A little less than year after its debut, the International Hunter Derby competition is making a bid to be included as one of 20 demonstrations held during the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

The United States Hunter Jumper Association created the Derby as an effort to revamp performance hunters, returning them to their hunt field roots and potentially moving them to a more international stage. The class was first held in December 2007, with each competitor performing two hunter courses designed to mimic what they would encounter on a real hunt. The course include very natural type fences, banks, ditches, gates, and taller and narrower fences to name a few. Riders are rewarded for choosing more difficult paths and can even take optional jumps. A

The Hunter Derby Series consists of 48 qualifying events held over 18 months culminating in a Series Final in August 2009. Each qualifying event offers a minimum of $10,000 in prize money with $100,000 being offered at the finals. View the upcoming schedule of events or learn more about the International Hunter Derby competition.

Tack n’ Togs reported:

The Kentucky Summer Horse Show hosted the $20,000 ASG Software Solutions United States Hunter Jumper Association International Hunter Derby in August at the Kentucky Horse Park. This event was especially important because organizers of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games were on site to watch the class.

The members of the World Games 2010 Foundation that came to the demonstration were Holley Groshek, Director of Administration and Equestrian Community Relations, and Maggie Daniels, Equestrian Relations and Special Project Coordinator. “It was very exciting,” said Groshek. “We are thrilled to be a part of history in the making, and this new class. It is a huge step forward for the industry.”

“This helps give them an idea of what the demonstration would be about for the high performance hunters at the World Equestrian Games,” said Bill Moroney, President of the USHJA. “They seem very enthusiastic and very impressed by what they saw the other night. I think it was very promising that Holley and Maggie came out to watch the class.”

Groshek and Daniels were able to get a real feel for what the demonstration would be like, because the Kentucky Horse Park is also the site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The USHJA will work closely with the World Games 2010 Foundation  to make the demonstration as successful as possible if accepted. They have discussed different options, working together with the demonstration, which would be a benefit to the World Equestrian Games and to local charities.

Bobby Murphy, the assistant manager of Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, has played an important role in the progression of the equestrian sport and the International Hunter Derbies. “I think it’s nice to see the unity of our industry take form. The World Games 2010 Foundation really cares for the progression of all equestrian sports in America. In the many meetings I’ve had with them, they stay very passionate about what they do, and I have learned a lot from creating a relationship with people like Holly and Maggie.”

Murphy continued, “The International Hunter Derbies are a perfect example of people in an industry taking a concept and working together to achieve a goal. The World Equestrian Games is now an entity in our American horse industry. I think support is coming from both sides of the bridge. The World Equestrian Games are supporting the future of our sport in America, and our hunter/jumper industry should support them. When we all work together that is the point where we can write our own pages in history.”