Exceptional Horse Recognition Rules

To apply for Exceptional Horse, Owners must complete the Exceptional Horse Award Application.

Mares registered in the OSB or PSB of the American Trakehner Association (at least 50% Trakehner):

1. Model Mare: *M*: The Model Mare designation is awarded to mares that score 120 points (80%) or more at their inspection. It is only available to Trakehner mares inspected for the Official Stud Book and to mares inspected for the Preliminary Stud Book that have an approved Trakehner sire or dam. Thoroughbred and Arabian mares are not eligible for Model Mare designation. Using the scoring system in which the maximum score is 150 (Type/10; Frame/10, Legs/10; Walk/10, Trot/10, Canter/10; General Impression/10), the mare must have a total inspection score of not less than 120. 2. Elite Mare: *E*: Awarded to those mares that produce outstanding offspring. Minimum requirements are:

two sons approved as ATA Breeding Stallions; or\
three ATA registered offspring meeting the requirements for an *E*, *M*, or *P* mare; or
one son approved as an ATA Breeding Stallion and one *E* daughter; or
one son approved as an ATA Breeding Stallion and two ATA registered offspring meeting the performance requirements for an *M* or *P* mare; or
by independent consideration.

Stallions registered in the OSB of the American Trakehner Association:

This program applies to all ATA approved Trakehner stallions. The stallion must be in good standing and his owner must be a paid-up member of the Association at the time of application. There are two categories for earning recognition: on the basis of a stallion’s producing exceptional ATA registered offspring; and on the basis of a stallion’s own performance accomplishments. Elite Stallion: *E*: Minimum requirement is an accumulation of at least 50 points from any one or a combination of the following categories:

Son approved as an ATA Breeding Stallion — 10 points
Daughter awarded *M* or *E* Mare recognition — 10 points
Offspring (stallions, mares, geldings) performing
- at the *Pb* level — 2 points
- at the *Ps* level — 6 points
- at the *Pg* level — 15 points
- earning Premium (*Pr*) in an ATA MPT — 1 point
The stallion himself performing
- at the *Pb* level — 2 points
- at the *Ps* level — 6 points
- at the *Pg* level — 15 points

Performance Horses:

All horses registered or recorded with the American Trakehner Association, including geldings and Appendix registered horses, are eligible to earn the following performance designations. Minimum documented performance requirements are:

BRONZE – *Pb*

Show Jumping – at A-rated USEF or Equine Canada recognized shows win a total of at least $1,000 in Jumper Classes; or
Dressage – at Third Level or higher, at USEF or Equine Canada recognized shows, under five different judges, receive five scores of at least 63% (freestyle scores not to count); or place on the USDF Horse-of-the-Year List with a median score of 65.000% or higher; or
Eventing – must complete 4 Horse Trials at Preliminary (2*), or (equivalent recognized national levels in other countries) or above, finishing with a score of no more than 45 penalty points; to include no more than 40 penalties in Dressage, zero XC jumping penalties, and no more than 12 faults in Stadium Jumping; or
Hunters – win five championships or reserves at A-rated shows in any division recognized by USEF or Equine Canada where the fences are at least 3′ in height; or, alternatively, place 1st through 6th in three USHJA National Hunter Derbies at an A-rated show.
Endurance – completes 300 miles as documented by records from the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).

SILVER – *Ps*

Show Jumping – at A-rated USEF or Equine Canada recognized shows win a total of at least $5,000 in Jumper Classes; or participate in Pan Am Games; or
Dressage – at Prix St. Georges or higher, at USEF or Equine Canada recognized shows, under five different judges, receive five scores of at least 63% (freestyle scores not to count); or participate in Pan Am Games; or place on the USDF Horse-of-the-Year List with a median score of 65.000% or higher; or
Eventing – horses must complete 4 Horse Trials at Intermediate (3*) or (equivalent recognized national levels in other countries) or above, finishing with a score of no more than 45 penalty points; to include no more than 40 penalties in Dressage, zero XC jumping penalties, and no more than 12 faults in Stadium Jumping; or
Hunters – win five championships or reserves at A-rated shows in any division recognized by USEF or Equine Canada where the fences are at least 3’6″ in height; or, alternatively, place 1st through 6th in a USHJA International Hunter Derby at an A-rated show.
Endurance – completes 700 miles as documented by records from the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).

GOLD – *Pg*

Show Jumping – at A-rated USEF or Equine Canada recognized shows win at least $25,000 in Open Jumper classes; or participate in World Cup Finals, World Championships or Olympic Games; or
Dressage – at Grand Prix, at USEF or Equine Canada recognized shows, under five different judges, receive five scores of at least 60% (freestyle scores not to count); or participate in World Equestrian or Olympic Games; or place on the USDF Horse-of-the-Year List with a median score of 62.000% or higher; or
Eventing – horses must complete 4 Horse Trials at Advanced (4* & 5*) or (equivalent recognized national levels in other countries), finishing with a score of no more than 50 penalty points, to include no more than 40 penalties in Dressage, zero XC jumping penalties, and no more than 12 faults in Stadium Jumping. Or, complete the Eventing competition at any World Equestrian Games/World Championships or Olympic Games; or
Hunters – place first through fifth nationally in any division recognized by USEF or Equine Canada where the fences are 3’6″ in height or higher; or, alternatively, place in the top ten in the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals or Series Finals.
Endurance – completes 1,000 miles as documented by records from the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).

Performances not falling within the above-defined categories are subject to Independent Consideration by the ATA Board of Trustees.

All of these awards may be given posthumously.

Documentation from official sources (i.e. USEF – Jumpers, USHJA – Hunters, Equine Canada – Horses competing in Canada, USDF – Dressage, USEA – Eventing. AERC – Endurance) must be provided together with the application for any of the above performance designations.

Application for Recognition must be submitted by the horse’s owner of record — who must be a current member of the Association — to the ATA Central Office for consideration by the ATA Committee on Exceptional Horses or, in special cases, the Board of Trustees.

Special Notes for Eventing:

1) All Eventing scores will be calculated using current (a/o 2022) FEI scoring criteria. Older scores with the 1.5 dressage penalty coefficient will be recalculated under current as of 2022 rules.

2) Due to the 1 January 2019 FEI Rule Change creating a CCI5* Level, existing scores from prior years will be converted to the current equivalent level system. Please reference the table and link below:

FEI Categories 2018	FEI Categories 2019	US National Level Equivalents	German National Level Equivalents	British National Level Equivalents
CCI4*	CCI5*-L	–	–	–
CCI3/CIC3	CCI4-L/CCI4-S	Advanced	VS	Advanced
CCI2/CIC2	CCI3-L/CCI3-S	Intermediate	VS	Intermediate
CCI/CIC	CCI2-L/CCI-S	Preliminary	VS	Preliminary