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The Northeast Florida Dressage Association presents the Dressage Federation Region 3 Dressage Championship on October 7, 9, 2005 at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.

Click here for the RESULTS OF THE RIDES!!

USEF # 321749, USDF # 40155

2005 Regional Championships Rules 

2005 Regional Championship

A single Regional Dressage Championship program organized by the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), recognized by the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF), will be held in each of the nine USDF regions. In addition, Alaska and Hawaii may each hold state championships if an official request from a GMO, is received by April 1 of the prior year. The 2005 Regional Championships will be sponsored by the Great American Insurance Group, as the title sponsor. The official title of the regional championships shall be: GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE GROUP/UNITED STATES DRESSAGE FEDERATION REGIONAL DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS recognized by United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.

In each region, USDF Regional Championship classes must be offered at each level through Intermediate I, in three divisions: Open, Adult Amateur, Junior/Young Rider. At Intermediate II and Grand Prix, only Open champions may be named. Freestyles at First, Second, Third, Fourth Level, Intermediate I and Grand Prix must also be offered in the Open division. If Freestyle classes are combined, Championships must be awarded at each level competed. Dates and locations of the 2005 Regional Championships will be available from USDF after Dec. 1, 2005.

An official Great American/USDF Regional Championships Master Omnibus Prize List will be published by USDF and may be downloaded from the USDF web site after May 1, 2005 . This omnibus will contain complete prize lists of all nine Regional Championships. A printed copy of this prize list may be obtained from USDF. Call USDF at 859/971-2277.

2005 Qualifying System

In 2005, there will be one qualifying system with nationally-standardized minimum percentages (see back for percentages).

Prior to competing in a Great American/USDF Qualifying Class, a horse/rider combination must be eligible according to the USDF/USEF membership and registration requirements for qualifying.

To qualify for the Regional Championship, horse/rider combinations must earn a total of two qualifying scores, which must be the average of all judges officiating in official Great American/USDF Qualifying Classes, at two different USEF/USDF recognized Dressage Competitions, from two different judges or combination of judges. In addition, the same judge may not have officiated in classes from which qualifying scores are earned, except in FEI classes. Note: A panel of judges will be considered as a different judging entity if 50% or more of that panel is changed. (e.g. a panel of 2 judges must have 1 new person, a panel of 3 judges must have 2 new people and a panel of 5 judges must have 3 new people).

To qualify, eligible riders must enter an official Great American/USDF Qualifying Class at a USEF/USDF recognized Dressage Competition. The Great American/USDF Qualifying Class will be the highest test of the level. Young Riders must ride the FEI Young Rider Team Test to qualify for the FEI Young Rider division, and may ride the FEI Young Rider Freestyle to qualify for the Fourth level Freestyle. Junior Riders (age 14-18) must ride the FEI Junior Team Test to qualify for the FEI Junior Division and may ride the FEI Junior Individual Test to qualify for Fourth Level. Prior to riding in the class, riders must pay $10.00 Qualifying Class fee to the Competition Secretary. Beginning with the 2005 Championship season, riders may use either the FEI Pony Individual Test or the FEI Pony Team Test to qualify for the Second Level Junior/Young Rider Championship class. However, they will ride the Second Level test, not the FEI Pony tests, in the Championships.

The Qualifying ride fee of $10.00 will be sent to USDF from the Competition Secretary. Effective 12/1/03 , only one format for qualifying classes is permitted: A Great American/USDF Qualifying Class may only be offered with Open, AA, Jr/YR, USET or CDI/CDI-Y classes. Eligible competitors must be given the option to enter the class as "Great American/USDF qualifying" for a maximum additional fee of $10.00. Only one ride may be required and a maximum of one entry fee charged for the class in addition to the $10.00 qualifying fee. Great American/USDF Qualifying and/or Championship classes must be designated as such in the prize list.

Horse/rider combinations may enter only one test, and one Freestyle, at each level per day as "USDF qualifying". Separate ribbons or trophies are not awarded for Great American/USDF qualifying entries

Multiple day shows may offer one Qualifying Class per level/division per day.

