WDAA Show Recognition Rules
Show Recognition fee: $45.00 Effective October 2025
WDAA show recognition is conditional on full compliance with Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA) and United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Western Dressage rules. WDAA reserves the right to revoke recognition, adjust show results to ensure compliance, or deny applications at its sole discretion. Shows must submit results within 14 days of the show’s end date. WDAA is not responsible for errors or omissions in the submitted application, prize list, or results. Refer to WDAA rules below and the USEF Western Dressage Rule Book at https://www.westerndressageassociation.org/western-dressage-rules-guidelines for full details.
General Requirements
Show Types: WDAA recognition is available for eligible Online Shows, Live Shows, and USEF Licensed Shows. Each show type must meet specific WDAA and, for USEF Licensed Shows, USEF requirements. Show Names containing Western Dressage Championship, Western Dressage Nationals, Western Dressage Regionals, or similar are exclusively reserved for WDAA Use Only. This rule also applies to marketing and promotion of show.
- Read more on the benefits of USEF Lite here: USEF Lite Benefits PDF
- USEF Licensed and WDAA Recognized-Show Comparisons
WDAA Championships and Regions
Competition Year January 1 – December 31st
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Application Process:
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Submit applications early via the WDAA Show Recognition Form. Applications received fewer than 30 days before the show’s start date may be ineligible for recognition, especially for USEF Licensed Shows requiring USEF approval.
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Pay the $45 per show fee via credit card (Payscape) or check mailed to WDAA, PO Box 2349, Parker, CO 80134. Check payments may delay approval; include show name and application reference.
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Submit a complete application, including the prize list and entry form with fields for owner and rider WDAA membership numbers and horse identification (WDAA Horse Number, USEF Horse Number, or Breed Registry Number).
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For USEF Licensed Shows, obtain USEF approval and show number before applying to WDAA.
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Submit individual applications with the $45 fee per show.
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Judges: All Western Dressage tests and rail classes must be judged by USEF-licensed Western Dressage judges.
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USEF “r” judges may judge Introductory, Basic, Level 1 tests, and all rail classes.
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USEF “R” judges may judge all levels and rail classes.
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Dressage judges and L graduates are not eligible.
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Report judge changes (before or during the show) to WDAA via email to WDAA as soon as known. For Online Shows, ensure judges are equipped to review video submissions.
- Panel Judging – results can only be submitted to WDAA from the judge at C. Averaged scores will not be accepted.
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- Levels: WDAA programs utilize the following Levels:
WDAA Levels
Level Name Level Name INTRO WD HACK BASIC WD DRESSAGE SEAT HORSEMANSHIP WALK-JOG 1 WD DRESSAGE SEAT HORSEMANSHIP INTERMEDIATE 2 WD DRESSAGE SEAT HORSEMANSHIP ADVANCED 3 WD DRESSAGE SEAT EQUITATION RAIL WALK-JOG 4 WD DRESSAGE SEAT EQUITATION RAIL WALK-JOG-LOPE 5 WD SUITABILITY THERAPEUTIC -
Tests: Use current WDAA Tests, listed as “WDAA Western Dressage tests” in the prize list for all show types.
- Divisions: WDAA programs utilize the following divisions. Classes that place Open riders with Amateurs or Juniors will automatically be assigned as Open.
WDAA Show Divisions
AMATEUR PHYS CHALLENGED AMATEUR JUNIOR PHYS CHALLENGED JUNIOR JUNIOR-AMATEUR PHYS CHALLENGED OPEN OPEN THERAPEUTIC AMATEUR GAITED AMATEUR THERAPEUTIC JUNIOR GAITED JUNIOR THERAPEUTIC OPEN GAITED OPEN - Class Information: Assign unique class numbers for all classes across Online, Live, and USEF Licensed Shows. For clarity, use separate class numbers for each division (Junior, Amateur, Open) and include the level, test/pattern, and division in the class name (e.g., “Level 1 Test 2 Amateur,” “Basic Test 3 Open”). For Test of Choice classes, see point 7.
- Test of Choice (TOC) Classes and Patterns: Standard Western Dressage test classes and patterns for TOC classes must be separated and placed by Level (e.g., Introductory, Basic, Level 1), using naming conventions per point 6. Freestyle classes may combine Levels. Ensure TOC classes do not violate USEF WD Rule 102.4: No horse may be ridden more than once in any Western Dressage class including separate sections of the same class number.
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Ride Limits and Eligibility:
Horse/rider combinations are limited to two consecutive levels (including Freestyle).
