Some of America's top up-and-coming junior riding talent is bound for Lexington's Kentucky Horse Park August 4 for the Essex Classics/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Hunterdon Equitation Cup Classic.

Held this year as part of the East Coast Hunter Finals, the USHJA Hunterdon Cup began in 2005 and was developed as a unique class that combines the precision of equitation and the handiness of hunters. The class is open to any rider who is an active USHJA junior member and who has won a USEF Medal, ASPCA Maclay, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search or WIHS Classic through July 1 of the competition year.

The Hunterdon Cup Classic consists of 10 hunter-type fences, including at least two jumps with no ground lines. The fences are set at 3'6" and the judging is on style and smoothness, with an emphasis on the hunter style of riding. The competition is split into three rounds. The first is the hunter round, followed by the top 10 being called back to compete in the handy hunter round. The third and final work-off will consist of at least the top four riders switching horses and repeating all or part of the previous courses. The course will be announced with the final competitors in the ring, and all fences will be judged.

For more information about the Hunterdon Cup, contact Sterling Berry at (859) 225-6705 or [email protected].