Virginia Dressage Association
a 501c3 non-profit organization
a Group Member Organization (GMO) of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF)
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​​Great American Insurance Group/USDF Reg 1 Championships and VADA Fall Competition​​
1-4 October 2026
Virginia Horse Center, Lexington VA
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Opening Date: 7 Aug 26
Closing Date: 7 Sept 26
2026 Show Sponsors - Thank You!
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Great American Insurance Group/USDF Reg 1 Championships and VADA Fall Competition
Virginia Horse Center, Lexington VA
1-4 October 2026
Opening date: 7 Aug 2026 Closing Date: 7 Sept 2026
Entries
The Great American/USDF Regional Dressage Championships program is designed to promote and recognize the pursuit of excellence by providing a showcase competition that meets established quality standards for riders within each of the nine USDF regions. Riders can qualify for the Regional Championships by riding in designated qualifying classes at USDF recognized competitions. The Regional Championship competitions provide an excellent opportunity for spectators to view the top horses and riders in their region.
Starting with the 2025 Regional Championships, the Junior Team and Young Rider Team Championship classes have been discontinued. Junior Riders may ride the Junior Team Test as a qualifier for Third Level and will ride the Third Level test at the regional championships. Young Riders may ride the Young Rider Team Test as a qualifier for Prix St. Georges and will ride the Prix St. Georges at the regional championships. Please email regchamps@usdf.org with any questions!
Competitors qualify for Great American/USDF Regional Championships by competing in designated qualifying classes throughout the year at USDF-recognized Dressage competitions. For more information on the regional championship program, or the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org or contact regchamps@usdf.org.
Show Events
Halloween Doggie Costume Class - It's a Howl of Halloween Doggie Costume Class. Dress Up your pooch and come to Anderson coliseum for this much anticipated and hotly contested Doggie costume class on saturday evening.
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Show Party - Take a break and come out to mingle and dine with your fellow competitors on friday evening.
Special Recognition Awards
Barbara Silverman Memorial Freestyle Award
This award honors former VADA member Barbara Silverman, by promoting Musical Freestyles and the National Ovarian Cancer Foundation, two things that were very dear to Barbara. This memorial circuit awards requires the following freestyle scores: 2 scores from any USEF recognized shows & 1 score from the freestyle finals at the 2026 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 1 Competition. Three scores will be used to determine the MEAN score and placings 1 – 6 will be announced on Sunday, 10/5. Divisions: USDF Musical Freestyle (1st – 4th) and FEI Musical Freestyle (YR, Int. I & GP). There is a $50 nominating fee to fund the Prize Money. ½ will of the nominating fees will go to the winner of each division and ½ will go to support the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Inc. In 2025, this show donated $800 to the Charity, and $625 to Johanna Walters (USDF FS) & $175 to Lauren Chumley (FEI FS) winners.
Mary Beth Memorial Perpetual Trophy
​This award remembers FEI rider Mary Beth McLean. The winner is determined by totaling the PSG & Int. 1 GAIG/USDF finals scores, and they will receive a small trophy and their name will be engraved on the large trophy. Please stop by the Awards table to check out all the past winners on the Memorial Trophy​.
Patsy Ambers Memorial Perpetual Trophy​
This award remembers Patsy Albers, backbone of the Junior/Young Riders programs in Region 1. The Junior/Young rider who receives the highest score (excluding FS) from all the classes will be presented with a keeper trophy and have their name engraved on the perpetual trophy​.