Top honors to go to 28 Paint Horses at USDF dressage awards program

FORT WORTH-The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) will honor 28 American Paint Horses for their outstanding accomplishments in dressage at a banquet to be held December 2, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The awards gala is part of the 2000 USDF Annual Convention, slated for Nov. 29-Dec. 3 in the Buckeye State.

The organization will present horse owners with USDF All-Breed Awards through a program governed by the USDF and supported by the American Paint Horse Association.

To be eligible for the All-Breed Awards, a horse must be registered with the APHA in the Regular Registry and with the USDF. Additionally, the owner must also be a member of both the APHA and the USDF.

The USDF All-Breed Awards require that scores be earned at one of the more than 750 American Horse Show Association/USDF-recognized competitions that were held throughout the country from October 1, 1999, through September 30, 2000. To be eligible for these awards, a minimum of eight scores must be earned from at least four recognized competitions and from four different judges. These requirements ensure that scores are representative of a horse's overall performance, not the result of one outstanding show or favorable judge.

"USDF awards are based on the quality of a horse's performance as demonstrated by the scores earned annually in competition," said Linda Knowles, APHA awards coordinator. "Qualifying for USDF is quite difficult and is considered to be a great achievement." Knowles noted that this year, USDF will give out nine more awards than last year for outstanding Paint Horses.

There is an award of achievement goal for nearly every type and level of dressage rider, said Knowles. The levels of competition, listed by increasing difficulty, are: Training level, First Level, Second Level, Third Level, Fourth Level, Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I, Intermediate II and Grand Prix. More than 35 horse breeds compete for the USDF's All-Breed Awards.

For more information about these and other awards, contact Linda Knowles, APHA awards coordinator at (817) 834-2742, extension 245. She may also be reached by e-mail at lknowles@apha.com.