Vada State Year-end-awards | Virginia Dressage Association

Year End Awards Program Guidance

Important Links - State Year End Awards

Volunteer Resource Corner

Year End Awards Submission Application

Geometric Minimalist Abstract_edited.jpg

Schooling Shows

Tests must be judged by a USDF L graduate or a US Equestrian r, R, or S judge.

Scores from virtual shows or fix-a-tests may not be used.

Intro through Fourth Level:

4 scores all at the same level from tests ridden by the same horse/rider pair. ∙
Every score submitted must be 55% or higher.
At Intro Level, 1 score must be Intro B. Intro C is not required for Year-End Awards, but can be used.
For Training thru the Fourth level, 1 score must be from the highest test of the level.

FEI Levels, Musical Freestyles, Pas de Deux, and Quadrille:

3 scores all at the same level from tests ridden by the same horse/rider pair.
If submitting scores for Pas de Deux or Quadrille, all 3 scores submitted must be from the same horse/rider combination and the same team.

Ribbons will be awarded at each level (levels and Jr/Sr may be combined for MFS), divided into Junior/Young Rider (rider 21 or under as of Jan. 1, 2022) and Senior.

Ribbons will be awarded to 10th place for Intro to 1st level, to 8th place for all other levels.

General Requirements

Special Awards - Trainer of the Year, High Score Adult Amateur, and Breed in Virginia

To be awarded annually to the trainer whose students have achieved success during the year at schooling or licensed shows. Award will be given to the trainer with the highest average student score as determined below: Note: No special form needs to be completed, simply include the name of your primary trainer were indicated on the award report form for schooling and/or licensed shows.

NOTE: THE SAME TRAINER CAN NOT WIN IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

Trainer of the Year

The trainer must be a VADA member.
The average score as submitted for schooling or licensed shows for each student will be the score used.
The three highest average scores from students will be added and averaged to determine the trainer score.
Scores can be from either schooling or licensed shows, but scores can only be counted from each student once.
Freestyle scores are not eligible.
One student must be riding First Level or above.
No more than one student at Intro Level can be counted.

The High Score Adult Amateur Award

To be awarded annually to the adult amateur with the highest average score earned at licensed shows. One award will be given at US Equestrian levels and one award for FEI levels.

Must be an adult amateur with USDF and US Equestrian (Must include a copy of Adult Amateur card or USDF printout with Amateur status verification with year-end award submission).
The same horse/rider combination is only eligible to win in either the US Equestrian or FEI category.
Freestyle scores are not eligible.
Intro Level is excluded from this award.

Bred in Virginia
(Award goes to rider, not breeder or owner)

To be awarded annually to the horse/rider combination with the highest average at licensed shows riding a horse that was bred in Virginia.

The horse must have been bred in Virginia (must include a copy of breed registration or other documentation showing the horse was bred in Virginia as part of the awards packet submission).
The rider must be a member and meet volunteer requirements.
Freestyle scores are not eligible.

General Requirements

The owner must be a VADA member at the time the score is earned.
If a test has been scored by more than one judge, the combined average score as calculated at the show will count. The scores MAY NOT be counted individually.
Class may be open or IBC.
Materiale and other under saddle classes DO NOT count toward this award. ∙
Amateur handler scores DO NOT count toward this award.
2 scores are required, by the same horse.
Scores must be earned at Licensed Shows.

General Requirements

Ribbons will be awarded for all in-hand/breed show classes combined (young horse, mature mare, stallion).

