The NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship was established in 1933 as the first major equitation final in the United States. Created by Alfred B. Maclay—an experienced horseman, military officer, and former president of both the National Horse Show and the American Horse Shows Association—the class was designed to promote effective, correct riding on the flat and over fences. Today, the Maclay remains one of the most influential junior competitions in the country. Each year, hundreds of riders compete in Maclay classes at USEF-sanctioned shows to qualify for Regional Championships and ultimately the NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship at the National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky. The NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship is held annually on the first Sunday in November and includes an initial round over fences, a flat phase, a second round over fences, and further testing if required, maintaining the original intent of evaluating overall horsemanship.
