Step 1- Volunteer

• Sign up to Volunteer Today
• One day of volunteer time at a VADA/Nova event is required. Hours can be found under your Profile of the website, under Histories- Volunteering History. (5 hours is a half day, 10 hours is a full day)
• Volunteer time may only be earned at VADA/Nova events. Shows run by VADA, other chapters, GMO groups. Partner Shows will not count toward this requirement.
• Competitors are expected to complete their own volunteer time.
• A competitor does not have to do multiple days of volunteer time to submit for awards with multiple horses, at multiple levels, or for both Schooling and Licensed divisions.
• Competitors may receive a donation of volunteer time, only from a family member, the horse's owner, or the competitor's student.
• The Donor must email volunteers@vadanova.email before November 15th.
• In the case of Pas de Deux or Quadrille awards, ALL riders of the team must satisfy volunteer requirements for the whole team to be eligible for award(s)

Step 2- Membership

• For Schooling Awards, the competitor must be a VADA/Nova member at the time of the competition. (Membership submissions received within 7 days of a competition will allow scores from that competition to cound.)
• For Licensed Awards, either the owner or the competitor must be a VADA/Nova member.

Step 3- Compete

For Schooling Shows:

• All VADA/Nova Schooling and Partner Show scores will be added to the Scoreboard. Competitors are responsible for checking accuracy any corrections can be sent to schooling.shows@vadanova.email before November 30th.
• Scores must be earned between Dec 1st and Nov 30th.
• Only 1 outside score may be submitted (non-VADA/Nova or Partner Show) and must be sent to schooling.shows@vadanova.email by Oct 30th. Please send a picture of the front of your test and include the judge's name and show location/name in your email. Any scores earned between Oct 30th and Nov 30th may be submitted by Nov 30th.
• Outside scores must be judged by a USDF L graduate or USEF Licensed Judge
• Virtual shows or clinics may not be used.
• Scores cannot be counted if the competitor's trainer is the judge.
• Scores ridden Hors Concours will not be counted.
• Scores to be averaged must include at least one of the top test of the level and the designated number VADA/Nova or Partner scores from the table below.
• Placings will be determined by taking the highest score of the highest test of the level, the appropriate number of VADA/Nova or Partner scores, and averaging those required scores.
• See the table below for requirements at each level.

For Licensed Shows:

• Combination's USDF record will be used to calculate average score.
• Scores must be earned from at least 2 different judges and 2 different shows.
• Scores from all open shows will count (no breed restricted classes)
• Scores will not be counted if test is ridden Hors Concours.
• Scores earned in FEI developing horse or youth rider tests may be submitted in accordance with USEF equivalency rules
• FEI Pony Rider and Children's Tests are equivalent to Second Level
• FEI Junior Tests are equivalent to Third Level
• FEI Young Rider Tests are equivalent to Prix St Georges
• Developing Prix St George is equivalent to Prix St Georges
• USEF Brentina Cup, FEI U-25 GP, and Developing GP are equivalent to Intermediate 2
• Grand Prix Special can be submitted at Grand Prix level
• See the table below for requirements at each level.

Step 4- Submit Awards Form and Supporting Documents

• All Riders must submit a Mandatory Annual Awards Form by Dec 1, no exceptions will be made. This form is essential for determining eligibility for special awards, and no packet will be considered complete without the submission of this form.
• Members are responsible for making sure their scores for licensed shows are in the USDF system and for schooling shows are listed in the VADA/Nova Scoreboard. Any correction to either system must be submitted to yearend.awards@vadanova.email by Dec 1.
• Competitors may be asked to submit AA card or self-verification, proof of horse's age or gender depending on which awards are applied for.

Step 5- Check Draft Results and RSVP for Member Party

• Draft Year End Awards will be posted by Dec 15
• Final Year End Awards will be posted by Dec 22
• Year End Awards
• Special Awards
• Volunteer Awards
• Corrections must be sent to yearend.awards@vadanova.email by Dec 22.
• RSVP for our Member and Volunteer Party