Home > Competition > National Championship > Qualify

How to Qualify

Qualifying for the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships differs based on the division in which you want to qualify. Entrants must declare intent to compete in the Championships by applying with a non-refundable application fee.

Qualifying lists are now available through Ryegate Show Services. Note that qualifying lists are based on points earned from competitions within the qualifying period.

Qualifying for all Hunter and Jumper sections, once USHJA Zone points list are exhausted, National standings will be used on a first come first serve basis.

2024 Rated Qualifying Lists

Qualifying for the USHJA National Hunter Championships

Thirty (30) horses will be accepted per section based on points accumulated during the qualifying period. The top two entered horses per Zone are accepted. If any top two entries decline, then entries will be accepted by working down the Zone’s qualifying list. Any extra entries will be accepted based on total highest National points accumulated during the qualifying period.

Maximum of 3 horses per rider allowed per section.

National Hunter Derby
Two National Hunter Derby sections will be offered: Open and Junior/Amateur

Top five entered horses from the program standings by Zone are accepted. If any top five entries decline, then entries will be accepted by working down the standings list. Any extra entries will be accepted based on total highest National program standings money won accumulated during the qualifying period.

Maximum of 3 horses per rider allowed.

USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Stake 3’/3’3” & 3’6”/3’9”
Maximum of 40 enrolled horses per section will be accepted of qualified horses entered in the green divisions. Horses must be on the accepted list for the underlying green section. All horses must be enrolled in the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive program.

Maximum 3 horses per rider allowed.

Qualifying for the USEF/USHJA National Jumper Championships

Eligibility Requirements: Please find complete eligibility requirements on page 8 of the Championship Specifications.

1.00m Junior/Amateur Jumper Section
Thirty (30) horses will be accepted per section from the 1.00m Junior/Amateur Zone HOTY Standings based on points accumulated during the qualifying period. The top three entered horses per Zone are accepted. If there are fewer than three entries from the Zone HOTY Standings, horses will be accepted based on National points accumulated during the qualifying period. Individual Medalists from the USHJA 1.00/1.05m Junior/Amateur Zone Jumper Championships will automatically be qualified for their respective section.

1.10m/1.15m Junior/Amateur, 1.20m/1.25m Junior/Amateur, 1.30/1.35m Junior/Amateur Jumper Sections
Thirty (30) horses will be accepted per section. The top three entered horses per Zone are accepted. If there are fewer than three entries from the Zone HOTY Standings, horses will be accepted based on National points accumulated during the qualifying period. Individual Medalist  from the Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships (1.10/1.15m and 1.20/1.25m) and the Markel/USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships (1.30/1.35m) will automatically be qualified for the section in which they are a medalist.  Please see page 9 of the Championships Specifications for full details.

Open 1.20m and 1.30m Jumper Sections
Thirty (30) horses will be accepted per section based on Zone HOTY Standings List. The top three horses based on points accrued during the qualifying period will be accepted. If there are fewer than three entries from the Zone HOTY Standings List, horses will be accepted from the National list based on total money won during the qualifying period. Please see page 10 of the Championship Specifications for details on 5-, 6- and 7-Year-Old Young Jumper qualifying.

Qualifying for the USHJA National Equitation Championships

Thirty (30) riders will be accepted per section. The top three entered riders by Zone will be accepted based on standings accumulated during the qualifying period. If there are not enough entries through Zone qualifying, entered riders will be accepted based on total highest Standings from other Zones based on entry postmark date.

Qualifying for the USHJA Affiliate Championships

Affiliate and Outreach Competitors have an opportunity to compete at the USHJA National Championships in the Affiliate Championship sections. Open only to Juniors and Amateurs.

Qualifying as an Affiliate Competitor
Affiliate Competitors are nominated through each individual Affiliate organization based on which entrants they deem most qualified to compete and represent their organization. Qualifying procedures vary by Affiliate. The Affiliate Nomination Form deadline is August 1, 2024.  Thirty (30) entries will be accepted per section. Horses and riders do not have to be registered or members of USHJA to participate in these sections. Please see page 4 of the Affiliate Championship Specifications for full detail on qualifying through the USHJA Affiliate Organizations.

Qualifying as an Outreach Competitor

The Outreach Golden Backstage Pass is awarded to the single highest cumulative pointed Gold Level Outreach competitor per Zone during the qualifying period of December 1, 2023 – August 1, 2024.  There will only be one Golden Backstage Pass winner per USHJA Zone.  This award provides the recipient the opportunity to compete at the Affiliate National Championships.  Golden Backstage Pass winners will also have the opportunity to participate in National Championship course walks and attend additional educational sessions at the National Championships.

Golden Backstage Pass riders may only compete in Affiliate Championship sections of comparable height for which they achieved their Gold Level status. Affiliate section entry fees will be waived for these members. Outreach Golden Backstage Pass entries will be in addition to the 30 selected Affiliate entries. The deadline for Outreach Competitor entries is October 14, 2024. Please see page 4 of the Affiliate Championship Specification for full detail on qualifying through the USHJA Outreach program.

Affiliate Hunter Sections
Horse and rider combinations may not compete in both the 2’ and 2’6” sections. Affiliate Riders may not cross enter into “Rated” Sections at the Championships.  An entered horse may compete in a “Rated” section with a rider not competing in the USHJA Affiliate Championships.

Fence Heights: 2' and 2'6" for Children and Adult Amateurs

Affiliate Equitation Sections
Affiliate riders may not cross enter into “Rated” sections at the Championships.  An entered horse may compete in a “Rated” section with a rider not competing in the USHJA Affiliate Championships

Fence heights: 2’ and 2'6" for 17 & Under and 18 & Over

Affiliate Jumper Sections
Horse and rider combinations may be nominated for a maximum of 2 consecutive Jumper heights. Affiliate Riders may not cross enter into “Rated” Sections at the Championships.  An entered horse may compete in a “Rated” section with a rider not competing in the USHJA Affiliate Championships.

Height sections: .70m, .80m, .90m and 1.00m for Junior and Amateurs.