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The MZ Farms/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program (EAP) is a development initiative run by the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association to help up-and-coming riders build both their riding skills and their horsemanship knowledge. Created in 2009, the program has become a launching pad for many riders who've gone on to succeed in major equitation and jumper finals, including the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, the ASPCA Maclay, and USEF Prix des States, among others. 

The program is open to junior, amateur, and professional members ages 12 and older as of December 1 of the current competition year, with sections offered at 0.90-meter and 1.0-meter fence heights. To apply, riders must meet eligibility requirements, submit an application and fee, gather recommendation forms, and pass a Horsemanship Quiz Challenge with a score of at least 80%. 

Riders accepted into the program begin with a five-day Regional Training Session, where they work directly with top riding clinicians and stable managers on flatwork, gymnastics, related distances, course work, and a full stable-management curriculum covering grooming, horsemanship, and barn management. Participants bring and care for their own horses throughout the session. 
From there, 16 riders are selected to advance to the National Training Session, chosen based on their performance and potential during the regional sessions, with eligibility limited to members ages 12 to 25. A select group of standout non-riders may also be invited to attend as stable managers. The national session is a multi-day intensive held with top clinicians — for 2026, that's Joe Fargis for riding and Colleen Reed for stable management, hosted at Midway University in Kentucky. 
Financial support is also part of the program: the USHJA Foundation awards up to $6,000 total in grants to help offset costs for EAP participants, with individual grants capped at $500. 

EAP combines hands-on riding instruction with serious horsemanship education, aiming to produce well-rounded equestrians — not just skilled riders, but knowledgeable horsemen and women who understand every aspect of caring for their horses.
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The USHJA Zone Jumper Championships are a series of regional team and individual competitions for Junior and Amateur jumper riders, held across the USHJA's geographic zones each summer. There are actually a few related programs under this umbrella, organized by fence height.
The 1.00/1.05m Junior/Amateur Zone Jumper Championships give riders a competitive team experience and a chance to earn Zone Horse of the Year points in their respective sections, with championships held by zone consisting of both team and individual competition. To qualify, riders submit an application and must accumulate at least 20 points in their section at USEF-licensed competitions during the qualifying period. 
At the higher end, the Markel/USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships serve Junior and Amateur Jumper riders in the 1.10/1.15m and 1.20/1.25m divisions, while the related Platinum Jumper Championships cover even higher sections. Competitors in these championships are considered USHJA Emerging Jumper Riders for that year and have the opportunity to earn the title of USHJA Gold Star Emerging Jumper Rider, along with a spot at a USHJA Gold Star Clinic. 
For 2026, the championships are organized regionally — Northeast (Zones 1-2), South (Zones 3, 4, 7), North Central (Zones 5-6), and West (Zones 8-10) — each hosted at a different venue, with riders from Zones 11 and 12 free to choose whichever championship location they'd like to attend. New this year, jump-offs will be used to break ties for Individual and Team Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. 

To enter, riders must submit an application with a $75 non-refundable fee and earn at least 20 qualifying points in their section at USEF-licensed shows before their zone's deadline. Submitting an application doesn't commit a rider to attend, but it does let their points count toward qualification. Individual medalists also earn a notable perk: an invitation to a USHJA Gold Star Clinic of their choice within two years, offering four days of mounted and unmounted instruction from leading clinicians. 
Altogether, the Zone Jumper Championships give developing jumper riders a structured path toward team competition experience, individual recognition, and continued mentorship — bridging the gap between regular show circuit competition and higher-performance opportunities.
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail
Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with researcher Janet Jones, Ph.D. about her new book, A Horse's World: A Neuroscientist's Journey Into the Equine Mind.  Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her Website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your Ride 
Guest:  Welcome to the creative home of Janet Jones' books including her latest effort, A Horse's World: A Neuroscientist's Journey Into the Equine Mind, and the international bestseller Horse Brain, Human Brain: The Neuroscience of Horsemanship. With her background as neuroscientist, horse trainer, and writer, Janet is uniquely positioned to apply brain function to the training of horses and riders. Through experience with about a thousand horses, she has developed training techniques that work with--instead of against--equine brains. In 2014, she took this knowledge public and now teaches brain-based horsemanship all over the world, in person, online, and in writing.

