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VADA/Nova Year-End Performance & Special Awards

Each year, VADA/Nova recognizes their members at an annual banquet, usually in March. Schooling show and Licensed show competitors are recognized at their respective competition levels. Special Service Awards include high scores in various categories, trainer awards, and sportsmanship awards. Special awards are made possible by sponsors, thank you.

Deadlines for form submissions:
January 5 - Volunteer Time Donation Form
January 12 - Mandatory Annual Awards Form & Nancy Stover Award Nomination Form

Contact Us With Questions Mandatory Annual Awards Form Nancy Stover Award Nomination Form Volunteer Time Donation Form

2023 Final Year End Awards

Process

To be considered for VADA/Nova Year End Awards you must submit a response to the Mandatory Annual Awards Form emailed to each active member and available here.
Any scores missing from the VADA/Nova Scoreboard and/or your USDF record by January 12 will not be used in the calculation of final awards.
All Mandatory Annual Awards Form submissions must be RECEIVED BY January 12. Combinations that have not submitted a questionnaire by the January 12th deadline will not be eligible for awards.
Preliminary Awards will be posted by January 17.
Corrections to the Preliminary Awards that are not received by January 22 will not be considered.
Licensed Show Awards are determined by reviewing each Mandatory Annual Awards Form along with the combination’s USDF record.
Schooling Show Awards are determined by reviewing each Mandatory Annual Awards Form along with the VADA/Nova Schooling Show Scoreboard.
Special Awards are determined by the rules for the special award along with the Mandatory Annual Awards Form and the performance record as documented within the USDF record or Schooling Show Scoreboard as appropriate.

A Complete Package Requires: Completed Year-End Award Declaration form, Performance Record (USDF/Schooling Show Scoreboard), AA verification/self-certification as applicable, Volunteer time completed.

Scores, Membership & Category Requirements

Competitor must be a VADA/Nova member at the time of the competition. (Note: membership forms received within 7 days of a competition will allow scores from that competition to count).
All awards will be calculated by adding the horse/rider scores together and then dividing by the total number of tests ridden to result in an average score.
The awards year will run from December 1 — November 30.
For all awards, scores must be earned from at least 2 different judges.
For all awards, scores must be earned from at least 2 different shows.
Scores cannot be counted if the test is ridden Hors de Concours (HC).
At each category or level, ribbons will be divided into Junior/Young Rider (rider 21 or under as of January 1 of the award year), Open, and Adult Amateur (AA). Ribbons will be awarded to 8 places in all categories.
To qualify as an AA, you must have a US Equestrian AA card on record. If you are not a USEF member (i.e., submitting only for schooling shows or based only on scores for opportunity classes), you need to self-certify to VADA/Nova that you meet the US Equestrian AA criteria.

Volunteer Requirements

1 day of volunteer time at a VADA/Nova event or for VADA/Nova Board approved activities. Our website tracks volunteer time in hours, so 1 day is 10 hours.
The time may be earned by the rider, owner, family member, or friend on behalf of the rider.
Donated time must be coordinated with the donor and the VADA/Nova Volunteer Coordinator by January 5 using the Volunteer Time Donation Form.
Volunteer time may only be earned at VADA/Nova events. Shows run by VADA, another VADA chapter, partner shows, or other organizations will not count toward this requirement.
A rider 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.
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).

Schooling Shows Performance & Special Awards

Licensed Shows Performance & Special Awards

Service Special Awards

Additional Requirements

Tests must be judged by a USDF L graduate or a US Equestrian r, R, or S judge.
Scores from virtual shows or fix-a-tests may not be used.
Scores cannot be counted if trainer is the judge.
One or two scores (depending on the level, per the chart below) must be earned at a VADA/Nova hosted show or VADA/Nova Partner show.
For Introductory Level only, scores earned at licensed shows MAY BE SUBMITTED, in addition to scores from schooling shows.