Any and all eligible horse/rider combinations who achieve the minimum qualifying score in an Great American/USDF Qualifying Class will receive one qualifying score toward their two score requirement to be eligible to enter a Regional Championship if all other conditions are met.

To qualify at Freestyle, riders must earn a total of two freestyle qualifying scores at the level at which they wish to qualify, earned in official Great American/USDF Qualifying Classes, at two different USEF/USDF recognized competitions from two different judges or combinations of judges as described in #3.

Designated FEI classes at CDI/CDI-Y or USEF (High Performance) Qualifying competitions will be considered as Great American/USDF Qualifying Classes. Prior to riding in the class, riders must pay $10.00 Qualifying Class fee to the Competition Secretary.

All horse/rider combinations may receive qualifying scores in ANY region. The rider must enter the Great American/USDF Regional Championships in his/her own region unless declaration of change of region has been made to the USDF office, in writing, by July 1st of the Championship year.

There is no limit on the number of horses on which a rider may qualify.

Qualification is based on horse/rider combination.

Automatic invitations will be issued to all horse/rider combinations that qualify for and compete in the 2005 USEF (High Performance) Grand Prix and Intermediate I Championships and all U.S. horse/rider combinations that place in the top twelve individual riders at the 2005 NAYRC.

All persons who have qualified and entered by the closing date, must be allowed to compete in the Championship classes. Competitors obtaining qualifying scores after the official closing date (see #17) must either enter the championship class(es) before the closing date OR submit a post entry to compete in the Championship classes, if post entries are allowed in the prize list of the competition.

Rules for Qualifying: Whips may be carried when qualifying, except in FEI recognized competitions, USEF(High Performance) Championships Qualifying and Selection Trials, and Observation Classes, and NAYRC qualifying classes. Tests may be read except in FEI level classes and Freestyle classes.

Qualifying season will vary for each region. The season during which qualifying scores may be earned for a particular Regional Championship is from the closing date of that region's 2004 Championship, to the closing date of that region's 2005 Championship. Closing date must be at least four weeks prior to the Championship event. If the dates of a competition fall within the calendar week of a Regional Championship closing date, that show may count for the current qualifying year. The Competition Management must declare in writing to send Great American/USDF Qualifying Class Results to the USDF Office by overnight mail, fax or email on the first business day following the show. The declaration form for the extended qualifying deadline must be submitted to USDF prior to advertising the extended deadline in the prize list.

Shows that have submitted their declaration form to USDF, MUST advertise their qualifying year in their prize list. Please note that shows can be counted for only one qualifying year. Shows that declare and are counted for the current calendar year's championships count ONLY for the current year. In other words, NO qualified rides from these shows will count for the next year's championships.

Competition secretaries must send the results of the Great American/USDF Qualifying Classes to USDF, along with $10.00 per ride. USDF will deposit the funds(see Prize Money #3) received from the Great American/USDF Qualifying Classes, less an administrative fee, into a restricted fund for the National Dressage Championships.

USDF will maintain a database of qualified horse/rider combinations. An unofficial list of qualified horse/rider combinations will be posted for each level and division on the USDF website. USDF will verify eligibility of championships class entries with championships secretary prior to each championships competition.

Membership/Registration Requirements for Qualifying & Championships

Rider:

• Must be a USDF Participating Member at the time qualifying scores are earned and at the time of the championships.
• Must be a USEF member (Junior, Senior, or Life) at the time the qualifying scores are earned and at the time of the championships.

Horse:

• Must be USDF Lifetime Registered at the time qualifying scores are earned and at the time of the championships. Horse registration must be in the name(s) of thecurrent owner(s) or lessee(s) of record. -Must be USEF(Annual or Lifetime) recorded at the time qualifying scores are earned and at the time of the championships. Horse registration must be in the name(s) of the current owner(s) or lessee(s) of record.
  *Horse does not have to be breed registered.

