2011 USHJA MEMBER SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE COMPETITORS

94% of members compete and most compete more than 5 times a year 89% compete in hunter competition 55% compete in jumper competition

MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED IN OTHER EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES

Most are involved in other equestrian disciplines with more than half enjoying trail riding. One in five also do dressage and about 10% fox hunt or event

One third have their families also involved with horses

MEMBERS VALUE USHJA BEYOND ITS ROLE IN COMPETITION

More than half of members would definitely belong to USHJA even if it were not necessary for competing

After competition participation in the community is the most important reason for

membership in USHJA for more than half of the members

AWARDS AND EDUCATION ARESEEN AS SOMEWHAT LESS IMPORTANT THAN BELONGING TO THE

COMMUNITY

Educational programs are most important for 19% of members, but are ranked higher by lower level riders

Influencing their sport was more important to jumpers than to hunters, but still less important than community

AMONG AWARDS, ZONE HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS HAS HIGH AWARENESS

85% of members are aware of the Zone HOTY awards; satisfaction is very high and 60% see the program as relevant to them – the only award program seen as relevant by more than half of members

AWARENESS OF USHJA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS VARIES WIDELY

More than 80% of members are aware of Clinics, Trainers’ (certification, symposium) and Emerging Athletes programs and satisfaction is high

AWARENESS Resources

Highest awareness is for the Trainers’ Directory followed by the Resource Guide and Online Classifieds

Competitions Awareness is highest for the

International Hunter Derby (82%), followed by National Hunter

Classic (73%) and WCHR (71%) Satisfaction is high for all

programs

MEMBERS FIND USHJA COMMUNICATIONS USEFUL

In Stride and the USHJA web site were viewed as most useful, with 87% rating In Stride very or somewhat useful. More than 40% rated each very useful.

The bi-weekly e-news was rated very or somewhat useful by 76% with 33% considering it very useful

Members under 24 found the web site and Facebook page more useful than older members, but still considered In Stride the most useful.

MOST MEMBERS STARTED RIDING AS CHILDREN AND WERE MOST LIKELY TO START WITH THEIR

FAMILY, FRIENDS OR NEIGHBORS One third of members became involved

with horses through their family; for members over 65, it was almost half

Only 37% of respondents have childrenunder 18 at home and less than half of

those children ride horses

NEXT STEPS FROM KEY FINDINGS

Better define what members mean by “community”

Identify ways to foster their sense of community and to communicate it to potential members

Identify barriers to youth participation and ways to overcome them

NEXT STEPS FROM KEY FINDINGS

Determine which resources are most valuable to members and improve communication of what’s available

Identify ways to increase the awareness of both educational programs and awards programs and better communicate relevance to the members

Expand affiliates programs to attract more affiliate members to USHJA membership