USHJA On Course

We're back and kicking off a second season with two guests from a collaboration like we've never done before! USHJA has teamed up with inventive equestrian apparel brand Free Ride Equestrian for a limited edition co-branded collection featuring co-branded sun shirts with SPF 50 protection, breeches with four-way stretch, uni-sex vintage style tees and more. In addition, a donation of 12% of the gr...

Wren Blae Zimmerman is a Jumper rider who has a unique story. Diagnosed with Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy, Wren is legally blind but doesn't let that stop her from her riding goals. With no recognized para-equestrian discipline for Hunter/Jumpers, she competes against able-bodied riders on her mission to change the perception about what those that are blind and visually impaired are capable of. H...

Caitlin Creel is an amateur Jumper rider who used her voice to speak up about the rule change proposal put forward by the USHJA Joint Amateurs Task Force in late 2020. Caitlin's petition quickly caught the eye of Task Force members, fostering a pivotal conversation that helped lead to revaluation of the amateur rules as a whole. Now, Caitlin sits on the USEF Amateur Task Force with the purpose of...

An advocate for giving back to the equestrian sport, Rob Jacobs is the founder of the Robert Lawrence House of Opportunity, has long been involved with the USHJA Gochman Grant for USEF Pony Finals, and sits on the USHJA's Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Committee. He is also a rider and trainer, recently relocating to California as the assistant trainer for Archie Cox at Brookway Stables. In this...

At just 13 years old, Campbell Hudkins had a pretty amazing 2020. After spending her time off during the COVID-19 pandemic fundraising for USHA's Feed Aid program, she won the EMO Insurance/USHJA 3'3" Jumping Seat Medal Final - East at the Capital Challenge Horse Show after rising 75 placings through three phases. She wrapped up the year as the recipient of the USHJA Youth Leadership Award for her...

This episode's guest is Jane DaCosta, founder and executive director of the Metropolitan Equestrian Team. A longtime rider and passionate horsewoman, Jane founded MET in 2010 with the mission to provide aspiring athletes in grades 3-12 with the opportunity to participate in equestrian sport and educational opportunities, regardless of their socioeconomic status. In addition to running the non-prof...

Caitlyn Shiels is the owner and head trainer of True North Stables, based out of Illinois and Florida. After her years of success a junior, including claiming gold at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, Caitlyn is a seasoned competitor, now having competed in multiple USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships, WCHR events and more. We chat with her at the end of 2020 abou...

In episode six of USHJA On Course we're joined by equestrian legend, Anne Kursinski. A five-time Olympian, author, clinician and international competitor, Anne has a passion for the sport unlike many. She is currently the Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Show Jumping Development program, as well as a longtime clinician of the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program and has mentored riders at the USHJA Gold Star...

We're back with episode five of USHJA On Course and Jacob Pope, a special guest who has become a bit of a posterchild for one of USHJA's esteemed education programs. Jacob put himself on the top of the industry's radar when he won the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program in 2011, carrying that momentum into the following years to top the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search F...

If you've watched any equitation finals in recent years, you've definitely heard Ellie Ferrigno's name. But she is a seasoned competitor in all three rings, having claimed the Overall Grand Championship in the 3’6’’ section of the 2019 USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – East Coast, the 2019 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East, and most recently taking third...

We're so excited to be joined by Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta of Beaver River Farm in Camden, South Carolina, and Danny and Ron's Rescue. You may know them from their equine endeavors--both have trained riders and horses to compete at the industry's most prestigious events, while Danny is a renowned judge and Ron has devoted countless hours to the USHJA as chair of the USHJA International Hunter...

Owner of Lafitte de Muze, Cheryl Olsten is this month's guest—if you haven't heard her name, you've definitely heard of her horse, Lafitte, who took home the honor of 2019 WCHR Horse of the Year with expert hunter rider Amanda Steege.  On top of owning horses, Cheryl is a passionate writer and publisher with a children's book hitting shelves later this year, based on her incredible horse. Lis...

Welcome to the very first episode of USHJA On Course, the brand new podcast from the United States Hunter Jumper Association. Today we are sitting down with Victoria Colvin to chat about what goes into her winning strategy. Tori has an impressive record, to say the least, in all three rings of our sport and has been involved in many numerous USHJA competitive programs. She's won the WCHR Palm Beac...

Welcome to USHJA On Course, the official podcast of the United States Hunter Jumper Association. From beyond the competition arena, we'll introduce you to aspects of the sport you've always wanted to know more about, tricks of the trade from prominent members of the community and even reveal some topics you may have never thought of. Tune in each month as we chat with top juniors, amateurs and pro...