Lexington, KY-August 22, 2014-The United States Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce a new bonus award to be given to the top placing Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship Alumni in the 2015 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship in Lexington, KY.
“This added incentive will bring positive attention to North American breeding programs, which in my opinion are producing some exemplary horses, and begin to bridge the gap for horses from the hunter breeding ring to the performance ring,” Remarked Pre-Green Incentive Program supporter, Bill Rube. “Special thanks to the Wheeler family for sponsoring this added bonus and taking both Championships to the next level.”
The Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship Alumni Bonus will award $2,500 to the horse with the highest cumulative score from the first and second rounds of the Pre-Green Incentive Championship that has previously competed in the Sallie B. Wheeler/US National Hunter Breeding Championship. The award will be presented during the 2015 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.
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The Pre-Green Incentive Program debuted in December 2012, and has garnered praise from members across the country for its encouragement of the development of young horses. The Pre-Green Incentive Program is open to horses of any age that are eligible to compete as a pre-green hunter under USEF rules. Horses must be enrolled in the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program to participate in the Pre-Green Stake classes and to be eligible for the Pre-Green Championship. In 2014, prize money for the Pre-Green Incentive Championship topped $175,410 with an additional $11,500 paid out in special bonus awards.
The Sallie B. Wheeler Hunter Breeding Championships are held on the East and West Coasts annually. Two officials will adjudicate these classes in traditional hunter breeding style. Breeding classes are judged on conformation, way of moving, quality, substance, suitability to become or in the case of sires and dams apparent ability to produce or beget hunters. Possible inheritable conformational defects are only to be considered in the case of sires and dams or prospective sires and dams.
Upon completion of both West and East Coast Championships, the officials will compare results from the two Best Young Horse Classes (four horses in total) and determine the Overall Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Best Young Horse. The Overall Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion will be announced at the completion of the East Coast portion of the Championships.
The 2014 West Coast Championship will be held August 27 at Showpark All Seasons horse show in Del Mar, CA. The East Coast Championship held three days later on August 30 at the Warrenton Horse show in Warrenton, VA.
