Get to Know Your Committee Members:
We began introducing our new Zone 4 Committee Members last month and continue this month. These members are already working hard for the zone. Take a minute to get to know them, and stay tuned for more introductions next month.

Janet McCarroll, Vice Chair
Janet, of Gulfport, Mississippi, has been involved with horses most of her life as a rider, owner and trainer for hunters and jumpers. She has also coached riders at all levels of the sport. She is an "R" C1 Steward and a Certified Jumper Schooling Supervisor. She is the event coordinator for Gulf Coast Winter Classics and VP of the Gulf Coast Classic Company. She said she is honored to be a committee member and wants to be sure to represent the entire zone's interests and help the sport grow. Outside of horses she is involved with her local animal shelter and enjoys visiting casinos. 

David Pellegrini, Member
David, of Eads, Tennessee, has been a professional trainer and farm owner and operator since 1987, but he's been involved in the sport since he asked his parents for riding lessons in 1968. As a committee member he hopes to be an active part of a committee that has been at the forefront. Outside of the sport he enjoys solitude, family and time at the lake. Rather than pick just one equestrian to have dinner with he would extend an open dinner invitation to any equestrian who can teach him more and make him better.

Wendy Peralta, Member
Wendy, of Geneva, Florida, got her start in the sport when she 6 years old after her non-horsey father gave her a Pinto pony. She has been involved as an owner, trainer, rider, Young Rider Chef d' Equipe, judge, breeder and is the mother of two professionals and one junior rider. She hopes to assist on the committee by providing insight and experience. She enjoys breeding horses as a hobby. If she could have dinner with any equestrian she would choose Jimmy Williams because he had great stories. 

Christina Schlusemeyer, Member
Christina, of Wellington, Florida, has been active in the sport for more than 50 years. She trains horses and riders, and as part of Quiet Hill Farm, has enjoyed success in the hunter, jumper and equitation divisions. She has also been involved in governance on various USHJA and USEF committees. As a committee member she wants to support membership and develop a relationship with members that increases their comfort level with the association. She also hopes to continue to offer special events to members and has assisted with the Handy Hunter program and free riding clinics in the zone. Her other hobbies include tennis, biking, bridge and traveling. If she could have dinner with any equestrian she would choose her trainer and mentor Jean Campbell . 

Stay tuned for more bios in next month's eNews! For more information about your Zone 4 Committee click here
Catch Me Earns Second Consecutive Win at $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular
Catch Me, owned by Gochman Sport Horse LLC and ridden by Scott Stewart, was presented with top honors and a $30,000 check. Pictured from left to right: Ring Master Steve Rector, USHJA President Mary Babick, Susan Isaacs of Tailored Sportsman, WCHR Task Force Chair Caroline Weeden, USHJA Executive Director Kevin Price, and owners Mimi, Becky and David Gochman. Photo credit: Tricia Booker/USHJA Archives.
For the second  consecutive year, the gray Holsteiner Catch Me wowed the crowd and the judges during the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. Piloted by Scott Stewart, Catch Me soared to another well-earned victory under the lights of the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on February 18.

Stewart's confident and bold first-round ride combined with Catch Me's jumping prowess resulted in scores of 93, 94 and 95. They returned for Round 2 and clinched the win with scores of 84.5, 89 and 92.5.
  
"I think he's even a better horse than last year," Stewart said of the 10-year-old Holsteiner. "He was a blast to ride, and after knowing that last year he was so good, I could relax a little bit more this year, and I could just have fun."
 
Catch Me, owned by Gochman Sport Horses LLC, has risen above all odds to return to the show ring after a bout of botulism two years ago almost ended his life. Catch Me, nicknamed Snoopy, has thrived since his return and now competes in the Amateur-Owner Hunters with Becky Gochman as well as the High Performance with Stewart. Snoopy also earned the 2016 USEF National Horse of the Year Award. Read more.
Chris Kappler and Anne Thornbury to Lead EAP Regional Training Session in Zone 4!
An Emerging Athletes Program Regional Training Session is coming to Zone 4! 
 
Are you proficient at 1.10m jumper-style courses? Are you under 21? This could be the opportunity you've been looking for.

The June 11-15 session will be at Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia, featuring clinician Chris Kappler and stable manager Anne Thornbury!  To participate in this clinic or any of the early summer training sessions apply by April 17. To participate in a late summer training session apply by May 5

Click here to view the full list of training sessions. Applications are now open ! For more information about EAP, visit www.ushja.org/EAP.
Zones 3 & 4 Will Face Off in Virginia at Zone Jumper Team Championships
Photo credit: ESI Photography
The USHJA Zones 3 & 4 Jumper Team Championships will be August 25-27 at Constitution Classic in Culpeper, Virginia!

If you're competing in the Children's and Adult Amateur Jumper (1.10/1.15m), 1.20/1.25m Junior and Amateur Jumper, or 1.30/1.35m Junior and Amateur Jumper sections, you won't want to miss these exciting team Championships held in a Nations Cup-style format for all three fence heights for the first time this year. 

Mark your calendars, review the specifications, and make sure to get your rider  applications in by  May 1!  Earn a minimum of 20 points ($20 money-won) by June 1 to be eligible to qualify for the championships. 

