Year End Awards

• Rider and owner/lessee of the horse must be a current 2026 NEDA member by September 30, 2026.
• If horse is owned by a business, then that business must have a current Business membership with NEDA.
• All current NEDA members are automatically eligible for Year-End Awards.
• Scores can be earned at any dressage show recognized by both USEF and USDF in any Zone.
• A minimum of one (1) of the scores must be from a show in New England or New York.
• Scores must be earned during the Competition Year, October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
• Horse/rider combination must be the same for all tests submitted for each award.
• In accordance with USDF Regional Championship rules, there are NO equivalent tests for the NEDA YEA.
• Musical Freestyle tests are only eligible for Musical Freestyle awards.

• Training, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I/A, Intermediate II/B, Grand Prix, FEI Jr (Team/Ind), FEI YR (Team/Ind.), and 4, 5, 6 YO tests (combined if less than 3 per age group).
• USEF Musical Freestyle (Training-Second levels will be combined; Third-Fourth Levels including FEI Jr Freestyles will be combined)
• FEI Musical Freestyle (Young Rider, Intermediate I, Intermediate A/B & Grand Prix are combined).

Open, Adult Amateur (AA), Junior/Young Rider (Jr/YR) Divisions will be awarded up to six places in each category. NEDA reserves the right to combine categories in the event of limited qualified entries.

Horse/rider combinations may have scores in more than one level but must be in the same category for all and will not be eligible for awards in more than one category. AA qualifications use USEF rules. If a horse/rider combination becomes ineligible for the AA category during the Competition Year, the rider must notify the Year-End Awards Program Administrator in writing.

Rules:

• There must be three (3) different juries (one or more judges). If multiple judges, judge at C must be different. If there is more than one judge for a test, then averaged (final) score to be counted only.
• Two of the scores must be 55% or better.
• The median (middle) score of all tests submitted will be the rider’s year-end score. If there is a median score tie, it will be broken by using the higher total of all scores submitted.

Training through Fourth Level:

• Scores used will be your five (5) best scores ONLY, with restrictions as listed below. Exc: Only three (3) scores needed for Musical Freestyles.
• Scores used will be scores from five (5) different rides at three (3) different shows.
• Two (2) of the scores must be from the highest test of the level.

FEI Levels:

• Scores used will be your three (3) best scores ONLY, with restrictions as listed below.
• Scores used will be scores from three (3) different rides at three (3) different shows.
• For FEI Jr and YR Levels, at least 1 Team and 1 Individual Test.
• For Grand Prix, one of the three Grand Prix rides can be a Grand Prix Special.

• Scores will be collected and calculated directly from a USDF data feed. It is the riders’/owners’ responsibility to monitor the accuracy of scores submitted to the USDF.
• All current NEDA members are eligible and will be automatically entered for year-end awards. If you do not want to be considered for NEDA Year End awards, refer to the “opt out” procedures, form and deadlines on www.NEDA.org
• AAs must provide a copy of their USEF Amateur card if their status is not listed with USDF.
• Rider & Owner/Lessee information used will be what is listed with USDF. Please make sure USDF records are up to date with the current information on you and your horse.
• If you are leasing a horse and plan to compete at USEF/USDF recognized competitions, you need to register the horse, listing yourself as the lessee. You also need to complete the USDF Lease Recording Form and pay any required Lease Recording Fee.
• Results will be posted up through 15 places for each category

• All breeds are eligible.
• Owner(s)/Lessee(s) of the horse (and riders in Materiale classes) must be current 2026 NEDA members by September 30, 2026.
• If horse is owned by a business, then that business must have a Business Membership with NEDA.
• All current NEDA members are automatically eligible for Year-End Awards.
• Scores from any dressage sport horse breed show recognized by both USEF & USDF in any Zone.
• Scores must be earned during the Competition Year, October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
• Championship and IBC (breed specific) classes are NOT eligible.

• Foals of 2026, Yearlings, Two Year Old’s, Three Year Old’s, Bred Mares – Four Years Old & Up, Yeld/Maiden Mares – Four Years Old & Up, Stallions – 4 Years Old and Up, Materiale, Amateur Handler
• Awards to six places in each category (separated by sex for each age group), Materiale (divided by sex and by age, 3 year old’s and 4/5 year old’s)

• Scores used will be your three (3) best scores ONLY, with restrictions as listed below.
• A minimum of one (1) of the scores must be from a show in New England or New York.
• Scores from three (3) different shows with three (3) different judges.
• The sum of the three scores will be the horse’s year-end score. If there is a tie, then it will be broken by the highest single score submitted.

• You do not need to submit your scores. Scores will be collected and calculated from a USDF data feed.
• All current NEDA members are eligible and will be automatically entered for year-end awards.
• AAs must provide a copy of their USEF Amateur card if their status is not listed with USDF.
• Rider & Owner/Lessee information used will be what is listed with USDF. Please make sure USDF records are up to date with the current information on you and your horse.
• Results will be posted up through 15 places for each category.  Awards for 1st through 6th place.

NEDA reserves the right to combine award categories if entries are limited.
 

You do NOT need to submit your scores.
Scores will be collected and calculated from a USDF data feed.

ALL current NEDA members are eligible
and will be automatically entered for year end awards, unless you choose to opt out of them (see below).

Rider & Owner/Lessee of horse
* All must be current NEDA Members by September 30th.
* Rider & Owner/Lessee information used will be what is listed with USDF. Please make sure USDF records are up to date with the current information on you and your horse.

If you are leasing a horse and plan to compete
at USEF/USDF recognized competitions, you need to register the horse, listing yourself as the lessee. You also need to complete the USDF Lease Recording Form and pay the Lease Recording Fee.

If Horse is owned by a Business
then that Business must have a current Business membership with NEDA.  Become a member by September 30th to be eligible.

Adult Amateurs
must provide a copy of their USEF Amateur card if their status is not listed with USDF.

Results will be posted up through 15 places for each category.
Awards will be given to 1st-6th place winners in each category.

If you do NOT wish to participate in the NEDA Year End Awards, you may opt OUT of them.
Opt out by October 15th if you do NOT wish to be included.

Click here to OPT OUT of NEDA Year End Awards

October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026 ~ NEDA YEA Competition Year

September 30, 2026 ~ Become a NEDA Member by end of day for YEA eligibility

September 30 - October 15, 2026 ~ Confirm your scores with USDF (following USDF rules)

October 15, 2026 ~ Opt out of NEDA YEA Program

November 4, 2026 ~ NEDA to post preliminary results for review - complete review by November 13, 2026

November 14, 2026 ~ Final results locked down & posted on NEDA.org

November 29, 2026 ~ Mailing of awards

December 12, 2026 ~ Deadline to submit RSVP with photos and stories to be included in YEA celebration

December 17, 2026 ~ NEDA YEA virtual awards celebration