2012 Rule Changes
by Carol O’Meara
Rules and Specs Chair
At a meeting held on October 10, 2011, the CHJA Board of Directors took action on a variety of rule change proposals. Some of the changes were of a “housekeeping” nature, but many will be of interest to members as they plan for the 2012 Show Season.
Regular Working Hunters are now known as Performance Working Hunters and include High Performance Working Hunters 4’-4’6”, Performance Working Hunters 3’6”-3’9”, and Performance Hunters 3’3”. This change reflects changes made by USEF last year.
Beginner Pony Hunters and Beginner Pony Equitation have been eliminated so that there is only
one hunter and one equitation division for ponies that will be offered at the Group II Shows. The current
CHJA Pony Hunter and CHJA Pony Equitation specs will be used: 2-2’3” for smalls, 2’3”-2-6” for mediums,
and 2’6”-2’9” for larges. USEF age restrictions will not apply. It is hoped that by having only one hunter
division and one equitation division for ponies, more shows will offer the divisions and the divisions will fill.
Stirrup Hunters will continue, and the previous three separate rules have been combined into one
rule which applies to Short, Medium, and Long Stirrups. Age groups stay the same. Stirrup Hunters will still
be 2’3” with no ins and outs and no oxers. Stirrup Hunters will not be allowed to cross enter into any other
divisions at the same show except Stirrup Equitation. Stirrup Equitation will now be offered for Short,
Medium, and Long Stirrup riders. Fence heights and age groups are the same as for Stirrup Hunters, and
Stirrup Equitation riders will not be allowed to cross enter into any other divisions at the same show except
Stirrup Hunters. These divisions will provide a good opportunity for beginner riders and horses who are not
yet ready to compete at 2’6” to compete in both hunters and equitation and receive year end awards.
Beginner Equitation 11 and under riders will now be included in a 14 and under age group at 2’6”,
and CHJA Junior Equitation 11 and under riders will now be included in a 14 and under age group at 3’.
This makes the Beginner and Junior Equitation fence heights the same as the fence heights for Beginner
and Junior Hunter divisions for all age groups.
Major changes are in store for Group 2 Jumpers. CHJA Open, Schooling, Low, and Pony Jumpers
will remain the same. CHJA Junior Jumpers and CHJA Amateur Jumpers have been replaced with High
Training Jumpers at 1.07M (3’6”) open to all riders, and Low Training Jumpers at 1.00M (3’3”), open to all
riders. This change allows amateurs and juniors to advance at 3” intervals rather than the current
6”intervals, and allows professionals to advance client horses at 3” intervals. Opening the jumper
divisions to all riders (except pony jumpers) makes it more likely for all divisions to fill.
Two new Special Year End Awards have been established for jumpers. A High CHJA Junior
Amateur Award will go the junior or amateur horse/rider combination earning the most points in Group 2
Jumper Classes 1.0M (3’3”) and higher. A Low CHJA Junior/Amateur Award will go to the junior or amateur
horse/rider combination accumulating the most points in Group 2 and Group 3 Jumper Classes o.91M (3’)
and under.
There will also be changes with medal classes. Columbine Junior and Adult Medals, CHJA Junior
and Adult Medals, and the Col. Robertson and Ruth Ayers Medal may now be combined at shows as well as
at Medal Finals if needed. These changes should result in fewer medal classes not filling and provide more
opportunities to qualify.
