The World Champion Hunter Rider Program Overview

The World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) awards is the pivotal award program of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation, Inc.. These awards are presented, on both a national and regional level.

What is truly unique about this program is how shows are selected to participate. Each year, the members of the AHJF vote to select shows that meet the highest show standards. At the inception of this program, we formulated a system-based on a clearly defined quality criteria:

• All WCHR divisions are offered
  
• Good footing is maintained
  
• Appropriate schooling areas
  
• Ample exhibitor and spectator parking
  
• Attracts top competition
  
• Appropriate scheduling for rated hunter divisions
  
• Appropriate awards presentations
  
• Adequate ring size
  
• Top judges and officials
  
• Capable show staff
  
• Ample spectator seating
  
• Exhibitor hospitality
  
• Use of open numerical scoring
  
• Suitable stabling
  
• Audible announcements
  
• Appropriate housing and dining
  
• Show photographer
  
• Responsive to exhibitor feedback

The annual National WCHR program is an important part of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation. Professional, Junior and Amateur Riders are invited to compete by qualifying through the WCHR National program throughout the year. A rider's top four WCHR shows count towards awards in these divisions: Professional and Emerging Professional, Junior, Amateur Owner (3’6 and 3’3), Adult Amateur and Pony. Riders are then invited to compete directly against one another in Challenge Classes hosted by the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

WCHR National Rider Awards

Professional Division
  • Green Working and Green Conformation Hunter
  • Regular Working and Regular Conformation Hunter

Emerging Professional Division

3'6" Section
  • Green Working and Green Conformation Hunter
  • Regular Working and Regular Conformation Hunter

3'-3'3" Section
  • Pre Green Hunter, all sections

Junior Division (Small and Large—all age groups)

Amateur Owner 3'6" (Younger and Older)

Amateur Owner 3'3"

Pony Division (Small, Medium and Large Pony Hunter)

Adult Amateur Hunter Division (all sections of 3’ divisions)

• Riders earn National points by competing at any WCHR show.
• Riders who compete on more than one horse will only earn points on their leading horse at each show, Model Classes will not count.
• Only points from the rider’s top four WCHR shows will count toward year-end National Awards.
• Points accumulated in the WCHR recognized divisions at the Capital Challenge Horse Show are added to the riders top four shows.
• The Capital Challenge Horse Show will host the WCHR Challenge Classes. Active AHJF members will earn additional points toward National awards by competing in their respective WCHR Challenge Class. Bonus points, toward WCHR National awards, will be awarded in all WCHR Challenge Classes as follows: 140, 130, 120, 110, 108, 106
• The top six riders in the Professional division will compete head-to-head in the WCHR Professional Finals.
• In order to be eligible for the WCHR Emerging Professional Division you must meet the criteria of an Emerging Professional rider (click here for the definition).
• In order to be eligible for the WCHR National Adult Amateur Award, riders may not have participated in the Amateur Owner 3'6" Hunter division or any other hunter section where the fences exceed 3’3 (on any horse) after June 1 of the current competition year. (Note: AO riders in the 3’3 division are eligible for the WCHR National Adult Amateur Awards as long as they have not shown in the AO 3’6 division after June 1 of the current competition year)

WCHR Professional Finals Class
In the Professional Division the top six riders compete head-to-head for the WCHR Professional title. Similar to a World Championship, the riders compete over a 3'6" course on each of the six horses. All riders must provide a horse for the class and ride that horse in the first round. With the exception of Pre-Green horses, all horses are eligible. The class will be judged on presentation of the horse and style of the rider. Class to be scored under the open numerical system by multiple teams of two judges. Each team will present one score and the scores averaged for a single round total. Each rider will compete in three rounds on three different horses over a course of eight to ten fences set at 3'6" and receive a score for each round. The fourth round will be a handy course where brilliance will be rewarded. The rider with the highest cumulative four round total will be the winner. In case of a tie for first place only, riders will ride the horse they provided in a ride off to determine the winner. Along with the trophies and money earned, the winner is also honored with a media sponsorship. The AHJF will follow the winning rider's show accomplishments with a media campaign.

WCHR National Trainer Awards
Presented to the trainer of each of the WCHR National Champions. Trainers are encouraged to support this award by renewing their membership with the AHJF.

• In Disguise Amateur Owner 3’6 National Trainer Award
• Professional, Emerging Professional, Junior, Pony, Adult, and Amateur Owner 3’3 National Trainer Award

Other WCHR National Awards:

WCHR Handy Hunter National Awards

• Points for the WCHR Handy Hunter Awards will be tracked from the following WCHR National Divisions:
    • Professional
    • Emerging Professional 3’6
    • Amateur Owner 3’6
    • Junior
• Riders earn points by competing in the handy class of their respective divisions at any WCHR show.
• Points will be calculated based on their placing in the handy class and using the USEF Increment chart for AA competitions.
• If there is a WCHR Handy Classic the points will count based in USEF Increment Point Chart for Classics.
• Riders who compete on more than one horse will only earn points from their highest placing in their respective handy class at each show.
• Only points from the rider’s top four WCHR shows will count toward year-end Awards.
• Points accumulated in the handy class of each WCHR recognized division at the Capital Challenge Horse Show are added to the riders top four shows.
• The AHJF will invite the top 30 nationally ranked riders to the WCHR Handy Hunter Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show

