USHJA On Course

Last month, more than 300 of the country's top Hunter horses and riders took to the Kentucky Horse Park’s Rolex Stadium for five days of competition with over $600,000 in prize money on the line. Tune in to hear from the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive and International Hunter Derby Champions as we recap all the action.

2024 marks 20 years of USHJA. As we reflect on two decades of helping to shape the equestrian landscape, we invite you to join us on our journey through our past, into our present and on to the future. Carly Anthony is the inaugural USHJA Emerging Athletes Program winner, topping the Nationals back in 2009. Now an accomplished professional in the world of Show Jumping, Carly gives back to the sport in a variety of ways, including as an active member of the EAP committee. Taking her advocacy for good horsemanship to the next level, this year Carly will serve as a Regional Training Session clinician. Tune in as we discuss her experience as an EAP participant, how it shaped her riding career, and why she just can't get enough of the program.

Today's guest comes to us straight from the 2023 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships! We caught up with Allyn Marie Creel, a Junior rider who is a veteran at the Championships with a touching story, during a quiet moment in Vegas. Hear from her on how the week went and why the Championships are so special.

Britt McCormick is a judge, course designer, trainer and the newly elected President of USHJA. With years of sport governance experience and a degree in organizational leadership, Britt has served on the USHJA Board of Directors and Executive Committee as well as a variety of USHJA and USEF committees and task forces. After a 15-month transition period, Britt will take office at the conclusion of the 2024 USHJA Annual Meeting. Tune in as we chat about his passion for the sport and his vision for the future of USHJA.

Archie Cox is a rider, trainer and judge based out of his own Brookway Stables in California. In the judges box, he holds his "R" Hunter and Equitation cards, notably judging the 2021 ASPCA Maclay Finals. As a trainer, he has guided numerous riders to top placings in the country's most popular equitation finals, including the USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic, presented by Emory and Henry College; ASPCA Maclay Finals; USEF Show Jumping Talent Search and USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. Tune in as we hear from him about what he looks for when judging equitation classes, his favorite test to ask and how he likes to prepare a rider for Finals season.

We just wrapped up a week of top Hunter competition at the Kentucky Horse Park, where over $500,000 in prize money was awarded throughout our annual Platinum Performance/USHJA Hunter Championship Week. In this episode, instead of being joined by a guest, we are recapping the week's best moments and hearing from all of our newly crowned champions just moments after they were awarded their titles.

This month we are getting excited for a week of top Hunter competition during the 2023 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship by chatting with a Hunter Week veteran, Nick Haness. The country's best Hunters will take to the Kentucky Horse Park on August 15-19 to compete for thousands of dollars in prize money and the championship titles. Catch all the action in person or stream both Championships from anywhere for FREE on ClipMyHorse.TV. Nick Haness's name has been gracing the top Hunter ring leaderboards for years. The California-based rider recently won his second consecutive USHJA WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular after topping the 2022 USHJA WCHR Professional Finals. In 2019, he finished second in Section A of the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship and was Champion in Section B as a Tier II rider. Among those wins, he has brought numerous Green Hunters to the Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and has earned an array of tricolors across the country. Listen in as we discuss what he looks for in a Hunter prospect, how he finesses the Handy, and which Derby horse in his string is one to watch.

As groom to U.S. Olympian Laura Kraut, Margo Thomas spends her days taking care of horses competing at the top of Show Jumping. Throughout her 10 years as a professional groom, she has had her hand in the Tokyo Olympics Team Silver and has cared for a string of top horses at competitions around the world. Join us as we chat about what it takes to be a head groom, her best tricks of the trade, why Confu is one of her favorite horses to care for and just HOW she keeps him so clean.

A longtime Hunter rider, Maya Schneider recently made the switch to the Jumper ring where she and her horse, Noble, were members of the winning 1.10/1.15m Adult Amateur Jumper team at the 2022 Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships in Saugerties. She's also an active participant in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as a member of USHJA's DEI committee and a manager of the @blackequestrians Instagram account. Tune in as we chat all about her transition to Jumpers and her passion for inclusion in our sport.

If Kylie Cohen doesn't hold the record for the most trips to USHJA's Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals, she must be close! Kylie has put her equestrian knowledge to the test for years, attending Nationals seven times. When she isn't studying equine anatomy or first aid, she competes as an adult amateur in all three rings. Tune in today as we chat about her experience in the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge and why she finds horsemanship so important. The USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge and Adult Horsemanship Quiz Challenge are open for you to test *your* knowledge. Visit ushja.org/HQC to prepare with the practice quiz and free study guide, then take two online quizzes to try for a spot at Nationals.

From the saddle to the judge's booth, Joe Dotoli has an extensive history in the Hunter/Jumper sport. He has presided over show rings across the country; has had his hands in the makings of events and venues such as the New England Equitation Championships, HITS and Ox Ridge Hunt Club; and along with his wife Fran, is the trainer behind the beginnings of Olympic gold medalist Peter Wylde. Joe also has a strong passion for safety as chair of USHJA's Safety Committee. In the early 2000s, he spearheaded the rule that requires riders to wear helmets on showgrounds and recently led the charge to raise funds for the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab's testing. With the first round of testing done, Joe has his sights set on testing the newest form of safety equipment: air vests. We caught Joe after a day of judging in Ocala to discuss his impact on the sport and the future of rider safety. Tune in and read more from Joe about the importance of helmets in the March 2023 issue of In Stride at ushja.org/instride.

