Now that the snack-sized ponies are headed home after USEF Pony Finals and their riders off to prepare for the start of a new school year, it’s time for the best full-sized hunters in the country to take over the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The Platinum Performance USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and the Platinum Performance USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship begin Tuesday and run through Saturday, Aug. 17.

This year the Green Hunter Incentive Championships will join the International Hunter Derby Championship in the Rolex Arena, and there are some schedule changes too. The 3’6”/3’9” Green Hunter Incentive Championship will be held over one day, while the 3’/3’3” competition will be over three days. There is no jog; instead, riders must trot a circle on a loose rein after their round to demonstrate soundness.

As with last year, the top 10 horses in the first round of the 3’/3’3” championship Wednesday will receive a bye to Friday’s championship Tier I round, meaning they can choose not to show Thursday in the second round. The top 10 horses in Thursday’s second round of competition, excluding those who qualified the day before, will also receive a berth to the championship Tier I round. Additionally, the 10 horses with the highest combined scores in the first two rounds who are not already qualified will advance to the championship Tier I round.

Among Tier II riders—those ranked 46th and below on the money won list for 2023—the 10 best combined scores, outside of those who already qualified in one of the first two rounds, will also be invited to jump the championship course. All Tier II riders, regardless of whether they qualified for the Tier I championship round or the Tier II round, will be judged and placed separately from the Tier I riders.

Scores from the first rounds don’t carry over; horses in the championship Tier I round and the Tier II round will start with a clean slate.

The 3’6”/3’9” competitors just have one preliminary round on Tuesday. The top 30 horses from that round will advance to the Tier I championship round. Additionally 10 horses ridden by Tier II riders, who are not already qualified for the Tier I championship round, will compete over the same course for their own awards.

There’s no jog for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship either, and horses are required to trot a circle on a loose rein at the end of each round. The class will once again be held in the Rolex Arena, but the times have been tweaked. The championship comprises two rounds, starting with the classic round on Friday and finishing with the handy round on Saturday afternoon. (In the past it was held in the evening; now opening ceremonies for the handy start at 12:30 p.m. with the class to follow.)

Derby Format: All entries will complete the classic round, then things get a little tricky. Riders are grouped into two tiers based on the amount of derby money they won in the 2023 competition year. A Tier I rider is any rider standing 40^th or higher based on the rider money won rankings. Everyone else is a Tier II rider.

The top 20 horses from the classic hunter round, regardless of tier, will return for the Tier I handy round. They are competing for 80% of the prize money and the championship title. The top 20 horses ridden by a Tier II rider will advance to the handy as part of the Tier II handy and are eligible to receive prize money from both Tier I and Tier II.

The Schedule (all times Eastern Time):

Tuesday, Aug. 13:

8:30 a.m. 3’6”/3’9” Green Hunter Incentive first round (for all 3’6”/3’9” championship horses)

12:30 p.m. 3’6”/3’9” Green Hunter Incentive Tier II round (for an additional 10 horses ridden by Tier II riders not already competing in the Tier I championship round)

3’6”/3’9” Championship Tier I round (for the top 30 horses from the first round)

Wednesday, Aug. 14

8:40 a.m. 3’/3’3” Green Hunter Incentive first round (for all 3’/3’3” championship horses)

Thursday, Aug. 15

8:15 a.m. 3/3’3” Green Hunter Incentive second round (The top 10 horses from the first round may elect not to compete.)

Friday Aug. 16:

8:10 a.m. 3’/3’3” Green Hunter Incentive Tier II round (for an additional 10 horses ridden by Tier II riders not already competing in the championship Tier I round)

3’/3’3” Green Hunter Incentive Championship Tier I round (for the top 10 horses from the first round, second round and cumulative scores)

12:45 p.m. International Hunter Derby Championship Classic Round

Saturday Aug. 17

9:30 a.m. International Hunter Derby Challenge Round

12:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies

1 p.m. International Hunter Derby Handy Round. (Tier II handy will go first and have only Tier II riders. Tier I handy will follow and consists of all qualified riders.)

How To Watch: The action will be streaming on watchushja.org and ClipMyHorse.TV.

How You Can Follow Along: The Chronicle will be on-site bringing you gorgeous photos and lots of stories. Be sure to follow along at www.coth.com, Facebook and Instagram @chronofhorse.

Useful links and information:
Results
Specifications for the 2024 Platinum Performance USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships.
Specifications for the 2024 Platinum Performance USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship.