USHJA Announces Participants for Gold Star Clinic Central

Wilmington, Ohio—April 15, 2019—The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce the athletes who will participate in this week's USHJA Gold Star Clinic-Central, featuring lead clinician Richard Spooner. The four-day intensive clinic will take place April 17-20 at World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio.

The following riders qualified to participate in the clinic either by earning an individual medal at one of the 2018 USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, or by being accepted as a Wildcard applicant:

1.10/1.15m

Hayley Anderson, New Boston, N.H.

Tyler Anderson, Novi, Mich.

Nicole Davis, Erie, Colo.

Annabella Harold, Mundelein, Ill.

Ame Pate, Longmont, Colo.

Claire Stockard, Chicago, Ill.

Edie Wetzel, Carmel, Ind.

1.20/1.25m

Samantha Briggs, Lexington, Ky.

Emily Clemens, Minnetrista, Minn.

Taylor Herzog, Williamsburg, Va.

Gianna Lanteri, Windsor, Colo.

Brooke Pearson, Lithia, Fla.

Devon Shaw, Columbus, N.J.

1.30/1.35m

Sydney Luzicka, Albuquerque, N.M.

Genevieve Munson, Rogers, Ark.

Joining Spooner to lead mounted and unmounted instruction is a world-class line up of industry professionals: Diane Carney, USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Task Force member, DiAnn Langer, US Equestrian Youth Chef d'Equipe; Bill Liggett, US Equestrian high performance farrier; Brenda Mueller of Marketing4Equestrians; Colleen Reed, leading stable management expert; Steve Stephens, renowned course designer; Jean-Yves Tola, renowned sport horse breeder and executive director of the Studbook Selle Français North America; and Dr. Geoff Vernon, US Equestrian team veterinarian.

The four-day clinic will include horsemanship, stable management, mounted instruction and additional education from these top athletes and horsemen, and riders are organized into three sections based on fence heights of 1.10/1.15m, 1.20/1.25m and 1.30/1.35m. Access the full schedule here. Auditing of all mounted sessions will be open and free to the public.

This is the final Gold Star Clinic this year. The USHJA Gold Star Clinic-West Coast was held at AON/HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California, January 16-20, and the USHJA Gold Star Clinic-East Coast was held at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, December 26-30.

The clinics are part of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program, which uses the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, to identify Jumper athletes who have the skill and desire to excel in the sport. Individual medalists from the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships received the designation of Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders, regardless of age, and are invited, along with their coaches and parents, to attend one of these clinics.

The USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships are offered at 1.10/1.15m, 1.20/1.25m and 1.30/1.35m and provide riders with a competitive team experience and an opportunity to earn Zone Horse of the Year points in their respective jumper sections. The Championships are held by zone and consist of both team and individual competition.

New for 2019 is the addition of the USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships to the Emerging Jumper Rider Program. These new championships are open to juniors, amateurs and professionals competing at the 1.40/1.45m level, and will be held as overlay classes with special 1.40/1.45m open classes and grand prix classes held at the American Standard typically offered during the same competition hosting a USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championship.

The USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program serves as the entry point for the Show Jumping Athlete Pathway, a joint USHJA-US Equestrian effort that identifies and nurtures Jumping athletes as they advance through the sport to enhance future success for Olympic and international teams representing the United States.

USHJA extends special thanks to the following individuals and organizations helping make these clinics possible: Emerging Jumper Rider Program donor, Booth Show Jumpers, AON/HITS Desert Horse Park, George's Jumps, Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, World Equestrian Center, The Ridge, Mike Schultz and Tom Struzzieri. This program was developed and is led by the dedicated volunteers of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Task Force: Larry Langer, chair, Jeff Campf, Diane Carney, Matt Cyphert, David Distler, Kim Land, DiAnn Langer, Marnye Langer and Sandra Ruiz.

Media interested in covering the event may complete a media credential.