Frequently Asked Questions

What is EquestrianEntries All About?

EquestrianEntries makes entering Dressage Shows and Horse trials quick and easy.

Just register your riders and horses on the system and all your information is archived ready for any show you want to enter.

Your cards are automatically put in the system for you - all you have to do is choose your show and your classes and you are ready to go.

You can either print out your finished, neatly typed correct and complete entry for free or submit your entry and pay your entry fees online with your credit card and everything is taken care of for you.

The system is built to be easy and user friendly - most people go from joining to first complete entry in under ten minutes!

Questions About Joining EquestrianEntries

  1. How much does it cost to join Equestrian Entries?
  2. Is my personal information going to be sold by Equestrian Entries?

1) How much does it cost to join EquestrianEntries? Signing up and using EquestrianEntries is FREE. You can fill out all your forms and print them out for free. If you want the convenience of doing your full entry online, including submitting your entry and paying (credit card or paypal) then there is a 5% online fee along with shipping and handling (ranging from $5 -$15 depending on how fast you need your entry sent in).

2) Is my personal information going to be sold by Equestrian Entries? Equestrian Entries is committed to keeping all of our users' information safe and private. We hate when our information is sold and we get spam and telemarketers! We certainly aren't going to do that to you!

How Much Does It Cost?

  1. What does it cost to sign up for competitions through Equestrian Entries?
  2. What does it cost for a show to accept electronic entries through Equestrian Entries?

1) What does it cost to sign up for competitions through Equestrian Entries?

Signing up and using Equestrian Entries is FREE. You can fill out all your forms and print them out for free. If you want to do your full entry online including submitting your entry and paying (credit card or paypal) then there is a 5% online fee along with shipping and handling (ranging from $5 -$15 depending on how fast you need your entry sent in).

2) What does it cost for a show to accept electronic entries through Equestrian Entries? Nothing! It costs nothing for shows to accept electronic entries through Equestrian Entries.

Questions About Shows and Disciplines

  1. What kinds of competitions can I sign up for using Equestrian Entries?
  2. What if I can not find the competition I want to enter on Equestrian Entries?
  3. I am a show manager, how can I get my show listed on Equestrian Entries? Does it cost anything?
  4. I am a show manager and I want to accept electronic entries. how do I sign up?

1) What kinds of competitions can I sign up for using Equestrian Entries? You can sign up for Horse Trials anywhere in the US and for Dressage Shows in California and Nevada (more states coming soon!)

2) What if I can not find the competition I want to enter on Equestrian Entries? We can put any show up on the site, so if there is a competition that you would like to sign up for, but it is not listed in our show calendar, please drop us a note at helpme@eqentries.com and we will get it up as soon as possible for you.

3) I am a show manager, how can I get my dressage show or Horse Trials listed on Equestrian Entries? Does it cost anything? It does not cost a thing to get your shows up on Equestrian Entries. Just drop us a note at helpme@eqentries.com and we will put it up for you. If you want to accept electronic entries we can set that up as well and it is free! We make it so you can accept credit cards and PayPal at no cost to you, your entries will have fewer time-consuming errors due to our automatic entry checking and you save trees! rop us a note.

4) I'm a show manager, and I want to accept electronic entries. how do I sign up? Just drop us a note at helpme@eqentries.com and we'll get you set up!

Questions About the Entry Process

  1. How does my entry get submitted?
  2. What if show isn't accepting online entries?
  3. What if I want to submit my entry myself?
  4. What if the show is full and I don't get in?
  5. What if I need to make changes to my entry or withdraw from the show after I submit my entry?

1) How does my entry get submitted?

Once you answer all the show entry questions there are two ways to submit your entry.

1) You can simply hit Submit and Pay and the system will walk you through payment through Paypal where you can pay by credit card or Paypal account. You do not need to have a PayPal account to pay by credit card. You will then get a confirmation email receipt. If the show is accepting email entries from us then your entry will be emailed with check to follow and then "postmarked" with the time and date of when you paid and submitted. If the show isn't accepting email entries your entry will be printed out and physically mailed with a check in to show maanger. In that case the postmark will depend on the kind of shipping you chose and what time you submitted (before noon and it should get mailed out that day unless it's Sunday or a holiday.)

