The application deadline is just around the corner, April 1, to apply for the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s Emerging Athlete Program at Centenary University’s Equestrian Center in Long Valley June 20-24.
The riding clinician will be grand prix rider Candice King, a trainer with a warm personality who has represented the U.S. in Nations Cups and won the Queen Elizabeth Cup in England.
The USHJA Emerging Athletes Program, created in 2009 for riders to gain riding and horsemanship knowledge, has nine regional training sessions around the country in addition to the one in New Jersey. For more information and to apply, go to ushja.org/EAP.
New this year is the Stable Management Trainee Program, which offers a non-riding component to participants interested in learning more about the behind-the-scenes management of top-level equine athletes and competition barns. At Centenary, hunter/jumper/equitation trainer Tracy Forman will handle the stable management part of the program.
Participants shadowing the stable management clinician will receive more intensive instruction on horse care and management, providing an immersive learning experience on managing a barn and competition horses.
The Emerging Athletes Program is open to Junior, Amateur and Professional members 12 years of age or older as of December 1 of the current competition year and is offered at 0.90m and 1.0m fence heights.
Those interested in participating must complete and return the application, associated fee and three letters of recommendation to USHJA by the deadline.
Riders accepted into the Emerging Athletes Program begin by participating in the Regional Training Session,bringing their own horses and providing all care themselves.
Once the Regional Training Sessions conclude, 16 riders and a select number of stable managers will be invited to attend the National Training Session based on their riding and stable-management skills and potential shown during their Regional Training Session.
Only members between 12 and 25 years of age as of December 1 of the current competition year are eligible for the National Training Session. The dates and location for the 2022 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session will be announced at a later date.
Each USHJA Zone offers a minimum of two grants to EAP participants to help offset the cost of attending a Regional Training Session or the National Training Session. For more information, visit ushja.org/zones, select your home zone, then click on “Grants and Scholarships.” EAP Grant applications also must be completed by April 1.