In-Hand and DSHB

General Requirements

Volunteer Requirements

One day of volunteer time at a VADA event (i.e, Annual Banquet, Symposium, DAL, GAiG's/VADA Fall Show Competition, or other as approved by the VADA President)
In addition to State volunteer requirement, a half-day of volunteer time with local chapter is required.
In the case of Pas de Deux or Quadrille awards, ALL riders of the team must satisfy volunteer requirements in order for the whole team to be eligible for award(s).
A rider DOES NOT have to do multiple days of volunteer time in order to submit awards with multiple horses, at multiple levels, or for schooling licensed, and in-hand/breed awards.
Someone else may donate their volunteer time to another VADA competitor. However, it must be clearly indicated or noted on the chapter volunteer spreadsheet submitted to the VADA Year End Awards Chairperson. Note: The same volunteer time cannot be donated to multiple competitors.
There are no exceptions to these volunteer requirements.

All competitors must be VADA Chapter member at the time of the competition.
All awards will be calculated by adding the horse/rider scores together and then dividing by the total number of tests ridden to result in an average score.
The awards year will run from December 1 — November 30.
For all awards, scores must be earned from at least 2 different judges and at least 2 shows.
Every score submitted must be 55% or higher (schooling and licensed).
Scores will not be counted if your trainer is the judge. appropriate photo credit) with their application.

Licensed Shows

Ribbons will be awarded at each level (levels and Jr/Sr may be combined for MFS), divided into Junior/Young Rider (rider 21 or under as of Jan. 1, 2022) and Senior. For senior riders at USEF and FEI levels, an open and adult amateur will be pinned separately (must provide a copy of your current US Equestrian AA card to be eligible, otherwise you will be pinned in open). Opportunity classes will count for the level being ridden and may be mixed with non-opportunity classes for purposes of achieving the required number of scores

Scores from all open shows (those without breed restrictions) will count toward awards.
Scores must be from at least 2 shows from at least 2 different judges.
If a test has been scored by more than one judge (i.e., judge at C and E), the combined average score as calculated at the show will count. The tests MAY NOT be counted individually.

Intro through Fourth Level:

4 scores all at the same level from tests ridden by the same horse/rider pair.
2 scores must be from the highest test of the level.

FEI Levels (including FEI young rider, junior, children, and pony); Paraequestrian:

4 scores all at the same level from tests ridden by the same horse/rider pair.

Musical Freestyles (including USDF, FEI, Pas de Deux, and Quadrille)

3 scores all at the same level from tests ridden by the same horse/rider pair.
If submitting scores for Pas de Deux or Quadrille, all 3 scores submitted must be from the same horse/rider combination and the same team.

Young Horse (including US Equestrian Four-Year-Old and FEI Five, Six, or Seven years old):

3 scores all at the same level from tests ridden by the same horse/rider pair.

General Requirements

The Virginia Dressage Association recognizes rider and horse achievements (schooling and licensed), In-Hand/Dressage Sport Horse Breeding (DSHB), volunteers for their hard work throughout the year at State and Chapter level, "Trainer of the Year", "The High Score Adult Amateur Award" and "Breed in Virginia". Additionally, VADA recognizes exceptional service within its chapters through the presentation of the "Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award," "Chapter President's Award," and "Chapter Newsletter Editor's Award."

Year End Awards Timetable

Application Deadline

1 December 2025

Preliminary Standing Award Recipients Published for Review

11-15 December 2025

Final Year End Awards Recipients Published

16 December 2025

Award Recipients Selection of Awards

16-21 December 2025

12362865_10208102756667569_6425685937456

Application

Applicants are required to complete the online form (link above) and submit all supporting documents to the Year End Awards Coordinators. The deadline for Year End Awards submission is 1 December 2025. Email confirmation will be sent upon receipt of the awards packet.

The “2025 Preliminary Award Recipients” list will be available for review on the VADA website from 11-15 December, with the final listing published on 16 December on www.virginiadressage.org.

Schooling and Licensed Champion/Reserve winners at each level have the opportunity to select the award of their choice.

2025 Year End Awards Application Coordinator:

Angela Stanaway at vadaawards@gmail.com.

Shel Gafford Memorial Award

"Shel Gafford Memorial Award for "EXCELLENCE IN SPORTSMANSHIP"

Travel back 40 years...