IF you have sent us your coggins and or signature sheet, then these will be included with your entry to show management. You can send us your coggins and signature pages either by fax (408)854-8103 or by mail: PO BOX 70367 Sunnyvale CA, 94086. Most shows require these to be part of your entry and in their hands before the day of the show, so check with your show management to see what their policy is.

IF the show allows and you HAVEN'T sent us a signature sheet then you MUST bring your signature sheet, signed by every person mentioned on your entry form, with you to the show OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SHOW.

2) You can print your entry out and send it in yourself with your coggins and or signature page through the US Mail/FedEx/UPS etc.

2) What if show isn't accepting online entries? You can enter any show through Equestrian Entries whether they are accepting online entries or not because we mail a physical entry to Show Management.

3) What if I want to submit my entry myself? You always have the option of printing out your entry yourself and mailing it in. Just choose "PRINT" instead of "Pay and Submit" from the entry review page.

4) What if the show is full and I don't get in? It is your responsibility to make sure entries are still being accepted by Show Management. Typically if a show is full and you still submit an entry you will be placed on a waitlist and still have a chance of getting into the show. If you decide you do not want to be on the waitlist and instead want a refund you must contact show management directly for a refund of your show entry fees. The online processing fee is non-refundable.

5) What if I need to make changes to my entry or withdraw from the show after I submit my entry? If you need to alter your entry in anyway after submitting it, you must contact Show Management directly as Equestrian Entries can not make any changes after submission.

Questions About Making Changes to Your Entry

  1. What if I need to make changes to my entry or withdraw from the show after I submit my entry?
  2. What if I need a refund?

    3. 1) What if I need to make changes to my entry or withdraw from the show after I submit my entry? If you need to alter your entry in anyway after submitting it, you must contact Show Management directly as Equestrian Entries can not make any changes after submission.

    2) What if I need a refund? You must contact Show Management directly for a refund. They will need to issue you a new check for the refund of your entry fees. Equestrian Entry Online Convenience Fees are non-refundable. Questions About Fees

    1. Does it cost anything to join Equestrian Entries?
    2. How much does it cost to sign up for a show through EqEntries?
    3. When do I pay my online processing fee?

    1) Does it cost anything to join Equestrian Entries? Joining Equestrian Entries is completely free. Once you've joined you can register all your Riders, Horses, Owners, Trainers and Coaches once, so they are stored permanently in the system for easy automatic entry completion.

    2)How much does it cost to sign up for a show through EquestrianEntries.com? You can fill out all your forms and print them out for free. To submit and pay for your entry online there is a small 5% fee per entry. That's it for shows that accept electronic or emailed entries, otherwise there is a shipping and handling charge per entry of $5-$15 depending on how fast you need your entry to be mailed.

    3) When do I pay the online processing fee? The online processing fee is automatically included, so when you pay your entry fees online, you'll also pay the online fee.

    Questions About Release Signatures

    1. Why do I have to have release signatures for my Rider/Owner/Trainer/Coach?
    2. Can the release be signed online, electronically?
    3. If I am under 18 can I sign my own release?

    1) Why do I have to have release signatures for my Rider/Owner/Trainer/Coach? Competition rules require a release form to be completed with signatures for every Rider, Owner, Trainer, and, if present, Coach for each entry. Remember, any individual under 18 must have the signature of their Parent or Guardian.

    2) Can the release be handled online? The governing bodies for equestrian sports do not currently accept electronic signatures for competition entries. As a security measure, EquestrianEntries.com does not accept nor store digital copies of your physical signature, a practice that protects you from identity theft / fraud. [for more information, read the FAQ on the differences between electronic and digital signatures].

    Until the governing bodies change their policy on electronic signatures, EquestrianEntries.com will store your physical signature only, not digitally. Please follow the procedure outlined below to submit your signature page(s) to EquestrianEntries.com and we will take care of physically submitting your signature page to show management for each entry.

    To submit your signature page, please follow the instructions below:

    1. Print out a signature page.
    2. Gather the appropriate signatures** for your horse/rider/owner/coach combination.
    3. Fax it to us at: (408) 854-8103
    4. Physically mail to: Equestrian Entries      PO BOX 70367      Sunnyvale, CA 94086

    Signatures will be stored offsite in a secure, fireproof storage facility for each calendar year only. You must submit new signature pages yearly. Copies of your signature page will only be submitted for paid event entries

       **Required Signatures:

    1. Rider (or Rider's Parent if Rider is under 18)
    2. Owner (or Owner's Parent if Owner is under 18) If same as Rider and/or Trainer's, this line still needs to be signed.
    3. Trainer Adult (over 18) responsible for the horse while on show grounds. ) If same as Rider and/or Owner, this line still needs to be signed.

