On Feb. 18, U.S. Hunter Jumper Association officials announced dates and locations for the 2020 USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic. The Gladstone Cup, formerly known as the Hunterdon Cup, will again be held in conjunction with the USEF Junior Hunter National Championships on both the east and west coasts.
The USHJA Gladstone Cup-East Coast will be held Monday, July 6, at Brandywine Horse Shows in Devon, Pennsylvania. The Gladstone Cup-West Coast will be held Friday, July 17, at the Sonoma Horse Park in Petaluma, California. The deadline to qualify to participate on either coast is May 31.
“We are excited to once again offer an opportunity for junior riders nationwide to showcase their equitation skills in the USHJA Gladstone Cup,” said Robin Rost Brown, chair of the USHJA Equitation Task Force. “Gladstone holds a significant place in the history of our sport, and we look forward to recognizing talented riders for their spectacular style, precision and handiness in this year’s class.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic is a three-round classic that combines the precision of equitation and handiness of hunters over a course set at 3’6″. The class is open to any rider that is an active USHJA junior member at the time of the competition and has won a USEF Hunter Seat Medal, ASPCA Maclay, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search or verall WIHS Equitation Classic during the qualifying year (June 1, 2019-May 31, 2020). Riders may not win the USHJA Gladstone Cup more than once, and winners are invited to present awards for the following year. The qualified rider list, which is updated on a weekly basis until finalized in June, is available at ushja.org/gladstone.
The USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic is named for the United States Equestrian Team headquarters at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone, New Jersey. Under USET coach Bertalan De Nemethy from 1961 to 1980, Gladstone served as the training facility for the international team as well as for developing riders. Known for its architecture and history, the second floor houses photos, ribbons, and memorabilia of the USET’s successes through the decades.
