Horse High Point Award
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In 2014, the AVA Horse of the Year became the Horse High Point Award. National and Regional horse high point awards are based on the placing of a vaulter or team at an AVA recognized competition Click here

The Technical Committee created the AVA Horse of the Year Award in 1994 to honor the organization's most outstanding vaulting horse that year. A unique bronze horse-head sculpture, donated by AVA sustaining members Gail Ostendorf and Colette Garrison (in memory of Halali and Dimple) serves as the perpetual trophy. Click here for award criteria prior to 2014.

2015
Xena owned by Jodi Rinard

2014
Pepper Jack owned by Woodside Vaulters

2013
Photo: Kate Revell/VaultingPhotos.com
Urfreund Rosengaard owned by Jan Garrod

2012
Oliver owned by the Yossi Martonovich

2011
Urfreund Rosengaard owned by the Jan Garrod

2010
Palatine owned by the Sydney Frankel

2009
Giovanni owned by Woodside Vaulters

2008
Giovanni owned by Woodside Vaulters

2007
Giovanni owned by Woodside Vaulters

2006
Lorino owned by the Divita Family

2005
Griffindor owned by Julie Keville

2004
Jacky, owned by Garrod Farms

2003
Designer Socks, owned by Beth Grippenstraw

2002
Lascar, owned by Joan Williams

2000
Sir Anthony van Dyck, owned by Sydney Frankel

1999
Jacky, owned by Garrod Farms

1998 (tied)
Lady Lightfoot, owned by Woodside Vaulters
and
Jonas C, owned by Phoebe Hearst Cooke

1997
Denis, owned by Phoebe Hearst Cooke

1996
Denis, owned by Phoebe Hearst Cooke

1995
Sandorian, owned by Phoebe Hearst Cooke

1994
Miss Holly B'Golly, owned by Patti Skipton

1993
Miss Holly B'Golly, owned by Patti Skipton


AVA Horse High Point Award Criteria starting 2014

National and Regional horse high point awards are based on the placing of a vaulter or team at an AVA recognized competition.

The following guidelines apply to the horse high point awards
  • Points are earned at all AVA recognized competitions and in all recognized AVA classes.
  • Points are based on the FEI horse high point system. The number of points awarded is based on the number of competitors in a class, with a max of 15 points assigned per class. For example, if there are five competitors in a class, the horse carrying the first place vaulter will receive 5 points, second place 4 points, and so on.
  • A horse can earn points in multiple AVA recognized classes and for multiple vaulters and/or teams that he carries. For example a horse might carry 3 vaulters in the same class, he would then earn points for all three qualified Vaulters.
  • Points will be awarded for every round. For example points will be awarded for Bronze Comps R1, Bronze Freestyle and Bronze Comps R2
Eligibility Requirements
  • Vaulter and/or team members must be AVA members in good standing when points are earned.
  • Horse must be registered with the AVA when points are earned.
Placements will be taken from the AVA website as posted in Results(in the members only section)
The points earned by each horse in each competition will also be available online for self-auditing. Errors found in reporting of points can be sent to the Horse High Point secretary within 30 days of the competition.

Awards

Horse High point awards will be awarded at the AVA annual convention awards banquet for the previous competition year. Awards will be given for:
  • AVA National Class Horse High Point (ie trot, copper, silver…)
  • AVA Regional Overall Horse High point(combined class)
  • AVA Horse of the Year will be the horse receiving the most overall points Nationally - perpetual trophy
Please contact Julie Divita at enjplus4@gmail.com if you have any questions.



Horse of the Year Award Criteria prior to 2014

Horses at all AVA recognized competitions were assessed by competition judges based on the following criteria prior to 2014:
  • Horse's "way of going" will be weighted two points. This includes purity and quality of gaits, balance, steadiness of temp, and lack of stress.
  • Horse's "attitude" will be weighted two points. This category includes absence of kicking, bucking, pinning ears, switching tail, spookiness or shying, and a willingness to keep going; staying out on the circle without pulling or cutting in, etc.
  • Horse's appearance/turnout will be weighted one point. This includes cleanliness of tack and horse, neatness of braiding, harmony with the team turnout, and proper adjustment of equipment such as bridle, side reins, surcingle, longe line, etc.
Each AVA judge will receive a complete list of all horses and teams competing at the recognized competition. Using the prescribed criteria, they will each select one horse as the "Best Horse of the Competition." Each horse selected by a judge at a competition will receive one point toward the Annual Horse of the Year Award. If two judges at a competition select the same horse at a competition, that horse will receive two points for that competition, and so on.

The horse with the most points at the end of the year will receive the AVA's Annual Horse of the Year Award.