Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships

All IHD Championship classes will be held in the Rolex Stadium

Thursday, August 13

• IHD Championship Schooling

Friday, August 14

• Classic Hunter Round
• New is 2026! IHD Team Competition - held concurrently with the Classic Round

Saturday, August 15

• Derby Challenge
• Tier II Handy Round
• Handy Round

All horses must be enrolled in the USHJA International Hunter Derby program during the current competition year to be eligible to compete.

The Championship awarded over $235,000 in 2025, and once again 80% of the entry fees as well as a portion of enrollment fees will be added to the guaranteed $100,000 to create the total prize money purse. The entry fee for the Championship is $1,000. Eighty percent of the total prize money will be awarded to the IHD Championship final standings. Twenty percent of the total prize money will be awarded to Tier II final standings. The Derby Challenge will offer $10,000 in prize money, paid out to the top twelve horses.

All horses must enter with the horse show by July 22. Pre Entry fees are $1,000. Any horses entered after that date will pay the Post Entry Fee of $4,000. 

Exhibitors can enter online at https://entries.showmanagementsystem.com/login or enter via paper entry forms. Exhibitors are required to complete both the Championship entry form and the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show entry form. All entry forms, entry fees, stall fees, drug fees, night watch fees and all other applicable fees are paid to the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show.

Entries must be received in the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show office or postmarked by July 22, 2026. The entry fee is non-refundable after August 1, 2026. The ground jury reserves the right to accept or refuse entries after the closing date due to extenuating circumstances, on a case by case basis, and late entries are not guaranteed. It is recommended that you use a method of delivery which provides delivery confirmation.

Invitations

USHJA will email invitations to compete in the 2026 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship to recorded owners of eligible horses in June. The Invitation will include a USHJA International Hunter Derby entry form and a link to the online prize list.

Classic Hunter Round

All entered horses compete in the first round of competition over a Classic Hunter course featuring International Hunter Derby style fences, including height options. Based on scores in the Classic Hunter round, horse-and-rider combinations advance to one of two possible second rounds: 1) the Handy Hunter Round (split into two sections) or 2) the Derby Challenge.

New in 2026! IHD Team Competition

All horses entered in the IHD Championships are eligible to enter and compete in the IHD Team Competition. Teams are comprised of three horse-and-rider combinations. Scores from the Classic Round count towards the Team scores. Teams compete for a jack-pot prize money that is in addition to the regular Championship prize money.

• Full IHD Team Competition Specifications
• IHD Team Competitions FAQ

Handy Hunter Round

For the second phase of competition, riders are grouped into two tiers based on their amount of Derby money won in the previous competition year; to be classified as Tier I, a rider must have been standing 40th or higher on the IHD Rider Money Won list as of December 1, 2024. All other riders are classified as Tier II.

The top 20 overall horse-and-rider combinations from the Classic Hunter round will be invited to compete in the Handy Hunter Round, and will be eligible for 80 percent of the prize money and the title of USHJA International Hunter Derby Champion. The top 20 horses ridden by a Tier II rider from the Classic Hunter round, including those invited as part of Handy Hunter Round, will be invited to compete in the Tier II Handy Hunter Round, and will be eligible to win 20 percent of the total prize money. Tier II riders competing in the Handy Round are eligible for prize money in both categories. USHJA may invite additional horse-and-rider combinations to either section of the Handy Hunter round at the organization’s sole discretion.                                          

Final placings in both tiers are based off of composite scores from the Classic Hunter and Handy Hunter Rounds.

Derby Challenge

The Derby Challenge is open to all horses that did not qualify for either Handy Hunter Round, guaranteeing each entry in the Championship two rounds of competition. Each horse starts the Derby Challenge with a clean slate, where no scores from the Classic Hunter Round carry forward. Horses compete for $10,000 in prize money with the top 12 horses taking home a share of the prize money.

Judges

Course Designer

Stewards

Championship Ground Jury

USHJA Coordinator

Jumps

Photography

Staff

August 13-15, 2026, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY

Tickets: There is no admission fee to watch the Hunter Derby Championship.

Parking Fee: Complementary parking by Kentucky Horse Shows

Ring: Sheila C. Rolex Stadium in the Rolex Stadium

Hotels

Approximately 4 miles away:
Clarion Hotel - (859) 233-0512
Four Points Sheraton – (859) 259-1311
Embassy Suites – (859) 455-5000
Marriott Griffin Gate – (859) 231-5100

Approximately 5-6 miles away:
Residence Inn – (859) 231-6191
Courtyard By Marriott – (859) 253-4646
Ramada Conference Center of Lexington – (859) 299-1261
Hampton Inn – (502) 867-4888
Microtel Inn by Wyndham Georgetown - (502) 868-8000
Candlewood Suites Lexington - (859) 967-1940

Congratulations on competing in the 2026 Platinum Performance/ USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. In order to facilitate your championship participation, please find the relevant forms and information below. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Tingle at jtingle@ushja.org or 859-225-6703. We hope to see you in Kentucky for the Championships.

Entry

• Enter Online
• International Hunter Derby Championship Entry Form
• Bluegrass Horse Show Entry Form
  Both entry forms must filled out and returned to The Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, 3005 Montavesta Road, Lexington, KY 40502 no later than July 22, 2026. The entry fee for the Championship class and all other applicable fees (e.g., Federation fees, stall fees, et cetera) must be paid to The Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. The entry fee is non-refundable after August 1, 2026.
• Specifications
• Code of Conduct

Additional Participation

• VIP Table

Prize Money

• W-9
• Owner Prize Money Release