    Optional Signature: Coach (cannot be the same as Rider)

      **You will need to send in individual completed signature pages for each horse/rider/trainer/coach combination.

    IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SIGNATURES FOR EVERY PERSON WHO IS ON YOUR SHOW ENTRY FORM, YOU MAY NOT BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE.

    Entry Information Questions

    1. How many horses/riders/owners/trainers/coaches can I register?
    2. How do I know if I am an Adult Amateur or a Professional?
    3. What is the cut off for Junior Riders vs Adult?
    4. Can I be Rider, Owner and Trainer on one Entry form?
    5. Do I have to have a Coach on my entry?
    6. What's the difference between a Coach and a Trainer?
    7. What if my entry form doesn't look correct to me?
    8. Do I need to print anything out to register for a show?
    9. What if I need to change or withdraw an entry after I submit it?

    1) How many horses/riders/owners/trainers/coaches can I register? There is no limit to the number of people and horses you can register. The only limitation is that you (the registered user) must be either owner or rider on each entry.

    2) How do I know if I am an Adult Amateur or a Professional? Full specifications for who qualifies as an Adult Amateur vs a Professional can be found in the USEF competition rules. These can be found on the USEF Website. Do I have to have a Trainer on my entry form? Yes. "Trainer" as defined by the USEF is the adult legally responsible for the horse while on competitions grounds (See FAQ What's the difference between a Coach and a Trainer?)

    3) What is the cut off for Junior Riders vs Adult? According to the USEF rules, for 2007-2008 competition year individuals who have not reached their 18th birthday on 12/01/07 are considered Junior riders.

    4) Can I be Rider, Owner and Trainer on one Entry form? Yes you can fulfill all roles on an entry except you cannot be your own Coach.

    5) Do I have to have a Coach on my entry? No you do not have to have a Coach on your entry form. (See FAQ What's the difference between a Coach and a Trainer?)

    6) What's the difference between a Coach and a Trainer? Directly quoted from the 2008 USEF Rulebook: Coach: "a coach is defined as any adult or adults who receives remuneration for having or sharing the responsibility for instructing, teaching, schooling, or advising a rider, driver, handler or vaulter in equestrian skills."

    You only need to include the name of your Coach on your entry form if they will be at the competition coaching you. Trainer:

    1. Any adult, or adults who has the responsibility for the care, training, custody or performance of a horse.

    2. Said person must sign the entry blank of any Licensed Competition whether said person be an owner, rider, agent and/or coach as well as trainer.

    3. Where a minor exhibitor has no trainer, a parent or guardian must sign and assume responsibility of trainer.

    4. The name of the trainer must be designated as such on the entry blank

    7) What if my completed entry doesn't look correct to me? You can edit your entry until you press the submit button. Once you submit it, you must contact show management directlyfor any changes. If you are unable to make your entry look the way you think it should before submission, please contact us at HelpMe@Eqentries.com

    8) Do I need to print anything out to register for a show? Your entry is submitted automatically for you when you push the submit button and payment has been received - If you have NOT physically mailed Equestrian Entries a signed and completed signature page for submission, you will need to print out page 2 of your entry and gather signatures for every individual who is listed on your entry (rider, owner, trainer, coach, handler). You will need to bring this with you to the show or you will not be allowed to show. If you have physically mailed your signature sheet to us then there is nothing you need to printout (except your payment receipt for your records).

    9) What if I need to change or withdraw an entry after I submit it? If you need to make any changes to an entry after you have submitted it, you will need to contact the show manager for that show directly.

    Memberships Numbers and Card Images

    1. Where can I view my card images?
    2. Do I have to upload my own membership card images to EquestrianEntries.com?
    3. After I register a new rider/horse/owner/trainer/coach, how long does it take for my card images to show up?
    4. What if the information on my card image(s) looks incorrect?
    5. Why don't I see my card images?

    1) Where can I view my card images? Card images can be viewed in the tabs of your home page by clicking on the "View Card" to the left of the Membership Numbers in each tab.

