Dates and Locations Announced for 2025 USHJA Hunter Championships

Lexington, Ky.—March 26, 2025—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce the dates and locations for the USHJA Hunter championships. In 2025, more than 30 championships will offer regional or national competition for Hunter riders of all levels in nearly all USHJA Zones.

USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships

An exciting new opportunity awaits Amateur Hunters in 2025 with the launch of the inaugural Championships for the 2’6” Low Adult Amateur, 3’ Adult Amateur, 3’3” Amateur Owner, and 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunter divisions. This year, the championships will be held bi-coastally, offering qualified riders the choice of competing at one of two prestigious locations:

  • East: September 16-21 at The Split Rock Kentucky National in Lexington, Ky. 
    • Qualifying ends August 2
  • West: October 29 - November 2 at National Sunshine Series I in Thermal, Calif.
    • Qualifying ends September 14 

Each division will be conducted in three phases: Under Saddle, First Hunter Round, and a Classic Round for the 2’6” and 3’ sections or a Handy Round for the 3’3” and 3’6” sections.

Riders can qualify for the championships through both USEF-licensed Channel I or Channel II competitions by earning champion or reserve champion at one competition in their respective division. Additionally, horses can qualify if they are ranked in the top 10 of their USHJA Zone Horse of the Year Standings in Channel I or Channel II. Qualifying for the 2025 USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships began on December 1, 2024.

To learn more about the USHJA Amateur Hunter Championships, visit ushja.org/amateurhunter.

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', 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 11-15 at Traverse City Spring Horse Show 2 in Traverse City, Mich. 
  • South: June 25-29 at NCHJA Annual in Raeford, N.C. 
  • North: July 9-13 at Saratoga WIB Spectacular in Stillwater, N.Y.
  • Southwest: July 16-20 at The Oaks National in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. 
  • Northwest: August 20-24 at Oregon Summer in Wilsonville, Ore.
  • South Central: October 29-November 2 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 12-15.

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 11-15 at Traverse City Spring Horse Show II in Traverse City, Mich.
  • North: June 18-21 at Saratoga Classic II in Stillwater, N.Y.
  • Northwest: August 27-31 at Northwest Spectacular in Wilsonville, Ore. 
  • South Central: September 17-21 at Southwest Showdown in Katy, Texas
  • Southwest: November 5-9 at National Sunshine Series II in Thermal, Calif.
  • South: November 26-29 at Holiday & Horses in Wellington, Fla. 

The prestigious Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship will be held August 15-16 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, alongside the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship. Any horse enrolled in the International Hunter Derby program is eligible to compete in the Championship.

New for 2025, all horses must be enrolled or pay a non-enrolled horse fee to participate in a USHJA International Hunter Derby class. Only after enrollment will exhibitors be eligible for inclusion on the regional and national money won tracking lists and to participate in the Derby Championships. 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 10-15 at Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic II CSI3* in Lexington, Ky. 
  • South: June 17-22 at WEC Ocala Summer 2 in Ocala, Fla. 
  • Southwest: July 16-18 at The Oaks National in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. 
  • Northwest: August 20-24 at Oregon Summer in Wilsonville, Ore.
  • North: August 20-24 at Princeton Summer Encore in Princeton, N.J.
  • South Central: September 17-21 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'. 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 10-15 at Loudoun Benefit in Upperville, Va.
    • Qualifying ends April 11
  • West: June 11-15 at The Oaks Summer Tour I in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.   
    • Qualifying ends April 11

At the East and West Coast Championship, riders may compete on a total of three ponies, no more than one of any one 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. The championships will be offered August 23 at the Virginia Young Horse Festival in Lexington, Va.

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. The championships will take place on August 24 at Virginia Young Horse Festival in Lexington, Va.

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 11-16 at WEF 6 in Wellington, Fla. 
  • West Coast Hunter Spectacular: March 12-16  at Desert Circuit 10 in Thermal, Calif.
  • Central Hunter Spectacular: July 9-13 at GLEF II in Traverse City, Mich.

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 29-October 5 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 16-20 at Summertime III in Wayne, Ill.
  • Northeast: July 30 - August 3 at New York Horse & Pony in Saugerties, N.Y.
  • West: November 5-9 at National Sunshine Series II in Thermal, Calif.
  • Southeast: November 12-16 at Jump For The Children II in Raleigh, N.C.

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: Shawn McMillen Photography, McCool Photography, SDH Photography, High Desert Sport Photo, ESI Photography, IF Photography