PRESS RELEASE
Lexington, Ky.—– August 29, 2017 —-Members in all 12 USHJA Zones put their horsemanship knowledge to the test during the 30-day HQC Stable Challenge, presented by The Plaid Horse, and the 12 top-scoring trainers will be receiving prize packages for their barns.
“We are excited to see so many people participate in this fun, educational program,” Kevin Price, executive director of USHJA, said.
The USHJA congratulates the following trainers and their barns who earned the highest score:
Zone 1
Mitch and Kathy Steege
Red Acre Farm (Stow, Mass.)
Zone 2
Brenda Peck
Galemont Farm (Warners, N.Y.)
Zone 3
Susan Deal, USHJA Certified Trainer
Grovespring Farm (Culpeper, Va.)
Zone 4
Eleanor Ellis
Evermore Farm (Brooklet, Ga.)
Zone 5
Elaine Schott, USHJA Certified Trainer
River Mountain Farm (Versailles, Ky.)
Zone 6
Sally Pray
Stillwater Stables (Bondurant, Iowa)
Zone 7
Sarah Trepagnier
Arcadia Hills Equestrian (Arcadia, Okla.)
Zone 8
Kristin Jacob
Blue Star Farms (Longmont, Colo.)
Zone 9
Morgan Thomas
Parkside Stables (Bellevue, Wash.)
Zone 10
Kay Altheuser, USHJA Certified Trainer
Elvenstar, a USHJA Recognized Riding Academy (Moorpark, Calif.)
Zone 11
Amy Quinlan, USHJA Certified Trainer
Dillingham Ranch (Waialua, Hawaii)
Zone 12
Jenny Rousey, USHJA Certified Trainer
Northgate Farm (Palmer, Alaska)
“We had a wonderful time studying and preparing for the HQC Stable Challenge,” said Kristin Jacob with Blue Star Farms. “One of my Adult Amateur riders and I organized a nine week study class with a wonderful lineup of guest speakers. We all got so much out of this and really appreciate the USHJA and all the sponsors for this program.”
This year the HQC Practice Quiz was taken more than 1,400 times during the Stable Challenge. Zone 2 had the most trainers participate in the Stable Challenge, and the most tests were taken in Zone 8. Ten zones had participants complete the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Level One Quiz in addition to the Practice Quiz.
The Stable Challenge was designed to engage a trainer’s entire barn as a team. At least three students per trainer had to complete the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Practice Quiz between June 15 and July 15 this year to be eligible for prizes.
At the end of the 30-day challenge, the three top scores under each trainer were averaged to provide an overall score. Participants who also took the Level One and Level Two HQC quizzes received 10 bonus points for each level they complete.
Each of the high scoring trainers will be receiving a unique, trainer-inspired award package that includes a helmet from Charles Owen, a hat from CWD, a one-year membership to Equestriancoach.com, samples from Perfect Products, a pair of Pro Performance horse boots from Professional’s Choice, a gift from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, a grooming bucket with supplies from Shapley’s, gifts from The Plaid Horse, a discount on products from Standlee and a USHJA branded backpack, brush, hoof pick and water bottle.
The Stable Challenge was originally created to promote the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Program and get members excited about advancing their horsemanship knowledge at all ages. USHJA members (who are younger than 21 years old on December 1 of the current competition year) can still participate in the Horsemanship Quiz Challenge and compete for a chance to go to HQC Nationals until September 1.
For more information about the Stable Challenge, visit ushja.org/stablechallenge. For more information about the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge, visit ushja.org/HQC.
