Author: Elizabeth Allwein

CDA Vista Vintage Awards are a special honor that recognizes members and their senior horses for excellence and achievement at both schooling and recognized shows. 

Beginning in 2008, CDA member and The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club member Ted Plaut generously created this award with a $5,000 contribution. This award recognizes the best performances of our senior partners who demonstrate that age is no barrier to competing and earning scores to make any rider proud.
The award honors his trusted and much-loved Trakehner/Morgan gelding, Vista Geewhiz, who showed us all that dressage is a lifetime sport. Ted rode Vista for over 11 years, and they were frequently seen at CDA’s schooling and recognized shows, where they competed against much younger riders and horses, and usually ended up with ribbons.
Ted’s rationale for creating the award is to remind us that horses can live happy, productive and athletic lives well into their older years (as can people). We are pleased to continue this award even after Ted’s passing in June, 2021.
The Vista Vintage Award Program focuses on the success of ‘senior’ horses (18 or older). It consists of a $300 cash prize and an award.

How the Vista Vintage Award Program Works
• Two awards are presented – one for schooling shows and one for recognized shows.
• Each is accompanied by a framed certificate and a $300.00 cash prize.
• Minimum age for the horse is 18 years old.
• There is no minimum age for the rider.
• Winners are tabulated based on score and level of competition with appropriate weighting of both factors.

Vista Vintage Award for Schooling Shows
1. The horse/rider combination must participate in two CDA Schooling Shows or one CDA schooling show and one other Schooling Show listed in the CDA Omnibus or website.
2. The rider must be a current CDA member at time of competition
3. The scores must be earned between 11/1/2022 and 10/31/2023.
4. Copies of both sides of score sheets must be included with the application.
5. Scores must be submitted in accordance with all other CDA year-end award requirements as specified in the Omnibus and on the CDA Website (EXCEPT THAT FREESTYLE SCORES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE).
6. The application must specify that it is for Schooling Shows.
7. Submission must be made online November 1, 2023 through December 1, 2023.

Vista Vintage Award for Region 8 For Recognized Shows
1. The horse/rider combination must submit 2 scores from 2 different judges from at least one Region 8 USDF Recognized Show.
2. Both the rider and the horse owner must be CDA members.
3. The scores must be earned between 11/1/2022 and 10/31/2023.
4. The rider must submit his/her name, address, email, phone number, proof of the horse’s age, and a copy of both sides of the signed score sheets.
5. The application must specify that it is for Recognized Shows.
6. Submission must be made online November 1, 2023 through December 1, 2023.
An Application is Available on The CDA Website:
www.ctdressage.org.

Vista Vintage awards (for schooling and recognized shows) will be presented at the Annual CDA Member Appreciation Party.

CDA Rider Achievement Awards are a new annual Rider Recognition Program focusing on Juniors and Adult Amateurs. CDA wants to recognize riders who compete regularly and with distinction at Training, First, Second, Third and Fourth Levels. Qualifying rides must be completed within the current competition year and can be achieved at either schooling or recognized shows. All submissions must be completed by December 1, 2023.

Overall Rules

- Scores can be achieved on multiple horses. Must be a Youth or Adult Amateur rider.
- Rider’s responsibility to keep track of scores and submit them.
- Required information: rider’s name; name(s) of horse(s); copies of both sides of the tests, and other information as requested on the application form.
- Separate awards will be given for Schooling Shows and Recognized shows.
- A rider who competes in both Schooling shows and Recognized shows must submit separate applications by December 1, 2023.
The application form for Rider Achievement Awards is on our website, www.ctdressage.org. Submission must be made online November 1, 2023 through December 1, 2023.
- Training Level, First Level, Second Level, Third Level and Fourth Level Total of 3 scores required at any test of the level.
- If from a schooling show: minimum score of 62%
- If from a recognized show: minimum score of 60%.

Each year, CDA has the option to give a Volunteer of the Year Award for special service to CDA. The award is a certificate of appreciation from CDA and a gift certificate to the tack shop of the volunteer’s choice.

History

The award is named in honor of Philla and Charlie Osborne who donated hours and hours of service to CDA in the 80’s and 90’s. They were always found at the practice ring at shows (recognized and schooling) checking numbers and entries and letting riders know when they were “on deck”. Philla and Charlie Osborne rode for many years with Vicki Hammers-O’Neil. Charlie passed away a number of years ago, and Philla passed away in January, 2023. It was a joy for Philla to watch Vicki ride and train the horses that she loved so much.

Criteria

• The volunteer must be a current member of CDA.
• You are a current member of CDA if your 2023 membership dues are paid in full prior to your “service”.
• A show or event coordinator or another current CDA member may submit a volunteer’s name for the service he or she provided during any show, clinic or event or for volunteering on multiple occasions.
The nominator shall submit a volunteer’s name on-line with a letter which describes the volunteer’s activity, the shows or events in which the volunteer served, and any other information the nominator thinks is important. Nominations must be submitted by October 31, 2023.

Awards are for dressage tests and Freestyle for Open, Adult Amateur
and Youth.

- Riders must be current CDA members before entering the show or may join the same day of a show but before riding in their first class. Scores earned prior to becoming a current CDA member will not be considered. Scores must be earned while a member is in good standing. All ties will be decided by the highest individual score submitted.
- Riders must submit their scores at the end of the competition season. The deadline for submission will be December 1, 2023.
- All submissions will be made electronically via CDA’s website at www. ctdressage.org. The appropriate submission forms will be available online November 1, 2023 through December 1, 2023.
- All scores submitted are subject to auditing for accuracy.
- Open to all current CDA members who compete in USEF recognized shows between November 1, 2022 and October 31, 2023.
- CDA membership requirements apply to riders. Must be current members prior to earning scores for submission.
- Awards will go only to the same horse/rider combination.
- All scores submitted must be a minimum of 55% for Training through FEI.
- Training through FEI level. Scores must be from at last two different judges per level. Note FEI and Regional Championship tests with more than one judge the scores will be averaged.
- Awards for Training through FEI will be based upon the average score of the best three tests.
- Awards for FEI Freestyle and USDF Freestyle Training – 4th will be based on the average of the best three tests.
- Awards will be given in Youth, Adult Amateur and Open divisions. Please be sure to specify your division on the submission form.
- Levels and divisions may be combined at CDA’s discretion.