Hunter Breeding Championships Return to Both Coasts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lexington, Ky.—Feb. 22, 2019—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce that Hunter Breeding National Championships will return to the East and West coasts. Coordinated by the USHJA this year, the 2019 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding Championships, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare, will be held August 24, 2019, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va., and the West Championships will be held August 28, 2019, at the Del Mar Horse Park, in Del Mar, Calif. 

"These championships provide breeders, owners and handlers to showcase their talented young hunter prospects on a national level and help support hunter breeding in the United States," said Mary Babick, president of the USHJA. "We are excited to take on a greater role in coordinating these championships and are looking forward to another great year."

The Championships remain open to yearlings, two-year olds, three-year olds and four-year olds that have a current USEF Horse Recording and are registered with the USHJA. Classes include an Amateur/Junior Handler class, Three-Year Old or Four-Year Hunter Under Saddle, Three-Year Old Hunter Hack Classes and Four-Year Old Conformation Over Fences classes.

Both the owner and the handler must be members in good standing with USEF and USHJA on or before the first day of the Championships. Classes are judged on athleticism, conformation, way of moving, quality, substance, and suitability to become hunters. The same judges will officiate at both Championships and an Overall Champion will be named following the West Coast Championship on August 28.

Created in 2002, the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding Championships aim to increase awareness of the Hunter Breeding section and provide an arena for handlers, owners, and breeders to showcase their talented young horses of any breed or gender.

The championships are made possible by the support of individual donors and sponsors. To make a donation or for more information, visit www.ushja.org/sallieb.