2011 USHJA Member Survey highlights

1. 2011 USHJA Member Survey highlights

2. 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 active competitors

3. 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 are involved in other equestrian activities

4. 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 Members value USHJA beyond its role in competition

5. 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 Awards and education areseen as somewhat less important than belonging to the community

6. 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 Among awards, Zone Horse of the Year Awards has high awareness

7. More than 80% of members are aware of Clinics, Trainers’ (certification, symposium) and Emerging Athletes programs and satisfaction is high Awareness of USHJA educational programs varies widely

8. 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 Awareness

9. 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. Members find USHJA communications useful

10. One third of members became involved with horses through their family; for members over 65, it was almost half Only 37% of respondents have children under 18 at home and less than half of thosechildren ride horses Most members started riding as children and were most likely to start with their family, friends or neighbors

11. 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

12. 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 Next Steps from Key Findings