Each year at the annual year-end banquet, several awards are presented. Below are the criteria for those awards.
CVR Rhubal Kahli Rookie Horse and Rookie Rider Team Award
This award was created to honor the memory of a rookie horse that took exceptional care of its rookie rider during their first season of distance riding.
Criteria:
The rookie rider must be a SEDRA member in good standing.
The rookie horse must be registered in the SEDRA horse mileage program.
A rookie horse is defined as a horse that, has never completed a sanctioned distance ride in any division or in any organization. A rookie rider is defined as a rider who has, as of July 1 of the current SEDRA year, never completed a sanctioned distance ride in any division or in any organization. Note: IDR (introductory distance rides) are not considered division competition rides and thus are not counted as completed division rides.
By March 31 of the current SEDRA year, the SEDRA Awards Secretary will compile a list of rookie horse/rider teams that have successfully completed at least 3 SEDRA sanctioned rides in any division. (excluding IDR as noted above)
Each team will be assessed and discussed by the SEDRA BOD. The BOD will look at , but not necessarily limited to, the following: overall positive demeanor of the team at ride camp, on the trail, and in the vet check areas, willingness of the rider to be mentored by more experienced competitors, eagerness of the rider to learn and apply appropriate methods for the care of themselves and their horse prior to, during, and after each ride, the willingness of the horse to follow its riders and others direction without fear or rebellion, the safe behavior of the horse any time it’s handled, ridden, and contained at ride camp.
If a particular team has completed more rides than the other team(s) and/or has completed rides in two or more divisions, this may be taken into consideration by the BOD.
The BOD will vote on the teams via secret ballot after discussion of each team. In the event of a tie, more discussion may be allowed and another vote taken. If there is still a tie, consideration for both tied teams to receive the award may be agreed upon.
General Criteria for SEDRA Special Awards and Hall of Fame Awards
Each award will have specific criteria which must be addressed in a written nomination between 400 and 800 words.
Both the nominee and the nominator must be current SEDRA members in good standing, and have been members as of September 1 of the current SEDRA season. Any horse nominated must be registered in the SEDRA Horse Mileage Program.
A member may nominate him or herself or their horse for a Hall of Fame Award, but they must do so in a written nomination (see 1 above). Special Awards (human and horse) nominees must be nominated by their peers in a written nomination.
A member may nominate no more than one person for a particular award. The SEDRA BOD will reject all nominations if a member submits more than one nomination for the same award.
Written nominations may be submitted to the SEDRA Vice President at any time after the annual membership meeting, but must be postmarked no later than March 31 of the current year.
New nominations postmarked after March 31 of the current year will not be considered. Nominations from the floor at the annual membership meeting will not be accepted.
Once a member or horse has received a specific Hall of Fame Award, they will not be eligible to receive that specific award again, with the exception of the Team Award. A rider may be nominated again for another Hall of Fame Team Award with a different horse. Riders with more than one horse in competition can have each individual horse nominated for the Horse Award.
A member or horse may receive a Special Award more than once. (every three years)
The SEDRA BOD, based upon review of the written nominations, reserves the right to not award a specific award in any year if the criteria for receiving the award have not been met by any of the nominees.
Hall of Fame Awards are voted on by the BOD. Discussion about each nominee and whether or not the criteria for nomination have been met will take place prior to voting. If some nominees are considered to have not met criteria, (or none have met) there will be no vote on those nominees. If some or all nominees meet criteria, then voting will commence. The voting process for Hall of Fame Awards will be by secret ballot. In the event of a tie, another vote by secret ballot will be taken; this time with only those nominees who are tied. In the event of a second tie, a consideration may be made to allow two horse or rider nominees to receive the award for that year. Results will be announced at the annual membership meeting.
Special Award nominations will be reproduced and published in the annual membership meeting program, since they are voted on by the membership at the annual membership meeting.
This award was established in remembrance of a special SEDRA member. A SEDRA member under consideration for this award must be nominated by one or more of his or her peers and must have successfully competed in, and completed at least one ride during the current SEDRA year. Criteria for Nomination:
The nominee must have at least 500 successful competition miles on record with SEDRA.
The nominee must have exemplified excellent horsemanship and sportsmanship for at least the past SEDRA year.
The nominee consistently stands out as an individual others would most want to have along on a ride as a mentor/companion and during stressful events such as: a trail accident.
The nominee rides for the love of the sport. He or she enthusiastically shares this love as well as his/her knowledge of distance riding and care of the horse with anyone interested in learning more about the sport.
Specific qualities the nominee demonstrates may include, but are not limited to: focused pursuit of meaningful and safe goals , excellent care of their equine partners and of themselves as riders, a command of respect from peers and new riders , the horse’s wellbeing is the priority, an above average knowledge of the sport, an above average capability to apply that knowledge, very good to excellent riding ability, consistent courtesy in ride camp and on the trail, genuine concern for other riders and their horses, and overall positive attitude.
Specific examples of how the nominee meets criteria are to be addressed in the nomination write up.
The Mickey Blanford Excellence in Competition Award
This award honors the memory of SEDRA member Mickey Blanford by recognizing a current SEDRA member, who has been nominated by his or her current SEDRA member peers, and who has successfully competed in and completed at least one ride during the current SEDRA year. Criteria for Nomination:
The nominee must have at least 500 successful competition miles on record with SEDRA.
The nominee must be devoted to improving his/her riding skills and physical fitness (takes horseback riding lessons, attends exercise classes, and/or participates in clinics).
The nominee consistently works with his/her horse to improve its athletic ability while also maintaining a balance in the horse’s life promoting its wellbeing.
The nominee cross-trains his/her horse in other disciplines (such as: basic dressage, trail obstacle challenges, and working cattle).
The nominee is current in the latest distance sport research to include, but not limited to: effective conditioning of the horse, appropriate use of electrolytes, types of tack to be utilized, hoof care, safe effective nutrition, safe trailering, and safe camping.
Specific examples of how the nominee meets criteria are to be addressed in the nomination write up.
This award honors the memory of a very special SEDRA trail horse by recognizing a horse registered in the SEDRA Horse Mileage Program, who has been nominated by one or more current SEDRA members, and successfully competed in and completed at least one ride during the current SEDRA year. Nominee Qualifications:
The horse must have at least 1000 miles of successful competition on record with SEDRA.
At minimum, the horse must exhibit the following characteristics:
Willingness to compete (“heart”).
Cooperation and ease of handling on the ground and under saddle (a horse that riders would want to ride if they could not ride their own horse).
Impeccable ground and under saddle manners on the trail, in ride camp, and the camp site.
Boldness on the trail when facing new obstacles and potentially dangerous situations on the trail, but never out of control.
Ability to stand out in a group of horses in a unique way of going, behavior, and attitude.
Specific examples of how the horse meets criteria are to be addressed in the nomination write up
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