Qualifying and Finals Championship Classes
Qualifying is meant to be a mark of distinction among MDA’s riders, culminating with the privilege of competing in a Finals Show Championship Class. Qualifier classes are offered at most of the schooling shows and MDA’s Licensed show. Note: The Fun Show, which is held after the Finals Show, does not offer Qualifier classes. Riders qualify as a horse/rider combination.
At the Finals Show, there can only be one winner in each division and level. The Finals Show offers both Finals Championship classes as well as regular schooling show classes. Our Finals show is designated as “Open” so non-members are welcome to compete. To enter the regular classes you do not have to qualify – simply submit an entry form as you would for any other schooling show
Finals Championship Classes are held at the last scheduled formal schooling show of the year, for each level and division where a horse/rider combination has qualified.
The Finals Show offers both Finals Championship classes and regular schooling show classes..
Click here for more information on MDA’s divisions.
Guidelines for Qualification
MDA offers Finals classes for Intro through FEI (including Maiden - Intro and Training), Pas De Deux, Quadrille, and Musical Freestyle, Western/Gaited Dressage. Qualifiers apply to horse and rider combinations. Adults in the Open and Young Riders in the Young Rider division may qualify. Adults and Young Riders do not compete against each other.
To Qualify for Intro – 4th Level:
To Qualify at FEI, Musical Freestyle, Pas De Deux, or Quadrille:
Levels & Score Requirements
Qualifying Time Period. Qualifier classes will be offered at each level beginning with the first show of the season and ending with the next to last show before the Finals show.
Qualifying Eligibility. The following rules govern eligibility for qualification:
Levels & Score Requirements
Finals Championship Classes
1. All Championship Classes will use USEF Test 2 for Training (Intro Test B) through Fourth Levels. FEI level, Western/Gaited Dressage, Musical Freestyle, Pas de Deux, and Quadrille will have separate Finals Championship classes as needed.
2. The Finals Championship winners will receive an award at the awards banquet in addition to a special ribbon at the Finals show.
3. Finals Championship Classes Eligibility. The rider must be a current MDA member in good standing and earn four (4) work credits within the competition year. All four (4) work credits must have been earned by helping at MDA shows. All work credits must be earned before the Finals show. Horse/rider combination must have qualified.
5. The horse/rider combination may not have competed more than one level above the Finals Championship class in which they are riding except as allowed for Pas de Deux and Quadrille. See examples to clarify:
7. A Finals Show class list, including the Championship Classes, will be made available before the opening date of the Finals Show on the MDA website.
8. Championship classes will be separated from the Open classes.
9. In the event that there is only one entry in a championship class, that class will be pinned using the score requirements needed to qualify at the given level.
10. There will be no test reading at the Finals Championships classes.
11. There will be no whips allowed at the Finals Championships classes.
12. Only the competitor(s) will be allowed to ride the entered horse on the day of the show. Violators will be eliminated.
13. Riders entering in a Finals Championship class are ineligible to enter the same test on the same horse in the open division. See example to clarify:
At the Finals Show, there can only be one winner in each division and level. The Finals Show offers both Finals Championship classes as well as regular schooling show classes. Our Finals show is designated as “Open” so non-members are welcome to compete. To enter the regular classes you do not have to qualify – simply submit an entry form as you would for any other schooling show
Finals Championship Classes are held at the last scheduled formal schooling show of the year, for each level and division where a horse/rider combination has qualified.
The Finals Show offers both Finals Championship classes and regular schooling show classes..
Click here for more information on MDA’s divisions.
Guidelines for Qualification
MDA offers Finals classes for Intro through FEI (including Maiden - Intro and Training), Pas De Deux, Quadrille, and Musical Freestyle, Western/Gaited Dressage. Qualifiers apply to horse and rider combinations. Adults in the Open and Young Riders in the Young Rider division may qualify. Adults and Young Riders do not compete against each other.
To Qualify for Intro – 4th Level:
- Be a current and eligible MDA member (see Rule 4 on Rules and Attire Page)
- Enter the class specified on the Class List as “Open/Qualifier” in your respective level and division
- Pay the $5 Qualifier Fee in addition to standard entry fee
- Meet the Score Requirements (see Required Score chart below)
To Qualify at FEI, Musical Freestyle, Pas De Deux, or Quadrille:
- Be a current and eligible MDA member (see Rule 4 on Rules and Attire Page)
- Specify that you are Qualifying on your entry form – there is not a designated Qualifier class
- Pay the $5 Qualifier Fee in addition to standard entry fee
- In the case of multiple riders (i.e. Pas De Deux, each rider must pay the $5 fee as well as their own regular entry fee)
- Meet the Score Requirements (see Required Score chart below)
Levels & Score Requirements
- Intro through Second: 62% or higher
- Third and above: 58% or higher
Qualifying Time Period. Qualifier classes will be offered at each level beginning with the first show of the season and ending with the next to last show before the Finals show.