Submission of Scores

VADA/Nova will maintain a running scoreboard tracking scores from VADA/Nova hosted shows as well as VADA/Nova Partner shows.
Riders who are only using scores from VADA/Nova hosted or Partner shows only need to submit the Award Questionnaire.
To use scores from other schooling shows, riders should submit the front page of the test electronically to schoolingshowawards@vadanova.org. These scores must be submitted within two weeks of when they are earned so they can be included on the scoreboard.
Introductory level riders who want to use scores earned at licensed shows must submit those scores to schoolingshowawards@vadanova.org, either by sending a printout from USDF Scores or the front page of the test. These scores must be submitted within two weeks of when they are earned so they can be included on the scoreboard.
Combinations that have not submitted the Mandatory Annual Awards Form by the January 12th deadline will not be eligible for awards.
Scoreboard corrections that are not received by January 12 will not be used in the calculation of final awards.

Scores Required
Ribbons will be awarded at USDF Introductory; USEF First, Second, Third, and Fourth Level; FEI PSG, Intermediare I, Inter A/B, Intermediare II, and Grand Prix; MFS, Pas de Deux, and Quadrille; and Para Equestrian. VADA/Nova does NOT offer schooling show awards for Young Horse tests, Materiale, Breed or In-Hand classes, Dressage Seat Equitation, Western, Eventing, or Gaited dressage.
	Intro	Training through Fourth	FEI, Freestyle, Pas de Deux Quadrille	Para Equestrian (Team, Individual, MFS)
# of Scores	4	4	3	3
Minimum Score	55%	55%	55%	55%
VN or VN Partner Scores	2	2	1	1
# Scores at Highest Test of Level	1 Intro B or Intro C	1	N/A	At least 1 score from Team or Individual Test

Schooling Show Performance Awards
Compass Rose Farm	Sponsored by Judith Grass and Mike O'Dell	Training & Above - highest average score (Musical, Pas de Deux, Quadrille & Para not eligible)
High Score Musical Freestyle	Sponsored by Glen Aryn Farm	Training through Grand Prix - highest single score (Pas de Deux & Quadrille not eligible)
The Rataxes Memorial	Sponsored by Debbie Mariott Rock	Rider with the highest average schooling show score at any level competing a horse aged 18 or older (Musical, Pas de Deux, Quadrille & Para not eligible) Must submit verification of horse's age or birth date with award package (e.g., registry papers with birthdate, copy of Coggins, or other)

Additional Information

Scores from all open shows (those without breed restrictions) will count toward awards.
If a test has been scored by more than one judge (i.e., judge at C and E), the combined average score as calculated at the show will count. The tests may not be counted individually.
Two or three scores (depending on the level, per the chart below) must be earned at a VADA/Nova show. DAL, GAIGS, and BLMs are considered VADA/Nova shows (regardless of which organization is hosting them).
Year-end awards are not offered for Eventing tests, Materiale, Breed Show/In Hand, or Young Horse tests.
There is no year-end award for Intro at licensed shows, but riders may submit Intro scores earned at licensed shows for schooling show awards.
Opportunity classes will count for the level being ridden and may be mixed with non-opportunity classes for purposes of achieving the required number of scores.
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 = Second Level.

· FEI Junior Tests = Third Level.

· FEI Young Rider Tests = PSG.

· Developing PSG = PSG.

· USEF Brentina Cup, FEI U-25 GP, and Developing GP = I-2.

For Grand Prix, scores can be submitted for either the standard GP test or the Grand Prix Special.
Any scores missing from your USDF record by January 12 will not be used in the calculation of final awards.

Scores Required
Ribbons will be awarded Training through Fourth; FEI (PSG, I-1, I-A/B, I-2, GP); Freestyle, Pas de Deux, Quadrille; Para Equestrian (Team, Individual, MFS); and Dressage Seat Equitation. VADA/Nova does NOT offer licensed show awards for Eventing tests, Materiale, Breed Show/In Hand, or Young Horse tests.
	Training through Fourth		FEI (PSG, I-1, I-A/B, I-2, GP)		Freestyle, Pas de Deux Quadrille	Para Equestrian (Team, Individual, MFS)	Dressage Seat Equitation
# of Scores	6		4		4	4	4
Minimum Score	55%		55%		55%	55%	60%
VN/VADA Scores	3		2		2	2	2
# Scores at Highest Test of Level	1		N/A		N/A	At least 2 scores from Team or Individual Test	N/A

Licensed Show Performance Awards
High Score Musical Freestyle		Sponsored by Glen Aryn Farm		Training through Grand Prix - highest single score (Pas de Deux & Quadrille not eligible)
The Anky Van Weltevreden Mare Challenge		Sponsored by Diann Carpenter		Training through Grand Prix - rider/mare combination with the highest average score (Musical, Pas de Deux, Quadrille, Para, & DSE not eligible) One award for USEF levels (Training - Fourth) One award for FEI levels (PSG - GP)
The Highest Average Adult Amateur		Sponsored by Donna Gatchell		Adult Amateur with the highest average score (Musical, Pas de Deux, Quadrille, Para, & DSE not eligible) One award for USEF levels (Training - Fourth) One award for FEI levels (PSG - GP) Must submit proof of Adult Amateur status (copy of USEF Amateur card or USDF printout indicating AA status)
The Rataxes Memorial		Sponsored by Debbie Mariott Rock		Rider with the highest average licensed show score at any level competing a horse aged 18 or older (Musical, Pas de Deux, Quadrille, Para & DSE not eligible) Must submit verification of horse's age or birth date with award package (e.g., registry papers with birthdate, copy of Coggins, or other)

The Awards below are based on personal commitment and service to VADA/Nova.

The Nancy Stover Distinguished Service Award requires nominations to be presented to the Board of Directors. Please submit your nominations using this form by January 12.

The Above and Beyond Awards are based on the volunteer hours each person performs in a given competition year. If you have any questions on your status, please contact volunteers@vadanova.email.

Nancy Stover Distinguished Service Award

Sponsored by Michelle & Al King

This award in honor of our beloved Nancy Stover is awarded for outstanding contributions to VADA/Nova and its mission over a long period. These contributions may include: volunteering on a regular basis at VADA/Nova licensed and schooling shows or clinics; serving as a school show secretary and/or manager; spearheading special projects and activities; and/or serving as a member of the VADA/Nova Board of Directors or as an officer.

Above & Beyond Volunteer Awards

Sponsored by Michelle & Al King

For those volunteers who truly go above and beyond to support VADA/Nova activities the organization has special volunteer awards that are given out annually.

There are three award levels: Prix St. Georges for 2 days of volunteer time; Intermediaire for 2.5 to 4.5 days of volunteer time; and Grand Prix for 5 or more days of volunteer time.

Instructor of the Year

Sponsored by VADA/Nova

Given to the instructor with demonstrated success by students who are VADA/Nova members at licensed and/or schooling shows. The highest three student score submissions from licensed and/or schooling shows will be averaged (per the Requirements).

Instructor must be indicated on the student's Year-End Cover Sheet as the primary instructor
Instructor must have a minimum of three student/horse combinations and at least two discrete students who submitted for year-end awards at schooling or licensed shows.

· At least one student/ horse combination must be riding First level or above

· No more than one student/ horse combination at Intro level can be counted

· Musical freestyle, Pas de Deux, Quadrille, Para and DSE scores are not eligible.

Each student/ horse combination can only be counted once regardless of number of year-end award submissions; the highest average year-end award of each student/ horse combination will be used.

Instructor does NOT need to be a VADA/Nova member. The winning instructor will be awarded a free VADA/Nova membership for one year; if the winning instructor is a current VADA/Nova member, their membership will be extended for a year.