Applications Open for 2018 Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships presented by SmartPak

New zone-based geography offers more opportunity to competitors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lexington, Ky. --- Jan. 19, 2018 --- After two successful years of offering team championships for Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter riders, the USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships, presented by SmartPak , are moving to a zone-based geography in 2018. USHJA is now accepting applications for this year's Championships at ushja.org/ChAAHunter .  

The Championships will be organized by zone providing both team and individual competition, and in 2018, five championships will be offered as follows: 

Zones 1 & 2
Aug. 29-Sept. 2
HITS on the Hudson, Saugerties, N.Y.
Qualifying Period: Aug. 14, 2017-June 30, 2018
Applications Close: June 30, 2018

Zones 3 & 4
June 20-24
Atlanta Summer Classic II, Conyers, Ga.
Qualifying Period: June 26, 2017-April 21, 2018
Applications Close: April 21, 2018

Zones 5 & 6
July 18-22
Showplace Summertime III, Crete, Ill.
Qualifying Period Zone 5: Aug. 14, 2017-May 19, 2018 
Qualifying Period Zone 6: July 17, 2017-May 19, 2018
Applications Close: May 19, 2018

Zones 7 & 8
June 27-July 1
Summer in the Rockies IV, Parker, Colo.
Qualifying Period Zone 7: July 17, 2017-April 28, 2018
Qualifying Period Zone 8: July 24, 2017-April 28, 2018
Applications Close: April 28, 2018

Zones 9 & 10
Nov. 6-11
National Sunshine II, Thermal, Calif.
Qualifying Period: July 24, 2017-Sept. 7, 2018
Applications Close: Sept. 7, 2018

"We believe that changing these championships to a zone-based geography will make them more accessible and enable more members to experience exciting team and individual Hunter competition," Tobey McWilliams, chair of the USHJA Hunter Working Group Children's Adult Task Force, said. "We look forward to continuing to grow this program and want to thank our 2018 championships hosts."

The new structure of the Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships aligns with that of the popular USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, which made the move to this zone-based geography in 2016.

USHJA has adjusted the specifications for the Championships to provide more time for members to apply and qualify. In 2018, riders will have to apply for their points to count toward qualifying 60 days prior to their championships start date, which is also the deadline for accumulating points.

The USHJA Children's and Adult Amateur Hunter Championships provide riders with a competitive team experience and the opportunity to earn Zone Horse of the Year championship points in their respective Children's or Adult Amateur Hunter section. 

Riders compete over two days of team and individual competition. Team competition takes place on day one of the Championships and includes an under saddle and two classic hunter over fences classes. Individual champions are crowned on day two after completing an under saddle, a classic hunter derby-style course and a handy hunter course.

Visit ushja.org/chaahunter for more information and to apply!