Horses - NHJC PRESENTS INAUGURAL NATIONAL FINALS HORSE SHOW - June 2001 - Equiworld

NHJC PRESENTS INAUGURAL NATIONAL FINALS HORSE SHOW

The NHJC is teaming up with the organizers of the Capital Challenge Horse Show (Maryland) to host the first annual NHJC National Finals Horse Show. Special championships will be presented in each of the rated hunter and jumper divisions, as well as the Capital Challenge/NHJC Equitation Classic. In keeping with the goal of including all twelve zones, each zone is eligible to send one entry per division. This year, horses will qualify for their respective hunter and jumper divisions based on AHSA Zone Horse of the Year standings as of August 1, 2001.

For the first time, the top horses from each zone will be able to compete head-to-head on a national level, thus creating a true national event. "We wanted to showcase the best of the best, and we also felt strongly about including the zones, all of the zones," stated NHJC President Tom Struzzieri. Organizers of the Capital Challenge have guaranteed twelve zone entry slots in each AHSA rated hunter and jumper division, in addition to the entries expected through the horse show's qualifying criteria.

The top point earning zone horse based on the championship chart will be named the NHJC National Finals Champion for each hunter section. In the jumper division, the highest placed zone horse in the classics for Children's, Adult Amateur, Junior and Amateur Owner Jumpers will earn the NHJC National Finals Champion title. The Open Jumper winner will be awarded to the horse/rider combination earning the most points in the $10,000 Welcome Stake and the $30,000 Grand Prix. Qualifying details are available from the NHJC or may be downloaded from its website (www.nhjc.org).

Junior Equitation riders will also vie for a NHJC National Finals title. Each competitor in the Capital Challenge Equitation class will represent his or her zone, and the winner of the class will also receive a special award from the NHJC. The Board of Governors plans to expand the equitation division in the future to include adults and other levels of junior-aged riders.

Along with individual awards, the NHJC will present team awards by zone in both the hunter division and the jumper division. The NHJC will also be involved in various hospitality aspects of the show, as well as staffing an information booth with materials about the Council. The following divisions and sections are designated as NHJC National Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show:

Green Conformation Hunters Open Conformation Hunters
1st Year Green & 2nd Yr Green Hunters Regular Working Hunters
Small Junior Hunters 15 & under Large Junior Hunters 15 & under
Small Junior Hunters 16-17 Large Junior Hunters 16-17
Amateur/Owner Hunters 18-35 Amateur Owner Hunters 36 & over
Children's Hunters Adult Amateur Hunters
Children's Jumpers Adult Amateur Jumpers
Junior Jumpers Amateur/Owner Jumpers
Open Jumpers Small Pony Hunters
Medium Pony Hunters Large Pony Hunters
Junior Equitation

For more information about the NHJC National Finals Horse Show at the Capital Challenge, September 29-October 7, 2001 at the Price George's Country Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, contact NHJC Executive Director Sue Pinckney at (845) 876-4397 or visit the NHJC website at www.nhjc.org. For information on the Capital Challenge Horse Show, contact Oliver Kennedy at (410) 997-5319.

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The National Hunter/Jumper Council is the official hunter/jumper discipline organization of the American Horse Shows Association. As such, the NHJC seeks to represent the interests of all hunter/jumper competitors, horse shows, and organizations in the United States. The NHJC is divided into 12 geographic zones, with the chairmen and vice-chairmen from each zone serving on the Council's 30 member Board of Governors. Each chairman of the six AHSA hunter/jumper discipline committees serves also, rounding out the 30 member governing board. In addition, the NHJC has many other committees dealing with specific issues relevant to the hunter/jumper sport, such as education, grass roots, stewards, judges, show management, show standards, drugs and medications, young rider and junior jumper championships, and planning. The NHJC is also committed to communicating with its hunter/jumper constituency through a variety of media, including "Horse Show" magazine, the NHJC website (www.nhjc.org), and its quarterly newsletter, "The Council Connection." For more information, contact Marnye Langer, Director of Communications.