In response to member requests, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association has announced a raise in the maximum age of athletes eligible for the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program from 21 to 25 years old. Riders, ages 25 and under, who meet the eligibility requirements will be able to apply in early 2018 to participate in one of 10 Regional Training Sessions that will be held at locations across the country.
“We have heard the young adult members’ interest and passion for being well-rounded horsemen and women, and we are very excited to be able to extend the EAP experience to a wider range of members,” said Sally Ike, chair of the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program Committee.
In 2017 more than 180 USHJA members participated in the Emerging Athletes Program, and 16 riders and eight stable managers were selected to participate in the final phase of that program, which is the National Training Session. The National Training Session will be led by Olympian Peter Wylde and renowned stable management expert Anne Thornbury Nov. 9-12 at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. The riding portion of the session is open to auditors.
“While only a handful of athletes are selected for the National Training Session each year, the Regional Training Session experience is like no other clinic experience,” said Ike. “These sessions combine stable management education with mounted skills development with top clinicians in a way that can really influence a rider’s path in this sport.”
The dates and clinicians for the following 10 locations are being finalized and will be announced when available:
ADVERTISEMENT
Centenary University Equestrian Center, Long Valley, N.J.
Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colo.
Georgia International Horse Park, Conyers, Ga.
Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Katy, Texas
HITS Balmoral, Crete, Ill.
ADVERTISEMENT
Los Angeles Equestrian Center, Burbank, Calif.
Maplewood Stables, Reno, Nev.
Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, South Hadley, Mass.
Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, Va.
World Equestrian Center, Wilmington, Ohio
“The committee looks at location, accessibility to members, facility, available dates and more, when we are evaluating host applications for this program,” said Ike. “We’re excited that again we have top notch facilities to offer these training sessions and give members the very best experience in this program.”
