Get to Know Your New Committee Members:
Over the next few months we'll be introducing our new Zone 6 Committee Members! They are already working hard for the zone. Take a minute to get to know them, and stay tuned for more introductions!

Mark Aplin, Chair
Mark, of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, originally from New York, has been involved in the sport for 32 years as a trainer, judge and clinician. He hopes to grow membership in Zone 6 and support the zone as much as possible as a committee member. He enjoys cooking and the relentless pursuit for the perfect cup of coffee when he's not working. If he could have dinner with any equestrian, he would select Nancy Whitehead because they seem to know each other's thoughts.

Dan Urban, Vice Chair 
Dan, of Elkhorn, Nebraska, works for Quail Run Horse Centre Inc., owned by his parents Jim and Patrice Urban, and also co-owns two competition management companies, Urban Equine Events and Mid States Horse Shows. Dan hopes to get more people involved in the sport on the grass roots level, especially in the Midwest, and hopes current members will get involved in more programs. He also serves on the Competition Management Committee and Joint Owners Task Force. He enjoys spending time with his children, music and playing guitar. If he could have dinner with any equestrian, he would choose Marcus Ehning, who he thinks is a beautiful rider.

Lindsay Vail, Treasurer
Lindsay, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was a casual pleasure rider most of her life and has explored most disciplines. Jumping was always her favorite, and she has worked her way up to the A circuit in hunters. She is also the treasurer for the Minnesota Hunter Jumper Association and has served on the USHJA Affiliates Committee. She wants to help grow the sport in her zone and raise awareness about USHJA programs as a committee member. Outside of horses, she enjoys golf and spending time with her family and is also an avid Chicago Cubs and Blackhawks fan. If she could have dinner with any equestrian, it would be George Morris to have a conversation unrelated to horses. 

Stay tuned for more introductions in next month's eNews. For more information about the Zone 6 Committee  click here
Congratulations Year-End Award Winners!
Congratulations to Zone 6 members who received year-end honors for 2016! Click below to view final standings for National Horse of the Year, Zone Horse of the Year and Stirrup Cup. 

*Be sure to select 2016

Good luck to members participating in these programs in 2017! 
Register for the 2017 Horsemanship Quiz Challenge
How does your horsemanship knowledge measure up? Find out by participating in the 2017 Horsemanship Quiz Challenge,  presented by The Plaid Horse

Registration opens February 1! Register and take the online quizzes for a chance to compete at the HQC Nationals and win great prizes!   

Click here for more information. Register here
2017 Zone HOTY and Stirrup Cup Championships and Zandra Powers Dates Announced!
Dates and locations for 2017 Zone HOTY and Stirrup Cup championships and Zandra Powers Horsemanship Class have been announced

Date Championship Location
Aug. 9-13 Zone 6 Horse of the Year Hunter and Jumper Championships Two Rivers Summer Festival II, Cumming, Iowa
Aug. 30-Sept. 3 Zone 6 Stirrup Cup Championship End of Summer at Quail Run, Elkhorn, Neb.
Sept. 13-17 Zandra Powers Horsemanship Class Mid States Fall, Mason City, Iowa

Click here for more information about the Horse of the Year Championship. Click here for more information about the Zandra Powers Horsemanship Class. 
Grant Money Will be Available to Members!
Grants  - Word on Folder Register of Card Index. Selective Focus. Catalog Concept.
Zone 6 will have grants available this year for members who are interested in participating in various USHJA Programs this year. Stay tuned for more information and how to apply for these grants in next month's eNews update! 

Zone 6 Handy Hunter Challenges Coming Up!
Mark your calendars for the first three Zone 6 Handy Hunter Challenges! The Handy Hunter Challenges were designed to test the handiness of horse and rider in a fun series of classes at your local horse shows. There is no entry fee for Zone 6 members. Click here for more info.

Date Show Location  City/State
April 20-23 UEE Goodtime Days Quail Run Farm Elkhorn, Neb.
May 3-7 Mid States Spring North Iowa Event Center Mason City, Iowa
May 10-14 Maffitt Lake Spring Gathering I Maffit Lake Equestrian Center Cumming, Iowa

Stay tuned for more dates and locations for Zone 6 Handy Hunter Challenges!
Important Dates and Deadlines
Don't miss out on exciting upcoming USHJA programs, events and opportunities: 

Date Event Additional Information
Feb. 1 Last day to enroll for $350 in the:
  • International Hunter Derby Program
  • Green Hunter Incentive Program for horses competing at 3'0" or 3'3"

Click to enroll in the International Hunter Derby

Click to enroll in the Green Hunter Incentive Program for horses competing at 3'0" or 3'3"
Feb. 1 Registration opens for Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Click for more info
April 1 USHJA Gochman Family Grant for 2017 US Pony Finals application deadline Click for more info
April 20-23 Handy Hunter Challenge, UEE Goodtime Days Click for more info
Apr. 30 USHJA Foundation Hamel Scholarship for Further Education application deadline 
Click for more info
May 1 Deadline to apply for: 
  • Zone Jumper Team Championships 
  • Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Regional Championships
Applications will open soon.

Click for more about Zones 5 & 6 Jumper Team Championships

Click for more about Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Central Regional Championships
Have an interesting story to share? Know a member who deserves to be recognized? Email stories  here for possible inclusion in a future Zone eNews Update!
Sponsors and Partners
The USHJA would like to thank the following sponsors and partners for their support of our many programs and endeavors. For more information, click the sponsor logo(s) below.

Official USHJA Sponsors

Additional USHJA Sponsors & Partners
  
United States Hunter Jumper Association 
3870 Cigar Lane
Lexington, KY 40511
P: 859.225.6700 
F: 859.258.9033
USHJA LOGO