Awards Program
USAWE recognizes the performance achievements of horses and riders who compete in Working Equitation in the United States, as well as our International members competing under USAWE licensed judges. The goals of our Awards Programs include promoting the sport, encouraging horse and rider development, and honoring the incredible partnerships that exist between Working Equitation horses and riders.
USAWE offers the following Awards Programs:
- National Leaderboard: Top ten horse/rider pairs in the following competition categories: Junior, Amateur, Open.
- Regional Leaderboard: Top three horse/rider pairs in the following competition categories: Junior, Amateur, Open.
- National High Point Junior: National #1 high-point junior, regardless of competition category or level.
- National Breed Performance Champions: National #1 high-point equine in each of the sponsored breed divisions, regardless of competition category or level. This program uses the scores from the Leaderboard (top 4 scores/points from at least 2 judges).
- Lifetime Rider Medals.
National & Regional Leaderboards
The National and Regional Leaderboard Points are based on (Dressage trial and Ease of Handling trial Average % – converted to points using the “advancement points” criteria) + Speed trial points + (Cattle trial points earned, if any) during each show season’s licensed shows held Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 to rider/horse pairs with active USAWE Individual Membership and ridden on an equine recorded with USAWE.
National Leaderboard points are based on points earned at any licensed show, regardless of where it is held.
Regional Leaderboard points are based on the region where a licensed competition is held.
Horse/Rider Pair standings will be capped with the Top 4 show scores/points. Horse/Riders may compete in as many shows as they desire; however only the Top 4 show scores/placings will be used to determine Leaderboard standings. These scores must come from at least two different judges in order to qualify a rider for the Leaderboard standings.
Horse/Rider Pair must successfully complete each trial for their performance level without disqualifying to earn points toward the High Point Leaderboard (exception: failure to successfully complete the Cattle trial if offered shall not impact points earned in successfully completing the other trials).
Ties are broken at the end of the season using the sum of a Horse/Rider Pair’s Dressage & EOH percentages earned at the shows where they earned their Leaderboard scores.
The Cattle trial is optional for L2-L7 with individual horse/rider pair Leaderboard points earned if successfully completed. An individual horse/rider pair unsuccessful Cattle trial will not impact points earned in successfully completing Dressage, EOH and Speed trials.
Please see the section a little further down the page for an explanation of how points are calculated.
National Top 10 Leaderboards
Recognition will include website ranking, website article and Facebook announcements.
In addition, USAWE will recognize National #1 and National #2 High Point Horse/Rider Pair Champion/Reserve in each Performance Level (Introductory through Masters) in each division (Junior, Amateur, Open).
Each National #1 Champion and National #2 Reserve High Point Horse/Rider Pair will receive personalized embroidered item selected by recipient from association option(s) (i.e., Vest, Jacket, Sweatshirt, etc.)
Regional Top 3 Leaderboards
Horse/Rider High Point Leaderboard recognition will include website ranking and Regional Top Three patches.
National High Point Junior
Points earned in all Trials at all licensed USAWE shows will count toward this award, regardless of whether points are earned in a class specifically set up for juniors or are earned while riding against adults. All points earned during the show season (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31) will count. The winner is the Junior WE member who earns the most points in the competition year.
National Breed Performance Champions
The High Point Breed Award winners will be the highest scoring equine within a sponsored breed across all divisions and all levels of the Leaderboard. The High Point Breed Awards will be based on the points displayed on the Leaderboard (rankings are based on the Top 4 scores/points earned under at least 2 judges during the competition year, regardless of number of competitions entered). Sponsors may impose additional criteria to qualify for the award they sponsor. Annual sponsorships cost just $40 and help to encourage people to participate in the sport. To sponsor a Breed Award, please contact the Awards Committee at Awards@usawe.org
High Point Breed Awards Offered
A sample of previous High Point Breed Award winners. From Left to Right: Morgan, Quarter Horse, Norwegian Fjord, Grade, Arabian, and Paint. Photo by Diana Inch Photography
Calculating Points for Year-End Awards
Points accumulate for each year’s awards programs from January 1 – December 31 and are based on horse/rider pairs’ performance. To earn points toward year-end awards, the horse must be recorded with USAWE, and the rider must be a current USAWE member within 30 days of the completion of the competition where the points were earned. For the performance to count, horse/rider pairs must successfully complete each trial offered without disqualifying (exception: failure to successfully complete the cattle trial if offered shall not impact points earned).
Points are based on scores (Average Dressage & EOH) and placings (Speed & Cow), converted to points.
Horse/rider pairs may compete in as many shows as they want; however, only their best 4 show scores/placings will be used to determine year-end standings.
Speed Trial (L2-L7)
For Performance Levels (L2-L7), successful Speed Trial horse/rider pairs (regardless of # of entries) without disqualifying (DQ), will earn points for placing without disqualifying using the conversion chart.
Cattle Trial (L2-L7) – Optional
For Performance Levels (L2-L7), successful Cattle Trial horse/rider pairs (regardless of # of entries) without disqualifying (DQ), will earn individual points for their individual (not team) placing using the conversion chart.
Horse/Rider pairs can accrue a maximum of 10 points per licensed competition if competing in four trials – (L2-L7) Dressage, EOH, Speed & Cattle; 8.5 points if competing in three trials – (L2-L7) Dressage, EOH and Speed; or 7 points if competing in two trials – (L1) Dressage and EOH.
Lifetime Rider Medals
USAWE offers Lifetime Rider Medal awards to recognize the achievements of our members as they move through the different levels of competition. Rider medals are based on the rider’s score, irrespective of horse. There is no time limit for the accrual of scores. Scores are only eligible if the rider successfully completed all trials without disqualifying (DQ) in the competition in which the score was earned.
Pewter
To earn a Pewter Medal, a rider must earn a total of 8 qualifying scores in Introductory Level classes. Those scores must include:
(4) scores 60% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
(4) scores 65% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
Of the qualifying scores, at least four (4) must be earned when competing under an “R”, “S”, or WAWE judge.
Bronze
To earn a Bronze Medal, a rider must earn a total of 8 qualifying scores in Novice Level classes. Those scores must include:
(4) scores 60% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
(4) scores 65% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
(4) scores (minimum) must be earned in L3 Novice B
Of the qualifying scores, at least four (4) must be earned when competing under an “R”, “S”, or WAWE judge.
Silver
To earn a Silver Medal, a rider must earn a total of 8 qualifying scores in Intermediate Level classes. Those scores must include:
(4) scores 60% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
(4) scores 65% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
(4) scores must be earned in L5 – Intermediate B
Of the qualifying scores, at least four (4) must be earned when competing under an “R”, “S”, or WAWE judge.
Gold
To earn a Gold Medal, a rider must earn a total of 8 qualifying scores in Advanced Level classes.
Those scores must include:
(4) scores 60% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
(4) scores 65% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
All qualifying scores must be earned when competing under an “R”, “S”, or WAWE judge.
Platinum
To earn a Platinum Medal, a rider must earn a total of 8 qualifying scores in Masters Level classes. Those scores must include:
(4) scores 60% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
(4) scores 65% or higher (Dressage/EOH % averaged)
All qualifying scores must be earned when competing under an “R”, “S”, or WAWE judge.
Rider Medal Scores
This sheet contains all recorded scores available to USAWE, sorted by Rider Name and Level. Where Speed says Fail, that score does not qualify as all phases must be completed for a score to qualify as a medal score.
Medal Update Program
As a result of the Merger, there are some riders who have medals earned under previous organizations, that do not match the medals they are able to earn under USAWE. To resolve this, the Awards Committee created the Medal Update Program. This program is completely optional, and allows riders who have previously earned medals under WEU or the Confederation to purchase updated medals with USAWE branding for display purposes at $20 each. If you previously earned a medal under a prior organization and would like to have a USAWE copy of that medal, please fill out the form below or click here to fill it out in a new tab.
USA Working Equitation
5006 Forsythe Place
Boulder, CO 80303
Images used on this website with permission of owners. Please observe the copyright privileges of the individual image owners and do not use the images from this website without express permission from the individual owners of the images. Thank you for respecting the work and rights of others.