You can just get the gold, if you want. (Or now the Gold With Distinction…)
In the US, the lower level medals require a lot of scores. So they aren’t as accessible to people who live in areas where they have to travel long distances to show, or areas that don’t have many shows. (Or, for that matter, to members who are on a shoestring budget.) Unfortunately, that makes this program less inclusive for all members. Rather than doing the “with distinction”, how about less scores for riders who live in geographically challenged areas. You could call it “with determination”. LOL.
I don’t know if you can skip medals. I had lots of first level scores on another horse and lots of third level scores, so had to spend $$$ to get second level scores, which I was not appreciative of. But the USDF, at the time, really wanted proven scores at USDF competitions at all levels. They wanted all horses to move up the levels. $$$$$ rather than showing at the appropriate level.
? You needed 2 second level scores at or over 60. One show and it’s done…. Thanks to the amazing system to get 2 shows out of one weekend…. Do the closest recognized show to you and that’s it….
Nope. The only rule is that you have to earn the medal to earn the corresponding freestyle bar. But many people have a silver and/or a gold without a bronze.
If you are interested in earing a USDF bronze medal then Yes, you will need 2 scores of 60% or above at 1st, 2nd and 3rd levels. At each level, the scores must be from 2 different judges for 2 different rides.
Nobody is making you go back to 2nd level. You’re making that a personal choice in order to get the Bronze.
Also, you don’t have to earn all medals in order or even all medals period. You can just get your gold.
I can’t imagine someone with a horse doing FEI tests caring about getting a bronze medal. The medals seem to me to be an incentive for amateurs who aren’t necessarily scoring high enough for ribbons to keep attending shows. That’s a nice idea. It gives you a personal goal. But if you are showing PSG and up there’s about zero incentive to go back down to First. Why would you? And if you are showing and winning you could apply for the medal process along the way and just accrue. But honestly showing and winning with good scores consistently is a bigger brag or CV item than a medal, especially for a coach.
What I mean is, the scores for the medals are what? 65 at the lower levels? Totally respectable but might not get you a ribbon in more competitive venues with bigger classes. A person in that position might get discouraged and figure why show, if you need 71 to get a ribbon at First and your horse doesn’t have the flash? The medals seem like a very nice way to track progress without ribbons and have something to show for your expense of attending recognized shows. Obviously you could be winning in every class and be accruing points for your medals, but winning in every class is bigger bragging rights.
Now I’m in Canada which recently eliminated our very similar medals program, and where the medals actually had very little participation. I have never heard them mentioned IRL and when I looked it up on Equine Canada the listed participants were very few. We do have the Equine Canada coaching certification that most coaches go for, which they’d prioritize over medals because there are real benefits about insurance.
So I’m just looking at the medals idea from the outside. To me it looks like a nice idea to keep amateurs in the show circuit and to reward by something other than ribbons. I realize coaches in the US also pursue medals as part of their attempts to quantify their credentials.
Medals are 60% for AAs.
Its a way for riders who dont rider “winner” type horses to still earn some recognition for their work. (The All Breeds program is similar).
You are understanding me correctly. I showed at first and got my scores. I then moved to a location/state where the closest recognized shows were over an hour away. I then moved to another location/state and was at third at the time and easily got the scores.
Yes, USDF made me go back and spend money to specifically get my second level scores. It was a waste of my money and time, and not particularly fair that a horse schooling fourth was showing at second level.
Obviously, it’s a personal choice to get ANY medal. I don’t understand your comment.
Canadas medal system was pretty different than the US, where it is a mark of real achievement. Plus jn Canada the majority of amateurs who might be interested in such a program compete at the bronze (schooling) show level, and to count towards medals they need to be from silver or gold shows. Many regions don’t even hold silver or gold shows.
One 2-day show and it’s done. Many/most weekend shows where I was located are/were considered one show. Even if I showed under different judges, I’d have to go to a different show at a different weekend. When I was ready to show second, there were no shows near me and the dressage peeps were exclusively showing in Florida (a good 900 miles away).
But nobody MADE you go back to 2nd. You made the personal decision that you wanted a bronze and because you were missing the 2nd level scores that was your choice to waste your time and money.
Was there a significant difference between Canada and the US? I seem to recall Canada set the levels lower like Training to Second for Bronze? Is there a reason other than national culture and opportunity that the American medals are “real achievements” and Canada was not? Or did it not catch on in Canada because riders didn’t want to pay the significantly higher fees to show Gold/national? I assume the point of medals would be to get more competitors in Gold shows! Where I live one venue runs two shows concurrent Bronze and Gold and the lower levels of the Gold are very underenrolled.
(Or now the Gold With Distinction…)
