Top Young Hunter Prospects To Be Presented at 2019 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championship Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare

Kym K Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships to be Held Concurrently with East Coast Championship This Weekend

Lexington, Ky.—August 23, 2019—The The country’s best young hunter prospects will be on display on both coasts to compete in the 2019 Sallie B. Wheeler/United States Equestrian Federation/United States Hunter Jumper Association Hunter Breeding National Championship presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare. Coordinated by the USHJA in 2019, the championship will take place on Saturday, August 24, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va., and on Wednesday, August 28, at the Del Mar Horse Park in Del Mar, Calif. Jessie Lang (Jackson, Wyoming) and Chance Arakelian (New Canaan, Connecticut) will serve as judges for both the East and West Coast competitions. 

Champion and Reserve Champion Best Young Horses will be named at the East Coast and West Coast competitions. One Overall Grand Champion and one Overall Reserve Grand Champion will be named for both coasts following the West Coast championship. In addition to competing for the national championship titles, there are six classes on each coast: Yearling Colt/Gelding, Yearling Filly, Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding, Two-Year-Old Filly, Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding, and Three-Year-Old Filly. The top two horses in each of those classes will move on to the Best Young Horse Championship Class for a chance at both the Regional and National Grand Champion titles.

The Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championship presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare has grown to include performance classes on both coasts to further develop young hunter prospects and handlers alike. In addition to a Junior/Amateur Handler class, there are Three- and Four-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle classes, a Three-Year-Old Hunter Hack class, and a Four-Year-Old Conformation Over Fences class.

The Virginia Horse Center will also play host to the Kym K Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships on Sunday, August 25, following the Sallie B. Wheeler East Coast competition. 

Now in it's second year, the Kym K. Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships aims to develop the Hunter Breeding sport and create opportunities for current and new owners, breeders and handlers to showcase talented young Hunter pony prospects.

The Kym K. Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships will offer the following sections: Hunter Pony Four- and Five-Year-Olds 2’, Hunter Pony Four- and Five-Year-Olds 2’ or 2’3” (exhibitor’s choice), Hunter Pony Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’, Hunter Pony Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’ or 2’3” (exhibitor’s choice), and Hunter Pony Six- and Seven-Year-Olds 2’6” to be made up of one model, one under saddle class and two over fences classes. A division for Five-Year-Olds and under for ponies not competing in the Four- and Five-Year-Olds over fences classes will also be offered and will include an under saddle class, an under saddle class to be made up of 30% conformation, and a model.

To learn more about the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF/USHJA Hunter Breeding National Championship presented by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Oare, visit ushja.org/sallieb. To learn more about the Kym K Smith/USHJA Young Hunter Pony Championships, visit ushja.org/yhpc. 

Edited release from US Equestrian

About the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association

The United States Hunter Jumper Association, as the official hunter/jumper affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation, is a competition-based sport organization that serves our members through educational programs, awards and recognition, communication and rules. We provide a wide array of programs for all hunter/jumper levels, and we are mindful of the well-being of our equine partners. Additionally, we are committed to preserving the history of our sport and through our Foundation we support charitable and benevolent services. Learn more at ushja.org.