Owner:

• Must be a USDF member (Participating or Business) at the time the qualifying scores are earned and at the time of the championships. -Must be a USEF member (Junior, Senior, of Life) at the time qualifying scores are earned and at the time of the championships. *Participating Members are USDF members who join USDF directly

Qualifying Class and Championship Eligibility

• Rider must be a United States citizen to compete in qualifying and championship classes.
• Horse/rider combinations which have won a USEF/USDF Regional Championship since 1994 may no longer compete in a USDF Regional Championship competition, in that division, at that level or a lower level (Grand Prix level excepted). Championship records prior to 1994 will not be considered.
• A horse may not be entered in more than one USEF/USDF Regional Championship at a particular level in the same calendar year.
• Riders are NOT required to be a resident of the region to compete in that region's championship. USDF will presume qualified horses will compete in the region in which the rider resides. Riders who wish to declare a region other than their region of residence should contact the USDF office by July 1st of the championship year.
• A rider may not compete in more than one Regional Championship in the same calendar year.
• In the event a competitor is unable to produce copies of the USDF membership and/or lifetime horse registration documents required to enter a qualifying class, a USDF membership/registration affidavit may be completed and filed with the competition secretary. A fee of $5.00 is required for each affidavit filed. A copy of the affidavit and the $5.00 must be submitted to USDF with the competition results. Copies of the required memberships and registrations MUST be included with Championship entry. Affidavits will not be accepted for USEF or USDF membership or horse recording verification purposes for entry in Championship classes (USEF article 1927.2 -effective 3/1/04 ).
• USEF Dressage Seat Medal Semi-Finals In 2005, all junior riders through age 18 who have qualified at any level for the Regional Championships (excluding free style) are automatically eligible to compete in the Semi-Final Classes of the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Program. One Semi-Final class will be offered for Juniors ages 13 and under, and a second Semi-Final class for riders 14 through 18 in each Great American/USDF Regional Championship. A Regional Champion and Reserve Champion for each age group will be named in each USDF Region. Protective headgear as described in the USEF Rule Book Article 318 will be required for participation in these classes. For complete details of this program see the USEF Rule Book, Article 1932, visit the Dressage page of the USEF Web site at www.usef.org or contact the USEF Dressage Department at 859/258-2472.
• Horses must be entered in qualifying classes under their official recorded names and ownership as specified in Art. 811.4 (USEF Rule Book), and transfers of ownership or lease registrations must be completed in compliance with USEF rules prior to the competition in order for the horse to compete under the name of the new owner or lessee. (USEF Art. 1927.2 - effective 12/1/03 )

Championship Rules

• Riders must declare on the championship entry form for each level, if the horse/rider combination is competing in the Open, Adult Amateur or Junior/Young Rider division, and must meet minimum percentage requirements for the championship division entered.
• Any horse entered in a USEF/USDF Regional Championship competition, even if entered at two levels, must be ridden by the same rider throughout the competition. Therefore, a horse can only be ridden by one rider.
• Cross-entering Open/Adult Amateur divisions is NOT permitted at the same or at adjacent levels except at a level that does not offer an Adult Amateur division.
• If a rider intends to enter a Regional Championship as an Adult Amateur, the rider must be an Adult by the current USEF definition, and a current Amateur by the USEF definition (Art. 808).
• If a rider intends to enter a championship as a Junior/Young Rider, the rider must be a Junior/Young Rider by the current USEF definition, and must submit their birth date to USDF by July 1st of the championship year.
• Photocopies of USDF/USEF membership cards and horse recording and registration certificates must accompany championship entry. (USDF Participating Membership for rider, USDF Participating or Business Member for owner, etc.).
• Whips may not be carried in championship tests, except by competitors riding sidesaddle.
• All championship tests must be ridden from memory.
• At no time during a USEF/USDF Regional Championship competition may any horse entered in that Championship competition be ridden by anyone other than the rider entered in the Championship competition on that horse (exception: grooms riding on loose rein).
• In the event of a tie (equality of total points) for Champion and/or Reserve Champion in USEF/USDF Championships classes, the collective marks will determine first, second and/or third places; (i.e. when a tie for first place is broken by collective marks, tied competitors will receive first and second places, etc.) If collective marks are equal, the tie will remain unbroken (i.e. two first places will be awarded next third place, etc.). Ties after second place will be broken per Article 1923. Ties occurring in 4th - 8th place will remain unbroken.
• Hors de Concours entries are not permitted in USEF/USDF Championship classes. (USEF Art. 1919.5 - effective 12/1/02 )
• In a USEF/USDF Championship class, the horse must obtain 50% or better to be named Champion or Reserve Champion. (USEF Art. 1923.4 - effective 12/1/02 )
• In USEF/USDF Championship classes, a steward must be appointed to check the saddlery of each horse immediately after it has completed its test and has left the arena and any discrepancy to the saddlery rules will entail immediate elimination. (USEF Art. 1926.10 - effec. 12/1/02)

