Membership in USAWE
Membership in USA Working Equitation
If you want to explore all facets of USAWE Membership you’ve come to the right place.
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- Check out the USAWE Membership Regions map.
- Explore our most popular USAWE Membership Benefits.
- Learn more about Our Supportive Community.
- Understand USAWE Membership Classes as defined by our Bylaws.
- Get answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions about membership and competition status.
- See the USAWE Community Code.
- Read our Privacy Policies.
USAWE Membership Regions
USAWE is structured into distinct geographical regions for member representation, competition qualification, and awards. States which make up each of the regions are:
- Region 1: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
- Region 2: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Hawaii, and U.S. territories in the Pacific.
- Region 3: Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado.
- Region 4: New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
- Region 5: Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.
- Region 6: New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
- Region 7: Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and US territories in the Atlantic.
- International: All locations outside the United States of America.
Now that you have learned about the different membership regions USA Working Equitation has, continue down this page to discover more about the benefits of membership in USAWE.
USAWE Membership Benefits
Membership in USAWE is more than competition opportunities and recognition. We are a community of people who have become friends as we enjoy Working Equitation together.
Our Supportive Community
Members appreciate the positive and supportive community
USAWE members come from all walks of life and equestrian experience levels. Many find that Working Equitation enhances their performance in other equine disciplines, improves their riding overall, is just as enjoyable for their equine partners, and is an important social community that adds value to their lives.
USAWE Youth members are discovering fun and exciting horseback riding activities in Working Equitation that develop their horsemanship, and provide hours of good, clean fun with their friends and family.
USAWE Licensed Officials are the Judges and Technical Delegates required for all USAWE Licensed competitions. They must pass an extensive qualification process that ensures they are knowledgeable and experienced in their respective roles. USAWE Judges must meet annual continuing education requirements and calibration exams to maintain their license. Many of the USAWE Licensed Officials are also available as clinicians.
USAWE Professional Instructors are individuals who have demonstrated their abilities as instructors and their knowledge of Working Equitation. They must complete rigorous USAWE educational and performance requirements before being recognized as a USAWE Professional Instructor. They are your best source for coaching and training in the sport of Working Equitation.
USAWE Affiliate Organizations are groups or individuals that are promoting the sport of Working Equitation through events and competitions at the local level. Affiliate Organizations will help you get started in Working Equitation, and are the primary hosts of Working Equitation licensed competitions across the country.
Would you like to see how you can get involved in helping USAWE grow? How about what other benefits your USAWE membership provides? Keep reading to find out what opportunities your membership opens for you.
USAWE Membership Classes
USAWE offers 4 Classes of membership.
1. U.S. Adult Member (18 and older)
2. U.S. Youth (7-17 years) Member
3. International Adult Member (18 and older)
4. International Youth (7-17 years) Member
U.S. Adult members (18 and older) are eligible to:
serve on committees
hold office
vote
be recognized on the regional and national Leaderboard
earn Lifetime Rider Medals
compete for the annual high-point breed performance awards
apply for licensing as a Judge or Technical Delegate
apply to become a USAWE Professional Instructor
U.S. Youth (7-17 years) members are eligible to:
serve on committees
be recognized on the regional and national Leaderboard
earn Lifetime Rider Medals
compete for the annual high-point breed performance awards
compete for the annual Youth High Point awards
apply for Youth Scholarships
participate in special youth activities/events planned by the USAWE Youth Development Committee
International Adult members (18 and older) are eligible to:
serve on committees
show at USAWE Licensed shows at member cost
record horses
participate in the USAWE awards programs
apply for licensing as a Judge or Technical Delegate
apply to become a USAWE Professional Instructor
International Youth (7-17 years) members are eligible to:
show at USAWE licensed shows at member cost
record horses
participate in special youth activities/events planned by the USAWE Youth Development Committee
Wow, those are some great member benefits!
Many of our members participate in the success of USAWE as an organization and support the growth of Working Equitation locally by taking advantage of these membership benefits; serving others along the way and creating a wonderful community of friends in the process.
Whether you compete or not, there’s a place for you as a member of USAWE.
Do you have more membership questions? The next section should help answer the most commonly asked questions people have.
FAQ – Membership & Competition Status
What is my membership competition status?
Your membership competition status lets us know if you plan to compete and whether or not you are classified as a Professional in a given year. You will declare your competition status on your USAWE membership application/renewal application.
Your options are:
Amateur
Open
Youth
Not Competing in [current year]
Is my competition status the same thing as my competition division?
They are not the same thing, but they are closely connected. Show organizers determine which competition divisions are offered at their shows. Guidelines determine which competition division you may select on your show entries based on your competition status.
How do I determine my competition division?
Youth Division:
In competition, a Youth Division is age-restricted. Youth competitors must be between 7 and 17 years old (as of January 1st). Youth (7-17 years) members may compete in Youth, Amateur, or Open Division (per U.S. Rules for Working Equitation > Appendix G, Rider Division Policy); however, their leaderboard points from each competition will correspond to the division they showed in at that competition.
Amateur Division:
In competition, the Amateur Division is not age-restricted. Members qualify as Amateur according to USAWE Rider Division Policy Professional/Amateur Status. Amateur competitors may compete in Amateur or Open Division (per U.S. Rules for Working Equitation > Appendix G, Rider Division Policy); however, their leaderboard points from each competition will correspond to the division they showed in at that competition.
Open Division:
In competition, the Open Division is not age-restricted. Members who qualify as Professionals defined by USAWE Rider Division Policy Professional/Amateur Status must compete in the Open Division (per U.S. Rules for Working Equitation > Appendix G, Rider Division Policy). As an Open competitor, their Open show results will be used in the Open USAWE Awards Programs.
What happens if I am an Amateur Division competitor, yet the show where I compete only offers the Open Division for the level in which I’m competing?
To maintain an accurate tally of official competition results, USAWE does not re-score/re-place competition results after they have been validated. Thus, if the competition where you are competing only offers an Open rider division, then any points you earn at that competition will be added to your national and regional rankings as an Open rider. If you also compete at licensed shows that offer the Amateur division and earn points in those shows, you might end up with points on both the Amateur and Open Leaderboards.
How do I earn points for awards?
You can earn points toward year-end awards by competing in shows that meet all of these requirements:
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- the show must be fully licensed (not provisionally licensed) before the competition starts
- the rider must be a current USAWE Member
- the mount must be recorded with USAWE before competing (With a one-week post-show ‘grace’ period to resolve pre-show processing issues.)
A big part of what makes USAWE great as an organization is our intentional vision for the kind of member community we value and want to foster across all areas of our organization. All of our members are encouraged to follow the community code outlined below. It’s what makes being a member of USA Working Equitation fun, rewarding, and enjoyable for everyone.
USAWE COMMUNITY CODE
USAWE is dedicated to good horsemanship and committed to fostering camaraderie and good sportsmanship in all our events. To that end, we ask all of our members to:
- Make decisions, in training and competition, with the welfare of your horse foremost in your mind.
- Support others; encourage those new to the sport and actively seek ways to help them learn.
- Be considerate of those contributing their time to put on events. Be courteous to officials, organizers, staff, and volunteers.
- Be honest in your dealings with others and demonstrate personal integrity in your words and deeds.
- Volunteer whenever you are able. By donating your time at local events or in service to the national organization, you are helping to grow this sport.
Privacy Policies
USAWE Privacy Statement: USA Working Equitation does not sell membership data. The personal data we collect is limited to information regarding our relationship with you. Contact information, such as name, telephone number, mailing address, and email address, relates to newsletters, mass communication, projects and events while birth year, membership type and competition status tell us who our members are.