Visit www.ushja.org daily beginning Thursday August 20, 2009 for live coverage, official standings and the "Daily Derby Finals Blog"

$100,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA

International Hunter Derby Finals Presented by Dietrich Insurance

August 21-22, 2009 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY

2009 Finals Information

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THANK YOU to the 2008/2009 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Series Competition Managers for a fantastic inaugural year!

2007

December 7 Lake St. Louis Holiday Series Lake St. Louis, MO
Tommy McIntyre

2008

February 10 HITS Desert Circuit III Thermal, CA
Tom Struzzieri

March 7 Gulf Coast Winter Gulfport, MS
Bob Bell

March 14 HITS Desert Circuit Championship Thermal, CA
Tom Struzzieri

March 15 HITS Ocala Winter Finals Ocala, FL
Tom Struzzieri

March 21 Scottsdale Spring Festival Scottsdale, AZ
Chris Collman

March 21 Winter Equestrian Festival Wellington, FL
Equestrian Sport Productions

March 28 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Katy, TX
Pin Oak Charity Horse Show

March 28 Oaks Blenheim Spring I San Juan Capistrano, CA
Stephanie Wheeler

April 3 Spring Gathering Horse Show Katy, TX
Pauline Cook/Andrew Ellis

April 6 Tournament of Champions-Wrenwood Farm Naples, FL
Kelli MacDonald/Jenny Sutton

April 20 Gala Spring Folsom, LA
Tommy McIntyre

April 27 Aiken Spring Classic Aiken, SC
Rick Cram

May 25 Memorial Day Classic Los Angeles, CA
Langer Equestrian Group

May 25 Devon Horse Show Devon, PA
David Distler

June 14 Country Heir Horse Show Lexington, KY
Frankie Stark

June 17 Showplace Spectacular II Wayne, IL
Pat Boyle

June 20 Atlanta Summer Classic Conyers, GA
Bob Bell

June 22 Colorado Summer Classic I Colorado Springs, CO
Carole O’Brien

June 27 Swan Lake Stables Littlestown, PA
Lynn Garland

July 19 Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Moreland Hills, OH
Classic Horse Show
CVPHA Horse Show Inc.

July 25 Colorado Summer Classic Parker, CO
Langer Equestrian Group

July 26 Horse Shows by the Bay Series II Traverse City, MI
Alexandra & Dean Rheinheimer

August 3 Estes Park Summer Series Estes Park, CO
Tommy McIntyre

August 3 Kentucky Summer Horse Show Lexington, KY
Hugh Kincannon

August 7 HITS on the Hudson Saugerties, NY
Tom Struzzieri/HITS

August 9 Evergreen Classic Carnation, WA
Caroline Jones

August 16 Thunderbird Show Park Langley, BC
Summer Classic
Chris Pack

September 14 Evergreen Invitational Bristol, WI
MK Pritzker

September 28 The Kentucky National Lexington, KY
Suzanne Mayo

November 7 Dallas Harvest Tyler, TX
Patrick Rodes

December 5 Lake St. Louis Holiday Lake St. Louis, MO
Tommy McIntyre

2009

February 7 Desert Circuit III Thermal, CA
Tom Struzzieri/HITS

February 27 Gulf Coast Winter VI Gulfport, MS
Bob Bell

March 7 Ocala Winter Finals Ocala, FL
Tom Struzzieri/HITS

March 21 Desert Circuit Championship Thermal, CA
Tom Struzzier/HITS

March 27&28 Winter Equestrian Festival II Wellington, FL
Equestrian Sport Productions

March 27 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Katy, TX
Pin Oak Charity

April 2 The Spring Gathering Katy, TX
Pauline Cook/Andrew Ellis

April 11 Oaks Blenheim San Juan Capistrano, CA
Spring Tournament
Stephanie Wheeler

April 18 Aiken Spring Classic Aiken, SC
Rick Cram

April 19 Spring Fiesta II Folsom, LA
Tommy McIntyre

May 1 Texas Shoot-Out Tyler, TX
Patrick Rodes

May 9 Kentucky Spring Horse Show Lexington, KY
Hugh Kincannon

May 24 Memorial Day Classic Los Angeles, CA
Langer Equestrian Group

May 24 Devon Horse Show Devon, PA
David Distler

History in the Making:

The USHJA International Hunter Derby Series was created to bring show hunters to the international level, to increase spectator, media and sponsorship interest and to bring tradition and basic riding principles back to the sport of showing hunters. Over the past 18 months, during the inaugural year of the USHJA International Hunter Derby, this effort has been wildly successful with the help of our sponsors and show managers as well as the owners, riders, trainers and of course, the equine athletes.

August 21st will mark the first day of the Finals, where 75 horses will compete over a course featuring Hunter Derby style fences including height and handy options. This qualifying round will determine the top 25 to be invited back to compete head to head on day two. Day two will challenge the riders to navigate a classic Hunter Derby course in order to make the cut to the top 12. The top 12 will return to compete over a handy hunter course for a chance to claim the prestigious title of the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals Champion.

Chairman of the High Performance Hunter Committee, Ron Danta, invites all members to join in the excitement. "Being a part of this event has been an honor. It’s truly amazing to see what horsemen and women of this industry can do when they come together to meet a common goal. We have been successful in developing a program that has brought the lost art of tradition and horsemanship back to the show ring. I could not be more excited to have the culmination of the efforts of so many dedicated people be upon us. I hope everyone takes pride in this event as it is truly history in the making for our sport. If you can't be there in person, be sure to watch this event online-you won't want to miss this."

