Regionals: A BIG DAMN DEAL!

USDF Region IV Championships will be held this Friday thru Sunday in St. Louis Missouri. Many of our fellow NDA members and friends have qualified to ride in the championship this year. I'd like to take a moment to congratulate all of them for achieving that goal.

In order to qualify to compete at USDF Regional Championships, a rider must earn a qualifying score from two judges, at two separate USDF recognized shows riding the most difficult test from a given level (Ex: First level test 4) A rider must enter into a special USDF Qualifying class, the qualifying classes generally cost an additional $10.00.

Qualifying scores are different depending upon your level, and division. For example the current standards for Training, First and Second are:

Training level: Open-68% AA-63% Jr/Yr-63%
First Level: Open-66% AA-62% Jr/Yr-62%
Second Level: Open-64% AA-61% Jr/Yr-61%
(click here for full detail on qualifying scores and regulations)

Once you've gotten your scores, you submit your tests along with membership cards for you and your horse (both horse and rider MUST be members of USDF & USEF) to the show management and start working. A person may ride the same horse at two different levels (ex: Training and First)in championship classes. You can also ride multiple horses in the same championship class. However, once a horse and rider combination has won a Championship at a particular level, they are not eligible to compete in the same championship class again.

Whew! Are you still with me?

Having in my past, ridden in several Regional Championship Shows, I can tell you the pressure of the event is great. A whole year of showing comes down to one test, ridden from memory without your whip (those are the rules). It is nerve wracking! All the other riders in your class have made it here, so you know you're up against the cream of the crop. A win at Regionals is a great accomplishment.

Again, I congratulate all who have qualified for this weekend. I wish you the very best of luck!