USHJA Announces HQC Nationals Participants

Education-Packed Week Kicks Off at The University of Findlay

Findlay, Ohio—November 6, 2019—Members from eight USHJA Zones will compete in USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals November 8-10 at The University of Findlay in Ohio, where they will join the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session participants in a week packed with education and competition.

The USHJA congratulates the following members, who were some of the top-scoring participants in the this year’s Horsemanship Quiz Challenge: 

  • Maya Aryal, Fairfax, Va.
  • Chloe Bellerive, Keedysville, Md.
  • Devyn Borden, Purcellville, Va.
  • Margaret Brice, Duncannon, Pa.
  • Kylie Cohen, Bloomfield Twp, Mich.
  • Kayla Daugherty, Union, Ky.
  • Angelina Franzese, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  • Liliana Franzese, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  • Mackenzie Hahn, Middletown, Pa.
  • Vera Hannapel, Ankeny, Iowa
  • Rebecca Hopkins, Northville, Mich.
  • Ian McFarlin, Tallahassee, Fla.
  • Genevieve Munson, Rogers, Ark.
  • Ellison Neumann, Chicago, Ill.
  • Madeleine Nielsen, La Conner, Wash.
  • Kassandra Nulton, Shermans Dale, Pa.
  • Lauren Obermeyer, Hamilton, Ohio
  • Karina Patel, Lafayette, Colo.
  • Katherine Pugh, Boulder, Colo.
  • Leonie Richardson, Niwot, Colo.
  • Grace Salmon, Wilsonville, Ore.
  • Ariana Schneider, Clarksville, Tenn.
  • Cierra Simmons, Howell, N.J.
  • Anna Spitzer, Lake Bluff, Ill.

To earn their spot, participants took two levels of online horsemanship quizzes. They had to receive a score of 80 percent or higher on the Level One Quiz to advance to the Level Two Quiz. The highest scoring participant in each of the 12 USHJA Zones for the Level Two Quiz was invited to Nationals first, followed by the highest nationally ranked finalists with a maximum of 24 participants at HQC Nationals.

The 24 participants will be competing for the National title at the event. They will be completing multiple days and phases of competition including a written exam, horsemanship/identification exam and a final practicum (split into sections A and B based on scores from the first two exams.) The 12 participants with the highest combined scores from the first two exams take Practicum A, while the other participants take Practicum B.

The winner of HQC Nationals is the individual with the highest cumulative score from the written exam, horsemanship/identification exam and Practicum A. The winner will earn an internship at Spycoast Farm, a $2,000 grant from USHJA Foundation to be used toward further education and training, a Charles Owen helmet, Parlanti paddock boots, a grooming tote from State Line Tack and a gold medal. The second place individual will receive a $1,500 educational grant from USHJA Foundation, a Charles Owen helmet and a silver medal, and the third place individual will receive a $500 grant from USHJA Foundation, a Charles Owen helmet and a bronze medal.

Awards and ribbons will be given to the four finalists overall, as well as the four finalists with the highest written exam scores, highest horsemanship/identification exam scores, and the highest Practicum A scores. All participants will also receive gifts from supporting sponsor State Line Tack.

HQC Nationals is held in conjunction with the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session. In addition to testing and competition, HQC Nationals participants will be able to take part in other educational seminars with speakers that include Susan Gertzman, Leah Mitchell, Nicole Rambo, Kip Rosenthal and Michael Stone. Participants are also able to audit riding sessions of the EAP National Training Session, led by Olympian Peter Wylde. For more information about the EAP National Training Session click here.

USHJA extends its gratitude to all of our official sponsors: Charles Owen, CWD, Parlanti and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital; and HQC award partners and sponsors: Boy O Boy Bridleworks, Spy Coast Farm and State Line Tack.

The HQC is supported, in part, by a generous grant from US Equestrian, as well as individual donors through the USHJA Foundation. For more information about the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Program, visit ushja.org/hqc.