Top Hunters Set to Shine During 2025 Platinum Performance/USHJA Championship Week

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 11, 2025—More than 340 Hunter horses and riders from across the country have gathered in the heart of Kentucky for the annual Platinum Performance/USHJA Hunter Week featuring the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. Held August 12-16 alongside the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, the Kentucky Horse Park's Rolex Stadium will host five days of prestigious competition and significant prize money opportunities. 

The week kicks off Tuesday with the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship at the 3'6" and 3'9" heights, followed by the 3' and 3'3" sections on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Horses will navigate courses designed by Ken Krome and Meghan Rawlins, judged by Abby Blankenship, Jeanne Marie Dunford-Miller, Lynn Forgione, Tammy Provost, Mike Rosser, and Scott Williamson. 

More than $100,000 in prize money will be awarded during the Green Hunter Incentive Championships, with the opportunity to earn additional awards through the program's Rider Ranking System. Competitors are designated Tier I, II, or III based on rider money-won standings from the previous competition year. Both the 3'/3'3" and 3'6"/3'9" Championships will feature a Tier II Championship Round where 10 additional Tier II or III riders will return for a chance at more prize money designated specifically for their tiers.

The action continues Friday afternoon with the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship Classic Round, where more than 80 horses are expected to compete for a coveted spot in Saturday’s Handy Hunter Round.

On Saturday afternoon, the top 20 riders will return for the Handy Hunter Round to compete for more than $100,000 in prize money and the title of International Hunter Derby Champion. The program's Rider Ranking System will come into play as the top 20 horses ridden by a Tier II rider will return for the Tier II Handy Round and additional prize money. Riders competing in the overall Handy Round who are designated as Tier II are eligible to earn prize money from both prize pools.

Spectators are invited to attend a Day at the Derby on Saturday, August 16, from 3-8 p.m. ET at Rolex Stadium to enjoy the excitement of the Handy Rounds. Admission is free and includes the chance to win prizes from Equine Equipment, Veronica Feth Art, Hound & Horse Bakery, Human Touch, VisitLex, Exhibitor's, and more.

For those not able to watch the competition in person, wall-to-wall live streaming coverage will be available at no additional cost to members on ClipMyHorse.TV. Follow additional coverage from the week on USHJA's Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

The USHJA thanks the sponsors who help make these championships possible, including Title Sponsor Platinum Performance and Official Sponsors Herm Sprenger, Nutrena, and Parlanti International. Thanks also go to Official Broadcast Provider ClipMyHorse.TV; Championship Official Sponsor Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Pharmacy; Supporting Sponsors Essex Classics, RingSide Pro, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Human Touch, Horseflight, and Equidae Insurance; Award Sponsor Equine Equipment; Challenge Round Supporters Ken and Ceil Wheeler; Exhibitors’ Party Supporters John Ingram and Laura Karat; Rider Bonus Awards Supporters Ron Danta, Danny Robershaw, and Susan Schoellkopf/ SBS Farms; and Bonus Award Donors Oakwell Farms, DS Holdings, LLC, Colleen McQuay, Peter Pletcher, and Patrick Rodes.

For the complete schedule, orders of go, results, and livestream information, visit ushja.org/competition/hunter-week-championships.

Photos: Terisé Cole/USHJA, Rachel Milewski/USHJA