Mary Babick Elected for Second Term as USHJA President

Lexington, Ky.—Sept. 15, 2020—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Board of Directors elected Mary Babick to serve a second term as president of the organization, during the Board of Directors meeting, held virtually on Monday, September 14. 

“I am honored to be elected president for a second term,” said Babick. “My focus will be to continue to build community, transparency and strength for our sport by working with a wonderful group of volunteers and staff.”

Per Association bylaws, an in-person meeting was not required as there was only one candidate nominated for the office of president. Furthermore, as there was only one candidate, the Board resolved to waive the secret voting ballot provision in the bylaws and proceeded with a voice vote where Babick was unanimously confirmed as the next president.

Babick was selected for the nomination through a multi-step process. Members submitted nominations for the office of President, which were then reviewed by the USHJA Nominating Committee. The committee interviewed candidates before submitting to the USHJA Board of Directors their recommended nominee. 

Having served as President of the USHJA since December 2016, Babick has dedicated her time to the betterment of the Hunter/Jumper community. A professional for more than 40 years, Babick operates out of Knightsbridge Farm in Colts Neck, New Jersey, where she trains riders of all levels from beginner through national level championships and competitions. Babick is a USHJA Certified Trainer and holds certification with the British Horse Society. She is also a USEF licensed official, holding her “R” judges card for Hunter and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation and her “r” Jumper judges card. 

Babick has extensive experience in sport governance, having served on the USEF Board of Directors and numerous USHJA and US Equestrian committees for more than a decade. In addition to her current role as USHJA President, she also serves as chair of the US Equestrian National Breeds and Disciplines Council. 

In addition to the office of President, elections will also be held this year for the offices of National Vice President and four Directors-At-Large during the USHJA Annual Meeting in December. The Board also voted to move the 2020 USHJA Annual Meeting to a virtual format, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Meeting dates have been extended to accommodate more educational sessions and opportunities, and to avoid overlapping meetings. The virtual Annual Meeting will now be held November 30-December 11. 

To learn more about the USHJA election process and timeline, visit ushja.org/elections. To learn more about the USHJA Annual Meeting, visit ushja.org/annualmeeting.