Suitability, Hack, and Equitation classes are exempt from daily ride limits, allowing competition at any eligible level.
Horse/rider combinations may ride the same test twice at the same competition, given they are separate class
numbersHorses are limited to one ride per class (including sections) but may compete in Junior, Amateur, and Open sections with up to two riders.
Shows may further restrict rides per horse/level in the prize list.
Junior exhibitors follow GR128; Amateur exhibitors require current Amateur Certification (GR1306/GR1307) at Federation Licensed Competitions or breed/show rules at non-Federation events.
An individual cannot compete as both a Junior and an Amateur at the same competition.
- Equipment Checks: A designated person or USEF steward must check horse, tack, and attire for at least one-third of horses per class, eliminating any horse or tack in violation. Report violations to WDAA via info@westerndressageassociation.org. Access the electronic equipment guide here: WDAA Equipment Guide. For online shows, see equipment check requirements below.
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Membership and Non-Member Fees: For USEF Licensed Shows, riders, owners, trainers, lessees, coaches, and agents must be WDAA members or pay a non-member show pass fee at the show. Join WDAA. Forms are provided in the approval letter. All competitors in Western Dressage classes must be reported in official results regardless of their membership status.
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Horse Identification: To be included in public official show results and eligible to participate in WDAA Programs, horses must be enrolled with WDAA with either a free WDAA Horse Number or enroll in the Lifetime Points & Awards Program. Include fields for this information on your entry form and include in your results data. USEF or breed licensed shows may require additional identification numbers specific to the organization.
- WDAA Horse Lifetime Points & Awards Program Enrollment
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USEF Horse ID (obtained via USEF Fan Membership)
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Breed registration number
- Results must be submitted either using our Results Upload Form (password provided at approval) or by emailing to Results@westerndressageassociation.org within 14 days after the end of the show. Approved File Formats
- All WDAA Recognized Shows will be governed by the USEF WD Rule Book and must adhere to USEF WD rules for all tests and rail classes.
- All WDAA Recognized Shows must comply with Safe Sport Sanctions by denying entrance to show grounds for anyone listed on the Safe Sport Sanction page. https://www.usef.org/compete/resources-forms/rules-regulations/safe-sport-sanctions. Please see USEF General Rule 703 for details on the regulations of suspended persons.
- All WDAA Recognized Shows and their Licensed Officials must adhere to the WDAA Judge’s Code of Ethics.
- Some rules for WDAA Recognized Shows licensed as USEF Lite supersede the USEF Lite rules. View the USEF/WDAA Competition Comparison Chart HERE.
- Shows must follow all local, state, and federal requirements relative to horse and human health.
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Show Cancellation and Refund Policy If a WDAA-recognized show is canceled, the show manager must notify WDAA immediately using our Update Recognized Show Information form: https://wdaapoints.org/update-recognized-show-information/.
- Recognition Fee: The $45 fee is non-refundable once approval is granted. However, for cancellations due to weather or other disasters, WDAA may allow the fee to apply to a rescheduled show on a new date within the same competition year (January 1 – December 31), subject to WDAA approval via the update form.
- Exhibitor Refunds: Handled exclusively by the show manager per the prize list; WDAA does not intervene.
WDAA may revoke recognition without refund for non-compliance.
WDAA RECOGNIZED ONLINE SHOW RULES AND GUIDELINES
Online shows must meet all the above General Requirements plus additional requirements for video recording and equipment checks, detailed here: Online Show Rules & Guidelines
Benefits of Approved Shows
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WDAA will assign a unique show identification number and list recognized shows on the WDAA Event Calendar.
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Use the WDAA-branded digital logo solely for promoting your recognized show. Altering or using it for awards or other purposes may result in penalties.
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Eligible results from recognized shows may be used to participate in WDAA programs, including the Year-End High Point (YEHP), Horse Lifetime Points and Awards Program (WHLPAP), and World Show Qualifying, provided exhibitor and owner are active WDAA members and the horse is enrolled with a valid WDAA horse number at the time of the competition.
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WDAA membership is not required to compete in WDAA-recognized shows. However, to have show results publicly displayed on the Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA) website and to be eligible for WDAA programs, including the Year-End High Point (YEHP) awards, the following conditions must be met at the time of competition: the exhibitor must be an active WDAA member, the horse owner must be an active WDAA member, and the horse must be enrolled with a valid WDAA horse number. Compliance with these requirements ensures eligibility for result publication and participation in WDAA programs.
