United States Eventing Association

A Small But Mighty Field of Youngsters Kicks Off The Dutta Corp. USEA YEH West Coast Championships

Paso Robles, Calif.—Oct. 25—The sun was shining, and the young horses came to impress on day 1 of The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) West Coast Championships at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California. Five 4-year-olds and 13 5-year-olds were presented to judges Sally Ike in the dressage ring and Christian Schact in conformation to cap off a short but sweet start to the week.

In the 4-year-old championship, it's Mickayla Howard’s Dutch Warmblood gelding Petar D (Qatar Ter Saleghem x Ereda M) who will hold the overnight lead going into the jumping and galloping phase tomorrow. Petar D is ridden by Bec Braitling and bred by F. Dankelman.

Bonner Carpenter’s, Only-Else (Idrigill x Kapry-Else), an Irish Sport Horse mare bred by H.J. Kloosterboer, was piloted by Kaylawna Smith-Cook to the top score in the 5-year-old championship. The mare received the highest score of the day in both the dressage and conformation phases, ensuring that she will be one to watch in the final phase tomorrow.

The competition will kick back off tomorrow, Saturday, October 26 at 9:30 a.m. PT in the South Pipe Ring with the 4-year-olds and proceed to the 5-year-old division at 10:30 a.m. Check back on USEventing.com tomorrow to see who will be crowned the champions of the West!

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• Jumping Course on CrossCountry App
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• YEH Homepage
• Twin Rivers Website
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About the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Program

The Young Event Horse (YEH) Program was first established in 2004 as an eventing talent search. Much like similar programs in Europe, the YEH program was designed to identify young horses aged four- and five-years-old, that possess the talent and disposition to, with proper training, excel at the uppermost levels of the sport. The ultimate goal of the program is to distinguish horses with the potential to compete at the four- and five-star levels, but many fine horses that excel at the lower levels are also showcased by the program.

The YEH program provides an opportunity for breeders and owners to exhibit the potential of their young horses while encouraging the breeding and development of top event horses for the future. The program rewards horses who are educated and prepared in a correct and progressive manner. At qualifying events, youngsters complete a dressage test and a jumping/galloping/general impression phase. At Championships, young horses are also evaluated on their conformation in addition to the dressage test and jumping/galloping/general impression phase. Click here to learn more about the Young Event Horse Program.

The USEA would like to thank ARMA, Bates Saddles, HorseWeek, The Jockey Club, Kerrits, Parker Equine Insurance, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartPak, and Standlee for sponsoring the Young Event Horse Program. Additionally, the USEA would like to thank The Dutta Corp., Title Sponsor of the Young Event Horse Championships.

About The Holekamp/Turner Grant

Founded in 2015 by Timothy and Cheryl Holekamp of New Spring Farm and Christine and T.J. Turner of Indian Creek Farm, the Holekamp/Turner Grant provides a USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championship competitor with the opportunity to represent the United States at the FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships in the 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L Championship at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d’Angers, France. With the sole purpose of paving a clear pathway for U.S. team horses to progress in the sport of eventing, recipients who are North American-bred will be awarded the full cash grant of $17,500, while imported horses are awarded $8,000. Additionally, The Dutta Corp. offers a prize to the Holekamp/Turner Grant recipient, consisting of a round trip flight from the Eastern United States to Europe.