The Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final event is comprised of multiple rounds and judged on equitation over a course set at 3’6”. All riders compete in the first round of the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. Judges select the top riders from round one to move on to compete in round two. The judges then have the option to select a smaller group of riders for further testing to determine the champion. The American Horse Shows Association (AHSA) Equitation Medal was established in 1937 by the fourth President of the AHSA, Adrian Van Sinderen, as part of his strategy to connect horse people across the United States. The original Van Sinderen trophy was awarded to the Junior Equitation rider who accumulated the most points in AHSA Medal classes in a given competition year. At that time, Saddle Seat, Hunt Seat and Stock Seat riders were all vying for one trophy and often riding against one another in the same class. In 1948, the classes were divided into the individual riding disciplines. Van Sinderen had two more trophies made, one for Hunt Seat, and the other for Stock Seat. The Saddle Seat discipline retained the original Van Sinderen Trophy. In 1950, the Medal Final was fashioned into the competition we now know, with qualifying classes and a final to determine the overall winner. The Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal is a coveted USEF prize and proves to be a significant stepping-stone for international competitions as a great number of the past winners have gone on the represent the U.S.
