Each year, Area IX honors outstanding horses and riders for their achievements throughout the competition season. Awards recognize excellence at every level—from Starter through Advanced—and celebrate the dedication of our members, owners, trainers, and supporters.
Below you’ll find the rules, award categories, and points system for the USEA Area IX and MSEA Year-End Awards.
📅 Save the Date: 2025 Year-End Awards Lunch for AREA IX and MSEA!
We are excited to announce that The Ranch is reserved for the
2025 Year-End Awards Lunch
📅 Saturday, January 10, 2026
Join us to celebrate this year’s champions and honorees!
General Rules
- Riders must be current members in good standing of both the United States Eventing Association (USEA) and Area IX.
- Horses must be registered with the USEA.
- Points are earned at USEA-recognized events during the competition year (January 1 – December 15).
- Results and points are based on official USEA records. Riders are responsible for correcting any errors with the USEA before the end of the competition year.
- The Awards Committee Chair will post results on the Area IX website for at least two weeks in December. Riders must check results during this time and correct mistakes at least five weeks before the Year-End Awards Banquet.
- Champions are awarded to the horse or rider with the highest number of points. Reserve Champions go to the second-highest, and third place ribbons are awarded as the budget allows.
- In case of a tie:
- The award goes to the horse/rider with the best average score.
- If still tied, the best placing at the Area IX Championships determines the winner.
- If that is not applicable, outside area points are considered.
- Winners will be invited to the Awards Banquet. Championship awards are presented at the Area IX Championships.
- Trophies and keeper awards must be signed for by the rider or a family member. Ribbons may be collected by anyone. If awards are not picked up at the banquet, they may be mailed at the rider’s expense.
- All Area IX perpetual trophies must be returned to the Awards Committee Chair by December 1 (or earlier, depending on banquet date), cleaned and in good condition for engraving. Winners are responsible for the trophies they receive.
Leaderboard Year-End Awards:
These awards are based on USEA points earned by Area IX members at events in any area.
- High Point Three-Day Horse – Donated by Elizabeth Stokes.
- High Point Advanced Horse – Donated by Blue Haven Farm & Dr. Robert Schutt, Jr.
- High Point Intermediate Horse – Donated by Lou Ann Wulf.
- High Point Young Rider – Donated by Beebee Draw.
- Bassinger Bowl – Donated by Ken Matchett. Awarded to the Area IX rider with the most points from Modified through Advanced/CCI*****. Must complete at least one competition in Area IX.
- Blue Money Award – Donated by Platinum Farms. Awarded to the Area IX owner of the horse(s) earning the most USEA points with an Area IX rider.
Area IX Year-End Awards
These awards are based on points earned at Area IX events only.
- High Point Horse at Two Levels – Donated by Centennial Pony Club.
- High Point Senior Rider – Donated by Strang Ranch.
- High Point Junior Rider – Donated by High Meadow Farm.
- High Point Adult Amateur Owned Horse – Donated by Pinion Springs Farm.
- High Point Starter (Intro) Horse – Donor TBD.
- High Point Beginner Novice Horse – Donated by Courtney Antrim in memory of Helen Beale.
- High Point Novice Horse – Donated by Beebee Draw.
- High Point Training Horse – Donated by Avery Ranch.
- High Point Modified Horse – Donated by Ashley Carr & Vicki Baker Eventing.
- High Point Preliminary Horse – Donated by Ridgeview Ranch.
Points System
Starter through Modified Levels
| Place | <10 Starters | 11-18 Starters | 19+ Starters | Championships |
| 1st | 5 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| 2nd | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| 3rd | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| 4th | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 5th | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 6th | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 7th | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Preliminary through Advanced Levels
Points are awarded according to USEA division size and level (Preliminary through CCI*****). Championships and long-format events carry higher points.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | |
| P /CCI* | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P (CH) | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| P3D CCI** | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| I | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| I (CH) | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| CCI*** | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| A | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| A (CH) | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| CCI****/CCI***** | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
Note: Points are halved for divisions that cannot complete all three phases due to weather or other circumstances.
Non Points-Based Awards
- Area IX Young Rider’s Sportsmanship Award – Donated by the Fortmann Family and Ed Dyson. Chosen by the Area IX Young Riders at the Awards Ceremony.
