About the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final and USEF Amateur Adult Saddle Seat Medal Final
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, often riding against one another in the same class. In 1948, the classes were divided into the individual riding disciplines. In 1950, the Medal Final was fashioned into the prestigious competition format we now know, with qualifying classes and a Final to determine the overall winner. In 2001, the tradition of the medal program was extended to the adult amateur exhibitor by offering the USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final.
