Competitor Information

The information below is designed to educate members and competitors on understanding USHJA membership requirements, points, programs and local opportunities within their zone.

Designate "Hunter" or "Jumper"

It is of upmost importance for all hunter jumper members to designate a primary discipline with the USHJA. Members can designate a primary discipline on the membership form (or online membership) or submit a request in writing to USHJA. Members that are not "hunter" or "jumper" designated do not have a vote in USHJA elections. Undesignated members also are not counted towards the zone's year end financial allotment. This allotment is based on the number of members that have declared "hunter" or "jumper" as a primary designation.

USHJA Rule Resource website

Visit the NEW USHJA rule resource website for rule changes, new rules and other rule related information.

USHJA Zone Points

Not to be confused with the USEF National Horse of the Year Program (HOTY), USHJA zone only awards are earned by participating in competitions in your home zone. Some USHJA zone only awards do not have a corresponding USEF National HOTY award.

What is needed to compete for USHJA Zone Horse of the Year Awards:

1. USHJA Horse Registration (one time fee) and USEF Horse Recording (annual or life membership).
2. USHJA and USEF active competing membership for owner

The USHJA zone only awards were developed at the zone level and include the following sections within the hunter and jumper Divisions:

Hunter: children's hunters (which can be broken into children’s hunter horse and children’s pony), adult amateur hunter and pony hunter breeding. The pre-green section is offered in zones 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10.

children's hunters, adult amateur hunters and pre-green divisions are based on the "C" rated points chart, regardless the rating of the competition - USEF Point Chart.

Jumper: children’s jumper, and adult amateur jumper.

children’s and adult jumper, pony jumper, 5-year old, 6-year old, and 7/8-year old jumper USHJA Zone Horse of the Year Awards are based on the number of entries that competed in the class and assigned points (see USEF rule GR1132 for point chart). The junior jumper and amateur owner jumper USHJA Zone Horse of the Year Awards will be based on one point for every dollar won in their classification at regular competitions.

Receive USHJA Zone HOTY & USEF National HOTY Points

The regular working, green working, amateur owner, conformation hunter, junior hunter, pony hunter and classics are awarded USHJA zone points as well as national USEF points. USHJA Zone points are only awarded if horse and rider are competing within their home zone. The USHJA zone points for the regular working, green working, amateur owner, conformation hunter, junior hunter and pony hunter divisions are based on the "B" rated points chart, regardless the rating of the competition.

USHJA zone points are can only be accrued if the competition follows the zone specifications.

Points in Contiguous States

A contiguous state is a state outside of a particular zone that is defined by the owner's home state of the zone. A home state is the owner's state of residence according to USEF as the date they renew their membership. Always compare specifications of a contiguous state’s zone specifications with your zone specifications before entering a class - Zone Contiguous State Chart.

As this chart shows, if a contiguous state offers a section that is not offered by the owner's home zone, points will not count at the zone level, but will be counted towards USEF national HOTY awards. The points will also not count if the zone specifications are different in the contiguous state than in the owner's home zone.

The zone specifications are updated annually according to the zone’s needs and should be reviewed each year. Drafts of proposed zone specifications will be on the website for comments by zone members in July for the following year.

Requirements for all USHJA Awards

USHJA Award Program Requirements Tool (PDF)

Find a Competition in Your Area

The USEF link below allows you to search for competitions by State, Zone, and Discipline Type. You do not need to fill in every field to search for a competition. If you fill in Zone and Discipline Type (Hunter) this will list all of the shows in your zone.

Search for Competitions - USEF Competition Calendar

Clinics and Programs

Use these links for more information about clinics, events scheduled in Zone 5 and USHJA programs