In 1983 Shelton Gafford and Why Jump enjoyed a victory gallop at the American Continental Young Riders’ Championship in South Hamilton, Mass., after winning individual gold and team silver in dressage for Region 1. Cappy Jackson Photo

Reprinted from the Chronicle of the Horse

VADA members may nominate another member, either from their own chapter or a different chapter, without requiring approval from nominator's Chapter

Board of Directors.

Timetable

VADA Member Nomination Submission to Lauren Nelson at gallard.laura7@gmail.com

7-14 December 2025

Slate of Nominations Forward to Chapters Board of Directors for Review and Selection

16 December 2025

Chapters must report their selection to:

Laura Nelson at galliard.laura7@gmail.com

15 January 2026

For anyone not fortunate enough to have known Shel, he was not only a gifted horseman and successful competitor but also a truly good sport and dedicated advocate to VADA. Shel was a seasoned competitor, having won the Gold and Silver Individual Medals in his last two years as a Young Rider at the NAYRC. He always rode to win, but never at the expense of his horse or another rider. Rather than “psyching” his fellow competitors, Shel was more likely to offer a helping hand or wish them luck. Furthermore, Shel was a tireless supporter of VADA. He served as President during some of our Association’s most difficult and trying times. It is largely due to his diplomacy and tenacity that VADA exists as it does today.

It is this spirit of unselfish good sportsmanship and generous volunteerism, which were so much a part of Shel’s nature, that VADA wishes to encourage and reward. If you are aware of a VADA member who is:

Actively involved in any aspect of competition and/or VADA activities (e.g. rider, owner, trainer, coach, show mom/dad, spouse, offspring, VADA Board Member, VADA volunteer.
Who consistently exhibits the characteristics of good sportsmanship and unselfish support of VADA and,
Has not received the Shel Gafford award within the past 10 years.

Nominations should include the following:

Nominee's name and Chapter affiliation.
Nominator's name.
Brief statement (200 words or less) explaining why nominee is deserving of this award.

Slate of Nominations Forward to Chapters Board of Directors for Review and Selection. Chapters MUST report their selections to Laura Nelson at galliard.laura7@gmail.com by 15 January 2026.

The recipient will be notified that he/she will receive an award at the VADA luncheon. The recipient will receive a special award and a check for $250.00.

Award Recipients

1995 - Debbie Bowman and Bettina Longaker (CH)
1996 - Ann Edwards (SVDA)
1997 - Nancy Lowey (CH)
1998 - Catherine Sutton (CH)
1999 - Molly Layfield (Cent)
2000 - Marilyn Leonard (SVDA)
2001 - Alison Head (Nova)
2002 - No Nominations
2003 - No Nominations
2004 - Barbara Ellis (FR)
2005 - Jessie Ginsburg (Nova)
2006 - Peggy Minnich (FR)
2007 - Janice Mumford (SVDA)
2008 - Robin Dannels (Nova)
2009 - No Nominations
2010 - Sharon Ackley (FR) and Gardy Bloemers (CH)
2011 - Candy Allen (Nova)
2012 - Debbie Marriott (Nova)
2013 - Nicky Vogel (FR)
2014 - Alison Douglas (Cent)
2015 - Barbara Wiefelstede (Cent)
2916 - Robyn Nunnally (SVDA)
2017 - Sherri Booye (CH) and Beth Rippel (SVDA)
2018 - Michelle King (NOVA)
2019 - Bettina Longaker (CH)
2020 - Melyni Worth (CH)
2021 - Nancy Doody (CH)
2022 - Laura Nelson (SWVADA)
2023 - Heather Escobar
2024 - No nomination
2025 -

Virginia Dressage Association a 501c3 non-profit organization a Group Member Organization (GMO) of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF)

Year End Awards Program Guidance

Important Links - State Year End Awards

Reprinted from the Chronicle of the Horse

Award Recipients

Virginia Dressage Association
a 501c3 non-profit organization
a Group Member Organization (GMO) of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF)