Applications Open for 2019 USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships

Individual medalists from Championships qualify for USHJA Gold Star Clinics

Lexington, Ky.—Jan. 30, 2019—Following a year of tremendous international Show Jumping success for the United States, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association opens applications and announces dates and locations for the 2019 USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, which offer athletes an opportunity to qualify for a USHJA Gold Star Clinic.

The USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships are part of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program, which rewards competitive achievement with education to advance athletes in the sport. As applications open for this year's championships, 24 of last year's Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders (individual medalists from the Zone Jumper Team Championships and select wild cards) just wrapped up the 2019 USHJA Gold Star Clinic - West—a four-day intensive mounted and unmounted clinic with lead clinician Katie Monahan Prudent. This was the most recent of three Gold Star Clinics held this year with riders qualifying for the clinics through the Zone Jumper Team Championships.

Jumper athletes interested in the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program should apply for the championships prior to their zone's deadline and work toward qualifying for the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships offered for their zone, as follows:

• USHJA Zones 1 & 2, Princeton Show Jumping August, Princeton, NJ, August 21-25, 2019 - Qualifying Start Date: August 27, 2018; Application Deadline and Qualifying Ends: July 8
• USHJA Zones 3 & 4, Tryon Summer, Mill Spring, NC, July 10-14, 2019 - Qualifying Start Date: July 9, 2018; Application Deadline and Qualifying Ends: May 26
• USHJA Zones 5 & 6, Showplace Summertime III, Crete, IL, July 17-21, 2019 - Qualifying Start Date: July 23, 2018; Application Deadline and Qualifying Ends: June 2
• USHJA Zones 7 & 8, Hipico Sante Fe, Santa Fe, NM, July 24 - 28, 2019 - Qualifying Start Date: July 2, 2018; Application Deadline and Qualifying Ends: June 10
• USHJA Zones 9 & 10, National Sunshine Series II, Thermal, CA, November 5-10, 2019 - Qualifying Start Date: November 12, 2018; Application Deadline and Qualifying Ends: September 23

For a chance to qualify, riders must complete an application and earn a minimum of 20 points in their respective section(s) at USEF-licensed competitions held with fence heights of that section during the qualifying period. Each of the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships accepts a maximum of eight teams per section. The point standings (ranking) in each zone from the conclusion of the previous year's Zone Jumper Team Championship to 45 days prior to the start of the current year's Championship, will be used to determine the athlete/horse combinations accepted to compete in that zone or combined zone's championships. Riders must also meet all other eligibility and qualification requirements as outlined in the Championship specifications.  

Providing riders with a competitive team experience and an opportunity to earn Zone Horse of the Year points in their respective jumper sections, the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships are offered for junior and amateur riders at 1.10/1.15m, 1.20/1.25m, 1.30/1.35m levels. The Championships are held by zone and consist of both team and individual competition. Individual medalists from the 2019 USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships receive the designation of Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders, regardless of age, and are invited, along with their coaches and parents, to attend one of the 2020 USHJA Gold Star Clinics.

Beginning in 2019, though not open yet for application, USHJA will be offering a new USHJA Platinum Jumper Championships for professionals, amateurs and juniors at the 1.40/1.45m level, which is modeled after the Zone Jumper Team Championships and represents the highest level of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program.

The USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program serves as the entry point for the Show Jumping Athlete Pathway, a joint USHJA-US Equestrian effort that identifies and nurtures Jumping athletes as they advance through the sport to enhance future success for Olympic and international teams representing the United States.

For more information about the Emerging Jumper Rider Program visit www.ushja.org/emergingjumper. To apply for the Zone Jumper Team Championships or learn more about the championships visit www.ushja.org/zonejumper.

Media Contact:
Louise Taylor
ltaylor@ushja.org
(859) 225-6700