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AH–Horse of the Year Awards (HOY)

The North Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Association offers the following awards as part of the Horse of the Year (HOY) program. 

Dressage

Dressage Track 1 (D1) – USEF/USDF Recognized (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • USDF Introductory Level

  • USDF Training Level

  • USDF First Level

  • USDF Second Level

  • USDF Third Level

  • USDF Fourth Level

  • FEI Junior/Young Rider

  • FEI Prix St. Georges

  • FEI Intermediate I

  • FEI Intermediate II/A/B

  • FEI Grand Prix

  • USDF/FEI Musical Freestyle

Dressage Track 2 (D2) – NCDCTA Recognized (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • USDF Introductory Level

  • USDF Training Level

  • USDF First Level

  • USDF Second Level

  • USDF Third Level

  • USDF Fourth Level

  • USDF Musical Freestyle

Tests such as FEI Jr, Pony, Young Horse, etc will be counted/recognized in accordance with USEF equivalencies per DR 119.

Western Dressage

Western Dressage Track (WD) – NCDCTA Recognized (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • WDAA Introductory Level

  • WDAA Basic Level

  • WDAA Level 1

  • WDAA Level 2

  • WDAA Level 3

  • WDAA Level 4

  • WDAA Level 5

Eventing

Eventing Track 1 (E1) – USEF/USEA Recognized Horse Trials (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • Starter

  • Beginner Novice

  • Novice

  • Training

  • Modified

  • Preliminary & Above

Eventing Track 2 (E2) – NCDCTA-Recognized Horse Trials (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • Green as Grass

  • Starter

  • Beginner Novice

  • Novice

  • Training

  • Modified

  • Preliminary & Above

Eventing Track 3 (E3) – NCDCTA-Recognized Combined Test (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • Green as Grass

  • Starter

  • Beginner Novice

  • Novice

  • Training

  • Modified

  • Preliminary & Above

General Guidelines & Requirements

  • Competition/Membership year runs from December 1 through November 30, annually.

  • All memberships/registrations are for one year only and end on November 30, regardless of the date membership was purchased.

  • Rider must be an active member of NCDCTA at the time results are earned.

  • Owner/Lessee (if other than rider) must be an an active member of NCDCTA at the time results are earned.

  • Horse must be registered with NCDCTA for the competition year at the time results are earned.

  • Horses registered by January 31 (with active NCDCTA membership) will be awarded results from the beginning of the competition year. Horses registered after January 31 (with an active NCDCTA membership) will be awarded results from the date of receipt.

  • All NCDCTA HOY points must be earned at NCDCTA-recognized competitions and events. Exceptions:

    • Out-of-state Eventing results for USEA/USEF/FEI recognized events (horse trials only)

    • Out-of-state Dressage CHAMPIONSHIP results (e.g., Regional, National & CBLM championships)

    • Out-of-state results must be reported within 10 days from the end of competition

    • Out-of-state results earned after November 1 must be reported within 3 days of the end of competition

    • Report out-of-state results online at NCDCTA.org

  • First place HOY winning teams (horse & rider) are ineligible to win the same division again. Exceptions:

    • FEI Grand Prix Dressage

    • Musical Freestyle Dressage

    • Junior/Young Rider FEI Dressage

    • Preliminary and Above Eventing

    • Level 5 Western Dressage

    • If horse ownership/lease has changed

  • Rider status (Junior/Young Rider, Adult Amateur, Open) determines the division in which points are accrued. Rider status must be stated as part of the membership application. A change in status must be sent directly to the membership secretary in writing. Points will accrue in the new division from that date forward. If a status correction is necessary for any reason, all points earned will be placed into the corrected division. Status Corrections must be approved by the HOY Committee.

  • Junior/Young Riders are members who are 21 years of age or younger as of December 1 of the award year. Junior/Young Rider birthday must be stated as part of the membership application.

  • Points will be posted periodically throughout the competition year on the NCDCTA website (NCDCTA.org).

  • Awards and Prizes will be awarded at the annual Horse of the Year (HOY) banquet.

    • Ribbons: 1 through 6 in each division

    • Prizes: 1 through 3 in each division

  • Qualifying Scores - Valid tests must meet all applicable general requirements and meet minimum/maximum scores.

