Are you ready to ELEVATE your learning, be INSPIRED by fellow equestrians and CONNECT with others across the country?

Registration is now open for the 2020 U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually November 30-December 11. Open to all equine enthusiasts, the 12-day virtual meeting will give participants front-row access to exciting educational offerings, sport governance, an update on the state of the association from USHJA President Mary Babick, and the prestigious Evening of Equestrians Awards celebration.

Click here to learn more. If you have questions about the 2020 USHJA Annual Meeting, please contact Steve Rosenberg at (859) 225-6721.

Congratulations to our members who competed in the Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Championships earlier this month!

Zone 2 members earned silver in the Prix des States team competition. Sophee Steckbeck (Clarksburg, N.J.) and her own Alania, Madison Rauschenbach (Newburgh , N.Y.) and her own Gillette B, Gigi Moynihan (Oldwick, N.J.) and Erle, owned by Christy Johnson, and Mimi Gochman (New York, N.Y.) and Celina BH, with Krista Freundlich as Chef d’Equipe, made up the team. Read more about the team competition.

Gochman went on to earn the silver medal in the Individual Final as well. Read more.

Click here for complete results. Photos courtesy of Taylor Pence/US Equestrian.

Each year Zone 2 awards seven $5,000 College Scholarships to members. Congratulations to this year's recipients Emma Bagnato, Madelyne Brymesser, Giordana Daniels, Molly Drass, Monica Egnezzo, Benjamin Hoban and Ava Mowery.

"This scholarship will help alleviate some of my financial concerns and allow me to focus on my studies to become a dental hygienist, where I will be able to provide dental health awareness and help to make smiles brighter," Brymesser said.

"I feel extremely honored and fortunate receiving this scholarship. To be recognized by an organization that has been part of my life for so long, means so much to me," Daniels said. "With the help of the scholarship, I am able to be a part of my schools club equestrian team. I could not be more grateful to be able to continue the sport that has been in my life for so long."

Egnezzo said the scholarship for her brought together her passion for horses and an opportunity to further her education at the University of Kentucky.

"Horses have been a huge part of my life for as long as I remember. Being able to apply my education to my love and passion for horses was a very cool experience for me," she said. "Other members should definitely apply for this scholarship and also get involved in other USHJA opportunities."

Hear more from other scholarship recipients next month!

The USHJA continues to plan educational webinars for members! Mark your calendar:

Congratulations to our members who competed in the World Championship Hunter Rider Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show held this year at World Equestrian Center in Ohio.

Check out coverage from the finals:

To view the Daily Updates with additional coverage and results from the show, click here.

To renew your WCHR membership, click here.

The USHJA Puissance Challenge Fundraiser is a friendly barn challenge that puts jumping skills to the test while raising money for the Equestrian Helmet Safety Initiative!

Host your own puissance challenge, where riders of all levels can compete in divisions from ground poles to over 4'. The deadline to participate is November 30.

Yearling Colt/Gelding – Renaldi (Rosenthal x Fuerstin), a 2019 Oldenburg stallion bred and owned by Chuck and Sue Tice-Grossman and handled by Matthew Davis

Yearling Filly – Bewitched (Bliss MF x Run Lucy Run), a 2019 Oldenburg bred by Ashley Martindale, owned by Audry Giles-Gates, and handled by Christopher Webb

Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding – Strawberry Hill (Nob Hill x Sincerely Yours), a 2018 Belgian Warmblood stallion bred and owned by Diana Dodge and handled by Ethan Maye

Two-Year-Old Filly – Reality Star NHF (Rosenthal x Feiner Dance), a 2018 Oldenburg filly bred and owned by North Hill Farm and handled by Samantha Kulp

Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding – Cabalero (Cabalito x Allegria), a 2017 Belgian Warmblood gelding bred and owned by Elizabeth Capor, and handled by Charlie Brown

Three-Year-Old Filly – Caberneigh (Cabardino N x Special Consideration), a 2017 NAS filly bred by Linda Mancini, owned by Kelsey Calabro, and handled by Emily Anne Belin-McDonnell

Three-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Cabalero (Cabalito x Allegria), a 2017 Belgian Warmblood gelding bred and owned by Elizabeth Capor and ridden by Jennifer Rogala

Four-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle – Will Pleaze (Willemoes x Malibu Barbie), a 2016 Oldenburg stallion bred and owned by Christy Sciaretta and ridden by Derek Fox

Four-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences – Verbatim HM (Viscount 22 x Milwaukee’s Finest XX), a 2016 Belgian Warmblood mare bred by Hickory Manor/Kimmy Risser and owned and ridden by Whitney Brunner

Amateur/Junior Handler – Samantha Kulp handling Quite A Star (Qredit Hilltop x Feiner Dance), 2017 Oldenburg filly bred and owned by North Hill Farm

Caberneigh was also crowned Overall Best Young Horse. Read more.

The 2020 competition year is coming to a close. Click the links below to see where you stand in the Zone Horse of the Year and Stirrup Cup Awards Programs. Reminder: All points corrections must be received by customercare@usef.org by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 15.

The show season continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While showing has resumed in many areas, horse shows also continue to be canceled or relocated.

Find the most up-to-date information relate to COVID-19:

The Puissance was once a highly competitive class at every show on the fall indoor circuit—the Pennsylvania National, the Washington International, the National, and the Royal Winter Fair. It was featured along with a Speed class, the Grand Prix, and various classes such as Gambler’s Choice and Fault-and-Out in determining both national and international Open Jumper championships.

In 1967 at the National Horse Show, Dear Brutus with Show Jumping Hall of Famer J. Russell Stewart (left) set a record of 7’3” in the national Puissance class and then the very next night Hall of Famers Bold Minstrel and Bill Steinkraus (right) tied that record in the international class.

You and your barn can ramp up your competitive spirit all through November in the USHJA Puissance Challenge Fundraiser for the Equestrian Helmet Safety Initiative and earn a spot on the Puissance Challenge Leaderboard. Learn more at ushja.org/foundation/puissance-challenge! Photo: Gloria Axt

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