NCDCTA competition recognition rules:

• The NCDCTA competition year runs from December 1 to November 30.

• The organizer/contact must be an active member of NCDCTA. If your membership lapses, your competition will be removed from the calendar. Memberships expire November 30 of each year (a 30-day grace period will be honored through the end of the calendar year). You will be advised via email when it is time to renew.

• All competitions of the same discipline that occur on the same day must be at least 50 miles from each other. No exceptions. A nationally recognized dressage show and a dressage schooling show are the same discipline. NCDCTA will only recognize a complete show (ALL disciplines must comply with the 50-mile rule. If one discipline does not comply, NCDCTA will not recognize your competition). Google maps will be used to determine mileage (shortest distance must exceed 50 miles).

• Volunteer Cards will be issued electronically to active members who volunteer. Dressage shows will be entitled to "5" volunteer cards for each day of competition. Horse Trials will be entitled to "10" volunteer cards for each day of competition.

• Fees:

  • NCDCTA-Recognized Schooling Competitions - $25 

  • USEF/USEA/USDF-Recognized Competitions - $30 each

• Payment - Accepted via Paypal after submitting your form. Competitions will not be listed on the NCDCTA calendar until payment is received.

• Cancellation - Please advise the membership secretary of any competition cancellation (membership@ncdcta.org). A fee can be rolled over to another date within the same season in the case of an "act of God" (hurricane, snowstorm heavy rain, etc.). No other refunds or substitutions allowed.

• Competitions will be issued a unique NCDCTA competition number. Please include that number as part of any communication regarding that show.

• Upon receipt of your competition results and volunteer card recipients you will be eligible to renew your competition for the following year.

Competition Recognition/Renewal Application

Competition recognition applications may be done online using the Competition Recognition Application, Approval of your date will be done by the Membership Secretary.

 

Competitions recognized in the current year may be renewed for the same weekend the subsequent year if the request is made prior to November 30. After November 30 all unclaimed dates are open to be filled by other competitions.

 

Nationally recognized (USEF, USDF, USEA) competitions will always take precedence over a schooling show (or, for USEF licensed competitions, the comparable USEF date). If a national competition is scheduled for a weekend previously used by a schooling show, the schooling show organizer will be contacted and given options for changing their show dates. The 50-mile rule will always be applied in this case.

 

NCDCTA follows the “Memorial Day Date Rotation Axis” policy used by USEF/USDF//USEA. Every five to seven years, the calendar will shift to account for the natural progression of dates. When this occurs the organizer will be notified what their next date will be. This change will be applied to all competitions in the same year.

Results

Results must be RECEVED by Membership@NCDCTA.org within ten (10) days of your competition.

 

Results MUST be sent as either an excel spreedsheet or a .dat file (USEF/USDF-licensed competitions may send their USEF results dat file) - as an attachment to an email referencing your Competition Name, Date and ID.

Out-of-State Competitions

Out-of-State dressage competitions will be eligible for recognition. Eventers are encouraged to submit out-of-state results reporting forms.

Schooling Competitions

Schooling competitions wishing to apply for NCDCTA recognition should request a date approval from the Membership Secretary at membership@gmail.com. Existing NCDCTA recognized shows must renew their approval on or before November 30th each year to retain their existing date. Approvals of new schooling shows will be granted on a first come, first served basis after existing shows have renewed. Only one competition of the same discipline within 50 miles of another will be granted approval for the same day.

Fees

The registration fee ($250 Schooling, $30 USEF/USDF/USEA) payable to NCDCTA, must be paid at the time of the application or mailed within one week of application. In case of show cancellation: Fee can be rolled over to another date within the same season in the case of an "act of God" (hurricane, snowstorm, heavy rain, etc.). No other refunds or substitutions allowed. 

Application

Application may be mailed to recognition chairman or completed in your account, and must include any and all deviations from USEF rules. All show managers applying for recognition must be a current NCDCTA member, and if USEF member, must be currently in good standing. Other than the exceptions listed below, all USEF tack, safety and competition rules and guidelines should be followed. Any variation of USEF rules not covered by the exceptions listed below should be included on the application, and the respective NCDCTA Dressage/Eventing chairman will make the final decision as to recognition status. Note: Only a brief 1 minute or less comment can be given by the judge to the competitor after the salute. Other than a brief comment, Rule USEF DR122.10 "A member of the jury may not discuss a ride with a competitor before the bell or after the salute" will not be waived, due to blurring the distinction between clinic and competition. i.e. Fix-a-Test is a clinic, and not a competition.

Allowable USEF Rule Deviations

Allowable USEF rule deviations for NCDCTA recognized competitions:

• DRESSAGE JUDGES: Must be chosen from the current roster of USEF Dressage judges, USEF Event judges, or USDF L graduates. 

• TECHNICAL DELEGATE: Not required, but show managers accept responsibility for rule enforcement. 

• EVENT GROUND JURY: Not required, but show managers accept responsibility for rule enforcement, adjudication of inquiries, and agree to provide a competent, knowledgeable individual to judge stadium. 

• EVENT COURSE DESIGNER: Not required, but show managers accept responsibility to ensure that all courses are up to current specs and safety standards. 

• DRESS CODE: May be casual, including boots and bandages in the dressage ring. Protective Headgear, as defined in USEF GR801 rules, is required at all times when mounted at the competition.

• DUPLICATE TESTS: (same dressage test) may be allowed by the organizer, but only the first ride will count for NCDCTA points. This applies to eventing also. i.e. a horse/rider does a beginner novice horse trials, and a novice combined test at the same show = full points for both. But if they do a novice horse trials and a novice combined test, only the first trip down centerline will count for points because it's the same dressage test. 

VOLUNTEER CARDS

Earn

• Volunteer cards may be earned at any NCDCTA recognized competition or educational activity. Person wishing to volunteer should contact the individual show/activity manager. It is the responsibility of the show/ activity manager to distribute cards to the volunteers.

• Persons serving on the NCDCTA Executive Board earn 5 volunteer cards per year.

• Persons submitting articles for the newsletter, pre-assigned by the editor, are entitled to a full day volunteer card. 

• Volunteer cards are fully transferable.

• All volunteer cards expire five years after date of issue on December 31 of the fifth year 

• NCDCTA Volunteer Cards may be used to register a member's horse for the Horse of the Year awards program. One full day volunteer card per horse must be submitted annually for renewal. Horse to be credited must be marked on the card when submitted to Membership/HOY Secretary. 

• Volunteer cards may be used in lieu of full or partial audit fee at NCDCTA sponsored educational activities. 

Distribution

NCDCTA recognized dressage and combined test show managers will receive 5 cards per day of competition (Horse Trials: 10 cards per day of competition) to distribute to their volunteers. After results are received, cards will be sent to show manager by recognition chair.

NCDCTA sponsored shows and activities: no limit to the number of cards; the show or activity organizer should contact the NCDCTA membership secretary with requests within 10 days.