Janet's newest book, A Horse's World, introduces the general public to these magnificent prey animals through the real-life narrative of her horse True North, as he progressed from a naïve colt to an adult horse who understands human expectations. Along the way, it offers new knowledge to scientists, equine professionals, and curious general readers about how horses think, feel, learn, interact, and connect with humans. In proposal form, A Horse's World became the object of a bidding war among eight top publishing houses in New York. 
All horsemanship rests on mutual interaction between horse and human brains. By understanding how our horses’ brains work, and how their brains differ from ours, we can 
ride and handle horses more safely
train more effectively
improve performance in all equine disciplines
protect our animals’ comfort and welfare
encourage mutual trust between prey and predator species
develop brain-to-brain communication between species, and
create stronger horse-and-human teams.
All horses and humans have brains and must use them regardless of discipline. For that reason, brain-based horsemanship is as relevant to Western riders as English, as important to headers and heelers or working draft breeds as to dressage champions, racehorses, Grand Prix jumpers, and backyard pasture ornaments. Anyone who works with horses should learn how equine and human brains work in tandem.
Janet Jones earned her Ph.D. in cognitive science from UCLA and taught the neuroscience of perception, language, memory, and thought for 23 years. She  trained horses at a large stable early in her career, and later ran a successful horse training business of her own. She has schooled hundreds of green or difficult horses, rides many breeds and disciplines, and has competed in hunter, jumper, halter, western riding, and reining. She uses the basic principles of dressage in all horse sports. Janet developed brain-based horsemanship and offers it to horse enthusiasts in Horse Brain, Human Brain. In her latest book, A Horse's World: A Neuroscientist's Journey Into the Equine Mind, she broadens her perspective to invite the general public to learn why some of us love horses so much.
Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
Sponsors: Zoetis, Sentinel, Chewy and Mojo Joint
 Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail
In this week’s Plaidchat, we welcome guests from two unique corners of the horse world, plus a Trainer Tuesday segment with Eric Chapman.
First, Nancy Thrower joins us to discuss the Black Stallion Reading Project, a literacy initiative bringing horses and reading together for thousands of children in Marion County, Florida. Nancy is a lifelong horsewoman and advocate for youth engagement through equestrian education. Through the Black Stallion Reading Project and the Ocala Horse Alliance, students receive copies of The Black Stallion, participate in horse-centered educational experiences, and are introduced to the many opportunities within the equine industry. We also discuss The Plaid Horse’s recent donation of 4,000 copies of Show Strides: To Save a Stable to Marion County fourth graders, along with complete Show Strides book series donations to local school libraries.
Next, Rachel Medbery joins us to discuss the USEA Foundation’s TEAPRO grant program. Rachel is an event rider and educator who was selected as one of the inaugural TEAPRO grant recipients, a program designed to support educational opportunities and horsemanship development for riders pursuing long-format eventing goals.
Then in Trainer Tuesday, Eric Chapman joins us to discuss helping a rider who twists in the saddle, sharing exercises and strategies to improve rider balance, straightness, and effectiveness.
Listen in for conversations about literacy, education, horsemanship, and becoming a better horseperson both in and out of the saddle.
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail
Recorded live at the Savannah College of Art and Design
Piper is joined by National Horse Show Hall of Fame Horsemen Archie Cox for a live discussion with the 2026 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association national champions Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in Savannah, Georgia. 
Horses have always loomed large in Archie Cox's life. As a junior rider on the East Coast, he was already competing on the national level — in 1985, he became the first male rider in ten years to win the United States Equestrian Team Gold Medal, and earned ribbons at both the AHSA Medal and ASPCA Maclay Finals. In the spring of 1992, Archie moved to California, where he worked for several years with top trainer Karen Healey before opening his own business, Brookway Stables, in December 2000 — named after his grandparents' farm in Maine — at Middle Ranch in Lakeview Terrace. 

As a trainer, Archie has coached over 40 students to national championships and has sat on the board of directors of several different national shows. In the judge's box, he holds his Large R Hunter and Equitation cards and notably judged the 2021 ASPCA Maclay Finals. 
In this conversation, Archie and Piper explore what it means to build a career in this sport from the ground up, the responsibility trainers carry in shaping young riders, what classic horsemanship looks like in today's show ring, and why programs like SCAD's matter for the future of the equestrian industry. SCAD's equestrian program is set on the 180-acre Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center in Hardeeville, South Carolina, constructed expressly to support SCAD's national-caliber program, and the energy of that world-class environment comes through in every moment of this conversation. 
Whether you're a junior rider dreaming of Finals, a student considering your future in the horse world, or a longtime professional reflecting on the craft, this episode has something for you.
The Plaidcast is hosted by Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse Magazine.
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail
Tina Silva is the founder of Equestrian Safety Group and Executive Director of Devil Dog Ranch. A former Lieutenant in the fire service, she brings real-world emergency response expertise to equestrian safety education. With a background spanning multiple disciplines, farm management, and coaching vaulters and riders, Tina's mission is to make the equestrian world safer for horses and riders at every level. 
Elizabeth Rinehart was recently named Best Child Rider at the prestigious Devon Horse Show. "Lizzie" grew up riding practically from the time she could walk, and she comes from a true horse family. Her parents, Richard and Catherine Rinehart, own Rinehart Farms, which means Elizabeth has had horses in her blood her entire life.
Piper's mission is to educate young equestrians in every facet of the industry and to empower young women in particular to find their voices and stories — and to share them. She has spent her entire career focusing on education through various channels, including The Plaidcast, North America's most listened-to horse show podcast; co-authoring the Show Strides book series; and by providing educational articles, grants, and experiential learning opportunities for riders of all ages and levels. 
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!