    • Minimum Test Requirements – Dressage:

      • Introductory through First Level – 60.000 or higher

      • Second Level through Fourth Level – 58.000 or higher

      • FEI Levels – 55.000 or higher

      • Musical Freestyle – 55.000 or higher

    • Minimum Test Requirements – Western Dressage

      • Intro, Basic and Level 1 – 60.000 or higher

      • Level 2 through Level 5 – 58.000 or higher

      • Freestyle – 55.000 or higher

    • Maximum Requirements – Eventing

      • Green as Grass and Starter  – 55 penalty points or fewer

      • Beginner Novice through Modified – 60 penalty points or fewer

      • Preliminary and above – 70 penalty points or fewer

  • Equivalencies are applied to Eventing Dressage Tests of Choice and are determined by USEF Rule DR119. Equivalencies will wrap up under the applicable dressage track.

    • USEA Starter = USDF Introductory Level

    • USEA Beginner Novice and Novice = USDF Training Level

    • USEA Training, Modified and Preliminary = USDF First Level

    • USEA Intermediate = USDF Second Level

    • USEA Advanced - USDF Third Level

  • Team is one rider and one horse

  • Dressage, Western Dressage & Eventing competitions within North Carolina must seek NCDCTA recognition to participate.

  • Dressage & Western Dressage competitions and Eventing schooling competitions outside NC must seek NCDCTA recognition.

  • Competition organizers seeking recognition must be active NCDCTA members.

  • USEF/USEA CT results are not accepted.

  • Virtual Tests are not accepted.

Score Self Reporting

  • Submission of results is the sole responsibility of the rider/owner. Any questions regarding points should be directed to the NCDCTA Membership Secretary at membership@ncdcta.org.

  • Verification and Accuracy: It is the competitor’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of their points by checking NCDCTA.org throughout the year.

  • Scores for all HOY awards must be submitted within 10 days of competition at NCDCTA.org.

  • HOY Reporting Requirements. Submission must be through the HOY Reporting Form at NCDCTA.org:

    • Rider name and NCDCTA number

    • Horse name and NCDCTA number

    • Competition name and date

    • Type of test (Dressage, WD, HT, CT, Breed)

    • Test Name (E.g., Training 1; Preliminary; Level 2-1, etc.)

    • Score

      • Dressage/WD/Eventing Dressage TOC format ##.###

      • HT/CT format ##.#

    • Dressage Judge

    • Verification Upload

  • Verification Upload for all tests, including out-of-state, must be submitted as part of the HOY Reporting/Out-of-State forms and include the following:

    • Event name and date

    • Rider name

    • Horse name

    • Division and Test

    • Judge (Optional)

    • FINAL SCORE (Eventing tracks must include all penalties!)

  • Dressage/WD Verification: Submit the front face of the test with the above information. If all information is on the front of the test there is no need to submit the other side of the test.

  • HT/CT Verification: Submit a snapshot of the FINAL results (including all penalties) from a website or onsite scoreboard.

  • Out-of-State Eventing Horse Trial results accepted via the online form within 10 days of competition and must include verification upload.

  • Out-of-State Dressage CHAMPIONSHIP (only) results accepted via online form within 10 days of competition and must include verification upload.

NCDCTA HOY Awards Tracks

NCDCTA is a USDF General Membership Organization, and as such, our primary purpose is to assist our members in competing in USDF/USEF/USEA recognized competitions. NCDCTA supports and recognizes schooling competitions as a means of preparing members to compete at recognized competitions.

1.     Competitors may only win one award per Level. Competitors may not win both Recognized and Schooling track at the same level.

2.     The Recognized Track will always supersede the Schooling Track, regardless of placement.

a.     Example 1: If a competitor meets the minimum requirements at Training Level in both tracks and places 2nd in schooling and 5th in recognized, the 5th place recognized will be awarded and no award will be given in the schooling track.

b.     Example 2: If a competitor meets the minimum requirements at Training Level in the Schooling Track and ranks 2nd, and does not meet the minimum requirements in the Recognized Track, no award will be given in the Recognized Track and 2nd place will be awarded in the schooling track.

Two Track Dressage Awards

Dressage Track 1 (D1) – USEF/USDF Recognized (National)

  • Dressage Levels Recognized

    • USDF Introductory

    • USDF Training

    • USDF First

    • USDF Second

    • USDF Third

    • USDF Fourth

    • FEI Junior/Young Rider

    • FEI Prix St Georges

    • FEI Intermediate I

    • FEI Intermediate II/A/B

    • FEI Grand Prix

    • USDF/FEI Musical Freestyle

    • or Equivalent Tests (Tests such as FEI Jr, Pony, Young Horse, etc will be counted/recognized in accordance with USEF equivalencies per DR 119)

  • Maximum number of levels awarded per team

    • Two (2), Excluding Musical Freestyle

  • Levels awarded

    • 2 highest

  • Minimum number of competitions

    • Three (3)

  • Minimum number of Judges

    • Three (3)

  • Minimum number of tests

    • Six (6) – USDF Introductory Level through USDF Fourth Level

    • Three (3) – FEI Levels and Musical Freestyle

  • Rolling Average

    • Top six (6) tests – USDF Introductory Level through USDF Fourth Level

    • Top three (3) tests – FEI Levels and Musical Freestyle

  • Awards

    • Ribbons: 1 – 6 (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • Prizes

    • 1 – 3 (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • Division Champion

    • Horse/Rider Team that has won a division is not eligible to win that division again. Exceptions are FEI Junior/Young Rider, FEI Grand Prix and Musical Freestyle.

