• "Breeder" is the person or entity listed on a horse's official breed registry papers as defined by the breed registry. A change in the name of the recorded breeder can only be authorized or performed as an official entry on the registration paper, by the registry that issued the paper.
• Must have official breed registry papers on file for all relevant horses at the time of application.
• Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.
• There are no membership requirements for the breeder at the time the scores are earned.
• Minimum competition eligibility requirements for the horse, rider and owner must be met at the time the scores are earned.
• USDF membership is not required for handlers.
• Breeder must have a current USDF Group, Participating, or Business Membership, at the time of application. If required memberships are not in place by program application deadlines, the application will not be processed, and the award(s) will not be awarded in that calendar year.
• See the current USDF Member Guide for complete award requirements.
• Awards will be presented at the USDF Salute Gala.

1. Please do not submit a USDF Breeder of Distinction Award application until all score requirements have been met.
2. Please review the Breeder of Distinction Award rules and requirements as listed on this page, or in the USDF Member Guide. Questions?
3. You are not required to submit copies of score sheets.
4. To locate your USDF number, click here.
5. Submission of a USDF Breeder of Distinction Award application does not guarantee the award will be issued. USDF reviews all applications and verifies that all award requirements have been met.
6. Please contact USDF for verification assistance or questions. Scores may also be verified using USDFscores.com.

• Breeder must submit application and fee to USDF, online, using the official USDF Breeder of Distinction Award application, after all of the required scores and points are earned.
  • To be awarded a USDF Breeder of Distinction Award in the current calendar year, applications are due by September 30 with a $25 processing fee.
  • Late applications submitted October 1 through October 15, will have a $75 late fee. This late fee is in addition to the $25 processing fee.

• Scores must be earned in competitions held on or after October 1, 2000.
• In-hand scores must be earned in USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Dressage (includes Dressage Sport Horse Breeding (DSHB)) competitions which are open to all horses and ponies of the appropriate age and sex or USDF Breeders Championship Series (USDFBCS) Final (in-hand championship) classes.
• Materiale scores must be earned in USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Dressage (includes DSHB) competitions, or in non-breed restricted class(es) in USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Regular or Local competitions, which are open to all horses and ponies of the appropriate age and sex or USDFBCS Final (materiale championship) classes.
• Dressage performance scores (Training through Grand Prix) must be earned in USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Dressage competitions or in non-breed restricted class(es) in USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Regular or Local competitions.
• If two or more judges score one ride or in-hand presentation, the average of their scores counts as one score.  A judge panel will be considered different if at least one member of the panel is changed.
• Scores may be used multiple times for progressive awards.  Freestyle & Dressage Seat Equitation scores and scores earned in USEF and FEI Young Horse classes do not count.
• Scores may be earned at any test of the level and in test of choice classes.
• A breeder may be awarded only one award at each level and may be awarded more than one level in the same year.
• Scores must be from score sheets that are current at the time of the competition. 
• Scores earned in breed restricted classes, including Individual Breed Classes (IBC), are not eligible.
• Scores from eligible in-hand or materiale classes will be converted to point values as follows:
• 80% or higher = 3 points
• 77-79.999% = 2 points
• 75-76.999% = 1 point
• 72-74.999% = ½ point
• No points will be awarded for any scores 71.999% and below, regardless of class type.

• A total of 30 points required from in-hand classes:
  • Earned by three or more horses
  • From at least four different judges
  • At least one score must be 72% or higher from a USDF Breeders Championship Series Final in-hand class
  • Materiale scores are not eligible
• Horses must have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to be eligible.
  • Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.

• A total of 60 points required:
  • Must have 50 points accrued from in-hand classes and 10 points accrued from materiale classes:
    • Earned by four or more horses
    • From at least five different judges
    • At least three scores must be 72% or higher from USDF Breeders Championship Series Final in-hand classes
• Horses must have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to be eligible.
  • Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.

• A total of 100 points required:
  • Must have 75 points accrued from in-hand classes and 25 points accrued from materiale classes:
    • Earned by five or more horses
    • From at least six different judges
    • At least five scores must be 72% or higher from USDF Breeders Championship Series Final in-hand classes
    • At least one score of 72% or higher must be from a USDF Breeders Championship Series Materiale Championship class.
• Horses must have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to be eligible.
  • Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.

NEW! RUBY

• Bronze Breeder of Distinction award must have been awarded.
• Must have 10 points accrued from materiale classes by one or more horses.
• Must have a minimum of eight scores, earned by at least four different horses.  Each horse must have been awarded at least two scores:
  • Of 65% and higher
  • Earned at Third Level or above
  • From two different competitions
  • From two different judges
  • From two different rides
• Must have at least one score from a Great American/USDF Regional Championship class at any level.
• Horses must have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to be eligible.
  • Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.

NEW! SAPPHIRE

• Ruby Breeder of Distinction award must have been awarded.
• Must have a minimum of eight scores, earned by at least four different horses.  Each horse must have been awarded at least two scores:
  • Of 63% and higher
  • Earned at Prix St. Georges or above
  • From two different competitions
  • From two different judges
  • From two different rides
  • Two or more of the horses must have earned at least four or more scores at Intermediate II or above
• Must have at least two scores from Great American/USDF Regional Championship class(es), earned at Prix St. Georges or above.
• Horses must have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to be eligible.
  • Scores earned during a horse's status as a current year foal, in which a certificate or letter of eligibility is provided by a breed registry, will count as long as the certificate or letter of eligibility is on file with USDF. After January 1 of a horse's yearling year, it will be necessary for horses to have breed or performance registry papers on file with USDF for scores to remain eligible.

NEW! PLATINUM-DIAMOND

• Awarded to all breeders that have:
  • Been awarded the USDF Bronze, Silver, Gold, Ruby, and Sapphire Breeder of Distinction awards
• No application is required.
• Recipient will be:
  • Identified by USDF as of September 30 each year