United States Eventing Association

A Leopard Colored Knabstrupper Takes Home FEH West Coast Champion Title

A total field of 29 future event horses came together today for the 2016 USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) West Coast Championships, presented by Priefert. With eleven 3-year-olds, seven 2-year-olds and eleven yearlings, this was the largest FEH West Coast Championship the program has seen in history.

In FEH classes, horses are judged on both their conformation and the quality and correctness of their gaits. Upon entering the arena, their handlers are asked to stand the horses up for inspection to allow the judge to analyze the strengths and weaknesses in their conformation. Then, they are asked to walk a 15-meter triangle, and then trot a 30-meter triangle. Finally, they are asked to stand up one last time for the judge to make their final observations.

While the yearlings and 2-year-old Champions are named after their in-hand divisions, the 3-year-old overall Champion was determined after completing the in-hand class, combined with the score of their free-jump class in the Priefert jump chute. 3-year-olds were asked to show their canter and then have 4-6 attempts through the jump chute. The 3-year-olds were judged in three equal parts during the free-jumping division: The Canter, the Free-Jumping Technique, and the Free-Jumping Ability/Scope.

Today’s Championship was judged by FEH/YEH Committee Advisor, upper level Eventer and Grand Prix show jump rider, and ICP faculty member Robin Walker, accompanied by Olympian and USEA Board of Governors member, Phyllis Dawson. In addition to the accomplished judges, young horse expert Willy Arts and his team served as handlers and jump chute experts as they guided each 3-year-old through the jump chute division.

“Today ran exceptionally smoothly,” stated judge Robin Walker. “Having Willy Arts and his team in the jump chute was invaluable, and today was certainly a step in the right direction.” Phyllis Dawson added that, “this was the first time I’ve seen the jump chute, and I thought that was a super addition to the program. You have to see a young horse canter and jump in order to properly evaluate them for upper level eventing potential, and this division made the competition complete.”

Overall Yearling Champion, Hallelujah DF, presented by Earl McFall. Captured Moment Photo.

The day began with the Yearling class, first judging the fillies and pinning the top 6, then judging the colt division, pinning those, and then the top four overall yearlings were awarded. The yearling colt Champion was Dondero, an Oldenburg Stallion owned by Laura D. Jaeger-Seitz. The yearling filly Champion, as well as the Yearling Overall Champion was Hellelujah DF, owned by Cheron Laboissonniere. The Holsteiner was bred by Dragonfire Farm and is by Mighty Magic and out of Columbia BF.

The 2-year-old colt Champion was Michelle Motyl’s Oldenburg stallion Lando, who is sired by Landkonig and out of Valentine MS. The filly Champion, who was also the 2-Year-Old Overall Champion was Marta Petrenko’s Oldenburg Lady Elegance. Like the two-year-old colt champion, the filly is also sired by Landkonig, but her dam is Ultimate Elegance, a holsteiner mare. Both the 2-year-old colt Champion and the 2-year-old filly/overall Champions were bred by Lisa Dunckley.

Two-Year-Old Overall Champion, Lady Elegance. Captured Moment Photo.

The 3-year-old colts and fillies were not pinned until after completing both the in-hand division around the triangle, as well as the performing in the free-jumping division.

The jump chute competition features a grid made of three obstacles. There is a distance of 9’-12’ between a ground pole and the first obstacle (usually a cross rail), 18’-22.5” between the first and second obstacle (usually a vertical), and 19’-25’ between the second and the last obstacle (usually an oxer). The maximum height of the first fence is 2’7”, the second is 2’9” and the last fence may only build to 3’ in front, 3’6” in back and 4’ in width. Each horse is allowed to jump through the chute 4-6 times, gradually building up to maximum height, if feasible for each horse.

Three-Year-Old Filly Champion and Thoroughbred Incentive Program winner, MVP Madbum. Captured Moment Photo.

After the cumulative scores were added up, the 3-year-old filly Champion was Madison Temkin’s Thoroughbred, MVP Madbum. She is by Papa Clem, and out of Dancing Stripes. In the 3-year-old class, a gelding took home the Overall Champion title, as Leslie Asbe’s Knabstrupper came out on top both in hand and through the jump chute. The top-class leopard colored gelding with fancy movement is by Colorado Skrodstrup and out of a TB mare, Djinn Chaser.

Owner and handler Leslie Asbe was beside herself about the win, and was choking back tears of joy as she explained that “my favorite part about today was that not only did he do so incredibly well, but I get to go home with him – it’s just an added bonus that he and I got ribbons.” Asbe and her team have been practicing for this Championship on the ground and in-hand, and Asbe stated that they did some jump chute practice a couple weeks ago and then let him rest. “We don’t try to push him very much, but he’s so talented and so sweet that we’ve been trying to do fun and new things with him. My trainer Nicole taught me how to ride him with nothing but a neck strap, and he’s just been so good. I love this horse. I’m extremely thrilled with him and he’s just an awesome horse,” said Asbe emotionally.

The 2016 USEA FEH West Coast Champion, See Spot Fly, ended on a cumulative score of an 80.4. Captured Moment Photo.

The 3-year-old Reserve Champion was an extremely talented Trakehner gelding owned and bred by Susan Darling-Mahoney, named BestKeptSecret. Natalie Rooney showed up to present the gelding and it was clear she had done her homework when the gelding was calm, collected, and not only well mannered in the triangle in-hand division, but also jumped through the jump chute like a first-rate professional. BestKeptSecret ended the day on the cumulative score of a 77 and earned the title of 2016 USEA FEH West Coast Reserve Champion.

Susan Darling-Mahoney's BestKeptSecret through the jump chute. Captured Moment Photo.

Judge Phyllis Dawson, who has been judging FEH divisions since the inception of the program, stated that she thought the quality of the young horses has vastly improved since she’s been involved with the program. Robin Walker agreed and went on to say, “I’m happy that we’re getting more support in the program and starting to see the number rise as well as the quality improve. However, the quality still needs to improve further, and we need to start seeing more horses show up with [TB] blood. If we’re evaluating horses for upper level eventing potential, we need to start having that conversation more, and encourage our breeders to breed with more blood.” Dawson added that “we need to make sure we’re breeding horses for cross-country too, not just for dressage.”

Both judges were extremely happy with the FEH West Coast Championship, and they’ll head east to judge the FEH Championship at Carolyn Mackintosh’s Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland on October 6^th. Loch Moy Farm will be offering a last minute qualifier on October 5^th, as well as a jump chute clinic opportunity to practice before the Championship.

The USEA would like to thank all the breeders, owners, handlers and competitors that showed up today, as well as our highly-esteemed judges Robin Walker and Phyllis Dawson. A special thank you goes out to Willy Arts and his team for ensuring a safe and seemingly smooth process in the Priefert jump chute at the West Coast Championship today. The USEA would also like to extend gratitude to Andrea Baxter and her family for hosting the FEH West Coast Championship at their own Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California.

The FEH Series and Championships would not be possible without the amazing sponsors. Thank you to presenting sponsor Priefert for providing a jump chute structure for the West Coast, which was custom built for the FEH program with safety being the main priority in the design. The custom structure is composed of 12-foot long mesh wire panels, each standing 7-feet tall. The USEA would also like to thank the other FEH Series and Championship Sponsors: SmartPak, Standlee Hay, Professional’s Choice, and Merck Animal Health.

For full results, click here.

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