Changes Made to USHJA Outreach Program for 2021 Competition Year

Lexington, Ky.—Dec. 11, 2020—Unveiled during the 2020 USHJA Annual Meeting, presented by Equicore, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce changes to the USHJA Outreach program for the 2021 competition year. Changes include expanding the program to include three categories, streamlining competition host requirements and fees, expansion of Jumper sections, added point tracking for horses and trainers, and restructured awards and rewards for competitors.

Changes made to the program with competitors in mind include added point tracking for horses and trainers; an adjusted flat point scale; the ability to trade points in toward year-end awards including ribbons, stall signs and USHJA merchandise; and a new High Point Trainer award. Additionally, Jumper sections have expanded to include 0.60m to 1.20m fence heights and a Hunter Walk/Trot Poles class has been added to the Hunter class offerings.

The Outreach program will now have three categories of competition. Category One is for Outreach classes held within an unrecognized show. Category Two is for Outreach classes to be held as a standalone competition. Category Three is for Outreach competitions held in conjunction with a USEF-rated competition, in which the show must follow all USEF requirements for officials and staff.

The new Outreach format also provides more flexibility for competitions to combine, divide, and overlay Outreach classes to best fit their competition.

Competitors with a USHJA membership at the free Outreach level or higher will be eligible to earn year-end awards and rewards in their sections. In addition to year-end points, members can earn Certificates of Merit throughout the year. Levels of merit vary based on points, and in 2021 a Golden Backstage Pass will be awarded, which offers the highest placed Gold Level Certificate of Merit rider from each Zone an opportunity to attend the USHJA National Championships and compete in the Affiliate Championships.

Created to celebrate riders as they advance through the competitive experience, the USHJA Outreach program provides members an opportunity to earn national recognition and awards for competing at the local and unrecognized levels.

For more information and to view program specification, visit ushja.org/outreach. For questions, email outreach@ushja.org.