As part of these changes, USHJA will be aligning year-end point tracking with the qualifying period for the Jumping Seat Medal Finals. Beginning Aug. 2, 2018, Jumping Seat Medal riders will start accumulating points for 2019 year-end awards and qualifying for the 2019 Jumping Seat Medal Finals. The 2018 year-end awards will still be distributed based on points earned Dec. 1, 2017, to Nov. 30, 2018. After this transitional period through Nov. 30, 2018, year-end point tracking and the Jumping Seat Medal Finals qualifying period will be the same and run Aug. 2 of the prior competition year to Aug. 1 of the current competition year.
 |
|
|
The USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal classes continue to grow in popularity around the country. Credit: Tricia Booker/USHJA
|
Additionally, classes offered beginning Aug. 2, 2018, will include a flat phase. A minimum of three and a maximum of 12 riders will return for the flat phase. Riders will show at a working walk, collected trot sitting, working trot rising, working trot demonstrating a lengthening of stride, working canter, collected canter, working canter demonstrating a lengthening of stride and counter canter. Riders may be asked to perform advanced flatwork including but not limited to, turn on the haunches, shoulder-in and leg yielding.
The changes add restrictions aimed at creating a level playing field for competitors. Riders who have jumped 1.30m or higher or competed in a USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2* or 3* class may not participate in a USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal class within the same competition year. Riders who are in their final Junior year may not compete in any classes held at a competition with a start date after Aug. 1 of that competition year.
USHJA is also raising the minimum number of points needed to qualify for the USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Finals, offered on both the East and West coasts. Starting in 2019, riders will need to earn 15 or more points in any 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal classes during the qualifying period to qualify for a Finals of their choice.
"These changes aim to simplify and enhance this program while creating a level playing field for riders who are excelling at the 3'3" fence height," said Robin Rost Brown, chair of the Joint Equitation Task Force. "The goal is to make the competition tough but fair, and we believe these changes help us do just that."
As qualifying for this year's USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Finals - East and West ends on Aug. 1, 2018, riders will become eligible to participate in one of two USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Finals on either coast.
Blenheim International Jumping Festival will host the West Finals at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, California, Sept. 21-23, 2018, and the
Capital Challenge Equitation Show will host the East Finals at Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Sept. 28-29, 2018.
Additionally, the USHJA encourages riders who are qualifying for this year's Jumping Seat Medal Finals to apply for the USHJA Foundation J.T. Tallon Memorial Equitation Grant by Aug. 1 for an opportunity to be awarded $1,000 toward an equitation final, like the USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Finals. Learn more about the grant at
www.ushjafoundation.org/Tallon.
