Get Involved! Members Help Shape USHJA Leadership

Now is an exciting time to be a USHJA Senior Active/Competing or Education/Non-Competing member helping to shape the USHJA leadership. As a member organization, we are pleased to serve at the direction of our volunteer leadership made up of members, and members play an important role in the identification of candidates for leadership positions.

In 2025, USHJA will have a Board of Directors election for four seats on the Board, and the first phase of that important process begins with you! Senior Active/Competing and Education/Non-Competing members may nominate candidates for the Director At-Large Hunter Athlete and Director At-Large Jumper Athlete seats from June 1 to June 30. Nominations for the designated Zone seat and the designated Affiliate seat will come from the Zone and Affiliate Councils respectively.

Understanding USHJA Leadership Structure

USHJA Leadership Composition and Selection

The term of service for USHJA Board of Directors members is four years.

Candidates are nominated by members during the designated nomination period (June 1 to June 30), and the Nominating Committee uses these nominations to identify a recommended slate of candidates. 

After careful review of all nominees, the Nominating Committee recommends two individuals (where possible) for each open position on the Board of Directors. View the full election process here.

USHJA Board of Directors

The Board aims to be balanced in composition, consisting of individuals capable of providing non-equestrian related business experience, in addition to those with deep Hunter and Jumper discipline knowledge and experience.

Election Questions & Answers

Q. Does someone need to have prior governance experience or can anyone be nominated?

A. While prior governance experience is preferred for Director At-Large seats, it is not required. Any Senior Active/Competing USHJA member in good standing is eligible for nomination, provided they meet the criteria and qualifications outlined in the position’s job description and any specific seat requirements. Please review the specific seat requirements for the 2025 election before making a nomination: Hunter & Jumper Athlete Definition. Only members meeting the specific Athlete criteria listed in the policy will be considered for the Hunter Athlete and Jumper Athlete seats.

Q. When will nominations be announced?
A. Nominations remain confidential throughout the process. The final Nominating Committee-approved voting slate of Director At-Large candidates will be released in November.

Q. Can someone be nominated for multiple positions?
A. No, a candidate may only be considered for one seat per election cycle. In this election cycle the Nominating Committee is looking for one individual meeting the criteria for the Hunter Athlete seat and one individual meeting the criteria for the Jumper Athlete seat as defined in policy MEM106.

Q. Can someone nominate themselves?
A. Yes. You may nominate yourself for a position, provided you meet the criteria and qualifications.