just got this... you may want to forward this to all breed people you know who
may not be USEF members... sorry if you get it more than once for that reason
:-)

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United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
The National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport
4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: (859) 258-2472 Fax: (859) 231-6662 www.usef.org

Memorandum

Date: November 28, 2005
To: Dressage Compeition Managers
From: Jennifer Keeler, USEF National Director of Dressage
Subject: Dressage Competition Recognition

As dressage becomes more and more popular with exhibitors and therefore increasing numbers of competitions looking to offer these classes, confusion among managers and competitors alike is being reported to USEF in regards to a competition's "rating", especially as it relates to single-breed shows. Last month, a notice addressed to "Breed Show Managers and Organizers" was distributed to managers and officials listed in the USEF database. Please note the descriptions included in the memo are NOT applicable to Open Dressage Competitions (rated "N" for non-rated) or to Dressage Sport Horse Breeding (DSHB) divisions.

As clarification and for your information, currently there are three (3) ways that dressage may be offered at USEF-Recognized Competitions:

1. Open Dressage Competitions. These are jointly recognized by USDF. These competitions, open to all breeds and offering a full range of dressage classes and levels (such as MSEDA Dressage at the Kentucky Horse Park) are where competitors may qualify for USEF/USDF Regional Championships, High Performance, etc. These competitions must be held in accordance with Dressage Division rules (Chapter DR), and are considered non-rated (N) per Rule GR208.4.
2. Regular Competitions may offer open, all-breed dressage division(s) or classes. Regular competitions may be single breed (such as Arabian) or multi-breed (Saddlebred and National Show Horse), and are rated (A, B, or C) "for the purpose of reckoning points towards Federation Annual Horse of the Year Awards" (GR208.3). These Regular Competitions may offer an "open" dressage division or classes where horses of any breed may participate. As with #1 above, these classes MUST be held under Dressage Division rules. (This means that Dressage saddlery and warmup restrictions apply to ALL horses competing in the Dressage division/classes.) However, please note this is not an actual Dressage Competition - it is only a single dressage division or set of classes within a separately-rated Regular Competition.
3. Regular Competitions may also offer breed-restricted dressage division(s) or classes (for instance, Morgans only). As with #2 above, please note this is NOT a Dressage Competition - this is only a single division or set of classes within a separately-rated Regular Competition. In these breed-restricted dressage division(s) or classes, specific breed division rules may preclude Dressage Division rules, and when only specific levels are offered, stewards may officiate instead of Dressage Technical Delegates. (See DR125.3) Horses may cross enter between Dressage and other divisions on the same days they compete in Dressage classes if permitted by Breed division rules.

Per Rule DR127 and USEF selection procedures, and USDF program requirements, open all-breed USEF-recognized "Dressage Competitions" (#1, above) are the ONLY instance where competitors may earn qualifications for High Performance, USEF/USDF Regional Championships, USDF Breeders' Championship Series, USEF Championship programs (such as Young Horse), etc. However, since specific breeds (such as Arabians) also offer breed awards for dressage, many rated Regular Competitions for these breeds choose to conduct open or breed-restricted dressage classes. Holding open classes allows breed competitors to earn scores towards open USDF Horse of the Year awards, and competitors riding any breed of horse more competitive opportunities. However, as stated above, qualifying classes for USEF/USDF Regional Championships may not be offered at these shows.

(1) This is a Recognized Dressage Competition:

7065 Results

7/9/2005 - 7/10/2005

L.A. CHAPTER DRESSAGE BURBANK, CA Type: D Zone: 10 Division(s) & Rating(s): Dressage - N

GLENDA MC ELROY P. O. BOX 3608 GLENDALE, CA 91201 Contact Tel: (818) 841-3554 Email: glenda@... Secretary: KILLINGER, JENNIFER Manager: MC ELROY, GLENDA Compt Mgmt Name: CDS LOS ANGELES CHAPTER

(2) This is a Recognized Regular Competition offering an open Dressage Division:

316399 Results

5/5/2005 - 5/7/2005

DIXIE CUP SPRING CLASSIC CONYERS, GA Type: R Zone: 4 Division(s) & Rating(s): Dressage - N Hackney & Harness Pony - C Morgan - A Roadster - B Saddlebred - B Saddle Seat Equitation - N Western Pleasure

PAULA YESKA 900 WINDSOR TRAIL ROSWELL, GA 30076 Contact Tel: (770) 992-6521 Email: pyeska@... Secretary: YESKA, PAULA Manager: MAY, PRESCOTT Compt Mgmt Name: DIXIE CUP MORGAN CLASSIC

(3) This is a Recognized Regular Competition offering a breed-restricted Dressage Division:

6982 Results

6/18/2005 - 6/18/2005

GOLDEN GATE ARABIAN DRESSAGE SANTA ROSA, CA Type: R Zone: 10 Division(s) & Rating(s): Arabian/Half-Arabian - B Dressage - N

MARGARET SHEPHERD 1180 ROSE AVE PENNGROVE, CA 94951-9638 Contact Tel: (707) 792-1990 Email: margaretsh@... Secretary: CARUANA, MICHAEL Manager: CARUANA, MICHAEL Compt Mgmt Name: GOLDEN GATE ARABIAN HORSE ASSOCIATION

Only the Recognized Dressage Competition (#1, above) is eligible to offer qualifying classes for the USEF/USDF Regional Championships, USDF Breeders' Championship Series, High Performance, etc.

For more information regarding USEF/USDF Regional Championships qualification, the USDF Breeders' Championship Series, and USDF awards programs, please contact the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), www.usdf.org or (859) 971-2277.