Dressage Memberships
A "How to Guide" for acquiring your 2013 memberships.
CDS/USDF
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Join the California Dressage Society (which includes membership in a local chapter of your choice) for $70.00 annually. If you plan to qualify for Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC), there is an additional $25.00 annual fee. CDS membership allows you to show at CDS-only recognized dressage shows. Non-members may show, but they will incur additional non-member fees. CDS Membership includes Group Membership in USDF, which is needed for triple-rated dressage shows. To join CDS, or for more information, click this link.
Group Membership in the United States Dressage Federation also makes riders eligible for participation in the USDF Rider Award Program which includes Rider Performance Awards (Training, First, and Second Levels), Bronze Medal Rider Awards, Silver Medal Rider Awards, Gold Medal Rider Awards, Masters Challenge Award (age 60 and over), and Musical Freestyle Rider Awards. Riders interested in year-end awards such as Horse of the Year, Adult Amateur, and USDF All Breeds must become a USDF Participating Member at $75 per year, $300 for five years, or $1500 for a lifetime membership. USDF also has an Education Membership. This option is for people who do not wish to show, but do want to stay connected to the dressage community. The USDF Education Membership is for 12 months from date of the application and costs $35.00. You can find out more by clicking this link. If you plan to show at USDEF/USEF/CDS shows, your horse will also need a USDF Lifetime Horse Registration (LHR) or Horse Identification Number (HID). If you would like your horse to be eligible for year-end awards, the LHR will cost $95.00 (one-time fee). To just receive an HID, with no eligibility for awards, there is a one-time cost of $25.00. To upgrade an HID to an LHR, there is an upgrade fee of $70.00. |
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USEF
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Join the United States Equestrian Federation for $55.00 annually. USEF membership is required for triple-rated dressage shows (USDF/USEF/CDS). Non-members may show, but they will incur additional non-member fees. When you join USEF, (found here), you will be asked if you are an Adult Amateur, or Open rider. Once you select Open, you cannot return to amateur status. Senior Adult Amateur status does not cost anything extra, but it does allow you to be eligible to qualify for the RAAC.
If you plan to show at triple-rated shows, your horse will also need a USEF Horse Recording Number. If you would like your horse to be eligible for year-end awards, you will need a Lifetime ID which will cost $200.00 (one-time fee), or an Annual Recording Number for $75.00. A Horse ID number, with no eligibility for awards, is free. To get a Horse Recording Application/ID, simply log in to your USEF account, scroll down to "Horse Options," select Horse Recording Application/ID, and follow the on-line directions. |
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Want More Info?
I really love it when a blogging friend starts my mental wheels rolling. Val, who writes Memoirs of a Horse Girl, asked about the California Dressage Society. Val lives in New Jersey. I sort of assumed that each state had its own dressage society. In my little world, it just made sense that there was one national dressage body and a neat little group of 50 state societies. Nope. That's not how it works. Thanks to Val, I was forced to do a little research and now know how the USDF recognizes local affiliates. Now That's a Trot also chimed in and reported that some of the GMOs (more about that down below) do more than just dressage, like eventing for example. If you belong to a dressage club that does more than dressage, please share!
Let's start with USEF - the United States Equestrian Federation. USEF, started in 1917, is the national governing body for equestrian sports here in the USA. The USEF trains, selects, and funds our United States Equestrian Team and also licenses equestrian competitions of all levels across the United States each year. But what does USEF have to do with showing dressage? Competitors who wish to make it into the elite ranks must abide by all of USEF's rules. That means that if you hope to ride in the WEG, Pan-American Games, or the Olympics, you have to participate in events that are recognized by the USEF. Even if you don't plan on making any of these elite teams, others hope to, so even at the most beginner level shows, USEF's rules and expectations can be felt.
So on to the USDF - United States Dressage Federation, the only US national dressage membership organization. USDF's website states, Dedicated to education, the recognition of achievement and promotion of dressage, USDF is [an] organization with more than 30 different educational programs, 125 affiliate local or regional clubs and more than 2000 annual awards for excellence in competition. The national levels, Training Level through Fourth Level, are governed by the United States Equestrian Federation. The international levels are governed by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI).
