What is the USHJA adult amateur hunter program?

The USHJA adult amateur hunter program is a comprehensive competitive and recognition structure specifically designed to support and celebrate non-professional adult hunters, providing competitive pathways, year-end awards, and educational resources that reflect the organization's commitment to the adult amateur constituency as one of hunter jumper's most important and most invested participant groups. The program includes specific division standards for adult amateur hunter competition at recognized shows, ensuring consistent fence heights and class formats across the national circuit that allow adult amateurs to compete with confidence about what to expect at different recognized venues. Year-end award programs within the adult amateur hunter program recognize the top-performing horse-and-rider combinations in each adult amateur division nationally and by zone, creating season-long competitive goals that motivate consistent performance across multiple shows rather than focusing entirely on a single championship event. The USHJA International Adult Amateur Hunter Derby, a format specifically designed for adult amateurs that mirrors the success of the regular USHJA Hunter Derby program, has grown significantly in recent years and now represents one of the most anticipated adult amateur hunter events of the competitive calendar. The Derby format's combination of traditional hunter judging with high-option fences provides a more varied and more exciting competitive format than traditional hunter classes, and its growing popularity reflects the adult amateur community's engagement with innovative competitive formats that maintain the discipline's core values while adding strategic interest. The USHJA also provides educational resources specifically relevant to adult amateurs — articles, webinars, and show management guidance — through its publications and online platforms, reflecting its recognition that adult amateurs often benefit from information tailored to their specific competitive context rather than generic hunter jumper education.