Competition Secretaries Guide FAQ
To compete in any hunter, jumper, equitation or hunter breeding classes at recognized
competitions as an exhibitor, rider, trainer, or his or her agent(s), a person must be an active member of the
USHJA, or pay a non-member fee to the USHJ (exceptions: Local competitions, breed-restricted hunter seat
equitation classes and exceptions listed in GR901.9).
Exhibitor is defined as the owner or lessee of a horse when entered in a class where only the merits of
the horse are to be considered. In equitation classes, exhibitor refers to the rider see GR120. A good rule of
thumb is anyone who signs the entry blank has to be a USHJA Active member.
No. The USHJA membership is required only if you are competing in hunter, jumper, hunter seat
equitation or hunter breeding classes at "open" competitions, which are competitions not restricted to a
particular breed.
No. A person is not required to be a member of USHJA or pay the non-member fee at Local competitions.
Yes. All horses competing in USEF non-breed-restricted licensed
competitions with hunter, hunter breeding, jumper and hunter seat equitation classes (except those
activities enumerated in GR901.9, items 1 through 9) must be properly identified and must obtain a USHJA horse registration.
A registration number for each horse must be entered on all entry forms for USEF-licensed
competitions. Only one registration number will be issued per horse and must remain with the
horse throughout its career.
- Starting December 1, 2008, USEF GR1102.3 requiring mandatory USEF horse recording of
jumpers was eliminated, and the USHJA established a Horse Registration Program for hunters and
jumpers. This type of registry program is currently used by other breeds and disciplines, such as
the Arabian Horse Association, the United States Eventing Association and the United States
Dressage Federation, and it is the best way to provide lower-cost access to USEF competitions.
- Starting on December 1, 2008, to compete at a USEF-licensed hunter, jumper or
hunter and/or jumper competition, every horse must be registered with the USHJA for a one-time fee of
$30. Horses possessing a USEF lifetime recording as of November 30, 2008, will be
grandfathered into the USHJA Registration Program using their current recording number.
- Members still must record their horses either annually or with a lifetime recording with the USEF if
they are interested in accruing points for Horse of the Year, Zone Awards, Stirrup Cup Awards and to
accrue points
on the USEF Computer Ranking List.
- Each horse will be assigned a USHJA registration number, and anytime you choose to obtain a
USEF horse recording, the same number will be used.
- If a horse currently has a USEF Horse ID number, upon payment of the $30 registration fee to
USHJA, that number will become their USHJA horse registration number.
- Members who choose to annually record their horses with the USEF will need to obtain a USHJA
Registry number, which will be the same as their current horse recording number.
- Exhibitors only competing in USEF Local competitions will be exempt from the horse registration
fee, as are the following groups outlined in GR901.9 items 1 through 9:
1) leadline; 2) exhibitions; 3) games and races; 4)classes for 4-H members; 5) walk trot and
academy classes (academy classes are classes limited to horses used regularly in a lesson
program); 6) USDF introductory level tests, pas de deux and quadrille classes; 7) NRHA Endorsed
Reining Competitions. 8) Opportunity classes, 9) citizens of other nations who have proof, in
English, of current membership in good standing of their own National Federation.
It is not mandatory that a farm be recorded with USHJA if at least one owner of the farm maintains a
current competing membership and is in good standing with both USHJA and USEF. USHJA does
encourage farm owners who are competing horses under the farm name to record your farm with USHJA
for a one-time lifetime registration fee of $100.
As of December 1, 2009, to receive USEF National Horse of the Year points or USHJA Zone Horse of the Year points,
exhibitors must be members of USHJA as well as USEF if competing for points at USEF-licensed hunter and/or jumper
competitions (GR1109 and GR1110).
Membership Dues
Active Members - Those individuals who enter USEF-licensed competitions as a rider, owner, trainer or
coach receive full benefits of USHJA membership for the year.
Associate Members - Individuals that do not compete in USEF-licensed competitions. Associate members
receive all other benefits of USHJA membership for the year.
Associate members are subject to USHJA non-member
fees if competing in USEF-licensed competitions.
