Horse Show Entry Tips from GDCTA

Riding horses is just too much fun and the bond/connection with your horse is too important to not enjoy showing at some point and at some level. We’d like to help you navigate the show entry process.

Some tips for completing your entry:

 When entering a show, remember that management may not know you or your horse so be sure to keep things consistent.

For example, your horse’s name on the

Coggins test should be the same as the name on the entry, particularly when entering a USDF show.

For GDCTA year-end schooling show awards, please keep a consistent show name and/or write the show name with the barn name in parenthesis [example: Empty Pockets (Sage)] when entering so the GDCTA Awards Chair will be better able to link horse & rider combinations with scores submitted.

 Plan Ahead! It can take USEF/USDF up to 72 hours to update their databases after you join and/or join your horse.

 Sign all the releases/waivers! In the Spring of 2020, USEF replaced their single Liability

Release form with two new documents:

USEF Entry Agreement and USEF

Waiver/Release. You can find both on the

USEF website USEF.org. USDF waivers and the GDCTA Hold Harmless waiver are published in the Prize List, or you can find them on the respective websites.

 Know your rules! Find the current USEF discipline rules on the USEF.org website.

 Opening/Closing Entry dates: You will find an opening date and closing date in the

Prize List. The opening day is when we will start to accept entries. We will take entries on a first come basis. To have the best odds of getting your entry accepted, you should submit your entry close to the opening date. The closing date is the last date we will accept entries. Some shows will receive more entries than we can accommodate and depending on the situation we may accept entries after the closing date with a late fee.

 Read the Prize List! The Prize List is jampacked with details like class specifications, show information, an entry form, waivers, and the show rules. Read it thoroughly.

Don’t underestimate this task – it may take a long time, but you will know what to expect.

 Get help if you need it.

If you have troubles and need to contact the show management, be kind, be courteous, be patient. Wear a smile! The horse world is very small.