Blenheim International Jumping Festival to Host Inaugural Youth Show Jumping Foundation U25 Challenge
The YSJF U25 Challenge, presented by the PCHA, will offer an exciting new option for young riders. Photo by McCool Photography
August 7, 2024 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – Riders under the age of 25 will now have the opportunity to compete in an exciting new challenge class, and it kicks off this September at Blenheim EquiSports.
The all-new Youth Show Jumping Foundation U25 Challenge, an American Jumping Style of Riding Competition, will launch on September 19-21, 2024, during the Blenheim International Jumping Festival in San Juan Capistrano, CA, with the inaugural event presented by the Pacific Coast Horse Shows Association. Entries for the class are now open here and will close on August 26.
“Continuing to support the future of our show jumping sport is of high importance to our Blenheim EquiSports team, and hosting this class presents a great opportunity to do that,” said Alexandra Zulia, Horse Show Manager for Blenheim EquiSports. “We’re thrilled to be the U25 Challenge’s inaugural host and look forward to producing a top-quality event.”
The YSJF’s U25 Challenge invites athletes competing at the 1.10m, 1.20m and 1.30m heights to contest the multi-phase American Jumping Style of Riding event. All participating athletes will first complete the de Némethy Prep Phase, which will incorporate dressage and gymnastics elements designed to show an athlete’s skills in preparing for a jumping competition. The second Show Jumping Phase will be conducted under Table II, Sec. 2d and will include a water option.
From there, the highest-scoring athlete from each of the height sections will move forward to the third phase, the Ride Off Challenge. The three athletes will each jump a 1.10-1.15m course on their own horse. Each athlete will also draw a Challenge Horse, riding this second, unfamiliar horse over the same course. The athlete with the highest combined scores from all phases will be declared the overall champion.
Each of the three Ride Off Challenge athletes will receive a YSJF Training Grant to use toward furthering their horsemanship knowledge, specialized coaching or a select competition. The trainer of the overall champion will receive $3,000. All riders, owners and trainers must register with the YSJF to be eligible, with registration information forthcoming.
Presiding over the debut event will be judges, and renowned equestrians, Ronnie Beard (West Palm Beach, FL) and Anne Kursinski (Frenchtown, NJ). Karen Healey (Somis, CA) will serve as the course designer, and DiAnn Langer will act as the YSJF Technical Delegate.
“We are pleased to have the U25 Challenge as our first program,” said DiAnn Langer, YSJF President. “Thank you to the PCHA and Blenheim Equisports for picking up the reins to make this competition a reality. We are working on more programs that we can offer young athletes which will only benefit the future of our sport. Thank you to the YSJF board for working out the details and providing their time and talents to the foundation. We look forward to more equestrians, trainers, horse shows and sponsors getting involved with this exciting new foundation.”
The mission of the YSJF is to enhance and establish a strong youth equestrian program through training, support and education to ensure a healthy, successful and sustainable equine industry for the future of the sport. For more information on the YSJF, visit YouthShowJumpingFoundation.org.
For more information and full class specs for the YSJF U25 Challenge, presented by the PCHA, access the Blenheim International Jumping Festival prize list here.