Dressage Track 2 (D2) – NCDCTA Recognized (Schooling)

  • Dressage Levels Recognized

    • USDF Introductory

    • USDF Training

    • USDF First

    • USDF Second

    • USDF Third

    • USDF Fourth

    • USDF Musical Freestyle

    • or Equivalent Tests (Tests such as FEI Jr, Pony, Young Horse, etc will be counted/recognized in accordance with USEF equivalencies per DR 119)

    • FEI tests are not recognized in this track.

  • Maximum number of levels awarded per team

    • Two (2), Excluding Musical Freestyle

  • Levels awarded

    • 2 highest

  • Minimum number of competitions

    • Three (3)

  • Minimum number of Judges

    • Three (3)

  • Minimum number of tests

    • Five (5) – USDF Introductory Level through USDF Fourth Level

  • Rolling Average

    • Top five (5) tests – USDF Introductory Level through USDF Fourth Level

  • Awards

    • Ribbons: 1 – 6 (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • Prizes

    • 1 – 3 (Jr/YR, AA, Open)

  • Division Champion

    • Horse/Rider Team that has won a division is not eligible to win that division again. USDF Fourth Level and Musical Freestyle (Rule suspended for 2023)


One Track Western Dressage Awards

Western Dressage (WD) – NCDCTA Recognized

  • Western Dressage Levels Recognized\

    • Western Dressage Basic, Intro, Levels 1 through 5, and Freestyle

  • Maximum number of levels awarded per team

    • Two (2)

    • Excluding Musical Freestyle

  • Levels awarded

    • Two (2) highest

  • Minimum number of competitions

    • Three (3)

  • Minimum number of Judges

    • Three (3)

  • Minimum number of tests

    • Five (5)

  • Rolling Average

    • Top 5 Tests

  • Awards

    • Ribbons 1 - 6

    • Jr/YR, Adult Amateur, Open

  • Prizes

    • 1 - 3

    • Jr/YR, Adult Amateur, Open

  • Division Champion

    • Horse/Rider Team that has won a division is not eligible to win that division again. (Rule suspended for 2023)

    • Exception is Western Dressage Level 5 and Freestyle

Three Track Eventing Awards

  1. Competitors may only win one award per Level. Competitors may not win both USEF/USEA and NCDCTA track at the same level.

  2. The USEF/USEA Track will always supersede the NCDCTA Track, regardless of placement.

    1. Example 1: If a competitor meets the maximum requirements at Training Level in both tracks and places 2nd in NCDCTA and 5th in USEF/USEA, the 5th place USEF/USEA will be awarded and no award will be given in the NCDCTA track.

    2. Example 2: If a competitor meets the maximum requirements at Beginner Novice in the NCDCTA Track and ranks 2nd, and does not meet the maximum requirements in the USEF/USEA Track, no award will be given in the USEF/USEA Track and 2nd place will be awarded in the NCDCTA track.

  3. NCDCTA-Recognized Combined Tests will be awarded separately. A competitor may receive an award at both the NCDCTA-Recognized HT Track and the NCDCTA-Recognized CT Track at the same level

 

Eventing Track 1 (E1) – USEF/USEA Recognized HT

  • Eventing Levels Recognized

    • Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Modified, Preliminary and Above

  • Maximum number of levels awarded per team

    • Two (2)

  • Levels awarded

    • Two (2) highest

  • Minimum number of venues

    • Two (2)

  • Minimum number of tests

    • Three (3)

  • Rolling Average

    • Top 3 rides

  • Awards

    • Ribbons 1 - 6

    • Jr/YR, Adult Amateur, Open

  • Prizes

    • 1 - 3

    • Jr/YR, Adult Amateur, Open

  • Division Champion

    • Horse/Rider Team that has won a division is not eligible to win that division again. (Rule Suspended for 2023)

    • Exception: Preliminary and Above.

