USEA Young Event Horse Program

Save the Date: YEH Symposium in Ocala, FL coming on Monday, February 17, 2025

Program Mission

The USEA Young Event Horse Program (YEH) is best described as an eventing talent search. YEH's first season as an official program of the USEA was in 2005. The program's goal is to identify young horses that possesses the talent and disposition that, with proper training, can excel in the uppermost levels of eventing. While the ultimate aim is to identify the future five-star horses, many fine event horses who will excel at the lower levels will also be showcased.

The Program gives owners and breeders the opportunity to showcase the potential of their four- and five-year-old horses while encouraging the breeding and development of top-level event horses for the future. Classes focus on education and preparation of the event horse in a correct and progressive manner. YEH Rules and Guidelines may be found here.

At qualifying events, horses are asked to complete two sections:

Dressage
Jumping Test/Gallop/General Impression

At Championships, horses are asked to complete three sections:

Dressage
Conformation/Type
Jumping Test/Gallop/General Impression

The USEA is now recognizing the nation's top 6-year-olds on a Preliminary leaderboard, and top 7-year-olds on an Intermediate leaderboard.

Requirements

Age: Horses are considered to be one year older on January 1 each year regardless of birth month. (Exception: Horses born in the Southern Hemisphere are considered to be one year older on August 1 regardless of their birth month. This new policy is being applied beginning in 2024)

4-year-old classes are for horses attaining four years of age in the current calendar year. 5-year-old classes are for horses attaining five years of age in the current calendar year.

At YEH Championships, horses born in the Southern Hemisphere will compete in the age category in which they qualified.

Membership: Membership in the USEA is required for both horse and rider.
Horse Registration: The USEA requires that all horses be registered with the USEA to participate in YEH classes. Registration will ensure that the horses' full pedigree and competition results will be maintained. Please provide a completed Horse Life Registration form to the USEA. If you have breed registry papers on your horse, send a photocopy along with the USEA HLR form. Thank you for your cooperation!

The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse Championships

East Coast Championships: Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in Elkton, MD on October 17-18, 2024

Stream the East Coast Championships Dressage here | Stream the East Coast Championships Jumping here

West Coast Championships: Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, CA on October 25-26, 2024

Qualifications: In 2024, on the East Coast, horses must earn one score of a 75% or higher at any YEH qualifier event to be eligible for the East Coast Championships. To be eligible for the West Coast Championships, horses must earn one score of a 70% or higher at any YEH qualifier event. On April 16, 2024 the Young Event Horse Committee officially requested for September 11, 2024 to be the final qualifying competition for the 2024 YEH East Coast Championship. That request was granted by the USEA Executive Committee and subsequently the USEA Board of Governors.

Age Verification Requirements for Both Championships:

Age verification must be submitted with entries. The following are suitable forms of age verification that must be received: Registration Papers, (or) Certificate of Pedigree, (or) passport issued by a breed or sport horse registry approved by the Federation, (or) horse identification documents issued by a breed or sport registry, approved by the Federation that states the registered name of the horse, the registry number of the horse and age. There will be no exceptions.

*For more information regarding the YEH Championships, please visit the YEH Championships webpage.