April Zone 5 Update
Thank you for being a Zone 5 member! This month make sure you know about rule changes that went into effect April 1. Review and comment on 2019 Zone Specifications, and see what important events and deadlines are coming up. Don't forget to share your photos and stories with us!
Do you know what rules went into effect April 1?
In January, US Equestrian passed several rule changes that affect Hunter/Jumper competitors went into effect on April 1. Make sure you Know Before You Show:


We need your input! Zone Specifications are available for member comment until May 16
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce that the Member Comment Period for 2019 USHJA Zone Specifications is now open.
 
Each year, the USHJA Zone Committees closely review the specifications for their zone to make any adjustments to better serve the needs of the zone, and then the USHJA makes these adjusted specifications available for member comment. The member comment period for zone specifications will be open until May 16, and members simply email comments or suggestions to zones@ushja.org .
 
Last chance to apply for the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program!
The late summer session deadline to apply for the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program is May 14!

In Zone 5, HITS Balmoral in Crete, Ill., will host a session July 9-13 featuring clinicians Anne Kursinski and Anne Thornbury, and World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio, will host a session Aug. 1-5 featuring clinicians Jeff Cook and Colleen Reed. Don't miss this amazing opportunity!
Congratulations to 2017 Zone 5 Horse of the Year Champions!
Special thanks to The Chronicle of the Horse for sharing their coverage of 2017 Zone HOTY winners. For more information about Zone HOTY and year-end awards, click here.
Good luck to IHSA Nationals riders!
Congratulations and good luck to riders and teams from our zone competing at the IHSA National Championships May 3-6 at Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg! Click here to see who is participating. Tune in to EQSportsNet for coverage of the event!

Also, congratulations to our members who received National All-Academic Award honors from IHSA.
Join the fun at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event!
You won't want to miss this year's Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event April 26-29 at The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington! In addition to the great Eventing competition, this year will feature the Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix classes Friday and Saturday evenings. There is no additional charge for tickets to these events (if you have already purchased a ticket for the day) however Saturday seating in the stadium is limited to you must reserve your seats online.

Guests will also be able to enjoy a Q&A panel discussion at Champions Live! on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. This year's panelists will be Margie Engle for Show Jumping, Reese Koffler-Stanfield for Dressage, Boyd Martin for Eventing.
Member Milestones: Carolyn Sanders
Carolyn Sanders, of Pontiac, Michigan, was part of the gold medal Adult Amateur team at the 2017 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter North Regional Championships, presented by SmartPak, on Rain On Blu SSF, a horse she bred herself.

"I wasn't sure where he was going to go," Sanders said about her horse. "I took him to Kentucky in 2015 and showed locally and he was really good, super brave, quiet, got his lead changes...I moved him up to 3' and he proved he could get down the lines and jump. We went to our first outdoor shows here in May and we were champion, and I remember I started crying."

Sanders enjoyed the championships and has already applied to have her points count toward qualifying this year.

“I thought it was a ton of fun! It was cool to have a team,” she said. “I think it’s important to recognize not all of us are going to jump 3’6” and to have something that we can jump in and look forward to is great.”
Gold Medal Team of Ashley Abbruzzi, Carolyn Sanders and Dawn Kelly) Photo by Kristin Rover/USHJA
Are you on the qualifying list?
Apply to have your points count toward qualifying for the USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak, by May 19 and the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships by June 4! Your Zone Committee has also set aside limited funding to help offset riders' entries at the championships.
Zone 5 grant and scholarship opportunities for you!
Apply by May 1
Apply by Oct. 1
Test your knowledge with the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge, presented by The Plaid Horse
Quick Quiz! Check back next month to find out the answer!
The following are flaws that can be found on a horse's front legs. except:
Club footed
Camped out
Pigeon toed
Register to participate in the 2018 Horsemanship Quiz Challenge, presented by The Plaid Horse!
Catch the action at IEA National Finals!
Good luck to riders and teams from our zone who are participating in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association National Finals April 20-22 at New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse! Click here to view coverage of the event.
Have a story to share?
Share stories about your successes and adventures in the sport with us for possible inclusion in the Zone 5 Update or on our Zone 5 Facebook Page. Please include your name and hometown and a photo.
Important dates and deadlines
May


June

USHJA Official Sponsors
USHJA Sponsors & Partners
Photos: Al Cook, ESI Photography, Jump Media, Kaitlyn Karssen, Megan Lacy, Kristin Rover, Rachel Sowinski and Louise Taylor for USHJA.
United States Hunter Jumper Association | (859) 225-6700 | ushja.org