2022 USHJA State of the Association Highlights Opportunity and Giving Back to Members

Bellevue, Wash.—Dec. 13, 2022—The second day of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association's Annual Meeting kicked off with President Mary Knowlton's State of the Association. Joined by fellow Board and Volunteer Committee members John Bahret, Pat Boyle, Robin Rost Brown, Amy Center, Skye Garvois, Britt McCormick, Kat DeMas Mulkey, Charlotte Skinner Robson, Carl Weeden, and Sissy Wickes, the State of the Association shined a light on opportunities in the sport and ways the Association supports the membership. Members in-person in Washington and at home across the country tuned into the morning's presentation. 

Recapping the 2022 competition year, Knowlton and fellow Board and Volunteer Committee members touched on the financial health of the organization, competition and education program participation, and highlighted program changes that will take place in 2023.

Notably, Knowlton reported on the USHJA Outreach program's continued success and the opportunity it provides riders at the unrecognized level with a free membership option. The program expanded nationwide Outreach competition offerings in Colorado, Kentucky, New Mexico, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont and Utah in 2022, including the addition of the USHJA Outreach Series and Festivals. The program's trajectory will continue into the new competition year with additional Festivals across the country.

"[Outreach] is our way of reaching out towards the unrecognized world and saying 'Hey, we are here. How can we help you become part of our community?'" said Knowlton. "It's a give back for our sport. It's not a money-making endeavor. We put the money right back into the Outreach awards program for our members."

With the implementation of the new channel system going into effect on December 1, 2022, USHJA Board Members and Britt McCormick and Sissy Wicks discussed the new changes members will see for the 2023 competition year.

"[The Channel System] was born with a desire to provide opportunity and accessibility. Here, we endeavor to open the competition calendar to more horse shows and to provide a robust program of awards for the regional levels—an awards program equal to the program that exists now for the top of sport," said Wickes, who served with McCormick on the USEF Competition Task Force that created the Channel System proposal.

New competitive and educational opportunities for the 2023 competition year were also presented throughout the meeting. The USHJA Instructor Credential is set to launch in 2023 after a soft launch workshop and live testing event was held in the fall of 2022. The new USHJA 1.0/1.05m Child/Adult Zone Jumper Championships will offer the same team competition environment as the Zone Jumper Team Championships to a new level of riders. The USHJA's second Equitation opportunity for Amateur competitors, the USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic for Amateurs, will see its inaugural Championship in 2023. Numerous programs have also expanded their championships, including the USHJA Hunter Team Challenge, which has expanded to add a Southeast Challenge, and the new Kym K Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championship - Central in Texas. 

The presentation concluded with a question and answer session that brought in discussion and feedback from members in attendance virtually and in person. 

To view the presentation, click here.

The USHJA extends thanks to Official Sponsors CWD, Parlanti, Nutrena, Exhibitor's and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital & Pharmacy. A special thanks also goes to Supporting Sponsors Dianne Johnson; Washington State Hunter Jumper Association; Archway Equestrian Sports, LLC; Thumbs Up Farm; Imagination Lane, LLC; Headland's Management; US Equestrian; Hodges Badge Company; Eaton Equestrian Center; Kathryn A. Hall PC; Brookway Stables; Show Place Productions; Woodside Stables; Great Southwest Equestrian Center; Brookside; Let's Show; Peggy Fackrell; Misty, Scampi and Haydon; LEG Shows and Events; Colorado Horse Shows; and Human Touch for their support of this year's Annual Meeting. 

The 2022 USHJA Annual Meeting continues with important sports governance meetings through December 15. For more information on the USHJA Annual Meeting, including resources and details on select virtual sessions, visit ushja.org/annualmeeting.

Photos: Terisé Cole/USHJA