Dates and Locations Announced for 2023 USHJA Hunter Championships

Lexington, Ky.—Feb. 23, 2023—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce the dates and locations for USHJA Hunter championships. In 2023, more than 30 championships will offer regional or national competition for Hunter riders of all levels in nearly all USHJA Zones.

Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and Regional Championships

The multi-faceted USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program is open to horses competing as a Green Hunter at 3'0", 3'3", 3'6" or 3'9" fence heights. In addition to stake classes throughout the year, the program includes six Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Regional Championships. Horses may compete in multiple Regional Championships, regardless of region. This year's Regional Championships will be held:

• North: June 27-July 2 at the Lake Placid Horse Show in Lake Placid, New York
• North Central: June 7-11 at the Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic I in Lexington, Kentucky
• Northwest: August 23-27 at Oregon Summer in Wilsonville, Oregon
• South: June 28-July 2 at the North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association Annual Horse Show in Raeford, North Carolina
• South Central: November 1-5 at Harvest in Katy, Texas
• Southwest: June 21-25 at the Blenheim June Classic 2 in San Juan Capistrano, California

The program also includes the annual Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship, which is now open to all horses enrolled in the Green Hunter Incentive program. This year's Championship debuts a new format and expanded qualifying requirements and will return to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, from August 15-17.

Horses must be enrolled to compete in a stakes class or a championship. Learn more and find a full calendar of stakes classes at ushja.org/GHI.

Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship and Regional Championships

The peak of Hunter sport, the USHJA International Hunter Derby program consists of a series held throughout the year, six regional championships and an annual championship. Enrolled horses may compete in multiple Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships:

• North: July 4-9 at I Love New York in Lake Placid, New York
• North Central: June 7-11 at the Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic I in Lexington, Kentucky
• Northwest: August 30-September 3 at Northwest Spectacular in Wilsonville, Oregon
• South: September 13-17 at Aiken Fall Festival II in Aiken, South Carolina
• South Central: September 20-24 at Southwest Showdown in Katy, Texas
• Southwest: November 8-12 at the National Sunshine Series II in Thermal, California

The prestigious Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship will be held August 17-19 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, following the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship. New this year, any horse enrolled in the International Hunter Derby program is eligible to compete in the Championship.

Horses may show in a maximum of one class in the International Hunter Derby series without enrollment, however, enrollment is required to compete in the Regional Championships and annual Championship. Learn more and see the calendar of series competitions at ushja.org/IHD.

Standlee/USHJA National Hunter Derby Regional Championships

A stepping stone to the International Derby level, the USHJA National Hunter Derby program provides both horses and riders a place to compete in derbies at the 3' height. The program provides six regional championships held throughout the year with Open, Amateur and Junior sections: 

• North: August 23-27 at Princeton Summer Encore in Princeton, New Jersey
• North Central: June 13-18 at the Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic II in Lexington, Kentucky
• Northwest: August 23-27 at Oregon Summer in Wilsonville, Oregon
• South: July 11-16 at Tryon Summer 5 in Mill Spring, North Carolina
• South Central: September 20-24 at Southwest Showdown in Katy, Texas
• Southwest: June 21-25 at the Blenheim June Classic 2 in San Juan Capistrano, California

Learn more and see a calendar of derbies available at ushja.org/NHD. 

USHJA Pony Hunter Derby

The USHJA Pony Hunter Derby offers Juniors the opportunity to compete ponies in a series modeled after the International and National Hunter Derby programs at fence heights of 2'3'', 2'6'' and 2'9''/3'0''. Ponies placing in the top 12 in at least one USHJA Pony Hunter Derby class during the qualifying period can compete in either bi-coastal championship offered this year: 

• East: June 20 at Aiken Summer Classic II in Aiken, South Carolina
• West: June 28-July 2 at Blenheim June Classic III in San Juan Capistrano, California

At the East Coast Championship riders may compete on a total of two ponies, no more than one of any one size. At the West Coast Championship, riders may compete on a total of four ponies, no more than two of any size. Learn more and find a calendar of qualifying classes at ushja.org/PonyHunterDerby.

Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships, presented by Mr. & Mrs Ernest Oare

Offered to showcase talented up-and-coming yearlings through 4-year-old Hunters, the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championships, presented by Mr. & Mrs Ernest Oare, were created to increase awareness of the Hunter Breeding sport in-hand and over fences. Two championships will be offered this year with an overall grand champion crowned at the conclusion of both:

• East: August 26 at Virginia Young Horse Festival in Lexington, Virginia
• Central: September 14 at Texas Rose Classic in Tyler, Texas

Visit ushja.org/SallieB for more information.

Kym K Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships

The Kym K Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships showcase talented young Hunter pony prospects aged 7 and under presented in-hand and under saddle classes. New this year, the Young Hunter Pony Championship is expanding to offer a second championship:

• East: August 27 at Virginia Young Horse Festival in Lexington, Virginia
• Central: September 13-17 at Texas Rose Classic in Tyler, Texas

Learn more about classes offered and requirements at ushja.org/YHPC. 

USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Finals

The pinnacle event of the year for Hunter riders, the top 10 nationally ranked riders in each World Championship Hunter Rider category, as well as the top six riders from each eight regions, are invited to compete in their respective WCHR Challenge at WCHR Finals. This year's Challenge classes and Finals will be held October 2-8 at the Capitol Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Riders and owners must be enrolled to compete in Regional and National Championships and may declare only one region per year to compete in. Learn more and find a calendar of qualifying events at ushja.org/WCHR. 

USHJA Hunter Team Challenge

A unique team experience for Hunter riders, the USHJA Hunter Team Challenge is offered for 2’-2’6” Children’s Pony Hunters, 2’6” Low Child/Adult Hunters and 3’ Children’s/Adult Amateur Hunter divisions. Now offered in four regions, sixteen riders in each section will be accepted for a total of 48 participants at each Hunter Team Challenge:

• Central: July 19-23 at Summertime III in Wayne, Illinois 
• Northeast: August 2-6 at New York Horse & Pony in Saugerties, New York
• West: November 8-12 at National Sunshine Series II in Thermal, California
• Southeast: November 15-19 at Jump For The Children II in Raleigh, North Carolina

Learn more at ushja.org/hunterteamchallenge.

Additional opportunities for Hunter competitors include the USHJA Outreach program. Outreach competitions and festivals held across the country offer Hunter classes from poles to 3', giving members the chance to earn points toward year-end awards and the opportunity to participate in the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships. Learn more about the program, championship-level competition opportunities with Outreach Festivals and to see a calendar of this year’s events at ushja.org/outreach.

The Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships will once again be set in Las Vegas, Nevada, this fall. The Championships feature the USHJA National Hunter Championships, which includes sections from Pony Hunters to Amateur Owner Hunters. Additionally, two Green Hunter Incentive Stake classes and two $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derbies will be offered. The USHJA Affiliate Championships will include Hunter classes at 2' and 2'6". Learn more at ushja.org/nationalchampionships.

Enrollment and applications are currently open for all of USHJA's competitive programs that require them. Members are encouraged to enroll or apply now in their USHJA member account by signing in at my.ushja.org/login, selecting "My Programs" and clicking on the program they wish to join. 

Visit ushja.org/hunters for a list of all of USHJA's Hunter opportunities. For more information about all of USHJA's competitive programs, visit ushja.org/competition.

Photo: Terisé Cole/USHJA, Kind Media, Jerry Mohme Photography, McCool Photography, SDH Photography, Jump Media, Rachel Milewski/USHJA