Rox Dene Award for High Score Owner of a Professional Horse.
Sponsored by Elaine and Chanda Boylan
http://www.ahjf.org/standings/wchr-natl-awards_roxdene.shtml
The owner and rider must be an active member of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation to be eligible. The Rox Dene Award was established in the name of the famous show hunter and is awarded annually to the owner of the WCHR high score horse who has accumulated the most points at their best four WCHR shows plus their divisions at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in a professional division. 

Alabama Clay Conformation Hunter Award
Sponsored by Krista & Alexa Weisman
http://www.ahjf.org/standings/wchr-natl-awards_aclay.shtml
The owner and rider must be an active member of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation to be eligible. To be awarded to the horse and owner of the WCHR high score horse that has accumulated the most points at their best four WCHR shows plus their divisions at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in the Green and Regular Conformation Hunter divisions.

The Jeffry Katz Memorial Award
Sponsored by Lisa Cudahy
http://www.ahjf.org/standings/wchr-natl-awards_jkatz.shtml
The owner and rider must be an active member of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation to be eligible. To be awarded to the rider of the WCHR high score horse who has accumulated the most points at their best four WCHR shows plus their divisions at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in the First Year Green, Second Year Green and Green Conformation divisions.

Derbydown Trophy for the Leading WCHR Professional Hunter Rider
Sponsored by Louise Serio & Derbydown, Inc..
Awarded to the WCHR Leading professional rider with the most the most WCHR points before the start of the Professional divisions at the Capital Challenge Horse Show..

Annual Non-Competitive Awards
Old Springhouse Lifetime Achievement Award
Winter’s Run Sportsmanship Award
AHJF Trophy for Hunter Course Design
Daniel P. Lenehan Trophy for Hunter Judging
Heard A Rumor Perpetual Trophy
Far West Farm Perpetual Trophy
David Peterson Perpetual Trophy

The WCHR Regional Award program is central to the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation. Active members of the AHJF compete at shows in their designated region. A rider's top four WCHR shows count towards awards in the following divisions:

Professional Division
  • Green Working and Green Conformation Hunter
  • Regular Working and Regular Conformation Hunter

Emerging Professional Division

3'6" Section
  • Green Working and Green Conformation Hunter
  • Regular Working and Regular Conformation Hunter

3'-3'3" Section
  • Pre Green Hunter, all sections

Junior Division (Small and Large—all age groups)

Amateur Owner 3’6 (Younger and Older)

Amateur Owner 3’3

Pony Division (Small, Medium and Large Pony Hunter)

Adult Amateur Hunter Division (all sections of 3’ divisions)

Children’s Division (horse and pony and all age sections)

• Awards are presented annually in each division after the completion of the last show in each region. Ribbons are given for Champion, Reserve Champion, third through sixth.
• Riders earn Regional points by competing at any WCHR show located in the region they designate on their membership application. Riders need not attend all WCHR shows within a Region to be eligible for awards.
• Riders who compete on more than one horse will only earn points on their leading horse at each show, Model Classes will not count.
• Each rider may designate one Region. The WCHR Region may be changed once during the year and only points from the new Region will count.
• Points from a rider's top four Regional shows will be counted for year-end Regional Awards.
• In order to be eligible for the WCHR Emerging Professional Division you must meet the criteria of an Emerging Professional rider (click here for the definition).
• The top six riders from each WCHR division are invited to compete in their respective Challenge Classes, hosted by the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

WCHR Regional Owners Awards
WCHR Regional Owner Awards will be awarded 1st through 6th place in all WCHR divisions in the eight WCHR REGIONS.  Riders and owners must be AHJF active members to be eligible. Horses will be tracked based on the points earn in their top four regional shows. The region of record will be determined by the rider’s regional selection. If, the horse is ridden by multiple riders with different regional selections, then horse may earn points in multiple regions.

WCHR Handy Hunter Regional Awards

• Points for the WCHR Handy Hunter Awards will be tracked from the following WCHR National Divisions:
    • Professional
    • Emerging Professional 3’6
    • Amateur Owner 3’6
    • Junior
• Riders earn points by competing in the handy class of their respective divisions at any WCHR show held within their designated region.
• Points will be calculated based on their placing in the handy class and using the USEF Increment chart for AA competitions.
• If there is a WCHR Handy Classic the points will count based in USEF Increment Point Chart for Classics.
• Riders who compete on more than one horse will only earn points from their highest placing in their respective handy class at each show.
• Only points from the rider’s top four WCHR shows, within their designated region, will count toward year-end Awards.
• The AHJF will invite the Champion and Reserve Champion from each WCHR region to the WCHR Handy Hunter Finals at the Capital Challenge Horse Show