HCS, USA SADDLERY TRAINING LEVEL AWARDS
FOR ADULT AMATEURS AND YOUTH RIDERS

https://www.hcsusasaddlery.com/
240.835.5566
HCS, USA Saddlery is an equestrian saddlery company located in Clear Spring, MD.  Owned by Annette Gavin and three other qualified saddle fitters, they provide United States (US) riders with a professional saddle, fittings, and purchasing experience.  They carry saddles, girths, stirrup leathers, bridles, bits, saddle pads, boot wraps, lunging equipment, saddle fitting kits, studs, and many accessories.  All leather products are made of the finest English leather. For saddles, they carry Albion, Black Country, Fairfax, Hastilow & Sons, Ideal, Kent & Masters, Ryder, Thorowgood, and Vale Brothers and many top-quality secondhand saddles.
 
The HCS, USA Saddlery staff are the largest group of Society of Master Saddlers Registered and Qualified Saddle Fitters (QSF) in North America.  Annette Gavin and her partner Amber Markley are two of only 46 Master Saddlers in the world and two of only 16 Qualified Bridle Fitters.  HCS, USA Saddlery has two other fully-trained and SMS qualified saddle fitters on staff available for appointments.
 
With a desire to increase the number of US riders, especially US dressage riders, HCS, USA Saddlery aims to encourage lower-level dressage riders.  They are therefore offering the HCS, USA Saddlery Training Level Awards for Adult Amateur (AA) and Youth Riders (YR) to riders in Frederick Area Dressage Shows (FADS) shows.  For this awards program, the training level high percentage score AA or YR rider for each FADS show will receive an award ($25 gift certificate) from HCS, USA Saddlery.  At the end of the FADS show season, the rider with the most HCS, USA Saddlery Show Awards will win a saddle from HCS, USA Saddlery.
 
2024 Program Rules:
  1. Only AA, based on USEF rules (see GR1306 and DR119.3), and Youth riders (less than 18 years old during the entire show season) may participate in this program.
  2. The rider may not have ridden in any USEF/USDF licensed/recognized show above training level.  The FADS webmare will verify this status using the USDF eScores website.
  3. This is a rider award so the rider may qualify with more than one horse/pony.
  4. Current USEF/USDF Training Level Tests 1, 2, and 3 are qualifying tests.  The second ride of one test at the same FADS show on the same horse/pony, and HC rides, are not qualifying rides.
  5. Riders are responsible for the accuracy of all applicable results throughout the show season, as posted on the FADS website.  Discrepancies must be reported to the FADS webmare within 24 hours of the posting.
  6. SHOW AWARDS:
    1. For each FADS show, the FADS webmare will post the qualifying AA or YR with the highest training level score of the show. 
    2. Each FADS show winner will then contact HCS, USA Saddlery, so the show award ($25 gift certificate) can be coordinated.  The FADS webmare will not give personal information to HCS, USA Saddlery; the winner will provide that information.
  7. SEASON-END SADDLE AWARD:
    1. At the end of the FADS show season, the qualifying rider who won the most HCS, USA Saddlery Show Awards during the FADS show season will win a Kent & Masters Original or S-Series dressage saddle provided by HCS, USA Saddlery. 
    2. In the event of a tie for the number of show awards received, the tied rider with the highest mean training level percent for their show award scores during the FADS show season will be the saddle winner.
    3. If there is no rider who received more than one show award, the show award winner with the highest training level percentage score will be the saddle winner.
    4. The FADS webmare will contact the winning rider to verify s/he wants the saddle award.  If the rider is a minor (under 18 years of age), a parent/guardian will be contacted by the FADS webmare to verify the desire to receive the saddle.
    5. The saddle winner will then contact HCS, USA Saddlery to coordinate the saddle award.
    6. The FADS webmare will post the name of the winner on the FADS website. 
    7. The saddle must be for any horse/pony designated by the winning rider. 
    8. The saddle award will include one Original or S Series Kent and Masters dressage saddle of the winner’s choice, one saddle fitting, one flocking, and one saddle fitter travel fee.  Accessories and subsequent fittings and flocking will be at the expense of the winner.
Disclaimers:
  1. As  stated on the FADS website:  “FADS is not an organization or club and it has no money; it is simply a website that lists specific casual dressage schooling shows in the Frederick, MD, area.  All shows on the FADS Show List are the responsibility of the sponsoring farm / show manager / show secretary.  Therefore, FADS, the FADS Webmaster, and the FADS Advisers are not liable for any aspect of any shows on the FADS Show List.”
  2. The above disclaimer also applies to the HCS, USA Saddlery Training Level Awards for AA and YR.  The FADS webmaster will email show awards winners and the season-end saddle winner that they are winners.  The winners will then contact HCS, USA Saddlery.  The awards program is an agreement between HCS, USA Saddlery and the winners.  Any resulting disputes are between HCS, USA Saddlery and the winners.
  3. HCS, USA Saddlery will provide financial information directly to the winner of the saddle for the purpose of tax declarations.
  4. By offering these awards, HCS, USA Saddlery accepts these disclaimers.
  5. By accepting these awards, winners accept these disclaimers.
Click here to view 2023 winners.
Click here to view 2024 winners.