USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award

Do you know of a USDF youth member who deserves to be recognized for their volunteer service? USDF is looking for those youth members that not only put in that special effort with their horse but can be counted on to help others! Nominate them to win the USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery. For more information please click here.

USEF Youth Sportsman Award

The USEF Youth Sportsman Award was designed to develop leaders in the equine industry from all breeds and disciplines. USDF seeks nominees who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to both organizations through their promotion of the horse. Application deadline is Oct 1. Click here for complete details.

National Youth Dressage Programs Support Young Riders

The USDF has a variety of programs designed to support junior riders interested in dressage. SEDA supports participation by junior members in any of these programs and encourages all juniors to check out the USDF Youth Activities Guide, which can be accessed from: www.usdf.org/pdf/programs/YouthActivitiesGuide.pdf. Highlighted are some of these programs that you might not know about.

Creativity & Art Contest
The USDF conducts this contest on an annual basis. It is designed to highlight the creativity and beauty behind the sport of dressage and to allow youth to express their interest in the sport. Competition winners will have their work published in the USDF Connection magazine, USDF Calendar, and displayed at the USDF Annual Convention.

Youth Shining Star Award
The USDF Shining Star Award recognizes outstanding sportsmanship among USDF Youth Members. Anyone may nominate a USDF Youth member for this award. All award recipients will receive a USDF Shining Star lapel pin and will also be recognized in the USDF Connection magazine and at the Annual Convention.

Youth Convention Scholarship
This scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to young dressage enthusiasts who want to attend the USDF Annual Convention. Four scholarships are awarded, each for up to $1,000 toward convention expenses. Winners are required to write an essay about their trip to the Convention.

High School Dressage Club Program
This program provides a support structure for parents and groups requesting recognition for their high school students' achievements in the sport of dressage. The guidelines counsel riders and parents on how to approach school administrators when requesting the ability to earn athletic achievement awards, provide examples of competition-approval forms that the high school can implement, and outline how best to implement a regional high school dressage program. Riders who earn athletic achievement through their high school will also be awarded a USDF High School Dressage Pin.

USDF FEI Jr/YR Clinic Series
These clinics, held annually in each region, all feature highly respected teachers and international dressage competitors as clinicians. Rider participation in the clinic series is intended for young dressage enthusiasts 21 and under who are currently riding at Third Level or above. Auditors of all ages and from all levels will benefit from these accomplished teachers and trainers.

Dressage Seat Equitation Program
While equitation classes are popular in other disciplines, they are a relatively new concept for dressage. The purpose of this program is to promote and reward excellence in equitation including correct seat, position, and use of aids in the sport of dressage. In this competition, judges look at the quality of riding as opposed to the quality of the horse. Riders’ qualify for the USEF-Sponsored Dressage Seat Medal Finals throughout the year, and the top riders in the country are selected to compete. A unique aspect to this program is that riders can compete on borrowed horses, which encourages greater participation at the finals.

All our SEDA junior riders are encouraged to participate in these programs.