The 2021 USHJA Annual Meeting, presented by Equicore, was held virtually December 4-10 and featured board and committee meetings, a State of the Association presentation from President Mary Knowlton, the Evening of Equestrians Awards, educational sessions and more. Click the links below to read more:

The 2021 USHJA Annual Meeting, presented by Equicore, featured the Evening of Equestrians on Saturday, December 4.

Ryder Richardson, of Parker, Colorado, is this year's USHJA Youth Leadership Award recipient. This award identifies potential future leaders in the equine industry and recognizes Junior members for their achievements.

The USHJA is helping members Know Before You Show with a simple guide of rule changes taking effect for the new competition year. Click here for a comprehensive list of rule changes that were approved in 2021 for the 2022 competition year and here for the complete 2022 USEF Rulebook.

Click here to view important rule changes effective December 1, 2021, for the 2022 competition year that affect Hunter/Jumper competition.

The first year of the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships wrapped up after five championships were held across the country. North, North Central, South, South Central and Southwest regions saw champions crowned throughout the year.

The South Central Championship took place at the Southwest Showdown, September 22-26 in Katy, Texas. Alexandra Ansteth, of Spring, Texas, and Tori Wiesner's MTM Hay Day won the title. Katia Cannon, of College Station, Texas, and her own Canal Street took reserve.

The championships wrapped up with the Southwest Championship at National Sunshine Series II on November 9-14 in Thermal, California. Nick Haness, of Temecula, California, and Caldiano, owned by Double Down Farm, LLC, were named champions. Shawn Casady, of Harriman, Tennessee, and Ashland Farms' Cassario 8 earned reserve.

Twelve new champions were honored as the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Regional Championships expanded from five to six competitions in 2021. Tricolors were awarded in the 3’0”/3’3” and 3’6”/3’9” sections at championships held across the country from the East to the Southwest.

At the Southwest Championship, Leslie Steele of Calabasas, California, and Guess Who, owned by Irine Neuwirthm were named champions in the 3’0”/3’3” section. Joie Gatlin, of San Juan Capistrano, California, and Clover Lane Farm LLC’s Educated Guess took reserve. Victoria Lacagnina, of Santa Rosa, California, rode her own Positano to the tricolor in the 3’6”/3’9” section. Jamie Taylor, of Tarzana, California, and Ecole Lathrop’s Starburst took reserve.

The championships wrapped up with the South Central Championship at Harvest on November 3-7 in Katy, Texas. Bill McMorris of Del Valle, Texas, and Nourah Caskey’s Cassio were named champions in the 3’0”/3’3” section. Jef Lauwers, of Magnolia, Texas, and Jana Rodes’ Hands Up took reserve. Nada Wise, of Hempstead, Texas, and Samantha Brown’s Stevie Ray took top place in the 3’6”/3’9” section. Julie Cleveland Beam, of Argyle, Texas, and Meghan Looney’s CR Cresus Es took reserve.

The USHJA Recognized Riding Academy Program acknowledges lesson programs, riding facilities, equestrian schools, and other types of educational equestrian programs that emphasize horsemanship and sportsmanship, promote safety, and offer introductory hunter/jumper lessons. Learn more.

Interested in joining the program? Applications are coming soon.

Are you new to the sport and looking for a reliable facility that focuses on horsemanship and safety with a written curriculum? Click here to view the listing of USHJA Recognized Riding Academies.

The USHJA Zone 8 Facebook page features important information, photos, upcoming events, news articles and more for our members.

The ANRC National Equitation Championships are an invitational team competition for

college, junior, adult amateur, and ANRC alumni teams that join ANRC.

No need to qualify! Everyone is welcome to join ANRC now through 2022.

New this year, organizations may enter multiple teams in each division. Learn more.

Thanks to members of the Zone 8 Committee representing our zone: