USHJA Gold Star Clinics
Rich Fellers,Richard Spooner and Anne Kursinski to Lead USHJA Gold Star Clinics
Wild Card Applications open for select competitors
The USHJA just announced the dates and locations for the first two USHJA Gold Star Clinics for Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders and Coaches.
On the East Coast, lead clinicians will be Richard Spooner and Anne Kursinski.
On the West Coast, Richard Spooner and Rich Fellers will lead.
The East Coast clinic will be held December 27-30, 2017, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The West Coast clinic is scheduled for January 18-21, 2017, at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California.
“We are thrilled to bring these exceptional clinics to riders who have excelled in the competition arena this year. These athletes represent the best of the best at their level, and this is the first time in our sport’s history we’ve been able to identify Jumping athletes this early on in their riding careers.”
said Larry Langer, chair of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Athlete Task Force.
These clinics are part of the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program, which was launched earlier this year in conjunction with the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, to identify Jumper athletes who have the skill and desire to excel in the sport.
Individual medalists from the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships receive the designation of Gold Star Emerging Jumper Riders, regardless of age, and are invited, along with their coaches and parents, to attend one of these clinics.
Additionally, USHJA will admit a select number of Wild Card participants. Any member who competed in the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships, the FEI Children’s Rider Nations Cup™ at Langley, or the Children’s section of the FEI North American Children, Junior, and Young Rider Championships for Jumping may submit a Wild Card Application.
The four-day Gold Star Clinics will offer horsemanship, stable management, mounted instruction and additional education from top clinicians, such as Diane Carney, Kirsten Coe, Tanya Johnston, DiAnn Langer, Bill Leggett, Colleen Reed, Steve Stephens, Hardin Towell and Dr. Geoff Vernon.
Each Gold Star Clinic will offer education for Gold Star Jumper Coaches to help them understand the Jumping Athlete Pathway, a joint USHJA-US Equestrian effort that identifies and nurtures Jumping athletes as they advance through the sport to enhance future success for Olympic and international teams representing the United States.
The USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships are offered at 1.10/1.15m, 1.20/1.25m and 1.30/1.35m and provide riders with a competitive team experience and an opportunity to earn Zone Horse of the Year points in their respective jumper sections.
The Championships are held by zone and consist of both team and individual competition.
The USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program uses these Championships to identify athletes and then provide them with education and guidance on their path to excellence and becoming well-rounded horsemen.
Learn more about the Zone Jumper Team Championships.
Learn more about the Emerging Jumper Rider Program.