Each rider's Championship costs will be offset by a minimum of $75 paid by the rider's USHJA Zone. 

For more information or to apply visit  www.ushja.org/zonejumper
Grant Money Available for Members
Zone 4 has  grant money available for members who are interested in participating in various USHJA Programs this year. Click the links below to apply for these grants!


Click to apply
Deadline: May 1

Click to apply
Deadline: Oct. 31

Apply for the Children's and Adult Amateur 
Hunter South Regional Championships
Photo credit: Alison Hartwell
The USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Regional Championships, presented by SmartPak, for the South Region will be will be June 21-25 at Atlanta Summer Classic II in Conyers, Georgia!

Last year, this set of Championships introduced Hunter riders to a new, exciting kind of team championship. Rider applications for the championships are now open.  To attend these Championships: 
  1. Apply online at www.ushja.org/chaahunter by May 1
  2. Continue competing to earn points toward qualifying until 60 days prior to your competition
  3. Check out the specifications and ensure you meet all other criteria (Please note: Riders may not compete in a class that exceeds 3'3" during the qualifying period (Exception: riders may compete in the USHJA National Hunter Derby and the Children's or Adult Amateur Jumper sections during the qualifying period)
Each rider's Championship costs will be offset by a minimum of $100 paid by the rider's USHJA Zone. 

Visit  www.ushja.org/chaahunter for more information.
Upcoming Zone 4 Handy Hunter Classics
As the new competition year begins, mark your calendars for the upcoming Zone 4 Handy Hunter Classics! The Handy Hunter Classics were designed to test the handiness of horse and rider in a fun series of classes at your local horse shows. Here is the list of upcoming Handy Hunter Classics in Zone 4:

Date
Show
Location
City/State
March 7-12
Ocala Winter Finals VIII
HITS Post Time Farm
Ocala, Fla.
March 17-19
RMI Tri-State March
Tri State Exhibition Center
Cleveland, Tenn.
April 27-30
Spring Concours I
Fox Lea Farm
Venice, Fla.
May 12-14
CFHJA May
Bob Thomas Equestrian Center
Tampa, Fla.
July 18-20
Camp Fox Lea
Fox Lea Farm
Venice, Fla.
July 23-26
Plain Brown Wrapper
Fox Lea Farm
Venice, Fla.
Sept. 21-24
Jacksonville Fall I
Jacksonville Equestrian Center
Jacksonville, Fla.
Sept. 29-Oct. 1
CFHJA September
Bob Thomas Equestrian Center
Tampa, Fla.
Nov. 2-5
Atlanta in the Fall
Chattahoochee Hills
Fairburn, Ga.
Nov. 15-19
Championship
Atlanta Fall Classic II
Georgia International Horse Park
Conyers, Ga.
Nov. 16-19
Championship: 
Fox Lea November National
Fox Lea Farm
Venice, Fla.

For more information about Handy Hunter Classics, click here.
Congratulations to Zone 4's Caroline Moran
Steve Rector, Liza Boyd, Jennifer Burger and Mason Phelps present Caroline Moran (center) with the inaugural Kavar Kerr Distinguished Service Award for her dedication and philanthropic support of the WCHR Program and hunter/jumper sport. Photo credit: Tricia Booker/USHJA Archives  
Congratulations to Caroline Moran, of Wellington, Florida, on receiving the Kavar Kerr Distinguished Service Award. 

The Kavar Kerr Distinguished Service Award, presented by the World Championship Hunter Rider Committee in honor of Kerr's philanthropic background, is awarded to a person who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership and commitment to the WCHR Program through their volunteer service and philanthropic efforts. This person also honors the past and tradition while representing the future and growth of philanthropy in the sport.
 
As the inaugural recipient, Moran, is someone who embodies this spirit of giving and embraces the show hunter community. Moran is one of the original supporters of the efforts of the organization and has continued to give back to the sport with her philanthropic endeavors.
What's Your Horsemanship IQ?

Take the 2017 Horsemanship Quiz Challenge,  presented by The Plaid Horse

Find out how your horsemanship knowledge measures up! 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
Important Dates and Deadlines
Don't miss out on exciting upcoming USHJA programs, events and opportunities: 

Date Event Additional Information
March 15 Last day for professionals to apply to be a Chef d'Equipe for USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships and Zone Jumper Team Championships Click here for Ch/AA Hunter Championships Chef Apps

Click here for Ch/AA Zone Jumper Team Championships Chef Apps
April 1 Last day to apply for the USHJA Foundation Gochman Family Grant for 2017 US Pony Finals Click for more info
April 17 Deadline to apply for early summer EAP Regional Training Sessions
*This includes Zone 4 session
Click to apply
April 22 Last day to earn points toward the South Region Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Regional Championships (Zones 3 & 4)
April 30 Last day to apply for the 2017 USHJA Foundation Hamel Scholarship for Further Education. 
Click for more info
May 1 Last day to apply for: 
  • Zone Jumper Team
    Championships 
  • Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Regional Championships

Click to apply for Zone Jumper Team Championships

Click to apply for Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Regional Championships
May 1 Deadline to apply for EAP Travel Grant Apply here
May 5 Deadline to apply for late summer EAP Regional Training Sessions
Click to apply
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
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