Winners Announced for the 2019 USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Stable Challenge

Lexington, Ky.—July 25, 2019—Members in all 12 USHJA Zones put their horsemanship knowledge to the test during the 30-day USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Stable Challenge, and the 12 top-scoring trainers will be receiving prize packages for their barns. 

"As a barn we look forward to the HQC Stable Challenge each year," said winning trainer Amy Quinlan of Zone 11 (Hawaii). "It brings my students together as a group and I really like that it pushes their interest in horse care and management outside of their time in the saddle. We set time aside either before or after a group lesson to take the quizzes together as a group so it makes it fun for everyone and they can learn from each others' questions, as well."

The USHJA congratulates the following trainers and their barns who earned the highest scores in each zone: 

Zone 1: Kristi Smith, Cedar Brook Farm

Zone 2: Rebecca Belmont, The Village Farm

Zone 3: Matt Payne, St. Timothy's School

Zone 4: Amy Center, Cavallo Farms

Zone 5: Mary Roskens, Mary-Go-Round Stables

Zone 6: Rae Doerring, Valley Park Stables

Zone 7: Sarah Trepagnier, Arcadia Hills Equestrian

Zone 8: Kristin Jacob, Blue Star Farms, LLC

Zone 9: Nancy Free, Brass Ring Farm

Zone 10: Sandrine Seifert, Hansen Dam Riding School

Zone 11: Amy Quinlan, Dillingham Ranch

Zone 12: Jenny Rousey, Northgate Farms

"It is a lifelong quest to understand the horse and become a horseman; never stop learning," says Zone 8 winning trainer Kristin Jacob, who hosted an educational horsemanship summer camp at her Blue Star Farms, LLC, around the HQC Stable Challenge curriculum.

"The participants—even the older, more experienced girls—realized how much they didn't know and have gained a thirst for learning more," said Jacob of her students' experience. "They also know how to speak to our vets, farriers and chiropractors, et cetera, in a more educated way. As the camp went on, they started thinking more and gained enough knowledge to ask thoughtful questions. This has continued on past the camp. There also was a great sense of camaraderie between the camp participants that has continued through the summer."

This year during the Stable Challenge the HQC Practice Quiz was taken more than 900 times by 335 individuals. A total of 148 trainers had students participate in the challenge, with half being juniors and half being amateurs. All 12 USHJA zones were represented in the 30-day challenge. Zone 2 had the highest participation with 60 individuals taking the quiz, followed by Zone 4 and Zone 3, respectively.

Rebecca Belmont, trainer at The Village Farm in Zone 2, said her students gained a sense of cohesiveness, and that she as a trainer gained "a renewed sense of leadership by opening their minds again to learning the fundamentals outside of riding."

Belmont advises future competitors to get their amateurs involved, since they have a whole lifetime of knowledge they've acquired that they can help teach the younger horsemen.

The Stable Challenge was designed to engage a trainer's entire barn as a team. At least three students per trainer had to complete the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Practice Quiz between June 15 and July 15 this year to be eligible for prizes. 

At the end of the 30-day challenge, the three top scores under each trainer were averaged to provide an overall score. Participants who also took the Level One and Level Two HQC quizzes received 10 bonus points for each level they complete.

Each of the high scoring trainers will be receiving a USHJA backpack with a brush, hoofpick, and TCP manual; a helmet from Charles Owen; a one-year membership to Equestriancoach.com; a $200 Parlanti gift certificate; a grooming bucket with supplies from Shapley's; a $100 FITS Breeches and a $100 gift card from State Line Tack.

The Stable Challenge was originally created to promote the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Program and get members excited about advancing their horsemanship knowledge at all ages. USHJA members (who are younger than 21 years old on December 1 of the current competition year) can still participate in the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge and compete for a chance to go to HQC Nationals until September 1.

For more information about the Stable Challenge, visit ushja.org/stablechallenge. For more information about the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge, visit ushja.org/HQC.

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.