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USDF 2010 GMO Website Award

2010 GMO Website Award for CVDA from USDF Executive Director Stephan Hienzsch

Central Vermont Dressage Association Vice President Mary Piro accepting the 2010 GMO Website Award for CVDA from USDF Executive Director Stephan Hienzsch at the 2010 USDF Annual Convention. (Photo: Bruce Lawrie)

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USEF Protective Headgear
Rules for Dressage

Effective March 1, 2011

Protective headgear is defined as a riding helmet which meets or exceeds ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)/SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) standards for equestrian use and carries the SEI tag. The headgear and harness must be secured and properly fitted. Any rider violating this rule at any time must immediately be prohibited from further riding until such headgear is properly in place.

Recommendation to competitions:
In order to distinguish riders who are required to wear protective headgear from those who aren't, it is suggested that entry numbers in a different sequence be assigned to the entries in each group (e.g. use numbers from 1-700 for entries where riders must wear protective headgear and use numbers from 800 and above for entries where riders are not required to use protective headgear).

Short summary statement for use in prize lists:
Effective March 1, 2011, for dressage: Anyone mounted on a horse must wear protective headgear except those riders age 18 and over while on horses that are competing only in FEI levels and tests at the Prix St. Georges level and above (including FEI Young Rider Tests, the USEF Developing Prix St. Georges Test and the USEF Brentina Cup Test).

Effective March 1, 2011, the following rules apply to Dressage Competitions and Regular Competitions holding Dressage classes:

  1. Riders under age 18 must wear protective headgear, as defined by DR120.5 and in compliance with GR801, at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. This includes non-competing riders as well as those competing at any level.
  2. While on horses competing in national level tests (Fourth Level and below), riders must wear protective headgear as defined by DR120.5 and in compliance with GR801, at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. This includes non-competing riders on horses competing in national level tests.
  3. While on horses competing in USEF or FEI Young Horse Tests, and FEI Junior Tests, riders must wear protective headgear as defined by DR120.5 and in compliance with GR801, at all times while mounted on the competition grounds.
  4. All riders competing in Para-Equestrian tests must wear protective headgear at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. Riders who compete in PE tests must wear protective headgear on every horse they ride, no matter the level or test.
  5. All riders of any age while on non-competing horses must wear protective headgear at all times while mounted on the competition grounds.
  6. All riders under age 18 and all riders while on horses competing in national level tests, who choose to wear Armed Services or police uniform, must wear protective headgear as defined in DR120.5 and in compliance with GR801 at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. Riders age 18 and over who wear Armed Services or police uniform on horses that are competing only in FEI levels and tests at the Prix St. Georges level and above must wear either protective headgear or the appropriate military/police cap or hat for their branch of service.
  7. When a horse is competing in both national and FEI levels or tests (e.g. Fourth Level and PSG), the rider must wear protective headgear at all times when mounted on that horse on the competition grounds and during all tests.
  8. While on horses that are competing only in FEI levels and tests at the Prix St. Georges level and above (including FEI Young Rider Tests, the USEF Developing Prix St. Georges Test and the USEF Brentina Cup Test), riders age 18 and over are not required to wear protective headgear in warm up or during competition. However, these riders may wear protective headgear without penalty from the judge.
  9. In FEI-recognized (CDI, CDI-Y, CDI-J, CDI-P, etc.) classes, FEI rules take precedence and protective headgear is permitted but not required.
  10. All riders while on horses competing in national level classes such as Equitation, Materiale and DSHB Under Saddle are required to wear protective headgear at all times when mounted on the competition grounds.

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New USDF Fees Structure for 2011

As approved by the USDF Board of Governors at the 2009 Adequan/USDP Annual Convention, beginning with the 2011 membership year (December 1, 2010-November 30, 2011), a new dues structure will take effect.

These dues increases are the first to be implemented in the last seven years and take effect with all 2011 membership applications, horse registrations, and group-membership rosters submitted.

What are the changes to participating member (PM) dues?

  • One-year PM dues will increase from $62 to $75.
  • Youth PM dues will increase from $35 to $60.
  • Five-year PM dues will increase from $250 to $300.
  • Lifetime PM dues will increase from $1,000 to $1,500.

Will USDF business-membership (BM) and USDF nonmember (NM) fees increase?

Yes, BM dues will go up from $175 to $200, and the USDF NM fee will rise from $20 to $25, effective with the 2011 USDF competition year.

What are the new dues rates for USDF group membership (GMOs)?

Dues paid by group-member organizations (GMOs) for the 2011 membership year will increase from $17 to $20 for individual/primary family members and from $8 to $10 for supporting family members.

Does this new structure also include increases in lifetime horse registration and horse identification number (HID) fees?

Yes. For the 2011 membership year, lifetime horse registration will increase from $85 to $95, and HID fees will increase from $20 to $25.

Want more information? Visit usdf.org or contact the USDF office at usdressage@usdf.org.

...Excerpted from USDF Connection/Ask USDF, September 2010

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"Untangling the Red Tape"

Overwhelmed by the thought of sorting out membership categories and horse registrations? Which USDF memberships and horse registrations do you need, exactly?

Read the USDF Connection's "Untangling the Red Tape" article. (From USDF Connection, the member magazine of the United States Dressage Federation (www.usdf.org). Copyright 2010 USDF. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

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Attention Young Riders!

2011 Olympic Dream Program for Advanced Young Riders

The Dressage Foundation Young Rider Olympic Dream Program is ready to go for the tenth year! The concept of the program evolved as a result of former Olympian Michael Poulin’s wish to offer an opportunity for gifted Young Riders to enhance their understanding of dressage theory through a European tour. The program is both funded and administered by The Dressage Foundation of which Poulin is a National Board Member.

Read more...

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Green Mountain Dressage Championship

The Green Mountain Horse Association, in cooperation with Vermont Dressage Days, presents the Green Mountain Dressage Championship, an awards program for riders competing in Vermont’s USEF/USDF dressage shows.

Read more...

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Scholarships Available from GMHA

Attention, Junior Riders with Competitive Goals! The Green Mountain Horse Association is excited to announce that we have received a large grant from the Chichester DuPont Foundation towards the continuation and expansion of our youth education programs, aimed at serving juniors facing financial hardships.  As part of this grant, GMHA is launching a new Competition Scholarship Program.  This new program’s goal is to provide financial assistance to hard-working junior riders in need which will allow them to compete or participate in an event at GMHA.  Scholarship funds may be designated for GMHA clinics, shows, or educational events. Learn more...

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CVDA President on the Radio

Listen to Terri Satterlee talk about CVDA on Dressage Radio!

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The Half Halt

Now Available

The February 2012 issue of "The Half Halt" is available for download on the Newsletters page.

Thank You, USDF!

CVDA Award

Our CVDA Website has just been awarded Best GMO Website in our size category for the second year in a row!

Reminder

2011 Silent Auction and Annual Dinner

Our special Silent Auction to benefit GMHA was fantastic. Thank you to all who donated, and to all who helped make it so!

Half Halts...

"Untangling the
Red Tape"

Showing? Which USDF memberships and horse registrations do you need now? The USDF has kindly allowed us a reprint of their article trom USDF Connection, the member magazine of the United States Dressage Federation (www.usdf.org) (©2010 USDF. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)