Qualifying Eligibility. The following rules govern eligibility for qualification:
- Horse and Rider combinations qualify. If the horse or rider becomes ill, substitutions are not allowed in the Finals Championship class.
- The show secretary must receive a complete and accurate entry by the closing date of the show. This includes regular entry fees and the additional $5 qualifier fee. Entries that do not include the $5 fee will automatically be considered ‘Open’. Entry secretaries are not obligated to contact competitors to alert them of incorrectly submitted entries.
- The horse/rider combination may not have competed more than one level above the Qualifying class in which they are riding except as allowed for Pas de Deux and Quadrille. See examples to clarify:
- Horse/Rider show Training and First levels. They qualify at Training Level. This is ALLOWED.
- Horse/Rider show Training, First, and Second levels. They qualify at Training level. This is NOT ALLOWED. If the Second level ride occurs after the Horse/Rider qualified at Training level, the qualification is then void.
- Two riders share one horse. Rider A qualifies at Training level, Rider B qualifies at Second level. This is ALLOWED, but the lower level Championship ride will go first.
- Two friends perform a First Level Pas De Deux and qualify. Rider A routinely shows First Level, Rider B routinely shows Fourth Level. This is ALLOWED.
- Horse/rider combinations that win the Finals Championship class at a given level are not eligible to qualify for that level in the future. However, if the rider has a different horse in the future, she/he may qualify at the level again.
- Only one successful qualification attempt is needed to enter the Finals Championship class. Horse/Rider combinations may attempt to qualify once per schooling show at a given level
- When attempting to qualify, riders may not ride the test at which they are attempting to qualify as HC. See example to clarify:
- Competitor submits entry as follows: Training 2 HC and Training 2 Qualifier. The HC ride will automatically be ridden after the Qualifier.
- Riders may qualify multiple horses at the same or different levels. See examples to clarify:
- Rider A has three horses – she qualifies one at Training Level, one at Second Level, and one at Fourth level. This is ALLOWED.
- Rider B has two horses – she qualifies them both at First Level. At the Finals, she will ride in the First Level Championship class twice. This is ALLOWED.
- Pinning the Qualifying Class/Score Requirements: At our regular schooling shows all competitors (open and qualifying) will be pinned together in the Open/Qualifying Class. Qualification is not based on winning the class, but meeting score requirements. Several riders can qualify from one qualifier class provided they are eligible, have submitted a correct entry form, paid the Qualifier fee, and have met the score requirements. Freestyle, Pas De Deux, and Quadrille Qualifiers follow the score requirements for the level being performed. So if you are showing a First Level Pas De Deux, you must meet the First Level score requirement (62%). See the chart below for score requirements:
Levels & Score Requirements
- Intro through Second: 62% or higher
- Third and above: 58% or higher
Finals Championship Classes
1. All Championship Classes will use USEF Test 2 for Training (Intro Test B) through Fourth Levels. FEI level, Western/Gaited Dressage, Musical Freestyle, Pas de Deux, and Quadrille will have separate Finals Championship classes as needed.
2. The Finals Championship winners will receive an award at the awards banquet in addition to a special ribbon at the Finals show.
3. Finals Championship Classes Eligibility. The rider must be a current MDA member in good standing and earn four (4) work credits within the competition year. All four (4) work credits must have been earned by helping at MDA shows. All work credits must be earned before the Finals show. Horse/rider combination must have qualified.
- Work credits will be verified using the Work Credit Log posted on the MDA website. Competitors are responsible for periodically checking this log and reporting errors. See View Your Work Credits for details.
5. The horse/rider combination may not have competed more than one level above the Finals Championship class in which they are riding except as allowed for Pas de Deux and Quadrille. See examples to clarify:
- Rider A is in the Training Level Finals. She also rides a First Level test on the same horse. This is ALLOWED.
- Rider B is in the Training Level Finals. She also rides the same horse in a Second Level Test. This is NOT ALLOWED. She will have to either give up the Second Level ride or forfeit her Training Level Championship ride.
7. A Finals Show class list, including the Championship Classes, will be made available before the opening date of the Finals Show on the MDA website.
8. Championship classes will be separated from the Open classes.
9. In the event that there is only one entry in a championship class, that class will be pinned using the score requirements needed to qualify at the given level.
10. There will be no test reading at the Finals Championships classes.
11. There will be no whips allowed at the Finals Championships classes.
12. Only the competitor(s) will be allowed to ride the entered horse on the day of the show. Violators will be eliminated.
13. Riders entering in a Finals Championship class are ineligible to enter the same test on the same horse in the open division. See example to clarify:
- Rider A enters to ride Training Test 2 Open and Training Championship (also Test 2). This is NOT ALLOWED.
- Rider B enters to ride Training Test 3 Open and Training Championship (Test 2). This is ALLOWED.
- Rider C is riding two horses. She qualifies Horse One at Training Level. She rides Horse One in Training Test 1 Open and Training Finals (Test 2). Horse Two did not qualify for anything. She rides Horse Two in Training Test 2 Open and Training Test 3 Open. This is ALLOWED.