Championship Awards
Awarded to the horse with the lowest score at the Area IX Championships:
- Starter/Introductory Horse – Donor TBD.
- Beginner Novice Horse – Donated by Whirligig Farm & Barbara Dallow in memory of Hastening True-Grit “Boogie.”
- Novice Horse – Donated by Strang Ranch.
- Training Horse – Donated by Abbe Ranch.
- Modified Horse – Donor TBD.
- Preliminary Horse – Donated by Hobo Farms.
- Intermediate Horse – Donated by Platinum Farms.
MSEA Year-End Awards by Area IX
A. Distinguished Service Award
Awarded to a member nominated and voted on by the Area IX Council, honoring someone who has not been previously recognized and who has made significant contributions to the sport of eventing and Area IX.
B. Horse and Rider Awards
Horse and rider awards are offered each calendar year.
Eligibility
- Rider must be a member of both Area IX and the USEA (Juniors, Seniors, Masters, and Amateurs as defined by USEA rules).
- Members must be in good standing with the USEA and Area IX.
- Horses must be registered with the USEA.
- Award recipients must complete six volunteer hours at Area IX recognized events or activities covered by USEA insurance (hours may be completed by the rider or a surrogate).
Points Calculation
- Awards are determined by penalty scores (not placings). Scores are averaged from each contender’s lowest three penalty scores at the eligible level(s).
- Riders/horses with three or more scores are ranked first, followed by those with two scores, then one.
- Only scores earned at Area IX recognized events count (BN through Advanced, including FEI levels). Starter/Intro scores are obtained from organizers until the level is USEA recognized.
C. Trophies
- Junior Beginner Novice Rider of the Year – Donated by Dr. Robert Schutt, Crested Butte, CO.
- Intermediate Horse of the Year – Donated by Beebe Draw Equestrian Center, Judith Burk, La Salle, CO. (Includes Advanced, Intermediate, and CCI*** scores.)
- Preliminary Horse of the Year – Donated by the Western Colorado Chapter of MSEA. (Includes Intermediate, Preliminary, and CCI** scores.)
- Training Horse of the Year – Donated by Mile High Horse Ranch, Vanda Werner, Parker, CO. (Includes Preliminary, Training, Modified, and CCI* scores.)
- Novice Horse of the Year – Donated by Yellow Bird Ranch, Bobby Wright, Big Horn, WY.
- Beginner Novice Horse of the Year – Donated by Hobo Farm, Kathleen Womack, Boulder, CO.
- Adult Amateur Horse/Rider of the Year – Donated by Horse & Hound Tack Store, Charles Grosbeck, Englewood, CO. (Training level and above.)
- BN/N Adult Amateur Horse/Rider of the Year – Donated by Pendragon Stud, Leslie Terry, Larkspur, CO. (Restricted to Novice and BN adult amateurs.)
- Intro/Starter Amateur Horse/Rider of the Year – Donated by Pendragon Stud, Leslie Terry, Larkspur, CO. (Restricted to Intro/Starter amateur combos.)
- Leading Rider of the Year – Donated by Abbe Ranch, Susan & Dick Farmer, Larkspur, CO. (Training and above.)
- Junior Rider of the Year – Donated by Central Colorado Chapter of MSEA. (Training and above.)
- Master Rider of the Year – Donated by Jan & Terry Spear, Lafayette, CO, and Nancy Loving, Boulder, CO. (Riders 40+ at Novice–Preliminary; trophy to lowest average score across all three.)
- Senior Novice Rider of the Year – Donated by Boulder Valley EA Chapter of MSEA.
- Junior Novice Rider of the Year – Donated by Martha Love & Emily Sandler, Colorado Springs, CO.
- Senior Beginner Novice Rider of the Year – Donated by Horse & Hound Tack Store, Charles Grosbeck, Englewood, CO, and Boulder Valley EA Chapter of MSEA.
Final Notes
The USEA Area IX and MSEA Year-End Awards celebrate the hard work, sportsmanship, and competitive success of our members. Whether you’re a Starter rider or competing at Advanced, there’s a place for you on the leaderboard.