USPRE Dressage Stars

USPRE DRESSAGE STAR SERIES PROGRAM – 2026

The United States P.R.E. Association (USPRE) has experienced substantial growth since the introduction of its current dressage programs. As a result, USPRE has revamped its dressage offerings to ensure national access to its dressage programs. The Dressage Committee and the Board of Directors have determined that the current High-Point Series does not adequately fulfill the national scope of our organization. To better serve riders of all levels, regardless of location, a more comprehensive and accessible format is needed. Based on the committee's findings and recommendations, we are pleased to introduce the USPRE Dressage Star Series: a regionalized competition format modeled after the previous High-Point Series. The Dressage Star Series will provide identical competition opportunities in each of the nine regions defined by the United States Dressage Federation (USDF). USPRE dressage riders will have the chance to compete for Championship and Reserve Championship honors against others in their region. At the conclusion of the series, an additional Grand Champion across all regions will be awarded. CDI riders will also be recognized in this program with a slightly modified format. CDI riders will compete on a national rather than a regional level. We invite you to explore this new program and join us in this exciting initiative starting in 2026. 

Please note: the previous programs (COPA and High Point Series) will be discontinued at the end of 2025.

USPRE Star Series – Rules & Regulations

Download link: USPRE-Dressage-Star-Series-Program-2026.pdf

Section 1 – Competition Structure & Scope

1. Competitors will compete by division, not by level. For example: the National AA division may include riders at Training Level competing against riders at Fourth Level.
2. The divisions recognized for the Dressage Stars Program are:
   1. a) Open National
   2. b) Open FEI
   3. c) Adult Amateur (AA) National
   4. d) AA FEI
   5. e) Junior/Young Rider (Jr/YR) National
   6. f) Jr/YR FEI
3. The USPRE Dressage Star Series will be offered in each of the current USDF regions. Each Region will have its own series. A total of 9 Dressage Star Series with a Champion and Reserve Champion will be offered. A dedicated Dressage Star Series program manager will be available to supervise the series and answer questions.
4. A Champion and Reserve Champion will be awarded in each division for each region. A single Grand Champion — the rider with the highest Championship score across all regions — will be awarded.
5. In each region, USEF/USDF-sanctioned classes must be offered at training level through Grand Prix in all six divisions:
   1. a) Open National
   2. b) Open FEI
   3. c) Adult Amateur (AA) National
   4. d) AA FEI
   5. e) Junior/Young Rider (Jr/YR) National
   6. f) Jr/YR FEI
6. A CDI division of the USPRE Dressage Star Series will also be offered. Unlike the National and FEI programs, the CDI division is structured differently. The CDI division is not divided into regions: CDI riders will be ranked against all other CDI riders in all regions, with only one Champion and Reserve Champion named annually. There will be two divisions offered within the CDI Star Series:
   • Adult
   • Youth
7. CDI (International) shows in any region are eligible for the Dressage Star Series; a region does not have to offer a CDI for riders in that region to be eligible.
8. Any USEF/USDF class (excluding intro level and freestyle) is eligible for the Dressage Star Series.
9. The Dressage Star Series will follow the USDF calendar year for eligibility of scores.

Section 2 – Membership / Registration Requirements

A. Horse & Rider Combination

1. The horse and rider combination must be eligible to compete in a USDF-recognized competition and must be a member in good standing with USDF at the time scores are earned.
2. The horse must be listed in the ANCCE studbook.
3. The owner OR rider of the horse must be a current member of USPRE, and a member in good standing with USPRE at the time the scores are earned.

