VADAF Awards

Awards
VADAF offers awards to its membership to recognize outstanding accomplishments and service throughout the year. These awards are meant to serve as an incentive for its members to further their education and set higher goals.

General Rules

· Each horse/rider combination must be a member of VADAF at the time the score is earned. (You may join VADAF at any time: arrival at show.)

· Copy of the front page of the test for each score submitted (must show horse
name, rider name, date of show, location, points, and total percentage.) May send in USDF printout.

· Meet volunteer requirements. One full day (8 hours) of volunteering at a VADAF event is required. Volunteer time may be done in partial days. This day may be earned by the rider, horse owner, family member or friend. Volunteer Service form signed by activity coordinator and mailed to Awards Chairman. Volunteer time provided to non-VADAF events will not count. The management of VADAF run shows and clinics will keep track of the volunteers for that event. Other areas of service require you to fill out a Volunteer Service Form and have it signed by the committee chair or officer for which service is being performed.**

· Year End Information form must be completed and mail to Awards Chairman by December 5.

· Member must attend at least one VADAF meeting during the year (socials will count). Attendance will be taken at meetings to ensure that this requirement is met.

· Year runs from December 1 of preceding year through November 30^th of current year, Example: 2007 show year runs from 12-1-06 through 11-30-07.

See individual awards for more details:

• VADAF Volunteer of the Year
• Gary Locke Jr/Young Rider Perpetual Trophy Award
• Equine Friend Senior Rider Perpetual Award
• Kazun Challenge Trophy
• Magic Jami Award
• VADAF Schooling Show Series Awards
• VADAF Year End Awards

Gary Locke Junior/Young Rider Perpetual Trophy Award

• Any Junior/Young Rider (21 or under) in good standing is eligible to compete.
• Must show in at least one VADAF sanctioned show.
• Exhibits good sportsmanship in and out of the show ring.
• Exhibits good horsemanship/horse management skills at all times.
• Volunteers a portion of time on behalf of VADAF above and beyond the minimum required for year end awards.
• Award recipient is determined by committee vote.
• The trophy is presented at the year end awards banquet and the recipient is granted temporary possession of the trophy for display in their home.
• Trophy must be returned by November 30th to allow time for cleaning, repairs and engraving that need to be done before the next awards banquet.
• Nomination should be sent to the Awards Committee by December 5. Click here for nomination form.

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Equine Friend Senior Rider Perpetual Award
This award has been generously donated by Broadview Farm and the Ellis family in loving memory of Capital Gain, also known as "Teddy".
• Any senior in good standing is a candidate for this award.
• Must show in at least four VADAF sanctioned shows.
• Nominees must exhibit good sportsmanship, fair play and perpetuate the sport of Dressage.
• Nominees must exhibit good horsemanship and horse management skills at all times and serve as an example to his/her peers and young riders.
• Nominations may be filed with the Awards Chairman by any VADAF member by December 5. Click here for nomination form.
• This award will be presented yearly at the annual awards banquet.
• The trophy will remain with the recipient until November 15th. It shall be turned in at that time to the Awards Chairman.

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Kazun Challenge Trophy
Carolyn Hayden of Stirling Horse Center has generously agreed to sponsor the Kazun Challenge Trophy in memory of Scott Moncure and her horse Kazun. The qualifications are stiff - thus the reason for calling it a challenge trophy. A silver tray will be awarded to the rider who meets the following requirements:
• Horse and rider must ride in at least 8 rides in VADAF sanctioned shows.
• Must ride Tests 1 through 4 within one level (Training and up).
• At least two rides must be Test 3 with scores of 55% or better.
• At least two rides must be Test 4 with scores of 55% or better.
• Award winner will have the highest average of the following scores:
Two scores from Test 3; plus
Two scores from Test 4; plus
Four other scores within the level.
Indicate on Year End Information form if you want to be considered for this award.
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Magic Jami Award
Established in 1999 by Rebecca Burham in memory of her horse for whom the award is named. "James" taught Rebecca about "patience, tolerance, the thrill of small victories, how to basically ignore defeat" and that horses are "not only intelligent but some actually have a sense of humor." The award is intended to honor horsemen who work hard to make the most of what they have, to overcome difficulties and to form a partnership with their horse. They may not necessarily achieve high test scores or win classes, but persevere, have fun, and really appreciate and enjoy their horse. Nominations may be filed with the Awards Chairman by any VADAF member by December 5. Click here for nomination form.