Outreach Members - Individuals that compete in classes that qualify for the Affiliate Equitation
Awards Program and receive some of the other benefits offered by USHJA for the membership year.
Outreach members are subject to USHJA non-member fees if competing in USEF-licensed competitions.
Collegiate Members - Individuals that participate only in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association/USHJA
Competitions. Annual membership is from September 1 to August 31.
Per GR1056.8 Any judge officiating USEF Open (not restricted to a breed) hunter and/or jumper classes
must be a current active member in good standing of the United States Hunter Jumper Association, Inc.
Per GR1059.6 and GR1205.3 All licensed Course Designers must be a current active member in good
standing of the United States Hunter Jumper Association, Inc.
Per GR1013.1a Any steward officiating USEF Open (not restricted to a breed) hunter and/or jumper
classes must be a current active member in good standing of the United States Hunter Jumper
Association, Inc.
Per GR1202.1 [Manager] An individual acting in this capacity is required to be a Senior Active Member of
the Federation. In addition, any individual acting as the manager of a hunter and/or jumper Open (not
restricted to a breed) competition must be a current active member in good standing of the United States
Hunter Jumper Association, Inc.
Per GR1205.3 The Hunter course designer must be a Senior member of USEF and must be
knowledgeable in the rules relating to the Hunter classes being offered. The hunter course designer must
also be an active member of USHJA.
Competition secretaries for hunter and/or jumper competitions are not required to be members of USHJA.
If you join or renew as a USEF member and a USHJA member at the same time on a joint application,
you will receive one membership card. If you join or renew separately on different dates, you may receive
two membership cards-one for each organization. The membership number will be the same for both the
USEF and the USHJA.
When you register your horse with USHJA and record your horse with USEF at the same time, you will
receive one horse certificate. If you join with both organizations separately on different dates, you may
receive two certificates-one for each organization. The horse number will be the same for both
organizations.
Please note there is a $15 reprint fee for the issuance of a duplicate membership card.
Yes. Even if an individual is an active member of USEA, he or she is still required to be a member of USHJA or
pay the non-member fees.
Members of Equine Canada (Canadian Federation) do not have to be USHJA members, and the non-member
fee does not apply.
Equine Canada horse/pony measurement cards and passports are not acceptable for purposes of
complying with USEF rules on measurement and horse ID numbers. Equine Canada membership will need to have the pony
measured in accordance with HP126 through HP139 or JH127 through JH137. To receive a measurement card faster,
bring a photocopy of the Canadian membership card to have the steward attach to the measurement form.
Non-Member Fees
The non-member fee to USHJA is $30 per competition. If you are a non-member of either or both the
USEF and the USHJA, the non-member fee is $30 per competition for each organization. You will pay
all non-member fees directly to the competition.
Competitions
- Complete entry blank, with correct USEF/USHJA number for owner, rider, trainer and horse
- All required signatures on entry blank
- Copy of USEF/USHJA Membership Card
- Copy of Horse Recording/Registration Certificate
- Copy of your horse's Coggins and health papers, if necessary
- A signed open check for entries, if applicable
Competition Results Check List
For USEF full results (GR1214), please refer to www.usef.org
regarding results requirements, section codes and reporting templates required by USEF.
- Results to be submitted electronically to results@usef.org,
postmarked within 10 calendar days of
completion of competition
- Post Competition Report Form sent to USEF, postmarked within 10 days of completion of competition.
USEF address: 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.
- USHJA Zone Support Fee ($2 per horse) sent within 10 days of completion of competition,
except for those exempted in GR901.9, to USHJA, 3870 Cigar Lane, Lexington, KY 40511.
Local competitions are exempted from this fee.
USHJA Zone Support Fee Form
USEF Competition Newsletter
Each month the USEF sends out a newsletter to all management regarding any Presidential
Modifications or Extraordinary Rule Changes that were passed and new procedure changes. To be put on
the newsletter list, contact Courtney Barnett, or visit
www.usef.org to view the
Competition Services Newsletters.