Leaders in our sport are continuing to adjust plans and work toward solutions to best serve horses and riders as we move forward during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following links provide the most up-to-date information:

View the latest Virtual Town Halls with USHJA President Mary Babick

View the USHJA COVID-19 Resource Page

View US Equestrian's Coronavirus Resource Page

Competition managers: If your contracted USHJA event is being canceled, please send an email to hunterdept@ushja.org.

The USHJA has launched a new initiative, USHJA Feed Aid, to provide aid in purchasing feed for lesson horses as short-term relief for the businesses in the hunter/jumper community who provide lessons to non-boarders and may be suffering financially due to the impact of COVID-19. Already more than $18,500 has been raised!

Through partnership with various national and regional feed companies, USHJA members may receive relief through discounted and fully supplemented feed purchases.

To receive aid, members must apply by June 1. Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Feed vouchers will be made available to qualifying applicants as quickly as possible.

The USHJA Zone 6 Committee regrets to announce the cancellation of the Zone 6 Zandra Powers Horsemanship Class for 2020 due to COVID-19. We look forward to having the class again in 2021 with an exciting, new revamped format, and we hope everyone is staying safe.

Hunter Breeding 101

June 1, 7 p.m.

Curious about participating in a Hunter Breeding or Model class? Join 'R' Hunter Breeding judge Oliver Brown as he introduces the basics of Hunter Breeding in this how-to tutorial.

Hunter Breeding 102

June 15, 7 p.m.

Oliver Brown returns to give even more in-depth instruction on topics such as perparing your Hunter Breeding horse or pony, conformation, training tips for challenging horses, and tips for showing your horse or pony at its best.

USHJA is offering virtual riding clinics for members and non-members as a way to continue their riding education and horsemanship, while safely practicing social distancing.

Hunter, Jumper and Equitation clinics will offer members an opportunity to receive at-home exercises and feedback from industry experts. Complimentary auditing is also available.

The Hunter Virtual Clinic is underway with clinician Chris Wynne.

Jumper Virtual Clinic

June 8-9 and 15-16

Clinician: Jeff Cook

Video Submission Deadline: June 2

Equitation Virtual Clinic to be announced

Shows may be starting back up at the local level in your area. Check with your local affiliates about show schedules and what changes they may have made as a result of COVID-19.

Here are the current Affiliates in our Zone:

To learn more about Affiliates, click here.

Did you know that a “liverpool” got its name from the water jump in the Grand National steeplechase at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England?

The hunter/jumper sport has many traditions that originated in older horse sports like racing and foxhunting.

For many years at horse shows, the terms “liverpool” and “water jump” referred to any obstacle with water. Over time, “water jump” came to mean the roughly 14-foot “open” water with a low hedge or box at the front. A liverpool refers today to a shallow water tray placed in front, under, or behind a vertical, or in the middle of an oxer.

Photo: John Beer, The Grand National, the Water Jump, 1906

A team from the University of Florida Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation is

conducting a study of injury rates at equestrian competitions with the goal of improving safety practices titled, “Injuries Sustained During Equestrian Hunter and Jumper Competitions.”

This survey study is supported by the USHJA Safety Ad Hoc and is specifically aimed at reviewing falls during competition across all levels and classes of competition.

June