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VADAF Schooling Show Series Awards
• Horse/Rider combination must be the same. Membership in VADAF is not required for show series-end awards.
• Combination must ride in at least two VADAF schooling shows.
• The average of the three (3) highest scores from two (2) different judges, earned at the same level, will determine high score.
• Awards will be given for the following levels when two (2) or more riders are competing: Introductory, Training, First, Second, Third and above combined, Musical Freestyle.
• Scores count towards VADA state and VADAF year end awards.
• Awards for the schooling series will be presented at the completion of each level at the last show of the series. Recipient need not be present to win, but need to make arrangements to pick up awards.

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VADAF Year End Awards
• Awarded to the same horse/rider combination for year end high averages.
• Rider must be a current VADAF member in good standing at the time scores are earned. Date membership effective will be verified by chairperson.
• Submitted scores must be earned during the current show year.
• At least six scores of the same level from three different judges must be submitted. One of those scores MUST be from test 3 of the level shown. Freestyle awards will require four tests of the same level from three different judges.
• In addition, to be CHAMPION or RESERVE CHAMPION, three of the tests submitted must be from the two highest tests of the level with at least one being the highest test of the level. Example: At Training Level a competitor must submit one Test 4, one Test 3, one Test 3 OR 4 and three additional tests.
• No score below 50% (before coefficients are added) will count towards awards.
• In order for scores to count, rider must submit to the Awards Committee Chairperson a packet of Year End Information form, 6 test scores to be counted, along with proof of volunteer time***. Packets must be received before December 5^th.

· Shows sanctioned by VADA or any VADA chapter/USDF/USA Equestrian will be accepted by our chapter. Also scores earned at Pony Club Regional and National Dressage Rallies will be accepted if a copy of the test is submitted. (The coefficients will be adjusted and the score recalculated to match those at a regular show.)

Training, First, Second, and FEI

Test	Schooling Shows	Recognized Shows
1	.01	.03
2	.02	.04
3	.03	.05
4	.04	.06

Third Level and above

Test	Schooling Shows	Recognized Shows
1	.02	.04
2	.03	.05
3	.04	.06

· Scores will be weighted as to test ridden. The score is multiplied by the coefficient below. The result is then added to the score. Top six scores (4 freestyle), including required tests, will then be averaged for placing.

· Awards will be given at the following levels for which there is a qualified recipient: Intro Level, Training Level, First Level, Second Level, Third Level, Fourth Level, FEI, and Freestyles (split at discretion of Awards Committee.) Separate Junior/Young Rider (21 or under in current year) awards may be made at the discretion of the Awards Committee. Junior/Young Riders remember to indicate your status on the VADAF Year End Information form.

** There are many services that can be performed to fulfill this requirement and not all require attendance at a horse show. Some can be done from your home. If you have difficulty finding a volunteer service that you can perform, contact any committee chairperson or officer for ideas and suggestions.
***Exception: At the VADAF Schooling Shows, if your membership is noted on the entry from, the show secretary will automatically send the scores to the Awards Chair. This is the only exception!

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VADAF Volunteer of the Year
The purpose of the volunteer award is to recognize and encourage the active participation of those members who do not necessarily show horses. The awards committee will choose up to 6 people or 10% of the general membership (whichever is less) as recipients of the Volunteer Award, based on the following criteria:
• The member has volunteered more time and effort than that required to receive horse awards.
• Nominations may be made to the Awards Committee by any VADAF member by December 5. Click here for nomination form.
• The Awards Committee may consider all club members, not to be limited to those nominated by the general membership.
• Volunteerism to be documented and/or verified by the committee.
• The Awards Committee will consider the time and effort on the part of the volunteer(s) when making the award(s).
Activities which will be considered when making this award include, but are not limited to:
• Working at horse shows. (Manager, secretary, scorer, runner, etc.)
• Working at clinics. (Organizer, owner of grounds if no fee was charged, etc.)
• Selling promotional items. (T-shirts, sweatshirts, visors, etc.)
• Hosting meetings.
• Working on committees.
• Holding elected or delegated office. (President, secretary, treasurer, state board rep, committee chair, etc.)
• Producing the newsletter
• Organizing a program for a meeting (involving more than showing a video tape.)

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Last update 3/22/07 HAR