USHJA Wraps Up Inaugural Outreach Festivals in Four Zones

Lexington, Ky.—Nov. 10, 2022—New in 2022, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to have offered the USHJA Outreach Festivals in four Zones across the country. The inaugural Outreach Festivals were held in Zones 2, 5, 8 and 10 throughout August, September and October, bringing the excitement and thrill of a championship-level competition closer to home for many USHJA members.

To compete in an Outreach Festival, riders must have competed in one Outreach Series competition to qualify. An Outreach Series is a collaboration of 10 or more Outreach Competitions hosted by two or more managers. This year, each Festival was offered with at least three Series for members to qualify and competition ranged from walk trot Hunters to 1.20m Jumpers.

“It was so exciting and beautiful! The ribbons and pictures and the atmosphere were absolutely beautiful,” said Adrienne Barret, of West Sayville, New York, who topped the 2’ Equitation at the Zone 2 Outreach Festival. “I love the inclusion for the 2’’, 2’6’’ and so on. We are hooked and can’t wait for the next one!”

The Zone 2 Outreach Festival was held August 3-7 during the Princeton Classic Finale at Princeton Show Jumping in Princeton, New Jersey. The Zone 5 Outreach Festival was held September 15-18 and hosted during the Showplace Productions/IHJA B Medal Finals at Ledges Sporting Horses in Roscoe, Illinois. The Arizona Fall Classic I and Westworld Equestrian Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, hosted the Zone 8 Outreach Festival from October 20-23. Finally, the Outreach Festivals wrapped in Huntington Beach, California, in Zone 10 during the Huntington Beach Spooktacular at Huntington Central Park Equestrian from October 28-30. Congratulations to all of our members who competed.

"I can’t say enough about the Outreach Festival. It truly was a wonderful experience for all the riders, trainers and parents. Every detail was thought of and executed flawlessly. The riders at the Festival really had the chance to feel as though they were part of something bigger," commented Liz Westervelt, of Chester, New York, a parent of Zone 2's 18’’ Crossrail Hunter winner Ryan Westervelt.

The USHJA Outreach Program was been established to engage and connect Hunter and Jumper riders, trainers and horse owners with the USHJA by providing the opportunity to earn national recognition in classes from walk trot to 3'0" in Hunter and Equitation sections and .60m-1.20m in Jumper sections at rated and local shows. Any rider may compete in Outreach Hunter, Jumper and Equitation classes, but riders wishing to earn points and national recognition must be a USHJA free Outreach member or any other USHJA member category. At the conclusion of September, the highest pointed Gold level Outreach member in each Zone will earn the Golden Backstage Pass to participate in the  USHJA National Championship's Affiliate sections.

The USHJA Outreach Festivals are set to return in 2023 with an exciting schedule spread across the Zones.

For more information about the USHJA Outreach program, visit ushja.org/outreach. Learn more about the USHJA Outreach Festivals and Series at ushja.org/outreachfestival.

Photos: Liz Corkett Equine Clicks Photography (top two), Paws and Rewind (bottom)