Dates and Locations Announced for 2024 USHJA Hunter Championships

Lexington, Ky.—March 19, 2024—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce the dates and locations for the USHJA Hunter championships. In 2024, 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 Central: June 12-16 at Traverse City Spring Horse Show 2 in Traverse City, Michigan
• Southwest: June 19-26 at Blenheim June Classic II in San Juan Capistrano, California 
• South: June 26-30 at NCHJA Annual in Raeford, North Carolina
• North: July 10-14 at Saratoga WIB Spectacular in Stillwater, New York
• Northwest: August 21-25 at Oregon Summer in Wilsonville, Oregon 
• South Central: October 30-November 3 at Harvest in Katy, Texas

The program also includes the annual Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship, which is open to all horses enrolled in the Green Hunter Incentive program. This year's Championship will return to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, from August 13-16.

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 Central: June 12-16 at Traverse City Spring Horse Show 2 in Traverse City, Michigan
• North: June 19-23 at Saratoga Classic II in Stillwater, New York
• Northwest: August 28-September 1 at Northwest Spectacular in Wilsonville, Oregon 
• South Central: September 18-22 at Southwest Showdown in Katy, Texas
• Southwest: October 30-November 3 at National Sunshine Series II in Thermal, California
• South: November 27-30 at Holiday & Horses in Wellington, Florida 

The prestigious Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship will be held August 16-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, following the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship. 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 Central: June 11-16 at Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic II CSI3* in Lexington, Kentucky
• South: June 19-23 at WEC Ocala Summer 3 in Ocala, Florida 
• Southwest: June 19-23 at Blenheim June Classic 2 in San Juan Capistrano, California 
• Northwest: August 21-24 at Oregon Summer in Wilsonville, Oregon
• North: August 21-25 at Princeton Summer Encore in Princeton, New Jersey
• South Central: September 18-22 at Southwest Showdown in Katy, Texas

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 18-23 at Aiken Summer Classic II in Aiken, South Carolina
• West: June 26-30 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 are offered with an overall grand champion crowned at the conclusion of both:

• East: August 24 at Virginia Young Horse Festival in Lexington, Virginia
• Central: September 12 at Texas Rose Classic in Tyler, Texas

Visit ushja.org/SallieB for more information.

USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships

The USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships showcase talented young Hunter pony prospects aged 7 and under presented in-hand and under saddle classes. 

• 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

The World Championship Hunter Rider Program celebrates the Hunter rider through year-end awards, special events and an annual Finals. This year's special events include three Hunter Spectacular classes held around the country.

• Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular: February 14-18 at WEF 6 in Wellington, Florida
• West Coast Hunter Spectacular: March 13-17 at Desert Circuit 10 in Thermal, California
• Central Hunter Spectacular: June 19-23 at Traverse City Spring Horse Show in Traverse City, Michigan

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 of the eight regions, are invited to compete in their respective WCHR Challenge at WCHR Finals. This year's Challenge classes and Finals will be held September 30-October 6 at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

In order to be eligible for National and Regional awards, riders and owners must be enrolled and may declare only one region per year to compete in. Learn more and find a calendar of qualifying and special 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 horses in each section will be accepted for a total of 48 horses 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 6-10 at National Sunshine Series II in Thermal, California
• Southeast: November 13-17 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 Walk/Trot to 3', giving members the chance to earn points toward year-end awards. Learn more about the program, championship-level competition opportunities with Outreach Festivals, and see a calendar of this year’s events at ushja.org/outreach.

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.

Photos: Terise Cole/USHJA, McCool Photography, Avery Fletcher Photography, Jerry Mohme Photography, RandolphPR, Alison Hartwell Photography, Andrew Ryback Photography