Registration Opens for 2018 USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge, Presented by The Plaid Horse

Free, online educational program open to young equestrians ages 21 and under

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lexington, Ky. –Feb. 1 , 2018– Registration is now open for the 2018 USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge, presented by The Plaid Horse, at ushja.org/HQC. USHJA members, ages 21 and under, are invited to put their horsemanship to the test from now through Sept. 1 for a chance to qualify for HQC Nationals, an in-person, educational horsemanship competition that offers $4,000 in educational grants.

"The HQC is a fantastic, free educational opportunity that encourages and rewards our youth members to build and advance their horsemanship knowledge and skills," said Terri Young, chair of the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Committee. "We are also thankful to The Plaid Horse for their continued support of the HQC program and for demonstrating their commitment to the value of horsemanship and education in today's sport."

The HQC is open to any USHJA member who was not 21 years old prior to December 1 of the current competition year and there is no minimum age requirement to participate. Young equestrians are encouraged to test their horsemanship knowledge by completing the online practice quiz and the Level One and Level Two Quizzes. Participants must score an 80 percent or above on the Level One Quiz to advance to the Level Two Quiz. Those who score 90 percent or above on the Level Two Quiz will be eligible for selection to compete at the 2018 HQC Nationals, where finalists complete three exams including a hands-on practicum, as well as participate in a variety of educational activities and seminars over the course of the three-day event

Free resources are available to encourage and assist participants in preparing for the online quizzes including a  practice quiz and a  study guide. The official study guide covers topics that include horse identification, anatomy, nutrition, riding theory and welfare, and it is available to everyone interested in expanding their equine knowledge, not just HQC participants. Additionally, the online practice quiz is open to USHJA members of all ages.

As a companion opportunity to the HQC, each summer the USHJA conducts a 30-day HQC Stable Challenge from June 15 to July 15, during which barns can compete for special prizes. Open to members of all ages, the Stable Challenge requires at least three students per trainer to complete the online HQC Practice Quiz for their barn to be eligible to win. At the end of the 30-day challenge, the three top scores under each trainer will be averaged to provide an overall score. In the event of a tie, the fourth highest score for that trainer's barn will be added to the average. One trainer per zone, that is a member of USHJA and declared professional with US Equestrian, will be named the winner and will receive a special USHJA prize package

The Horsemanship Quiz Challenge is supported in part by generous grants from  US Equestrian, and individual donors through the  USHJA Foundation. For a complete list of 2018 HQC specifications including eligibility, requirements, and qualifying procedures for HQC Nationals, visit  ushja.org/HQC. 

About USHJA
The United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), as the official hunter/jumper affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation, is a competition-based sport organization that serves its members through educational programs, awards and recognition, communication and rules. USHJA provides a wide array of programs for all hunter/jumper levels and is mindful of the well-being of its equine partners. Additionally, USHJA is committed to preserving the history of equestrian sport and, through the USHJA Foundation, support charitable and benevolent services. For more information, please visit  www.ushja.org.