Section 3 – Dressage Star Series Eligibility Rules

B. Eligibility

1. A horse/rider combination that has earned Champion status of the Dressage Star Series at any given level a total of three times (in any region over their lifetime) may no longer compete in the series at the same level or lower with the previously winning horse.
2. A horse/rider combination may not be entered in more than one region in the same calendar year. Horse/rider combinations competing in the CDI series are exempt from this rule and may compete in more than one region.
3. A single horse may be ridden by multiple riders during the season (eg. trainer and student); however, scores can only be submitted from one horse/rider combination (eg. either the trainer OR the student, not both).
4. A rider shall not be required to reside in a given region to compete in that region's Dressage Star Series.
5. US Citizenship is not required to participate in the USPRE Star Series.
6. Eligibility to participate in the USPRE Star Series requires that each horse/rider combination have a DECLARATION OF INTENT (DOI) form on file. The DOI can be found on the USPRE website.
7. The Declaration of Intent form will include (but is not limited to):
   1. a) Horse name and ANCCE registration number
   2. b) Owner name
   3. c) Owner address
   4. d) Owner phone number
   5. e) Owner email address
   6. f) Rider name
   7. g) Rider email address
   8. h) Declared region of competition (CDI participants exempt)
   9. i) CDI series – Y/N
   10. j) Anticipated competition level
   11. k) Jacket size
   12. l) Photo of horse and rider
8. A "Declaration of Intent" must be on file for scores to be considered. It is recommended that a DOI be submitted as early as possible. A deadline for submission will be included in the annual announcement for the series. Admission to the series will not be considered after the deadline for the DOI submission.
9. Declaration of region of participation will be made on the "Declaration of Intent" (DOI) form. The Declaration of Intent document is found on the USPRE website.
10. If a horse/rider team switches to a different region during the calendar year:
    1. a) Scores will only be considered from a single region.
    2. b) The rider must declare the change in region before the posting of the final standings. A deadline date for the region change will be included in the annual announcement for the series. A region change will not be considered after the deadline.
    3. c) Previous scores from the former region then become void.

Section 4 – Qualifying System

C. Qualifying Requirements

1. To qualify, a horse/rider combination must earn three scores of 62% or greater at the same level, from at least two shows and two different judges.
2. Scores will be tracked on a regular basis by the Dressage Star Series Manager.
3. Grand and Reserve Champions in each division (including CDI) will be determined by the sum of their three highest scores at the same level, from at least two separate shows and two different judges. Contestants may participate in more than 2 shows to obtain their top three scores.
4. Freestyle and intro level scores are not eligible.
5. In the event of a tie (equality of sum) for Champion and/or Reserve Champion: There will be submission of a 4th score, using the 4th score as the tiebreaker when the sum of the top 3 scores is equal. If there is not a 4^th score for one competitor, the horse/rider combination with the 4^th score is the winner. If there is no 4^th score for either horse/rider combination, co-winners will be awarded.

Section 5 – Recognition & Awards

D. Recognition

1. Awards for all regions and divisions will be presented at USPRE Week, held annually in Ocala, Florida, at IBERICON.
2. Champions will receive a USPRE jacket, USPRE polo shirt, and saddle pad; Reserve Champions will receive a halter and polo shirt.
3. The Grand Champion (across all regions) will receive a trophy and have their name engraved on a perpetual trophy kept in the USPRE office.
4. There will be press exposure and coverage of the program on EuroDressage, including but not limited to annual profiles of winners. The program will also be featured on the USPRE website, newsletter, and social media.

USPRE STAR SERIES REGIONS

Region 1
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Eastern West Virginia (Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson Counties)

Region 2
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia (except Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson Counties), Wisconsin

Region 3
Alabama; Florida; Georgia; South Carolina; Tennessee

Region 4
Iowa; Kansas; Minnesota; Missouri; Nebraska; North Dakota; South Dakota

Region 5
Arizona, Colorado, East Montana (zip codes 59000-59399 and 59500-59599), New Mexico, West Texas (zip codes 79800-99999), Utah, Wyoming

Region 6
Alaska, Idaho, West Montana (zip codes 00000-58999, 59400-59499, and 59600-59999), Oregon, Washington

Region 7
California; Nevada; Hawaii

Region 8
Connecticut; Maine; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New York; Rhode Island; Vermont

Region 9
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas (ex. West Texas) (zip codes 80000-99999)

DECLARATION OF INTENT FOR USPRE DRESSAGE PROGRAMS