1. JHNC was established in 2001
The championship made its inaugural debut in 2001, with the East Coast event taking place at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, N.J. Courtney McKay secured the first title aboard Aspen Grove Ranch’s Onyx.
2. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the championship
3. The Championship is held on both coasts
The 2026 East Coast Championship is set at the iconic Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., from June 17-21. The West Coast Championship will take place at HITS Del Mar Horse Park in Del Mar, Calif., from July 23-26.
4. More than 1,000 hunters qualify annually for the championship
The qualification period for this year’s championship was May 1, 2025-April 30, 2026. Horses qualify through earning a champion or reserve champion at premier, national, or regional competitions during the qualifying period, or by placing top ten in their USEF/USHJA Zone Rankings between December 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026. See additional qualifying opportunities here.
5. Athletes, spectators, and families can enjoy exclusive event merchandise
Highlights of this year’s ShopUSEF's JHNC collection include customizable hats and saddle pads, a crewneck fleece, hoodie, and more. Visit the ShopUSEF booth on-site or online to secure your items!
6. Skip Bailey is the 2026 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship-East course designer
Skip Bailey, owner of Infinity Courses and Design, returns to the Walnut Ring to design this year’s championship courses. A veteran hunter and jumper course designer, Bailey is known for building courses which are both fair and educational while allowing horses to perform at their best. He has designed courses for major venues including Tryon International Equestrian Center, Desert International Horse Park, and numerous national championships and top-rated competitions.
7. Riders compete in three phases: Classic, Handy Hunter, and Under Saddle
The championship is decided across three phases of competition: the Classic, which evaluates style, performance, and jumping ability over a traditional hunter course; the Under Saddle, which judges movement, manners, and way of going on the flat; and the Handy Hunter, which tests the rideability and partnership of a combination over a more technical course.
8. The Handy and Classic phases are each worth 40% of the overall score
9. The Under Saddle phase makes up the remaining 20% of the total score
10. Split Rock Jumping Tour provides ten Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship – East Grants
Riders are invited each year to apply for the grants, which will are awarded to ten Junior Hunter National Championship - East participants and cover the costs associated with one stall fee, division fees, ticketed schooling, and other standard showing fees (excluding third party vendor costs).
11. Competitors are divided into 15 & Under and 16-17 age groups and split into Small and Large sections.
12. The popular 3’3” division didn’t exist until 2014
To offer participation opportunities at the championships to more athletes, a 3’3” division was added for both the Small and Large 16-17 sections, as well as the Small and Large 15 & Under.
13. The event is livestreamed to over 150 countries through the USEF Network.
Watch live and on demand here.
14. Adequan® is the championship’s title sponsor
Adequan® joined as the title sponsor of the USEF Junior Hunter National Championship in 2005 and has continued to support one of the most highly anticipated events for the hunter community.
15. The championship includes social events and activities for juniors from different zones to connect
This year’s events include a Markel ice cream social, the USEF Open House, and plenty of shopping opportunities around the rings.
16. Split Rock Jumping Tour took over as organizer in 2025
When the East Coast Championship moved to the Kentucky Horse Park in 2025, Split Rock Jumping Tour assumed management through 2027. Prior to its current location, the championship was hosted by Traverse City Horse Shows at the Flintfields Horse Park from 2022-2024.
17. Ten national champions are crowned at each championship location
By Sunday evening, eight section champions will be crowned. These include the Small and Large 3’3” 16-17 champions, Small and Large 3’3” 15 & Under champions, Small and Large 3’6” 16-17 champions, and Small and Large 3’6” 15 & Under champions. Two Grand Champions are awarded overall for both the 3’3” and the 3’6” divisions.
18. 94 entries made up the largest section at the 2025 East Championship
The 3'3" Large Junior Hunter 16-17 saw the largest number of entries in 2025.
19. In 2025, the top two horses in the 3’3” Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Handy were separated by less than one point
Ella Ansolabehere and Alajolie secured the win with a score of 261.84, closely followed by Victoria Valiquette and Charlotte with a 260.99. Read more.
20. Lillie Keenan won the 2011 USEF Junior Hunter Championship-East aboard Confidential
Keenan claimed Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion and overall Grand Champion in 2011 aboard Don Stewart’s Confidential with an overall score of 89.37. She also captured the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under title with Chansonette Farm LLC’s Madison, to secure the overall Reserve Grand Champion with a score of 87.83.
21. Victoria Colvin is the only rider to win Overall Grand Champion East three times
Colvin secured the Overall Championship title with Inclusive in both 2012 and 2013, and again with Way Cool in 2015.
22. Red Panda won Overall Grand Champion East twice with different riders
The 1996 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Opium de Laubry X Jessie), owned by John and Stephanie Ingram LLC, won the title in 2008 with Jennifer Waxman and returned to secure it again in 2010 with Hayley Barnhill.
23. In Sync is the only horse to have won Overall Grand Champion on both coasts
The 1996 Thoroughbred gelding (Excavate X Horn’s Girl) won with Stephanie Danhakl in 2005 on the West Coast and Charlie Jayne in 2003 on the East Coast.
24. The Chewy Horsemanship Award is presented on Saturday to a competing athlete that exemplifies outstanding horsemanship
Submissions for the award are due by Thursday, June 18th at 2:00 p.m. Apply here.
25. The 2027 Adequan®/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship-East will be held June 23-27 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.