Shaq Blake is the author and rider behind The Black Equestrian, a blog chronicling her riding journey as an equestrian of color. Fueled by the Black Lives Matter movement, her writings on diversity in the equine industry have been featured in Elle, Noelle Floyd, and Heels Down Magazine. Her passion for increasing accessibility to horses for all riders led to her involvement with the Optimum Youth Equestrian Scholarship, which provides opportunities for youth from marginalized communities to become involved in horse sports through financial awards and mentorship. Recently, Shaq released her debut book as part of the American Horse Tales series. Her story, titled North Wind Acres, follows the struggles and successes of a young Black equestrian riding in Detroit. Join us as we discuss how she and her writing are impacting riders and the sport.

Welcome to the first episode of 2023! In this episode, we are joined by Ryder Richardson. Ryder is involved in and out of the saddle with the Hunter/Jumper sport. With USHJA, he is active on committees, was a Gochman Grant for USEF Pony Finals recipient in 2018 and received the USHJA Youth Leadership Award in 2021. In 2022, Richardson was awarded the USEF Youth Sportsman's Award after receiving nominations from USHJA and the American Connemara Pony Society. In addition to competing in the Jumpers, Richardson founded Joy Ryder, an organization that aims to promote inclusivity and opportunities within the equestrian community, and advocates for mental health awareness. CONTENT WARNING: This podcast episode discusses topics related to depression and suicide, which may be triggering or difficult for some listeners. Specific discussion of these topics are at 10:48-11:12 and 14:37-16:58. If you or someone you know is struggling with these issues, please seek support from a mental health professional or contact a crisis hotline.

In this episode we are joined by Anne Sherwood, an adult amateur rider who topped the inaugural USHJA 3'3" Adult Jumping Seat Medal Final - West in September. After taking a break from riding and traveling the world as a photojournalist, Anne has returned to the ring with her sights set on Adult Equitation. Tune in to hear what brought her back to the sport; why she loves it now more than ever; and how she balances being a rider, a mother and a photographer.

In this episode, we are joined by Teagan DeJong. A Junior rider based in Canada, Teagan spends her time competing in the U.S. and in her home country. Most recently, she competed as the only Junior in the second annual USHJA Young Jumper Championships in Traverse City, Michigan, with Genesis Z. Affectionately known as Ramses, Teagan and the warmblood gelding finished fourth in the 5-Year-Old championship amid competitive company. Tune in to hear her why she chose to bring up a young horse and where the duo hopes to go next.

In this episode, we are joined by equestrian and Miss California USA 2021, Sabrina Lewis. Sabrina is an avid rider, having participated in the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program in 2017, captained her IHSA team at UC Berkeley, and recently took to the Jumper and Equitation rings at her first rated show. Outside the saddle, she trades her tall boots for heels and was crowned Miss California USA in 2021. Her passion for public service has led her to work with the Compton Junior Equestrians and Best Buddies. Tune in to hear how ponies and pageants relate and how she got into both worlds.

This month we are wrapping up four months of highlighting all things USHJA. June is Equitation month and we are celebrating with a replay of one of our most loved episodes with equitation superstar Ellie Ferrigno. Originally recorded in September of 2020, right after she took third in the 2020 USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic - East, Ellie was an expert in the equitation ring during her junior years and has continued her success on Auburn University's NCEA team and in all three rings as an amateur. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or back for a re-listen, we hope you enjoy this special replay.

This month we are celebrating Jumpers with Zoie Brogdon, a young rider who is making her mark on the sport in more ways than one. Zoie got her start in the horse world through the Compton Junior Equestrians and now has a few 1.10/1.15m national championships under her belt. In 2021, she topped Zones 9 and 10's Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, claiming individual gold, and took reserve champion in the USEF/USHJA 1.10/1.15m Children's Jumper National Championship at the 2021 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships. She ended the year as the 1.10/1.15m HOTY Champion in Zone 10. Join me as we talk about her love of Jumpers and how she is making strides toward bettering the sport both in and out of the saddle. This month's guest is helping us celebrate Jumper Month, the third of four months that highlight everything USHJA has to offer its members, from education to equitation. Follow along on social media with #WeAreUSHunterJumper so you don't miss a thing.

Welcome back to USHJA On Course! This month we are celebrating all things Hunters with an episode featuring one of USHJA's latest champions, Geoffrey Hesslink. Geoffrey recently added another big win to his list of accomplishments in the Hunter ring when he won this year's $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. As a young professional, he has brought clients to great success in all three rings alongside his partner Brendan Williams and their co-founded Hesslink Williams LLC. Listen in as we discuss where he got his start, how he battles his show ring nerves, and what this WCHR win means to him. This month's guest is helping us celebrate Hunter Month, the second of four months that highlight everything USHJA has to offer its members, from education to equitation. Follow along on social media with #WeAreUSHunterJumper so you don't miss a thing. Then join us on Instagram on Friday, April 29th at 6 PM Eastern Time as Bethany Lee of My Equestrian Style hosts  Amanda Steege and Augusta Iwasaki to answer your questions live. You just might win a special prize from our sponsors! Be sure to also listen to The Equestrian Podcast to learn more about these two top hunter riders.

Enjoy meeting multi-disciplined equestrian, Lizzy Traband, in this month's episode! Lizzy has participated in everything from trick riding to para-dressage to the Hunter, Jumper and Equitation rings. She is a past recipient of multiple USHJA grants, including the $25,000 Hamel Family Scholarship for Further Education Scholarship and the now discontinued Making a Dream Grant; is also a two-time Emerging Athletes Program National Finalist; was USHJA's Nominee for the USEF Youth Sportsman Award; and was named the USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year in 2016. After a successful collegiate career and a turn in Germany, she is now a young professional set on making her mark on the Hunter/Jumper industry. Tune in as we chat about her journey through the sport.