About the UPHA

The United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA) was founded in 1968 by a group of professional horse trainers who recognized the need for an organization in which professional horsemen and horsewomen could unite to improve the horse show industry and define and clarify their professionalism within the industry.

From this small dedicated group, the UPHA has expanded to 18 regional chapters that comprise all 50 states and Canada. UPHA active membership is open to anyone who has been a bonifide professional horse trainer for a period of one year prior to application. The applicant must also have a sponsor who is a UPHA member. Associate memberships in UPHA is available to anyone who does not make their primary living from horses, but is still involved and interested in the horse industry. The predominant breeds represented by UPHA members are the American Saddlebred, the Morgan Horse, the Hackney Pony and the National Show Horse.

Since its inception, the UPHA's members have worked for certain goals that help not only the individual horse person, but also the industry as a whole. Specifically, the UPHA has worked to improve horse shows by advising on such concerns as class scheduling, lighting and show ring footing. Grooms and caretakers, the backbone of the industry, have also benefited from a great improvement of the facilities provided for them at horse shows through continuing efforts of the UPHA.

The UPHA has also succeeded in providing classes for young horses and pleasure horses, as well as expanded divisions for ladies, amateurs and juveniles. Hackney Roadster Pony divisions have been added to many shows as a direct result of UPHA intervention.

Two particular activities which the UPHA has incited are the UPHA Classics and the UPHA Challenge Cup classes. The UPHA Classics were developed to stimulate interest in young horses and to provide owners and trainers with an opportunity to receive substantial prize money. The UPHA Classics offer classes for three-year-olds and under American Saddlebreds and Morgans, and four-year-olds and under for Hackney Ponies.

The Classics are a program that has proven to directly contribute to the growth and prosperity of the show horse industry. As of the end of 1999, prize money awarded in all divisions at the qualifying and championship levels totals over 3.2 millions dollars.

The UPHA Challenge Cup, one of the most highly regarded equitation competitions in the country, is one program sponsored by the UPHA which encourages show ring participation by young riders. Riders who are 10 years of age or younger compete in the UPHA Walk/Trot Challenge Cup while older riders are divided into various age groups for UPHA Challenge Cup competition. There are also Challenge Cup classes open to riders mounted on Morgans and National Show Horses.

Qualifying classes are held on the local level with riders vying for a chance to compete in the National, Junior, Walk/Trot, Morgans, or National Show Horse championship at the years end. The top ten riders in the UPHA National Challenge Cup Championship are awarded the UPHA National Challenge Cup Scholarship. This scholarship is divided among the top ten finalists and is held in trust for them by the UPHA until the riders enter college.

Through the promotion of young horses and encouragement of young riders the UPHA hopes to advance the fine sports and business of showing horses.

Each year the UPHA holds an annual convention at which ideas and industry concerns are discussed and honors are bestowed on outstanding trainers, riders, horses and shows. There are annual awards for horseperson of the year, horses and ponies of the year, distinguished service awards and an outstanding individual is inducted into the UPHA Hall of Fame.

The United Professional Horsemen's Association continues to strive to uphold the standards established by the founding members over 30 years ago. Today, the UPHA is two separate organizations, the UPHA Members Organization and the UPHA Foundation, working together for the betterment of the horse show industry. The UPHA Membership Organization was established to provide many services for the benefit of the members and helps to sponsor the UPHA Classics Grand Championship each fall. The UPHA Foundation continues to be the charitable portion of the UPHA which supports not only the horse show industry, but other areas of the equine industry as well. The UPHA Foundation has placed scholarships in various university veterinary programs, has donated to funding of equine health research, makes annual contributions to numerous Riding for the Handicapped Programs, and raised over $100,000 for the United Cerebral Palsy Fund. The UPHA Foundation also supports the American Saddle Horse Museum, the American Morgan Horse Institute and Building Funds, the American Horse Council, as well as the National 4-H Council's horse programs.

The UPHA has given a united voice to the individual horse trainers and horse people that have developed the UPHA into the powerful lobby that it is today. In just a little over 30 years this group has created many concrete programs to realize the common goal of improvement within the industry while still striving to recognize the unique capabilities and talents of each member.