United States Eventing Association

Joining USEA Official Podcast host Nicole Brown this week is five-star rider Lauren Nicholson (née Kieffer) and legendary groom and USEA President Max Corcoran for an episode all about producing young horses and how to can give them the best possible start to their career.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) has secured a new venue for The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast Championships for 2020. After the Fair Hill Organizing Committee announced that the inaugural Maryland Five-Star at Fair Hill would be postponed until 2021, the USEA began accepting expressions of interest to host this year’s East Coast Championships.

From the moment they hit the ground to the day they take their first steps under saddle, everything you do with your young horse is setting them up for success in their future career. Sue Clarke, Stable Manager at Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Stonehall Farm in The Plains, Virginia, is part of a team that includes Lauren Nicholson (neé Kieffer), Kimmy Cecere, and David O’Connor that helps raise young horses from their very first steps on the ground to their first competitions and beyond.

In 2007, the fourth year of the USEA Young Event Horse Program (YEH), there were 15 qualifiers on the YEH calendar and the championships were held at a new location. Previously held at Moven Park in Leesburg, Virginia, the 2007 USEA YEH Championships were held in Wayne, Illinois at Lamplight Equestrian Center the day before the start of the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC).

“This horse is indicative of his breed code,” Chris Ryan first observed of this 5-year-old Oldenburg/Welsh cross gelding. “We had an excellent Welsh/Thoroughbred at the USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Championships last year – this individual lacks that kind of refinement.”

In a recent public statement made by the La Mondial du Lion Organizing Committee, they confirmed their intent to host the FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses this year on October 15-18, 2020 in Le Lion d ’Angers, France. With events starting back up and the Championships set on the calendar, the race to Le Lion is still on!

“This is a lovely quality sort showing very good Thoroughbred refinement,” observed Chris Ryan of this 18-month old Irish Sport Horse/Thoroughbred gelding. “He is showing a good stance, though the off-hind could be slightly forward. It cannot be overstated that a photograph well taken like this helps hugely in the promotion of the horse."

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is now accepting expressions of interest to host The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast Championships in 2020. The Fair Hill Organizing Committee (FHOC) announced that the inaugural Maryland Five-Star at Fair Hill will be postponed until 2021, which will now also impact the YEH Championships. While the FHOC is eager to continue to host The Dutta Corp. USEA YEH Championships in 2021, the USEA is now in need of a 2020 venue for the East Coast.

Since 2015, the Holekamp/Turner Grant has awarded significant funds each year that enable a USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) graduate the opportunity to represent the United States in the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L at Mondial du Lion in France. This year, the Championships will be held on October 15-18, 2020 in Le Lion d ’Angers, France.

“This horse lacks the refinement you’d generally see in the upper level event horse,” Chris Ryan first observed of this 5-year-old Morgan mare. “This is more of what I’d consider a pleasure type. Remember, conformation does not rely on breed type but is a straight study of physique.”