Year End Awards and Eligibility Criteria 2026

Year End Awards - General Eligibility Criteria:
  • Must be a 2026 CDCTA Member at the time of competition.
  • Scores from through November 10th, 2025 through November 8th, 2026 are eligible.
  • You must ride in at least 2 of the 4 2026 CDCTA shows.
  • Awards are for the same horse/rider combination, horse/rider combinations can be eligible for more than one award as long as all criteria for each level is met
  • Professional, Adult Amateur, and Junior (under 18 on December 1, 2025) awards are offered; award divisions may be combined at CDCTA's discretion
  • Ribbons and Prizes for Champion through 6th place
  • Volunteer hours: Minimum of 4 earned during the 2026 season. Hours are tracked by our volunteer coordinator throughout the season via SignUp Genius. Plan ahead for your volunteer hours; there is no guarantee that enough hours will be available to meet the minimum if you wait until the last volunteer opportunity of the season. 
  • Riders who meet all of the above criteria (competed in at least two shows at the same level, member in good standing for the 2026 season, and completion of at least 4 volunteer hours) are automatically eligible for Year End Awards; no need to submit your scores, CDCTA will track them.  
  • If a rider chooses, they may submit one outside score from another show to count as one of their two scores, provided all other criteria is met. Any Non-CDCTA score/placement must be submitted with verification. This means you have to provide the results supporting your submission. Any Year End Award entry without verification will not be counted. (Copy of show results can be either a picture of the results printout at the show or a document of the published results from the event).
  • Scores from online shows are not eligible to be used as an outside score for YEA submission

​Schooling Combined Test Awards:​
  • You must have two scores from one level to qualify. 
  • Levels eligible for combined test awards: Ground Poles, Pre-Elementary, Elementary, Advanced Elementary, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training
  • Scores must be from at least 2 different judges, if submitting an outside score, judge must be an "L" judge or higher. When submitting an outside score, please include a photo of final results or a link to the final results for verification.
  • Ernie Trophy – awarded to the best dressage score in either a Dressage or Eventing competition received by a Junior or Adult Amateur. 
Schooling Dressage Awards:
  • ​You must have two scores from one level to qualify, but they can be from any test within that level.
  • ​Levels eligible for schooling dressage awards: Intro, Training, First Level, Second Level, Third Level, Fourth Level, FEI, Freestyle
  • ​​Minimum score of 52% is required.
  • Scores must be from at least 2 different judges, if submitting an outside score, judge must be an "L" judge or higher. When submitting an outside score, please copy the front of each dressage test, which should include: location, date, judge, and score.
  • Ernie Trophy – awarded to the best dressage score in either a dressage or eventing competition received by a Junior or Adult Amateur.
  • Please copy the front of each dressage test, which should include: location, date, judge, and score.
Recognized Dressage Recognition Program:
  • You must have two scores from one level to qualify, but they can be from any test within that level. One score must be from a CDCTA show and the second score must be from a USEF/USDF recognized dressage show
  • Levels eligible for recognized dressage recognition program: Intro, Training, First Level, Second Level, Third Level, Fourth Level, FEI, Freestyle
  • Riders interested in the recognition program must submit​ their recognized score to be eligible; you do not need to submit your CDCTA score, we will automatically apply the best score of that level from any CDCTA show attended. When submitting an outside score, please copy the front of each dressage test, which should include: location, date, judge, and score
  • Minimum score of 52% is required.
  • ​Scores must be from at least 2 different judges
  • Ernie Trophy – awarded to the best dressage score in either a dressage or eventing competition received by a Junior or Adult Amateur.
Schooling and Recognized Eventing Recognition Program:
  • You must have two scores from one level to qualify. One score must be from a CDCTA show, with a second score from a schooling horse trial at the equivalent level for schooling awards or a second score from a USEF/USEA recognized horse trial at the equivalent level for recognized awards.
  • Levels eligible for schooling eventing recognition program: Pre-Elementary (18"), Elementary (2ft), Advanced Elementary (2'3"), Beginner Novice (2'7"), Novice (2'11"), Training (3'3")
  • ​Levels eligible for recognized eventing recognition program: Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training
  • ​Riders interested in the recognition program must submit​ their schooling horse trial or recognized horse trial score to be eligible; you do not need to submit your CDCTA score, we will automatically apply the best score of that level from any CDCTA show attended. When submitting an outside score, please include a photo of the final results from the show or a link to the final results. 
  • Scores must be from at least 2 different judges, judge must be an "L" judge or higher for schooling awards or an "r" judge or higher for recognized awards
  • Ernie Trophy – awarded to the best dressage score in either a Dressage or Eventing competition received by a Junior or Adult Amateur.
Have questions? Email us at [email protected]. Check out the criteria for our special awards by following the link below!