The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association has updated the specifications for the Children’s and Adult Amateur Jumper Championships, moving the program from a regional format to one based on zone geography for 2016. The USHJA is currently accepting applications from host sites for each of the 2016 championships.

Under the new format, zone committees can choose to hold their own championships or combine with another zone. In 2016, the following zones will offer Children’s and Adult Amateur Jumper Championships: Zones 1 and 2, Zones 3 and 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zones 7 and 8, and Zones 9 and 10. The championships will continue to offer competitors a team experience and an opportunity to earn USHJA Zone Horse of the Year points.

“After three years of regionally based championships, we have updated the specifications for this program in a way that maintains the intent of the Championships while making them more accessible to more Jumper competitors,” said Bill Moroney, USHJA president. “We’ll be evaluating the success of this new format in the coming years and will continue to look for opportunities to improve.”

Championships will be held between July 1 and Nov. 30, and host applications are currently available online until Jan. 11.

In order to qualify, riders must apply online by May 1, and all points accumulated during the qualifying period count for those who meet the application criteria and deadline. Rider applications open after host facilities are selected in February.

The qualifying period is from Dec. 1 of the competition year until 60 days prior to the start of the championships. Only points earned in the owner’s home zone will count toward the championships, and a horse-and-rider combination must have a minimum of 20 points to compete in the championships.

Each zone may field a minimum of three children’s teams and three adult amateur teams to a maximum of eight children’s and eight adult amateur teams. Teams will be organized as follows: the horse-and-rider combination with the highest points will be paired with the horse-and-rider combination with the lowest points, second highest with the second lowest and so forth until all the team slots are filled.

The updated program specifications are available online at www.ushja.org/chaajumper. Rider applications will open in February and close May 1.