For more information on the Finals please contact Melanie Fransen at mfransen@ushja.org. For media passes please contact Whitney Allen at wallen@ushja.org.

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USHJA Announces Free, Live Streaming Coverage of the
2009 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals

The United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) is proud to announce that the $100,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals will be broadcast live online, free of charge in partnership with EquestrianLife.com. USHJA has selected EquestrianLife.com as its official media partner for the inaugural International Hunter Derby Finals to be held August 21-22, 2009 in the new outdoor stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY.

EquestrianLife.com will provide a live streaming broadcast and expert commentary of the event to web viewers worldwide via an exclusive International Hunter Derby Finals page on EquestrianLife.com at www.equestrianlife.com/derby. Viewers can also link to the live coverage from www.ushja.org.

Live coverage will begin at 7:30 am Eastern Time on Friday, August 21st and will include all 75 competitors. On Saturday, August 22nd coverage of the final championship rounds will begin at 4:00 pm ET. There will be expert live commentary of the event, offering insights on the riders, horses and the competition as it happens. Viewers will feel like they are at the ringside watching some of the top Hunter horses and riders in the world.

Read More...

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Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors:

Title Sponsor

ASG provides software solutions to over 85 percent of the world’s largest companies. Through its comprehensive Business Service Management (BSM) solution, Business Service Platform™, ASG is an established BSM provider with a strong heritage in Content, Metadata, Applications, Operations, Performance, Infrastructure, and Identity Management technologies. ASG enables clients to reduce costs, enhance customer service, meet business objectives, and truly go beyond BSM. Founded in 1986, ASG is a privately held company based in Naples, Florida, USA, with more than 90 offices around the world.

Presenting Sponsor

There are many consumer choices for purchasing equine insurance. Dietrich & Company will take the time to understand your insurance exposures and supply a solution. They represent several qualified equine underwriting companies that offer competitive premium and coverage options. Visit the Dietrich web site or call them for immediate service.

Featured Sposnor

Since 1914, Walsh Harness & Saddlery has prided itself on crafting the finest saddlery products found anywhere in the world. Known for superior quality halters and leads, the Walsh product line now includes leg protection, bell boots, girths and other leather training accessories.

Champions such as Olympian Laura Kraut and USEF’s top hunter owner and trainer Don Stewart, Jr, are some of the champions who choose Walsh products.

Major Sponsors

Charles Owen has been making helmets in England since 1911. Their equestrian safety products range from safety reins to safety vests and result from both accident and laboratory research. Charles Owen helps set the standard for safety products and produce helmets that meet three international safety standards & are certified by three international testing bodies. Their state of the art factory in Britain handcrafts products that combine their passion for quality with their love of tradition.

Dover Saddlery, Inc., is the largest direct marketer of equestrian products in the United States . Founded in 1975 in Wellesley, Massachusetts, by United States Equestrian Team members, Dover Saddlery has grown to become The Source® for equestrian products. Dover Saddlery is proud to be a sponsor of the 2008/2009 USHJA International Hunter Derby Series.

Award Sponsors

Essex Classics Signature riding shirts use the most luxurious European designed cotton fabrics and feature the most exquisite tailoring details. Among their most popular shirts, Essex Performance Collection riding shirts are constructed from CoolMax, a specialty fabric designed to keep riders cool during competitions. Stay on top of the latest fashion from Essex Classics by visiting the company’s website www.essexclassics.com.

The Clothes Horse has been manufacturing custom made horse blankets, tackroom drapes, and trunk covers since 1972. Growing out of one man's desire for the perfect rain sheet and company founder Edith Friedman's willingness to try something new, The Clothes Horse now makes items for some of the most prestigious show barns and horse shows in the country, as well as for private horse owners nationwide

For this inaugural event, Grand Prix is showcasing its innovative “Sport Collection.” Like the Derby itself, the Sport Collection is a blend of traditional values with new age performance. The Grand Prix Sport Collection combines a classic look, fit and tailoring with cutting edge technology to create a superior level of performance for the sport. These Hunt Coats are highly water resistant, extremely breathable, and offer unparalleled freedom of movement.

Media Partner

EquestrianLife.com is a social media web site dedicated to the equestrian community and horse lovers across all breeds and disciplines. Awarded the Best New Equestrian Web Site in 2008, EquestrianLife.com is focused on providing visitors with all the information and tools they need to connect with each other and learn.

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2009/2010 Derby Series is Underway

The 2009/2010 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby Series is alreay in full swing. The new "Derby" series kicked off as Maggie Jayne and Early Applause jumped into the first win of the series at the $15,000 Showplace Spring Spectacular Derby on June 9.

The 2009/2010 USHJA International Hunter Derby Series is supported by the following sponsors: The Chronicle of the Horse–Title Sponsor; Dietrich Insurance-Presenting Sponsor; Charles Owen & Co.-Major Sponsor; Dover Saddlery-Major Sponsor; Essex Classics-Award Sponsor; The Clothes Horse-Award Sponsor

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For more information visit the USHJA at www.ushja.org or contact us at 859.225.2055

For Sponsorship Information Contact Whitney Allen at 859.225.6967 or Patty Wise at 410.243.1333 x 223