USDF High School Dressage Program Guidelines will provide a support structure for families who wish to request high school recognition for their student's achievements in dressage. The guidelines counsel riders and parents on how to approach school administrators when requesting the ability to earn athletic achievement awards, provide examples of competition-approval forms that the high school can implement, and outline how best to implement a regional high school dressage program. The guidelines also suggest ways that parents can work with USDF Group Member Organizations to determine realistic program requirements within their region. Pairing a high school with a supporting GMO is suggested so that the school administrators understands that their dressage competitors will have a support structure that includes the same type of monitoring, training, and coaching as the other recognized school athletic teams i.e. basketball or soccer teams. With this new program, riders may earn high-school athletic-achievement awards, through their GMO, and they may also receive an athletic achievement award pin and certificate from the United States Dressage Federation.
USDF has some literature from several existing programs that can be printed up for you to use to formulate a presentation. Region 9 has found that it is best to run this opportunity through a GMO or to start a Horse Club in a high school and have it be the primary for other area high schools similar to chess, soccer, 4H, and FFA in areas where there are few potential members. The USDF High School Dressage Program allows you to arrange this for your child in an individual way or arrange a team through a Group Member Organization or GMO. More will be done each year in the Youth Council to gather information from other regions to share. This is a very doable program but looks like it will have to be adjusted to area situations.
The USDF is also partnered with the US Pony Clubs and Intercollegiate Dressage. Look for their programs on USDF.org.
USDF Region 9 Youth Regional Team Championships |
Overview |
Any rider younger than 21, regardless of club or discipline affiliation, may enter and have a "championship" experience riding in a USDF Region 9 Youth Regional Team Championship. It is a team event, and teams may enter as a whole or individuals may enter and they will be placed on a team. A team is defined as three or four members. This event is designed to make young people feel comfortable participating in dressage with whatever resources and horses they have. The championship provides an enjoyable and challenging opportunity for the young person to gauge their progress and to deepen and maintain an interest in this sport. An award ceremony at the conclusion rewards the teams with medals and ribbons for a colorful and cheerful finale to the championship experience.
Each year, it is hoped that, two Region 9 Championships are held in conjunction with two recognized shows weekends. They are formatted to educate and expose the riders and horses to arenas, working together as teams, and following necessary rules. Classes may include dressage tests, exhibition, equitation, suitability classes, games, stable management, and freestyle classes. These shows follow USEF/USDF rules.
Please watch and read the USDF Connection, www.usdf.org, www.dressageteams.com and www.usdfregion9.org/youth.asp.
If you are not a member of the USDF, a USDF GMO, or USEF and want to enter please make your interest known to show managers. Membership is not an issue, although there are nonmember fees. Membership is so inexpensive for Youth (juniors) that I believe it is worth joining to get the magazines.
Organizations wishing to host a championship should contact the USDF, order an organizing packet, fill out the application form, and send it to the Region 9 Youth Coordinator. Medals for teams are available from USDF to the Regionally accepted hosts.
You may enter both North and South, when we have two. |
Championships North |
The USDF Region 9 Youth Regional Team Championships North on May 17th and 18th, 2008 is at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during recognized shows Wild West Dressage I and II. Contact: www.showsecretary.com
For general information on the purpose of both championships and fun at the Championships North; and if you have never filled out a form before please visit the how-to-fill-in-show-forms page on www.dressageteams.com. These directions will be good for any Region 9 show.
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The USDF Region 9 Youth Regional Team Championships North on May 17th and 18th, 2008 is at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during recognized shows Wild West Dressage I and II. Contact: www.showsecretary.com
For general information on the purpose of both championships and fun at the Championships North; and if you have never filled out a form before please visit the how-to-fill-in-show-forms page on www.dressageteams.com. These directions will be good for any Region 9 show. |
Championships South |
The USDF Region 9 Youth Regional Team Championships South in July is hosted by Dallas Dressage Club, at the Henderson County Fair Park Complex, Athens, TX, during the recognized shows Lemonade Daze I & II, July 26th and 27th, 2008. Contact http://www.dallasdressage.org/shows/summer.html |
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Organizers and entrants please note: Qualifications and Memberships needed to enter |
Look up age to see if entrants qualify as a Youth (Junior or Young Rider) according to Dressage under current USEF rules. The age rule is below in this page but you must keep current. There are no Qualifying scores necessary for these Championships. The Championships may run over the two one-day shows so that the riders and horses may have the advantage of experiencing the show, grounds, and arenas before the Championship classes. In Region 9 it has been shown that the rules that govern these Championships are more easily followed in the USEF/USDF Recognized show format. Applications by shows that are USEF/USDF Recognized will be considered before those of schooling shows.
No memberships are required. The shows are USDF/USEF recognized so the riders and horses must follow those rules which may involve non-membership fees. Contact the managers of the shows chosen as home of the Championships if you have any questions. To enter please use the show’s entry forms. We are pleased as a Region to have many new riders experience dressage when showing for the first time at the USDF Youth Regional Team Championships and the Regional Youth Team Challenge. |
USDF Youth Programs |
Watch the USDF Site |
The USDF has new programs for Youth listed on their site after the programs become available. The site under goes updating rather often so please look up programs under Youth, Junior/Young Riders, and FEI Youth and Junior and Young Riders. Also check under education.
The USDF Youth Arts Contest is advertised on the site and in the USDF Connection magazine. You must be a USDF Youth to enter BUT you do not have to own a horse or even be competing. Enter and have fun. Tell your Mom and Dad that the USDF has an Adult Arts Contest too. |
USDF Region 9 Youth Council Coordinator, some USDF definitions and contact information |
Definitions |
Here are 2008 definitions of the Age Rule, USDF Youth Executive Board, FEI Junior Young Rider Council, and the USDF Youth Council:
Youth Age: (the USEF Dressage age rule for Juniors and Young Riders is used) USEF DR 119 3. Individuals are eligible as Juniors until the end of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 18. Individuals are eligible as Young Riders from the beginning of the calendar year in which they reach16 until the end of the year in which they reach the age of 22.
The above Juniors and Young Riders are considered Youth. Each competitor is responsible for keeping up to date with all rules and regulations of the organizations in which they compete. Also, read the rules of each competition.
The USDF Youth Council is a national council with an Adult member representing each USDF region. The Council wishes to promote dressage to all young equestrians while providing for the future of the sport
Goals:
1. Provide educational opportunities.
2. Provide recognition programs.
3. Increase number of youth participants.
4. Promote sportsmanship at the youth and junior/young rider level.
The USDF FEI Junior/Young Rider Council is a national council with an Adult member representing each USDF region. The Council wishes to develop educational opportunities and international competition experiences exclusive for Youth riders, ages 14-21, who ride at the FEI sanctioned Junior/Young Rider Levels.
They also:
1. Select and provide teams for the North American Young Riders’ Championships.
2. Select and provide teams for the FEI North American Junior Dressage Championships.
3. Promote team spirit and competition among riders.
4. Provide clinics and educational opportunities.
The USDF Youth Executive Board is a national council with a Youth member from each region. The Council wishes to represent the thoughts, opinions, and needs of youth in each region and convey them to the USDF Executive Board and the Board of Governors for motion and action. Membership on the Council is by election held with all USDF Youth members. News is announced in the USDF Connection magazine. |
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