Eventing Track 2 (E2) – NCDCTA Recognized HT

  • Eventing Levels Recognized

    • Green as Grass, Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Modified, Preliminary and Above

  • Maximum number of levels awarded per team

    • Two (2)

  • Levels awarded

    • Two (2) highest

  • Minimum number of venues

    • Two (2)

  • Minimum number of tests

    • Three (3)

  • Rolling Average

    • Top 3 rides

  • Awards

    • Ribbons 1 - 6

    • Jr/YR, Adult Amateur, Open

  • Prizes

    • 1 - 3

    • Jr/YR, Adult Amateur, Open

  • Division Champion

    • Horse/Rider Team that has won a division is not eligible to win that division again. (Rule suspended for 2023)

    • Exception is Preliminary and Above.

Eventing Track 3 (E3) – NCDCTA Recognized CT

  • Eventing Levels Recognized

    • Green as Grass, Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Modified, Preliminary and Above

  • Maximum number of levels awarded per team

    • Two (2)

  • Levels awarded

    • Two (2) highest

  • Minimum number of venues

    • Two (2)

  • Minimum number of tests

    • Three (3)

  • Rolling Average

    • Top 3 rides

  • Awards

    • Ribbons 1 - 6

    • Jr/YR, Adult Amateur, Open

  • Prizes

    • 1 - 3

    • Jr/YR, Adult Amateur, Open

  • Division Champion

    • Horse/Rider Team that has won a division is not eligible to win that division again. (Rule Suspended for 2023)

    • Exception is Preliminary and Above.



Rules Governing NCDCTA Dressage Championship​

  • Horse must be registered for Horse of the Year (HOY).

  • Rider must be an active NCDCTA member in good standing.

  • Horse/rider combination must have at least 1 qualifying HOY score at the level they wish to enter by the closing date of this show. Qualifying scores must be earned at USEF/USDF recognized competitions.

  • Except for Introductory Level, riders, owners and trainers must be current USEF and USDF members or pay non-member fees. USEF non member fee must be paid on USEF website.

  • Qualifying Scores:

    • Introductory through First Level - 60% or higher

    • Second through Fourth Levels - 58% or higher

    • FEI Levels - 55% or higher

    • Musical Freestyles (FEI & USDF) - 55% or higher

  • Levels offered at the Championships: Intro (Jr, AA, Open); Training through Fourth Levels (Jr, AA & Open); FEI PSG, I-1, I-2 & Grand Prix (Jr/YR, AA, Open); USDF Musical Freestyles (Jr, AA, Open); FEI Musical Freestyles (Jr, AA, Open).

  • Competitors may enter the Championships in anticipation of qualifying, but if the horse/rider team has not qualified by the closing date they shall be placed in the corresponding non-championship class.

  • Qualification for the Championships shall be solely determined by NCDCTA Membership Database. A list of those qualified shall be published on the NCDCTA website.

  • A horse/rider team may qualify at more than one level and all qualified horse/rider teams are permitted to compete in the Championships in consecutive qualified levels.

  • A horse may complete in only one division per level. Horse may be entered in another level (up to one level above or below) in the same or a different division.

  • Winning Horse/Rider teams will be ineligible to win the same level two years in a row, except for Grand Prix and Grand Prix Musical Freestyle.

  • Adult Amateur status shall be determined according to USEF rules.

  • Tests to be ridden at 2024 Championships: Two (2) designated Championship classes – one per day at each level for Introductory through Fourth levels & USEF Musical Freestyles. For USDF Intro, Tests A & B; for USEF levels, tests 2 & 3 of the level; FEI will ride one championship test on one day and these tests will be double judged. Competitors in Grand Prix can choose between the two Grand Prix tests.

  • Championship Scoring: In divisions that require two tests, the two Championship classes must be entered and a score obtained in order to qualify for an award. Winners at each level and division will be determined by averaging the percentage scores for the two rides. In case of a tie, the winner is determined by the highest scoring ride on the second day.

Rules Governing NCDCTA Eventing Championship

  • Rider, Owner/Lessee, and Horse must be a registered, active member of NCDCTA at the time results are earned.

  • Horse/rider combination must have at least 1 qualifying Horse Trial, Horse of the Year (HOY) score within the same division.

  • Qualifying scores must be SELF REPORTED through the HOY results reporting system

  • The November War Horse Competition is the venue for the 2025 NCDCTA Eventing Championships

  • Levels offered at the Championships: Green as Grass, Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Modified.

  • WHES Champions scores and WHES Horse Trial scores will be combined and placed from lowest (1st) to highest (6th) from this pool.

  • A horse/rider team may qualify at more than one level and all qualified horse/rider teams are permitted to compete in the Championships in one corresponding level.

  • Competitors are only eligible for Eventing Championship awards if competing in their respective Championship division at the November War Horse.

  • Winning Horse/Rider teams will be ineligible to win the same level two years in a row.


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