    2) Do I have to upload my own membership card images to EquestrianEntries.com? No. As long as you enter valid membership numbers (USEF, USDF, CDS) Equestrian Entries will automatically load an image for those membership cards within 3 working days. If you don't see expected card images within 3 working days please contact us at HelpMe@eqentries.com so we can look into it for you.

    3) After I register a new rider/horse/owner/trainer/coach, how long does it take for my card images to show up? Equestrian Entries will automatically load an image of your membership cards (USEF, USDF, CDS) for you within 3 working days (Mon-Fri) of the registration of new individuals (rider/horse/owner/trainer/coach) or entry of new membership information. If you don't see expected card images within 3 working days please contact us at HelpMe@eqentries.com.

    4) What if the information on my card image(s) looks incorrect? If the information on your card image(s) looks incorrect, please contact us at HelpMe@eqentries.com so we can look into it for you.

    5) Why don't I see my card images? There are a few reasons why card images may be missing:

    1. Valid membership numbers weren't entered. In order for your card images to be uploaded, valid membership numbers must be entered into the system for each rider/horse/owner/trainer/coach.

    2. Three working days have not passed since your membership information was entered. Equestrian Entries processes card images Monday through Friday. It can take up to three working days for card images to be uploaded.

    3. Memberships not up to date. If a membership has expired then and the card will not be uploaded. If the Equestrian Entries team encounters an expired membership during the card upload process for your account we will send you an email.

    4. Membership information entered may not match USEF/USDF/CDS records. The membership information given (names, numbers, status etc) must match the information from the different governing organizations in order for card images to be posted. If Equestrian Entries finds a problem with your membership information during the card upload process, we will contact you by email to try to resolve the problem.

    If you still have questions about your card images please contact us at HelpMe@eqentries.com.

    Payment Questions

    1. What type of payments are accepted?
    2. Can I use a credit card for payments?
    3. Can I pay by check?
    4. What if I need a refund?
    5. What are the steps for paying through PayPal?

    1) What type of payments are accepted? Equestrian Entries membership fees can be paid using Visa, MasterCard or PayPal. While all payments are processed using the PayPal system, you do not have to have a PayPal account to pay by credit card.

    2) Can I use a credit card for payments? Yes you can use your credit card to pay. Credit Cards are handled using the PayPal system, but you do not have to have a PayPal account to use your Credit Card. For your online safety Equestrian Entries does not store any credit card information.

    3) Can I pay by check? Unfortunately Equestrian Entries cannot accept personal checks.

    4) What if I need a refund?

    Online processing fees and shipping and handling fees are non-refundable.

    Competition Fee Refunds - For refunds associated with a particular competition (class fees, stabling fees, sponsorships etc) please contact show management directly. Equestrian Entries does not issue refunds for entry fees.

    5) What are the steps for paying through PayPal? After you submit your show entry to show management, and they accept the entry, you will receive an email explaining the exact steps you need to take to pay your fees.

    Questions About Printing

    1. When I print or save my entry, the black bars around the titles of each field (Name of Horse, For Sale etc) don't show up. How do I fix this?
    2. Do I need to print anything out to register for a show?

    1) When I print or save my entry, the black bars around the titles of each field (Name of Horse, For Sale etc) don't show up. How do I fix this?
    In Internet Explorer browsers:
      1. Select the Tools menu.
      2. Select the Internet Options menu item.
      3. Go to the Advanced Settings tab.
      4. Check the Print Backgrounds item under Printing.

    In newer Firefox browsers:
      1. Select the File menu.
      2. Select the Print menu item.
      3. Check Print Background Colors.
      4. Check Print Background Images.

    In older Firefox browsers:
      1. Select the File menu.
      2. Select the Page Setup menu item.
      3. Go to the Format and Options tab.
      4. Check Print Backgrounds.

    In Safari browsers:
      1. Select the File menu.
      2. Select the Print menu item.
      3. Click on the Copies & Pages drop-down box.
      4. Select Safari.
      5. Check Print Backgrounds.

    2) Do I need to print anything out to register for a show? You will need to print out page 2 of your entry and gather signatures for every individual who is listed on your entry (rider, owner, trainer, coach, handler). You can either bring this with you to the show or you can send it in before the show - just make sure it arrives before the day of the show so the show manager has it. To be safe you should probably bring a photocopy of your signature page with you to the show. Starting in January, electronic entries should start being accepted at shows and you will no longer need to print anything out in order to complete registration.