The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association has opened entries for the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships at The Las Vegas National CSI4*-W, November 15-21, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The USHJA invites members across the country to enter for a chance to qualify for the Championships through points and classes in their zone, through their USHJA Affiliate organization or through the USHJA Outreach program.

Members interested in attending must pre-enter and pay the $50 pre-entry fee by September 27, 2021, in order to be eligible for qualifying. Learn more.

The following changes address combining language for Low Hunter sections effective September 1, 2021, for the remainder of the 2021 competition year. These changes will be incorporated into 2022 Zone Specifications for the 2022 competition year beginning December 1, 2021.

Low Adults: Combining/Dividing Sections: If there are fewer than three (3) entries in the Low Adult Amateur Hunter section, it may be combined with the Low Children’s Hunter Horse section. The Low Adult Amateur Hunter Horse section may only be combined with the Low Pony Hunter and Low Children's Hunter Horse sections after those sections have been combined and still do not meet the three (3) entry minimum.

Low Children’s: Combining/Dividing Sections: If there are fewer than three (3) horses entered in the Low Children's Hunter Horse section, then they may be combined and judged with the Low Pony Hunter or the Low Adult Amateur Hunter section. If there are still fewer than three (3) entries after the Low Pony Hunter section has been combined with the Low Children's Hunter Horse section, these sections may only then combine with the Low Adult Amateur Hunter Horse section.

Low Ponies: Combining/Dividing: Can be split. If there are fewer than three (3) ponies the Low Pony Hunter section may combine with the Low Children's Hunter Horse section. If there are still fewer than three (3) entries after the Low Pony Hunter section has been combined with the Low Children's Hunter Horse section, these sections may only then combine with the Adult Amateur Hunter Horse section.

Congratulations to members who competed in the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships at The Kentucky Horse Park!

Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek, owned by The Wheeler Family, earned the 2021 Champion title. Samantha Schaefer and Caristo, owned by R & R Hunter Horses, finished second, and Liza Boyd and Rebekah Warren’s Cassico took home third.

Topping Section B was Leana Romond with her own Uptown.

Read more about the Handy Round and all of the award winners.

The 2021 USHJA Zone Horse of the Year and Equitation Championships are underway.

The following championships and other special classes are set for Zone 2:

Congratulations to members who participated in the Zone 2 Equitation Championships! Click here for results.

The USHJA Hunter Team Challenge - East was held August 4-8 at New York Horse and Pony Show at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

Team Green came out on top earning gold with riders Sophie Cohen (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), Evelyn Hanley (Water Mill, New York), Maren McLaughlin (Farmington, Connecticut) and Hayley Wyman (Cambridge, Massachusetts).

Silver: Team Lavender Sarah Flaherty (Andover, Massachusetts), Megan Major (Fort Salonga, New York), Kailey Paul (West Sand Lake, New York) and Kenzie Smith (Shoreham, New York)

Bronze: Laurie Barna (Dallas, Pennsylvania), Maryanne Low-Haviland (Schenectady, New York), Madison Pageau (Plaistow, New Hampshire) and Jaiden Palazzo (Simsbury, Connecticut) made up Team Hot Pink.

Congratulations to all of our members who competed in the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships!

Hunt Tosh aboard Twain, owned by Ceil Wheeler, earned the 3'0"/3'3" Championship title, Scott Stewart (Flemington, N.J.) was Reserve Champion on Dr. Betsee Parker's Ackergill Castle. Victoria Colvin rounded out the top three riding Karen Bruce's Mastermind.

Chris Payne won the 3'6"/3'9" Championship on Reign, owned by Stillwater Farm LLC. Hunt Tosh earned second place aboard Salute, owned by Douglas Wheeler, and Shawn Casady on Cassario 8, owned by Ashland Farms, took third place.

Read more.

Riders from Zones 1 and 2 walked away with medals after three days of competition in HITS-on-the-Hudson's Grand Prix ring for the Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships. Team and individual competition was guided by Chefs d’Equipe Meredith O'Connell from Zone 1 and James Benedetto and Diane Little from Zone 2.

The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to establish a new training grant in partnership with the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association and Professional Horsemen's Association in honor of the late Naomi Blumenthal. Applications for this year's Naomi Blumenthal Memorial $1,500 Training Grant are now open and close October 17, 2021.

"The USHJA through its Foundation is pleased to fund this grant alongside our Affiliate partners," said Kevin Price, USHJA executive director. "Naomi Blumenthal was an avid horsewoman who exemplified true servant leadership through her time and commitment as a volunteer, committee member, board member and officer with numerous equestrian sport and benevolent organizations. She was an educator and was passionate about teaching, mentoring, and sharing her knowledge about equestrian sports with others. The Naomi Blumenthal Memorial Training Grant is dedicated in her memory, and intended to carry on her passion for the sport and sharing of knowledge." Read more.

Congratulations to the USHJA National Hunter Derby North Regional Champions!

Cassandra Kahle and Esprit De Victoire topped the professional section, and Meghan Knapic (Smithtown, New York) won the Junior/Amateur section aboard Maliblue at New York Horse and Pony Show, HITS Horse Shows in Saugerties!

Congratulations to our members who competed at the Gotham North FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships, presented by USHJA in Traverse City, Michigan.

Zone 2 members earned the silver medal in the Young Rider Team Championship!

Congratulations to our members who competed in the USEF Pony Finals, presented by Honor Hill Farms in Lexington, Kentucky!

Congratulations to members who competed in the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships - East Coast, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Wheeler.

Champions

Stay tuned for additional coverage after the West Coast Championships. Photo: SAS Equine Photography

Congratulations to members who participated in the Kym K. Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships.

Overall Grand Champion – Wynnbrook Polar Vortex (Clovercroft Polarized x Splash of Hope) a 2014 Welsh Cross gelding owned/ridden by Grace Dupree, trained by Colleen Kelly, bred by Kristina Morris.

Division Champions

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the $25,000 Hamel Family Scholarship for Further Education Jessica Dencker, Alexa McVoy and Charisse Potter.

Jessica Dencker, 27, of Newburgh, New York, is a fourth-year veterinary student at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, West Indies.

"It is an honor to be chosen as one of the recipients of this award," said Dencker. "I am so appreciative of the Hamel family for their generosity and to the USHJA for facilitating this award. Becoming a veterinarian has been a dream I’ve been chasing for many years and it means so much to me to receive this financial support. I am proud to be part of an organization that strives to support higher education."

Read more.

Elizabeth Sinclair, of Unionville, Pennsylvania, was champion of the 2020 Outreach Jumper .75M-.8M section.

A factor that I enjoyed about the 2020 Outreach Program was the variety of classes that one was able to enter.

As soon as I could walk, my mother put me in a saddle, and I fell in love with horses from there on. Thirteen years later, I compete weekly and wouldn't dream of doing anything else.

My favorite riding memory would have to be showing Casper in the rain, he has so much fun in different weather conditions and takes it as a challenge.

My riding goals for this year would have to be showing in junior hunters with my mare, Christmas Morning, and showing in the .90s with my pony, Casper.

I especially enjoy the diversity in the sport. USHJA provides you with so many opportunities to take in the equestrian world whether you're a beginner or a pro, USHJA provides you with a class.

Special thanks to these members who serve our zone! For more information about the committee and contact information, click here.