Declare, Nominate, Invite, Wildcard… What does it all mean and what do you need to do!?

US Dressage Finals Qualifying Process Demystified

While most competitors are familiar with the process to qualify for the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championships, many still express frustration and confusion regarding the steps and process necessary to reach the pinnacle of USDF’s competition programs, the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®. Here, we will walk you through, step-by-step, the process from start to finish and hopefully clarify some of the more confusing aspects.

The first thing to know, if you are interested in competing at the US Dressage Finals, is that the Great American/USDF Regional Championships serve as the qualifiers for the event. So…

STEP 1: QUALIFY – REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

To qualify to compete at the Great American/USDF Regional Championships, a horse and rider combination must earn a total of two qualifying scores* at two different USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Dressage Competitions, from two different judges.

*The owner, or at least one of the owners, on file must have a USDF Participating Membership (Business Membership if owned by a business), the rider must have a USDF Participating Membership, and the horse must have a USDF Lifetime Horse Registration at the time qualifying scores are earned and at the regional championship competition. These requirements will be based upon the information as it is on file in the USDF database.

Minimum Regional Championship Qualifying Scores

	OPEN	AA	JR/YR
TRAINING LEVEL (TEST 3)	68%	63%	63%
FIRST LEVEL (TEST 3)	66%	62%	62%
SECOND LEVEL (TEST 3)	64%	61%	61%
THIRD LEVEL (TEST 3)	62%	60%	60%
FOURTH LEVEL (TEST 3)	62%	60%	60%
PRIX ST. GEORGES	62%	60%	60%
INTERMEDIATE I	62%	60%	60%
INTERMEDIATE II	62%	60%	60%
GRAND PRIX	60%	60%	60%

FREESTYLE	OPEN/JR/YR	AA
FIRST LEVEL	65%	65%
SECOND LEVEL	65%	65%
THIRD LEVEL	65%	65%
FOURTH LEVEL	65%	65%
INTERMEDIATE 1	65%	65%
GRAND PRIX	65%	65%

It is the responsibility of the competitor to review the full program rules and to ensure all information on file with USEF and USDF is in accordance with the rules and requirements outlined in this document.

STEP 2: DECLARE

By midnight the day prior to the first day of the Regional Championship competition (including any open class days), riders interested in attempting to qualify for the US Dressage Finals must* complete a Declaration of Intent. There is no cost to submit a Declaration of Intent, but horse/rider combos must submit a Declaration at each level and eligible division in which they intend to compete at the US Dressage Finals.

Declarations can be submitted annually, for each year’s competition, beginning July 1.

*If you forget to declare, you still have a chance – see Step 3!

STEP 3: QUALIFY – US DRESSAGE FINALS

Once a competitor is qualified to compete in the Great American/USDF Regional Championships, there are two ways to qualify for the US Dressage Finals.

1. By Placing – The top two of the top five declared horse/rider combinations* for each level and eligible division (open or adult amateur for Training through Grand Prix, including freestyles; Junior/Young Rider for Training through Intermediate I) from each of the nine Regional Championships will be automatically invited.

*US Citizenship Required for rider

2. By Wild Card – Horse/rider combinations*, whether declared or not, who earn an eligible Wild Card score in a Regional Championship class will be invited to participate in the US Dressage Finals. There is no limit to the number of Wild Card invitations offered. 

*US Citizenship Required for rider

Wild Card Score Requirements

	OPEN	AA	JR/YR
TRAINING:	72%	68%	68%
FIRST:	72%	68%	68%
SECOND:	69%	65%	65%
THIRD:	69%	65%	65%
FOURTH:	69%	65%	65%
PRIX ST. GEORGES:	68%	65%	65%
INTERMEDIATE I:	68%	64%	64%
INTERMEDIATE II:	66%	64%	N/A
GRAND PRIX	66%	64%	N/A
FIRST-FOURTH LEVEL FREESTYLES:	70%	70%	N/A
INTERMEDIATE & GRAND PRIX FREESTYLES	68%	68%	N/A

STEP 4: NOMINATE

Everyone* whose Regional Championship performance earns them eligibility to compete at the US Dressage Finals must submit a nomination, along with nomination fee (listed entry fee for the class), by the nomination deadline in order to maintain eligibility to participate in the US Dressage Finals. New for 2025, competitors now have the extended deadline of midnight, 120 hours (the Friday) after the last championship day of their respective Regional Championship competition to submit their nomination and fee. It is important to remember that a nomination and fee must be submitted for each class/division that a horse/rider combo intends to compete in at the Finals competition.

*This includes those who qualified by both placing and Wild Card score, as well as all reserve/alternate list horse/rider combinations.

Those who have earned eligibility by placing or Wild Card score at the Regional Championships will receive an electronic invitation to the US Dressage Finals in the days following. A notification will also be sent to the third through fifth place declared horse/rider combinations regarding their reserve/alternate list status.

Two Most Common Questions Regarding Nominations:

1. Do I need to wait for my invitation/notification after the conclusion of the Regional Championship competition to nominate?

NO – You do not have to wait to receive your invitation or notification in order to nominate. Nominations can be submitted anytime, from when they open for the first occurring Regional Championship through the 120 hour window following the last day of championship classes at your respective Regional Championship competition.

2. What happens to my nomination fee?

Nomination fees paid will be applied to the total amount due at Closing Date. Nominated horse/rider combinations that are not eligible to enter the competition and are ineligible for a Wild Card will receive a full refund of nomination fees paid (less a $15 processing fee*) per nominated class.

*Reserve/alternate list/in line by placing entries are not subject to the $15 processing fee

STEP 4: COMPLETE FINAL ENTRY

The deadline to submit final/completed entries for the 2025 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® is midnight ET on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Complete entries are allowed to be submitted beginning on opening date for competitors in any region, with a refund* being issued for those horse/rider combinations deemed ineligible to participate on the Closing Date.

*Complete/fully paid entries that do not receive an invitation, are ineligible for a Wild Card, and/or do not compete in the show will have the office fee ($80) and processing fee ($15) deducted from their entry refund.

STEP 5: TAKE YOUR TURN DOWN ‘THE CENTERLINE OF CHAMPIONS’

You’re done!! Make your travel plans and join us at the World Equestrian Center (Wilmington, OH), October 30 – November 2, for the 2025 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® and take your turn down ‘the centerline of champions’! The feeling of taking the national stage at this premier event is something no competitor is soon to forget, so make plans to attend today.

Visit the US Dressage Finals website to find out more information on the event, the venue, hospitality and VIP packages, and much more. Travel grants are available to assist with the cost of attending the Finals, for those who meet the requirements as well, so follow the steps above and make plans to join us as we crown a new set of US Dressage Finals Champions! 

2025 Dates To Remember

	Regional Championship	Declaration Window*	Nomination Window *	Closing Date ^
Region 1	October 2-5	July 1 – October 1	September 14 – October 10	October 11
Region 2	September 10-14	July 1 – September 9	September 14-19	October 11
Region 3	October 3-5	July 1 – October 2	September 14 – October 10	October 11
Region 4	October 2-5	July 1 – October 1	September 14 – October 10	October 11
Region 5	September 18-21	July 1 – September 17	September 14-26	October 11
Region 6	October 2-5	July 1 – October 1	September 14 – October 10	October 11
Region 7	September 18-21	July 1 – September 17	September 14-26	October 11
Region 8	September 18-21	July 1 – September 17	September 14-26	October 11
Region 9	October 2-5	July 1 – October 1	September 14 – October 10	October 11