Minimum Qualifying Scores

One set of nationally-standardized qualifying scores has been established for all USEF/USDF Regional Championships, for levels through Intermediate I, in three divisions: Open, Adult Amateur, and Junior/Young Rider. Intermediate II, Grand Prix and freestyles have only Open divisions.

Prize Money and Recognition

Should sponsorship money be available for use as prize money, it will be distributed evenly among the regions.

Each region shall divide its share of prize money equally among classes offered; this includes all classes in all three divisions (Open, AA, and Jr/YR). 60% of the amount per class shall go to the Champion, the remaining 40% shall go to the Reserve Champion.

The Qualifying fee will be $10.00 per class entered. $5.00 from each qualifying fee will be deposited in a prize money fund. All money accumulated during theUSEF competition year (December 1-November 30), shall be divided equally among all USDF regions and shall be distributed as per number 2, above.

Prize Money for the nine Great American/USDF Regional Championships will be paid directly by the USDF office to the recorded horse owner within 30 days of the end of each event. The amount of prize money to be awarded to each Champion and Reserve Champion in all levels and divisions (Open, AA and Jr/YR) of the 2005 Regional Championships will be announced by May 2005.

Commemorative certificates will be mailed to each rider who qualifies for the Regional Championships and special pins will be given to all riders who participate in a Regional Championships class.

GR 1401 ( Article 1401.9 ) Requirements.

LIFE, SENIOR ACTIVE AND JUNIOR ACTIVE MEMBERS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTCIPATE IN ALL CLASSES AT REGULAR COMPETITIONS, EVENTING COMPETITIONS AT THE PRELIMINARY LEVEL OR ABOVE AND COMBINED DRIVING COMPETITIONS AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL,DRESSAGE AND VAULTING COMPETITIONS AND ENDURANCE RIDES PROVIDEDTHE RESPECTIVE BREED/DISCIPLINE DUES OR BREED/DISCIPLINE CATEGORY FEE HAS BEEN PAID. A NON-MEMBER MAY PARTICIPATE AS A HANDLER, RIDER, DRIVER, OWNER, LESSEE, AGENT, COACH OR TRAINER AT REGULAR COMPETITIONS, EVENTING COMPETITIONS, DRESSAGE COMPETITIONS AND COMBINED DRIVING COMPETITIONS UPON PAYMENT OF A $20. NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION FEE AND A $5. BREED/DISCIPLINE CATEGORY FEE FOR EACH BREED/DISCIPLINE. PARTICIPANTS IN THE FOLLOWING CLASSES ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS RULE; 1) LEADLINE; 2) EXHIBITIONS; 3) GAMES AND RACES; 4) CLASSES FOR 4-H MEMBERS; 5) WALK TROT AND ACADEMY CLASSES ( Academy classes are classes limited to horses used regularly in a lesson program); 6) USDF INTRODUCTORY LEVEL TESTS, PAS DE DEUX AND QUADRILLE CLASSES. ALSO EXEMPTED FROM THIS REQUIREMENT ARE CITIZENS OF OTHER NATIONS WHO HAVE PROOF, IN ENGLISH, OF CURRENT MEMBERSHIP IN GOOD STANDING OF THEIR OWN NATIONAL FEDERATION; 7) USEF BEGINNER NOVICE DIVISION, AND 8) ASSISTANT HANDLERS IN DRESSAGE SPORT HORSE BREEDING CLASSES.