The ponies are headed home after USEF Pony Finals and now 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.

Green Incentive Format: Like last year, the Green Hunter Incentive Championships will join the International Hunter Derby Championship in the Rolex Arena. 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 the past two years, the top 10 horses in the first round of the 3’/3’3” championship Wednesday will receive a bye to Friday’s Tier I championship 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 Tier I championship round. Additionally, the 10 horses with the highest combined scores in the first two rounds who are not already qualified will advance to the Tier I championship round.

Among Green Hunter Incentive Tier II riders (those ranked 46^th-100th on the money won list for 2024) and Tier III riders (those ranked 101th and below on the money won list for 2024), 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. (Tier I riders can be found here). All Tier II/III riders, regardless of whether they qualified for the championship round or the Tier II/III round, will be judged and placed in the Tier II/III championship. Any Tier II/III riders who qualify for the Tier I championship round will be eligible for prizes in both championships. Scores from the first rounds don’t carry over; all horses 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/III 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. The championship comprises two rounds, starting with the classic round on Friday and finishing with the handy round on Saturday evening, with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m.

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 2024 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.

A minimum of 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. Horses who don’t qualify for the handy round can participate in the Derby Challenge round, which will take place before the handy on Saturday.

Scott Williamson, Mike Rosser, Jeanne Marie Dunford-Miller, Tammy Provost, Abby Blankenship and Lynn Forgione will judge all championships.

The Schedule (all times Eastern Time):

Tuesday, Aug. 12:

8:15 a.m. 3’6”/3’9” Green Hunter Incentive first round (for all 3’6”/3’9” championship horses)

1 p.m. 3’6”/3’9” Green Hunter Incentive Tier II round (for an additional 10 horses ridden by Tier II/III 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. 13:

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

Thursday, Aug. 14:

8 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. 15:

8 a.m. 3’/3’3” Green Hunter Incentive Tier II round (for an additional 10 horses ridden by Tier II/III 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. 16:

12 p.m. International Hunter Derby Challenge Round

6 p.m. Opening Ceremonies

6:30 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:
• Entries for the 2025 Platinum Performance USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships
• Entries for the 2025 Platinum Performance USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship
• Results
• Specifications for the 2025 Platinum Performance USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships
• Specifications for the 2025 Platinum Performance USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship