PC: Lorraine Jackson
Lexington, Kentucky – December, 2016 – The United States Hunter Jumper Association is now offering recognition for lesson programs, riding facilities, equestrian schools, and other types of educational equestrian programs that emphasize horsemanship and sportsmanship, promote safety, and offer introductory hunter/jumper lessons through its Recognized Riding Academy program.
“The USHJA Recognized Riding Academy program is designed to encourage the continued development and growth of programs across the country that cultivate well-rounded equestrians from their earliest riding experience,” said Kevin Price, USHJA executive director. “Building strong foundations of horsemanship, sportsmanship and safety for equestrians benefits our entire sport, and we look forward to helping connect new or aspiring riders with programs that focus on those attributes.”
Becoming a Recognized Riding Academy provides these programs with national recognition and exposure. Programs meeting the USHJA Recognized Riding Academy criteria can be found on the USHJA website, and each receives a recognition plaque to display at their facility. Recognized Riding Academies can participate in the USHJA Affiliate Equitation Awards program, and they receive discounts on USHJA Trainer Certification Program manuals.
Interested riding programs must apply and meet USHJA requirements to become a Recognized Riding Academy. The requirements focus on minimum facility, operational, safety and staff standards. These programs must operate out of facilities that follow basic industry standards for horse care, offer hunter/jumper riding lessons of varying levels, unmounted instruction, and lessons with an instructor/student ratio that ensures safety, and follow a written curriculum for all instruction.
Additionally, they must make safety a priority, requiring ASTM/SEI approved helmets and approved footwear, as well as following a variety of other safety standards and maintaining at least $1 million in insurance coverage for the operation of their riding program. The programs must have at least one staff person who is a USHJA member in good standing, and their staff must demonstrate a commitment to continuing education.
Learn more about the USHJA Recognized Riding Academy and apply atwww.ushja.org/ridingacademy.