The USHJA Zone Horse of the Year program offers year-end awards in a variety of sections based on points earned at Regional I, Regional II, National and Premier USEF-rated competitions. Click below to view current and archived standings for your zone.
The top athletes from each Zone are invited to compete in the 2022 AON/USHJA National Championships, November 14-20 at the South Point Casino, Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. Athletes will be competing for National and Zone Horse of the Year bonus points, year-end series awards and a chance to qualify for the National Team and Individual Championships.
Currently, Emerson Euler of Waxhaw, North Carolina and her own Bridlewood in Deemand lead the Medium Pony section, while Ivy Smith of Charlotte, North Carolina and BWI Ranch 1, LLC’s Whinny The Blue sit in third place. USHJA National Junior Sportsmanship Award winner Ryder Richardson of Parker, Colorado, is the top junior in the Large Pony section.
USHJA is proud to support the sport’s support staff at the Zone and National level. The Vital Horse Show Staff Award honors the hard work of these individuals, whose efforts are essential to hunter/jumper competitions’ success. The 2020 recipients were Daniel McCarthy of Clayton, Michigan and Chris King of Pacific Beach, Washington.
Athletes can earn additional points and year-end awards by participating in USHJA’s new USHJA Zone Hunter Derbies, which are offered at both the Regional I and National levels. Athletes can also participate in the new USHJA National 3’ and 3’ Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby Series, which are eligible for Zone Horse of the Year bonus points and year-end series awards.
Zone HOTY programs are separate from the National HOTY program and governed by the program specifications, eligibility requirements and Championship Event specifications found in the USEF Rule Book. To be eligible to compete at the zone level, an athlete’s owner, rider and trainer must be active/competing members of USEF.
The Zone Jumper Committee, along with their host site, will submit a recommendation for the championship date and venue to USHJA by February 1 of the current competition year. After review, USHJA will select the championship date and location.