WDAA Horse Lifetime Points and Awards Program FAQ

The WDAA Horse Lifetime Points and Awards Program is a voluntary pay-to-participate program in which owners submit Western Dressage Tests, Rail Class, and Equitation Pattern results in order to earn and track Lifetime Points for their horse. The WHLPAP also provides exclusive VIP-style benefits, such as physical milestone awards and an annual Awards Banquet at the WDAA World Championship Show. The WHLPAP is all about recognizing the growth and accomplishments of the dedicated horses in the program. Share your Journey and track your horse’s Western Dressage career milestones and earn beautiful, customized Lifetime Awards celebrating your horse’s achievements in Western Dressage.

The WDAA Horse Lifetime Points and Awards Program is open to all horses, ponies, and mules, regardless of breed, type, or age. Participation in the WHLPAP requires current WDAA membership for both the horse owner and all exhibitors.

The WDAA offers two horse-focused point programs: the Year-End High Point Program (YEHP-IYEHP) and the WDAA Horse Lifetime Points and Awards Program (WHLPAP). The YEHP recognizes annual achievements, awarding points based on a horse’s performance over a single competition year. The WHLPAP, a voluntary pay-to-participate program, tracks lifetime points and provides exclusive VIP-style benefits, such as milestone awards and event recognition.

Start with the official WDAA Show Calendar at westerndressageassociation.org/event-calendar-view—it’s your gold standard.

Show organizers often share exciting previews on social media or other channels before applying for recognition to spark interest and build attendance. If a show isn’t on the calendar yet, it has not been recognized (application may be pending).

For shows proudly listed on the calendar:

• Look for the official WDAA show recognition logo and assigned show number in the prize list or event details.
• Confirm entry forms request WDAA Member and Horse Numbers for smooth, accurate results reporting.
• Recognition is complete once approval, fees, and results are submitted in line with WDAA guidelines.

Points can be earned from eligible scores or placings at WDAA Recognized Shows judged by USEF-licensed Western Dressage judges. These include Online Shows, Live Shows, WDAA-USEF Licensed Shows, and WDAA-hosted events like the WDAA Online International Challenge and the WDAA World Championship Show. Each eligible test score or pattern/rail placing is purchased by the member to earn WHLPAP points. You must also have an active annual recording for the competition year the results are from.

Results will only be available for purchase if they meet the following criteria:

Active Annual Recording Form: To submit your results for points your horse must actively be enrolled in the WHLPAP and have an Annual Recording Form on file for the show year you would like to submit points for.

Minimum Test Score: Points cannot be earned for scores below 60%.

Rail Classes and Patterns Placement Limit: No points will be awarded for:

• Classes with fewer than three competitors.
• Please see the Rail and Equitation Class Calculation page for point calculations based on placing for Rail and Equitation classes.

Judge Requirements:

Points can only be earned at WDAA Recognized Shows judged by USEF-licensed Western Dressage judges:

• “r” Judges: Approved for Intro, Basic, and Level 1 tests, as well as Suitability, Hack, and Equitation rail classes.
• “R” Judges: Approved for all levels of tests and rail classes.
• L Graduates: Not eligible to judge WDAA Recognized Shows.

Multiple Judges: If a class is judged by two USEF-licensed Western Dressage judges, only one score from one judge per ride can be submitted. Participants may choose the higher score.

Previous Year Points: Tests and classes from the prior calendar year can be submitted, provided that the horse has an active Annual Recording Form for the applicable year.

To submit your results for points your horse must actively be enrolled in the WHLPAP and have an Annual Recording Form on file for the show year you would like to submit points for.

To earn points for Western Dressage Tests, Rail Classes, or Equitation Patterns for 2025 shows, you must submit them via the Smart Points Purchase Form. Smart Points can directly be purchased through the form and do not require uploading attachments.

Eligible Results are automatically available for purchase once the the official show results have been received from the show secretary and processed by our team. Purchased points are immediately shown on your Horse Dashboard.

Points are calculated based on the Level and the score for Western Dressage Tests, and the placing and Level for Rail Class and Equitation Patterns. It is then multiplied by Show Point Factor, determined by the show type, to result in the final total point value. Please see the WHLPAP How Points are Calculated charts for exact calculations.

0.5 points are awarded for Online Shows
Single Points earned at WDAA Live Shows
1.5 Points: Earned only at the WDAA Online International Challenge.
Double Points: Earned at WDAA-USEF Licensed Shows when judged by a current USEF-licensed Western Dressage judge.
Triple Points: Earned only at the WDAA Western Dressage World Championship Show.

All points submission approval times depend on competition management providing official show results data. Smart points won’t be available for purchase and Manual point submissions won’t be approved until the official show results are received by WDAA and processed. Smart points, when purchased, are immediately available on your Horse Dashboard. Manual point submissions can take up to a week to process.

Yes, you can submit results for points from shows from the previous show year. Your horse must have an active Annual Recording Form for the show year you are trying to submit points from.

To view your horse’s accumulated points, annual recordings, and Pending Point submissions you can click on your horse’s name on your Member Home Page or search your horse by WHLPAP number on the Search for Lifetime Points Record page.

Horses must be WHLPAP enrolled by July 1st. Achievements must be earned by July 31st of the current year.
Annual Recordings and Point Submissions must also be approved by July 31st.
Points submission approval depends on competition management providing official show results data.

Please note: These dates are subject to change based upon the actual show dates of the WDAA World Championship show. We need to allow enough time for awards to be customized and shipped to the awards banquet.

If a show does not submit official results to WDAA, no WHLPAP points will be awarded—regardless of your performance.

WDAA show recognition is conditional on full compliance with WDAA and USEF Western Dressage rules. WDAA reserves the right to revoke recognition, adjust results for compliance, or deny applications. Shows must submit results within 14 days of the show’s end date; WDAA is not responsible for errors or omissions in applications, prize lists, or results.

WDAA cannot accept late, incomplete, or unofficial submissions. Contact show management immediately to ensure compliance. Refer to the WDAA Show Recognition Rules and USEF Western Dressage Rule Book for details.

Online shows count as half points in the WDAA Point Programs to reflect the differences in competitive environment compared to in-person shows. This adjustment accounts for variations in judging, atmosphere, and competitive dynamics that can influence performance in a virtual setting. The WDAA hosted WDAA Online International Challenge earns full points for YEHP.

Horse’s earn different levels of Achievements as they accumulate points. Physical Awards are vary between each level, and a horse can achieve and receive more than one physical award per year. To view the milestones for each Achievement, please visit the Achievement Registries page.

The fees associated with our program are thoughtfully set to uphold the highest standards of competition, recognition, and to support the program’s operating expenses.

Horse Lifetime Enrollment Fee

• Price: $100
• Details: Registers your horse for its entire Western Dressage career. This one-time fee includes a WDAA Lifetime Recorded Number and eligibility to earn WDAA Achievement awards.

Annual Recording Fee

• Price: $50 per year
• Necessity: Required annually for each competition year of participation, including the year of initial enrollment.
• Purpose: Enables the submission of WHLPAP points from shows for that particular year.

Test and Rail Class Submission Fee

• Price: $10 per test/rail class
• Purpose: This fee ensures that every test and rail class performance is accurately recorded in the WHLPAP system, directly supporting program operations and awards.

WHLPAP funds support the program itself and contribute valuable data used to enhance WDAA’s educational offerings.

Awards are processed annually on August 1st to be presented at our annual WHLPAP Awards Banquet at the WDAA World Championship Show. Registration for the banquet opens in August and will be available on the website. If you can’t attend, we’ll ship your awards to you in October.

Please note: These dates are subject to change based upon the actual show dates of the WDAA World Championship show. We need to allow enough time for awards to be customized and shipped to the awards banquet.

To view your horse’s accumulated points, annual recordings, and Pending Point submissions you can click on your horse’s name on your Member Home Page or search your horse by WHLPAP number on the Search for Lifetime Points Record page.

Submit a Horse Information Update Form with the required fee to update your horse’s information.

If a horse is sold or leased, the points stay with the horse. Submit an Update Horse Information Form with the required fee. Only the current Owner in the WHLPAP system will be able to submit points for the horse.