S" Dressage Judges may compete at the INTERNATIONAL LEVEL and below
NOTE: Grandfathering is a one-time exemption and will end Nov. 30, 2009
APPEALS PROCESS:
In the case of an eligibility dispute with a rider, a committee will be formed from the following committees: Three members of the USEF Technical Dressage Committee and Two members of the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee. The members of this committee shall be appointed by the respective Chairs of the two committees. There shall be two members (one from each committee) appointed as alternates in the case of a conflict of interest. These members shall meet when necessary via teleconference. A member of the USDF staff shall also be on the call. Paper proof of eligibility via records (copies of tests, medal certificates etc.) must be submitted from the rider to the committee.
USEF/USDF Membership cards will carry the rider's designation. This designation will only be available on USDF/USEF websites.
TIMELINE:
*January 2008: Rule changes approved at USEF Annual Meeting
*February through April 2008: Development of USEF/USDF Business Plan and Grandfathering Process
1. USEF/USDF Business Plan is developed to identify and formalize the responsibilities of both organizations.
2. Grandfathered riders are flagged in the USDF database. Grandfathered list is received from USEF along with member numbers and a matching up of these riders and flagging in the USDF database is performed both electronically and manually, as necessary.
*May through September 2008: USDF Coding and Programming, Public Relations Campaign Development
1. Coding and programming for this project will take approximately 3-4 months based on current workload and projects. Since this will affect the USDF website, USEF data exchange, and USDF's main working database, this will require on-going monitoring during the programming phase to ensure that normal services and functions are not affected by the additional programming.
2. Public relations and marketing strategies will have to be developed with USDF and USEF in order to ensure that all effected riders are aware of this requirement.
*October 2008: Begin implementation
1. Pilot run through, testing and debugging
2. Introduction of verification process of public and public relations plan implementation
*December 2008: Begin one year of "voluntary compliance"
*December 2009: Plan goes into effect at start of 2010 Competition Year
sted in the facts.
