Get ready for an exhilarating week of hunter competition as the 2023 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – East and USHJA Gladstone Cup return to the picturesque Flintfields Horse Park during the 2023 Traverse City Horse Shows, running from June 28–July 1. The event kicks off with the USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic presented by Intermont Equestrian at Emory and Henry College on Wednesday, June 28. The three-phase Junior Hunter National Championships for 3’6” and 3’3” heights will run Thursday, June 29, through Saturday, July 1.
Since 2001, the Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – East has showcased the best junior hunter riders from across the country while providing the opportunity for riders to meet and spend time with follow competitors nationwide. Annually, over 2,000 eligible hunters qualify to compete in this prestigious final. Click here to download the prize list (pdf).
Qualifying Period
Horses qualify for the championships by winning a championship or reserve championship in a Premier (AA), National (A), or Regional (B) rated Junior Hunter section at a competition with a start date between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023.
A horse will also qualify if it is ranked in the top 10 on the USHJA Zone Horse of the Year Channel I or Channel II ranking list for any of the Junior Hunter sections of the appropriate height based on competitions with a start date between Dec. 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023.
Entries close on June 9, 2023. See the full qualifying and other specifications here.
Travel and Lodging
Booking airfare and accommodations early is recommended as Traverse City is a popular summer vacation destination and the competition falls on the busy July 4th holiday weekend.
The Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – East has partnered with several hotels in the Traverse City area to offer special horse show rates. Additionally, Delta Airlines is offering special discounts for travelers attending the competition.
See the full list of partner hotels and information on accessing the Delta discount rates here.
Visit the 2023 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships page on USEF.org for the most up-to-date information, including class specifications and standings. Questions? Contact Lauren Bazyk, National Breeds and Disciplines Program Manager, at hunterdept@usef.org.
