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Gold Medals return for 2026: is your combination on track?

Consistency is the quiet marker of a good season — and once again it will be rewarded. The Equestrian Australia Dressage Committee (EADC) has confirmed the 2026 Australian Dressage Performance Gold Medals, continuing a recognition program that has celebrated standout combinations every year since 2010.

The medals reward horse or pony and rider combinations who deliver a run of high scores at their level over the qualifying period, rather than a single strong day out. Successful recipients will be presented with their medals at the 2026 Australian Dressage Championships, on a day and time to be confirmed.

What it takes

Three qualifying performances are required at each level, and Freestyle results are not counted:

Novice or Elementary — 73% or more, at each level (for example, three Novice, three Elementary or three Pony competitions)
Medium, Advanced or Junior — 70% or more, at each level (for example, three Medium, three Advanced or three Junior competitions)
Small tour (Prix St Georges, Intermediate I or Young Rider) — three performances of 70% or more across the tour
Medium tour (Intermediate A & B) — three performances of 70% or more across the tour
Big tour (Intermediate II, Grand Prix, including U25 Grand Prix) — three performances of 70% or more across the tour

At least one of the three results submitted must come from a State Dressage Championship, the Australian Dressage Championships, or a CDI.

Where results can come from

Eligible events are Official Competitive Dressage competitions, State Dressage Championships, the Australian Dressage Championships, and CDI competitions. Results from FEI-sanctioned CDI events — including CDIW, CDI 1*/2*/3*, CDIU25, CDIY and CDIJ — all count.

HC, Freestyle and Young Horse results are not eligible, and only official competitive overall scores will be considered, not individual judges' scores.

The fine print

The qualifying period runs for two years, from 7 September 2024 to 7 September 2026 — the closing date of entries for the 2026 Australian Dressage Championships.
Riders may receive only one medal at each level.
Only Australian riders are eligible, and riders must be current financial members of Equestrian Australia.
Recipients are determined by the EADC from the results submitted.

How to nominate

Nominations must be lodged through the 2026 Australian Dressage Performance Gold Medal Nomination Online Form: https://form.jotform.com/261878182540867

Only applications received via the online form, meeting the required performances and received by the closing date, will be eligible.