WCHR Category Descriptions

Professional

Riders earn points in any A-rated Professional Hunter Section at WCHR Events where the jumps are 3'6" or higher including Green Hunters 3'6", Green Hunter 3'9", Green Conformation, High Preformance Conformation, Performance Working Hunters 3'6" and High Performance Working Hunters. A Professional rider's standing will be determined by the total points earned by their highest placing horse overall in one eligible hunter section in which that horse-and-rider combination competes.

Developing Professional

The Developing Professional Program was created to provide opportunities to professional riders. Developing Professional riders are also eligible for all WCHR Professional sections and awards and will automatically earn points in the Professional Category. In addition, Developing Professional riders will earn points from the Green Hunters 3'0", Green Hunters 3'3", Young Hunter 6 & Under 3'0", Young Hunter 7 & Under 3'3" and the Performance Working Hunter 3'3" sections at WCHR Events. A Developing Professional rider's standing will be determined by the total points earned by their highest placing horse overall in one eligible hunter section in which that horse-and-rider combination competes.*

*In the event that a Developing Professional's highest placing horse overall at a competition comes from one of the 3'0" or 3'3" WCHR hunter sections, the points earned on that horse count toward his Developing Professional Rider standings. In addition, the points earned on his highest placing horse in a 3'6" or higher WCHR hunter section at that same competition count toward his Professional Rider standings. This may result in a rider's Developing Professional standings differing from his Professional standings.

Developing Professional Criteria

  • Rider has never placed in the top 10 of the WCHR Professional National Standings.
  • Rider has never been a WCHR Professional Regional Champion.
  • Rider has never won a Legacy Cup Restricted Professional Final.
  • Rider has never won the Developing Professional Challenge at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.
  • Rider has never won the Developing Professional National Title.
  • Rider has never placed 1st-12th in the Professional Challenge during the WCHR Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.
  • Rider has never been Champion or Reserve Champion in a Professional Hunter section at 3'6" or higher at the following competitions: Devon, Capital Challenge, Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Washington International Horse Show and/or The National Horse Show.
  • Rider has never competed and placed in an FEI Grand Prix Competition (excluding Young Riders).
  • Riders must declare Developing Professional at the time of WCHR Application. All Developing Professional declarations are subject to review by the WCHR Task Force to ensure the integrity and spirit of the program are maintained.

Amateur Owner 3'6"

Riders earn points in any A-rated Amateur Owner 3'6" Hunter Section at WCHR Events. Includes all age groups 18 & over.

Amateur Owner 3'3"

Riders earn points in any A-rated Amateur Owner 3'3" Hunter Section at WCHR Events. Includes all age groups 18 & over.

Adult Amateur 

Riders earn points in Adult Amateur sections held at 3'0" at WCHR Events. In order to be eligible, riders may not have participated in the Amateur Owner 3'6" Hunter Section or any other hunter section where the fences exceed 3'5" (on any horse) after June 1 of the current competition year. If an Adult rider competes in any over fences class in a hunter section where the fences exceed 3'5" after June 1 of the current competition year he will no longer be eligible to accrue additional points in the Adult Category, or to participate in the WCHR Adult Amateur Challenge at the CCHS. Showing in the under saddle class in a hunter section where the fences exceed 3'5" after June 1 of the current competition year will be permitted without affecting the rider’s category. Any rider will keep points accrued in the Adult category prior to showing in any over fences class in a hunter section where the fences exceed 3'5" and remain eligible for regional and national awards in the Adult category based on those points.

Riders may compete in the Adult jumper section or any jumper class in which the fence height does not exceed the maximum fence height offered in the Adult jumper section at the competition. Riders may compete in any equitation class in which the fence height does not exceed 3'6". (Note: Riders declared as WCHR Adult Amateurs do not jeopardize their eligibility for Adult Amateur Awards by competing in the Amateur Owner 3'3" sections) Includes all age groups 18 & over.

Junior 3'6"

Riders earn points in any A-rated, 3'6" Junior Hunter Section held at WCHR Events. Includes all age groups 17 & under.

Junior 3'3"

Riders earn points in any A-rated, 3’3” Junior Hunter Section held at WCHR Events. Includes all age groups 17 & under.

Children's

Riders earn points in Children's Horse sections held at 3'0" or Children's Pony sections at WCHR Events. In order to be eligible riders may not have participated in any other hunter section where the fences exceed 3'5" (on any horse) after June 1 of the current competition year. If a Children’s rider competes in any over fences class in a hunter section where the fences exceed 3'5" after June 1 of the current competition year he will no longer be eligible to accrue additional points in the Children’s Category, or to participate in the WCHR Children’s Challenge at the CCHS. Showing in the under saddle class in a hunter section where the fences exceed 3'5" after June 1 of the current competition year will be permitted without affecting the rider’s category. Any rider will keep points accrued in the Children’s category prior to showing in any over fences class in a hunter section where the fences exceed 3'5" and remain eligible for regional and national awards in the Children’s category based on those points.

Riders may compete in the Children’s jumper section or any jumper class in which the fence height does not exceed the maximum fence height offered in the Children’s jumper section at the competition. Riders may compete in any equitation class in which the fence height does not exceed 3'6". (Note: Riders declared as WCHR Children’s do not jeopardize their eligibility for Children’s Awards by competing in the Junior Hunter 3'3" sections*) Includes all age groups 17 and under.

Pony

Riders earn points in any A-rated regular Small, Medium, or Large Pony section at WCHR Events. Green Pony sections do not count.

Farm/Business Owner (non-rider)

Important Registry Information: A Farm/Business Owner membership requirement is still in effect for those owners interested in accumulating points toward Owner awards for horses whose owners of record are farms or businesses. The WCHR Program follows the USEF model by requiring the owner of record of each horse competing to be a current WCHR participant, in order to accumulate points toward WCHR Owner awards and trophies. If a horse's recorded owner is a farm/business, the farm/business must be a current participant of WCHR at the time of competition for owner points earned by that horse to be considered valid. WCHR considers the owner of record to be the owner(s) of record with USEF.

Owner (non-rider)

To be eligible for WCHR Owner Awards the owner of record of each horse must also be a participant of WCHR. If the owner of record of a horse is an individual, that individual must be a active participant of the of WCHR to be eligible for awards. Owner Awards are presented to the top two Owners accumulating the most points in the Professional and Developing Professional categories on a Regional and National level. WCHR considers the owner of record to be the owner(s) of record with USEF. Current rider and trainer participants are also considered individual owner participants and are eligible for owner awards.

Trainer (non-rider)

Trainer Awards are presented to the trainers of the top two riders accumulating the most points in the Amateur Owner 3'6" and 3'3", Adult Amateur, Junior 3'6" and 3'3" *, Children's and Pony categories on a Regional and National level. Once the regional and national standings are finalized, each rider is responsible for providing WCHR with the name of their trainer.

Handy Hunter

Riders earn points based on their placing in the Handy Hunter class in their respective WCHR Hunter Section at WCHR Events. Riders competing on more than one horse will only accrue points in the Handy Hunter Category earned by their highest placing horse in the Handy Hunter Class within their respective WCHR Hunter Section(s) at that Event.