As the U.S. Pony Finals kicks off, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association is pleased to announce that a USHJA Pony Hunter Derby will be offered beginning in the 2017 competition year. The USHJA Pony Hunter Derby will feature series awards and offer great prize money to competitors.
“We couldn’t be more excited to offer the derby experience to our youngest competitors,” said Mary Babick, chair of the USHJA Hunter Working Group. “From ponies through the international hunter derby, we are celebrating the origins of our sport and bringing tradition, handiness and the excitement of the hunt field back to the hunter arena with these classes.”
Each USHJA Pony Hunter Derby will feature two rounds—a classic hunter style course (first round) and a handy hunter course (second round). While fence heights will be adjusted by size (small—2’3″, medium—2’6″, and large—2’9″-3’0″), the class will not be split by size.
The class will be judged by a minimum of two judges who provide a single score for each round. No high option fences are included in either round, and handiness is taken into account in the base score of the handy hunter round. The two round scores will be added together for an overall score. In the event of a tie for first place, riders will participate in a third round to break the tie.
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The pony hunter derby will run with the competition year, and competitors will have the opportunity to gain experience in a derby but also earn national and zone horse of the year bonus points as well as the ability to earn year-end series awards. Each derby will be pinned through 12th place.
“We look forward to seeing USHJA Pony Hunter Derby classes offered around the country in 2017,” said Babick.
The USHJA Pony Hunter Derby may be offered at any USEF-licensed Premier, National, Regional I or Regional II competitions, as well as competitions approved for Special Competition classification. A USHJA Pony Hunter Derby offered at a Premier or National competition or those approved as Special Competitions will offer a minimum of $1,500 in prize money. Regional I competitions will offer a minimum of $1,000 in prize money, and Regional II competitions will offer a minimum of $500 in prize money.
For more information including the class specifications, visit www.ushja.org/ponyhunterderby.
