The Emerson Burr Horsemanship Fund was created in 2002 by friends and family of the late Emerson Burr to promote and perpetuate proper horsemanship in equestrian youth. Emerson Burr served the horse industry tirelessly as he balanced the acts of leading young pony riders to victories and serving as Chairman Emeritus of the USA Equestrian Hunter/Jumper Pony Committee. Emerson won countless honors throughout the years including the 1998 AHSA Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Emerson Burr Horsemanship Grant is awarded at the Zone and National level. Each winner at the zone level will receive a $100 grant to be used towards educational or equestrian related expenses. Each Emerson Burr winner during Pony Finals will receive a $500 grant to be used towards educational related expenses. To recieve the grant, winners are asked to submit their Emerson Burr Grant Form by November 15, 2023.
Junior riders competing in pony classes are eligible to participate in this program. Participants are divided into four age groups: 8 and under, 9-11, 12- 14, and 15-17. Each participant will take a short, written multiple choice test on horsemanship, which contains no more than 20 questions. At the Zone level, individuals will be awarded the grant based on the results of the exam and their response to a possible short essay question. The USEF Pony Finals however, will host the National test, which is two parts comprised of a multiple choice test and a hands on test. The four individuals in each age group which score the highest on the written test move on to the hands-on horsemanship test. The hands-on portion consists of a series of questions in which the participant is asked to demonstrate various skills and knowledge ranging from how to brush a horse to deciphering signs of colic. After the hands-on test, a winner will be chosen from each age group based on his/her horsemanship skills and knowledge.
Zone Testing Opportunities
Zone 1: Fieldstone Show Park June Week 2 (June 19-23, 2024); Halifax, MA www.fieldstoneshowpark.com
Zone 2: Blue Rock (May 15-19, 2024); Littlestown, PA www.swanlakestables.com
Zone 3: TBD
Zone 4: Aiken Spring Classic Finale (April 24-28, 2024); Aiken, SC www.psjshows.com
Zone 5: Split Rock Hunter Jumper Classic II (June 11-16, 2024); Lexington, KY https://splitrockjumpingtour.com/
Zone 6: TBD
Zone 7: St. Louis National Charity Show (September 11-15, 2024); St. Louis, MO www.stlhorseshow.com
Zone 8: Autumn in the Rockies I (September 4-8, 2024); Parker, CO www.langershows.com
Zone 9: The Oregon Summer Show (August 21-25, 2024); Wilsonville, OR www.teamnwequestriansports.com/
Zone 10: Blenheim June Classic III (June 26-30, 2024); San Juan Capistrano, CA www.theplacetojump.com
National
Emerson Burr Horsemanship Grant sponsored by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
USEF Pony Finals; August 6 – 11, 2024 – Lexington, KY www.ponyfinals.org
Located under Rolex Tower: Tuesday - Thursday 10am - 3pm
Contact
Ashleigh Russo
[email protected]
859-225-6993