Awards

Celebrating the miles, achievements, and people who make UMECRA special.

AWARD NOMINATIONS1000 & 100 HORSE APPLICATION

UMECRA recognizes achievements by riders, equines, families, volunteers, and supporters of distance riding throughout the Upper Midwest. Open an award category below to review its description, eligibility, and enrollment or nomination information.

High Point Top Ten Awards

Description

Points are accumulated as a horse and rider team. Beginning with the 2026 season, this award recognizes the Top Ten teams in Endurance, Limited Distance and Competitive Trail.

Awards Presented

10 per division

Eligibility

Riders must meet minimum mileage to qualify for a year end award.
  • Endurance: 200 miles
  • Competitive Trail: 150 miles
  • Limited Distance: 150 miles
  • Junior minimum mileage is 50% of the senior minimum mileage.

Nomination Required - No

No nomination is required.

Competitive Novice Top Five — Donated by Purina

Description

This award recognizes the top five eligible horse/rider teams in the Competitive Novice division.

Awards Presented

5

Eligibility

  • The rider must reach 40 miles to earn a year end award.
  • The rider must not have completed more than 90 total miles in regular-distance Competitive, Limited Distance or Endurance rides.
  • Only one 25- or 30-mile Competitive ride per year may count toward Novice year-end awards.
  • Rides longer than 30 miles do not count toward Novice awards, but do count toward the rider’s 90-mile regular-distance eligibility total.
  • A rider who has placed Top Five Novice for three years is no longer eligible for Novice awards and may enter Novice rides for mileage only (MO).

    • Nomination Required - No

    No nomination is required.

    Competitive Drive Top Five

    Description

    The Top Five drivers, singles or pairs, are recognized.

    Awards Presented

    5

    Eligibility

    Drivers must successfully complete a minimum of five drives to be eligible for an award.

    Nomination Required - No

    No nomination is required.

    Charles Phillips Memorial Versatility Award — Donated by GLDRA

    Description

    Points are accumulated as a horse/rider team. The award recognizes the team that accumulates the most points while completing at least two competitions in each UMECRA division: Endurance, Limited Distance and Competitive Trail.

    Awards Presented

    1

    Eligibility

    The team must complete at least two rides in each of Endurance, Limited Distance and Competitive Trail.

    Nomination Required - Yes

    • There is no fee to nominate.
    • Nominations must be received prior to the last scheduled event of the season.

    Nominate

    How Versatility Points Work

    Points are based on finishing place rather than mileage ridden. For all events, 1st place = 7 pts, 2nd place = 6 pts, 3rd pace = 5 pts, 4th place = 4 pts, 5th place = 3 pts, 6th place = 2 pts, Completions = 1 pts.

    Rookie Endurance or Competitive

    Description

    Points are accumulated as an rider/horse team.  A rider may ride multiple horses in each division, however points are only earned for each horse/rider team.

    Awards Presented

    Grand & Res. Champion Endurance; Grand & Res. Champion Competitive

    Eligibility

    To qualify for Endurance Teams

    • Riders may not have competed in more than 2 AERC sanctioned Endurance competitions prior to the year of nomination.
    • Accumulate a minimum of 240 points.

    To qualify for Competitive Trail Teams

    • Riders may not have competed in more than 2 UMECRA sanctioned Competitive Trail competitions prior to the year of nomination.
    • Accumulate a minimum of 120 points.

    Note: Pulls and rider options are included in the eligibility count

    Nomination Required - Yes

    • There is no nomination fee
    • Points begin to accumulate as of the date the form was sent

    Nominate

    How Rookie Points Work

    Rookies continue to earn regular Top Ten points based on their actual placing within their UMECRA weight division. Rookie standings are calculated separately. For Rookie points, all nominated Rookies competing in the same event are ranked against one another regardless of weight division.

    Example: Joe (HW) and Suzie (LW) are both nominated Rookies.

    Joe competes in the 50-mile Endurance ride at Glacier Trails, where he finishes 6th in HW. He earns 6th-place points toward the HW Endurance Top Ten. Because Joe is the only nominated Rookie in that 50-mile Endurance event, he also earns 1st-place Rookie Endurance points.

    Later, Joe and Suzie both compete in the 50-mile Endurance ride at Grand Island. Joe competes in HW and Suzie in LW, so each earns regular Top Ten points based on their placing within their own weight division. For Rookie standings, however, they are ranked against each other. If Suzie has the faster time, Suzie earns 1st-place Rookie Endurance points and Joe earns 2nd-place Rookie Endurance points, regardless of where either rider placed within their respective weight divisions.

    UMECRA Senior Equine Award — Donated by Sharon Hahn

    Description

    This award honors the equine 20 years of age and older that accrues the highest total of UMECRA points during the season. The equine may compete in multiple divisions (endurance, limited distance, competitive, novice, driving) and with any number of riders.

    Awards Presented

    1

    Eligibility

    • The equine must complete at least 4 rides to be eligible.
    • The equine must reach at least 20 years of age during the season to be nominated; all events completed during the nomination year will be included in points totals.

    Nomination Required - Yes

    • Proof of age (registratin papers, vet letter, or other evidence for unregistered animals) is required at the time of nomination.
    • There is no fee to nominate.
    • Nominations must be received prior to the last scheduled event of the season.

    Nominate

    Vi Bredl Memorial High Point Senior Rider

    Description

    This annual award is given to the Senior rider who compiles the highest total of points on any number of horses, accumulated across divisions. One award is given.

    Awards Presented

    1

    Eligibility

    None specified.

    Nomination Required - No

    No nomination is required.

    High Point Junior Rider — Donated by DRAW

    Description

    This annual award is given to the Junior rider who compiles the highest number of points on any number of horses, accumulated across all divisions.

    Awards Presented

    1

    Eligibility

    None specified.

    Nomination Required - No

    No nomination is required.

    Jan Scott High Point Family Award — Donated by the Dale Scott Family & the Mowrer Family

    Description

    Points are accumulated as a family unit. This award is given to the family that accumulates the most points earned. All event types are included towards the family's points totals. A family member may compete on any number of horses.

    Awards Presented

    1

    Eligibility

    A family consists of parent(s), step-parent or legal guardian, not to exceed two adults, and all dependent children age 18 or younger. The family must be a UMECRA member.

    Nomination Required - Yes

    • There is no fee to nominate.
    • Nominations must include the names of all family members.
    • Nominations for the family award must be submitted before the beginning of the last scheduled ride of the season.

    Nominate

    Louise Riedel Memorial Top Ten Horse Mileage Award

    Description

    This award recognizes the ten horses accumulating the most mileage across all event types. Mileage may be accumulated with any number of riders.

    Awards Presented

    10

    Eligibility

    For miles to be included in the horse mileage award, the rider must be a UMECRA member.

    Nomination Required - No

    No nomination is required.