DressageDaily: New Format for the 2005 USEF/Markel Young Dressage Horse Championships

Wednesday January 19, 2005

New Format for the 2005 USEF/Markel Young Dressage Horse Championships

Katie Stanton The United States Equestrian Federation has changed the format of the USEF/Markel Young Dressage Horse Selection Trials and National Championships. In order to qualify for the 2005 Championships, both the preliminary test and finale test need to be ridden at the selection trials and championships. The preliminary test will no longer serve as warm up.

Selection Trials

The USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials will consist of TWO (2) classes for each age division (Five- and Six-Year-Old):

the Preliminary Test (will count as 40% of overall average score)
the Finale Test (will count as 60% of overall average score)

All participants must compete in each test. The Preliminary Test will be contested prior to the Finale Test. Scores from each test will be averaged on as indicated above (Preliminary – 40%, Finale – 60%) to determine the final placings. A Champion and Reserve Champion for each age division will be awarded at each of the three Selection Trials.

National Championships

Championship Competition Format:

DAY 1 – Qualifying Competition:
All entries in each age division will compete in their respective Preliminary Test. This test will count towards 40% of overall average. Starting order will be determined by open draw. This test will be judged by two (2) FEI (“C”, “I”, or “O”) officials.
The top twelve (12) placing horses will directly qualify for the Final Competition (Day 3). The remaining horses will be eligible for the Consolation Final (Day 2 – below).
DAY 2 – Consolation Final
Excluding the top twelve (12) placed horses from the Qualifying Competition, the remaining eight (8) horses in each age division will compete in this Consolation Final. The respective Finale Test will be used for each age division. This test will count towards 60% of overall average. Starting order will be determined by open draw. This test will be judged by two (2) FEI officials (differing from those judging the Qualifying Competition). Horses will be placed first through eighth based upon overall average (Preliminary Test 40%, Finale Test 60%).
The top two (2) placed horses in each age division from the Consolation Final (based upon overall average of Preliminary and Finale Tests) will be eligible to compete in the Final Competition (Day 3).
DAY 3 – Final Competition:
The top twelve (12) placed horses from the Qualifying Competition (Day 1) in addition to the top two (2) placed horses in each age division with the highest overall average from the Consolation Final (Day 2) will compete in this Final Competition. The respective Finale Test will be used for each age division. This test will count towards 60% of the overall average. Starting order will be determined by draw in two (2) groups of seven (7) horses, based upon Qualifying Competition (Preliminary Test) scores; the higher-placing group will draw for the second set of class ride times. Horses advancing from the Consolation Final (Day 2) will be placed within the lower-placing draw group. This test will be judged by three (3) FEI officials (one from Day 1, two from Day 2). Placings, including National Champion and Reserve Champion for each age division, will be determined based upon overall average: Preliminary Test – 40%, Finale Test (Final Competition only) – 60%.

The new criteria are available on the USEF website

Developed in 2001, the USEF Young Horse Program promotes the importance of selective breeding and professional training of horses in the United States, and encourages breeders, riders, and trainers of young horses (5 and 6 year olds) in dressage. The 2005 USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage Championships will take place September 9-11, 2005 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.