USDF has approximately 125 local affiliates. These affiliate clubs are called Group Member Organizations (GMOs). By joining your local GMO, you automatically become a Group Member of USDF. Find your nearest GMO here. There are four different types of membership: Participating, Education, Group, and Business. Since each membership is slightly different, USDF recommends that you read about each membership carefully before joining.
Let's start with USEF - the United States Equestrian Federation. USEF, started in 1917, is the national governing body for equestrian sports here in the USA. The USEF trains, selects, and funds our United States Equestrian Team and also licenses equestrian competitions of all levels across the United States each year. But what does USEF have to do with showing dressage? Competitors who wish to make it into the elite ranks must abide by all of USEF's rules. That means that if you hope to ride in the WEG, Pan-American Games, or the Olympics, you have to participate in events that are recognized by the USEF. Even if you don't plan on making any of these elite teams, others hope to, so even at the most beginner level shows, USEF's rules and expectations can be felt.
So on to the USDF - United States Dressage Federation, the only US national dressage membership organization. USDF's website states, Dedicated to education, the recognition of achievement and promotion of dressage, USDF is [an] organization with more than 30 different educational programs, 125 affiliate local or regional clubs and more than 2000 annual awards for excellence in competition. The national levels, Training Level through Fourth Level, are governed by the United States Equestrian Federation. The international levels are governed by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI).
USDF has approximately 125 local affiliates. These affiliate clubs are called Group Member Organizations (GMOs). By joining your local GMO, you automatically become a Group Member of USDF. Find your nearest GMO here. There are four different types of membership: Participating, Education, Group, and Business. Since each membership is slightly different, USDF recommends that you read about each membership carefully before joining.
USDF has ten regions: numbers 1 - 9 are national, and the 10th is international. Since I live in California, I belong to region 7. My GMO is the California Dressage Society (CDS).
There are are least four types of dressage shows in California. The first are simple schooling shows. Any type of judge may be used, even "L Graduates" from the USDF Education Program (not yet USEF licensed judges). Schooling shows can be quite formal and generally look and feel like a rated show. The exception is that riders can wear polos, times may run a bit wonky, and the general atmosphere is usually more relaxed. Many CDS chapters even put on non-rated series of schooling shows that have year-end awards and prizes.
The next level of show in California is a CDS-rated show. One-star shows, as they are called here, follow all USEF rules, but scores are only used for CDS awards, the CDS Championships, or the Regional Adult Amateur Competition. One-star shows will have a licensed USEF judge, although they are frequently the lower level judges.
The third type of show in California is referred to as a three-star event, recognized by CDS (or DASC which is the Southern California Dressage Association), USDF, and USEF. These show usually have higher level judges and will often times attract more accomplished riders. Scores are used for national level awards as well as state awards.
The final type of shows seen in California are the CDI shows: Concours Dressage International, a dressage competition recognized by the FEI. CDI-W have World Cup qualifying or World Cup classes, while CDI-O have Olympic qualifying or Olympic classes.
There are are least four types of dressage shows in California. The first are simple schooling shows. Any type of judge may be used, even "L Graduates" from the USDF Education Program (not yet USEF licensed judges). Schooling shows can be quite formal and generally look and feel like a rated show. The exception is that riders can wear polos, times may run a bit wonky, and the general atmosphere is usually more relaxed. Many CDS chapters even put on non-rated series of schooling shows that have year-end awards and prizes.
The next level of show in California is a CDS-rated show. One-star shows, as they are called here, follow all USEF rules, but scores are only used for CDS awards, the CDS Championships, or the Regional Adult Amateur Competition. One-star shows will have a licensed USEF judge, although they are frequently the lower level judges.
The third type of show in California is referred to as a three-star event, recognized by CDS (or DASC which is the Southern California Dressage Association), USDF, and USEF. These show usually have higher level judges and will often times attract more accomplished riders. Scores are used for national level awards as well as state awards.
The final type of shows seen in California are the CDI shows: Concours Dressage International, a dressage competition recognized by the FEI. CDI-W have World Cup qualifying or World Cup classes, while CDI-O have Olympic qualifying or Olympic classes.
