Can we have an Adult Hunter/AO Championships?

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

In light of Pony Finals and Jr Hunter Finals… wouldn’t it be lovely to support those that support the whole darn shabang?

We’ve joked about it before on these threads…but in all seriousness… why is there not an AO or Amateur Weekend like there are weeks dedicated to pony hunters and jr hunter kids/ young riders?
Show me the Amateur Olympics… or intro me to a horse show organizer that could coordinate such a thing with USEF.

Yes, yes, yes… there’s Devon and Indoors, but I’m talking more about a week/weekend that hyperfocuses on us… the weekend warriors… the ones that just are out there doing our thing.

TBH, as I look into what there is for 3’3 AO’s… I’m a bit bummed. There’s not even the opportunity to show in the Dixon Oval at Devon. So I think we’re overdue for some special attention, too.
I’m shocked that it hasn’t taken off and no one has made it a thing already… make it a week-long event with wine-tastings, spa treatments, and fun shopping. Could be so much fun!

Make it fun for others too:
Have a Pro/Am derby… where each of you does a round (you pick which one does first round and which does handy).
Have a “Spouse” leadline
Have wine tastings, Have culinary classes, Have a bourbon tasting or beer tasting.
Include a lounge with sports being broadcasted.
Kids coming along? Great, there are sign-up activities, movie days, and camp style events on the other side of the show where you can have them supervised.

[Tha_Ridge]

I mean, if people would enjoy participating in such a thing even if it weren’t USEF-rated, I would absolutely throw some money, knowledge, time, etc., into helping organize something like this. There are so many wonderful venues out there that could make it a blast.

[blondewithchrome]

I am literally obsessed with this idea. Let us jumpers join in too! The low adult (1m) have no indoors or Devon to speak of. Do you know how scary 3’3 can be? As an adult? Let us ease our qualms in the wine tasting tent, too!

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

Agreed. I have been working to help friends organize shipping and accommodations for PF and JHF and was like… where’s our fun??? Seriously, it’s a horse show goldmine. You’d think that so many retailers or local businesses would also want to join in, as it’s appealing directly to the wallet-holders! WEF has Pilates Rocks, WEC has Calluna Spa, and Tryon has their sushi place and CrossFit. Imagine if you did fun activities surrounding those additional services (sushi-rolling classes at Tryon), Pilates demos and classes at WEF, etc
And OF COURSE we’d include jumpers… and I’d like to have some fun crossover events too.

Hunter/jumper team challenge … you and partner get to team up… you accumulate points for best duo that goes clear in basic jumper round and jump-off and gets most points in 2 hunter/handy over fences.

Pro equitation class,complete with horse swap, and rideoff.

[hillary_again]

Love this idea. I don’t even show, and I love this idea. Right - “target-rich environment” of demographics: adults with $! Jump on it (no pun intended…)!

[Tha_Ridge]

@Tini_Sea_Soldier1

Pro equitation class,complete with horse swap, and rideoff.

And honestly, this is how you get the pros to want to bring their clients—$25,000 pro equitation class, must be a horse that has competed in at least one other class at the show.

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

Absolutely. It would be fun to see some of the BNTs dust off their tan breeches and show off on a few eq tests. I bet Missy, Andre, and Don would get a kick out of it too. Talk about great marketing for their strings of horses.
I’d personally love to see Richard Spooner do it and win it all… he always looks so perfect in his form in his rounds in the GP.

[Mohan]

I rarely go to horse shows just to watch. I’m always there to show or watch my friends. I would absolutely be a spectator for show like this!

It sounds so fun.

[lcw579]

Come to Devon for the Fall Classic! It’s all jumpers and there is no qualifying. There is a low adult division and all classes run in the Dixon Oval. It is one of our favorite shows.

[HJdaydream]

Obsessed with this idea. As an adult amateur myself, I would love to have a whole show dedicated to us! I’d love to see more “special” classes for all levels too. Some shows I do have 2’6 derbies, but they are also open to juniors and kids on ponies. My adult a$$ would prefer to show against only adults, so a 2’6 adult derby would be super fun. Of course a 3’ derby as well (again, only open to adults). Actual adult equitation divisions with division tricolors (versus just one flat and one o/f). The kind of stuff there isn’t usually room on the schedule for! The adult classes I can normally participate in are squeezed into only 2 days, so it would be nice to have stuff spread out all week. My barn is primarily adults, so it is something I could definitely see us attending!

[Rel6]

I would love this. And speaking of special classes, I would love to see an ammy-only puissance type competition (or gambler’s choice), where the jump height starts at 1.0m. I did something similar last summer through my local fox hunt - it started at 2’9" and ended with the winning height at 1.3m. It was so much fun, and people just tapped out when they wanted to.

[wanderlust]

Sign me up!! How fun would this be???

[173north]

I feel like this was a little bit of the idea behind USHJA National Championships… it’s not ammy-only but there’s a 3’3 A/O, a $25k 3’3 jr/am derby, adult jumpers starting at .70m, a 1m adult grand prix, an adult 3’3 jumping seat medal, plus affiliate hunter divisions at 2 ft and 2’6.

I do agree an ammy-only week or weekend with special classes would be SUCH a big hit.

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

Right? I think there is so much potential. Just need to get me in front of the right people

[BITSA]

they have them https://www.ushja.org/competition/national-championship

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

Yeaaaah… I’m well aware of USHJA finals… but it’s not the same. I’m talking about a hyperfocused on ammys week. Also, who is trekking to Vegas? If they’re gonna do that… they need to split East and West.

[Tha_Ridge]

I mean, this is the type of show I’d love to go to, but I think they’ve really botched it by hosting it in Vegas year after year. Yes, it’s fun, but I think it should swap between east and west at the very least.

[Halternatively]

I think this might be what this USHJA championship thing is aiming for, but it seems they missed the mark. Vegas is really hard to get to with horses, for one. And it’s not exactly where I would choose to go as an amateur. Kentucky? Yes. Devon? Mayyyybe….it’s so so tiny. WEC Ohio or Ocala? Tryon? Yes.

Let’s do this!

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

Agreed…
My hot take…? We’ve sacrificed enough. Make this one just about the amateur adults and throw in a few pro classes for the YAY of it all. Kids will always tag along to watch and if it’s done tastefully, it’s something that can truly make it go from a hard drop off point from the Big Eq to amateur years…to something that they can look forward to and enjoy… like… yeah, my junior years are over, but the amateur olympics are calling my name!

[Mohan]

I want to add whole destination shows are awesome, Vegas is not how you appeal to the adult ammy!