United States Eventing Association

Area IV to Host Their First YEH/FEH/NEH Qualifier at Woodloch Stable in Hugo, MN

The USEA offers many programs to help the development of upcoming event horses such as the Future Event Horse (FEH) program which focuses on yearlings, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds, the Young Event Horse (YEH) program which serves as an eventing talent search for 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds under saddle, and the New Event Horse program which is an adaption of the YEH program that was designed to serve as an introduction of the sport of eventing for horse and rider that provides a stepping stone to recognized eventing. For the first time ever, USEA Area IV will be hosting a competition that features all three of these programs at Woodloch Stable in Hugo, Minnesota on July 9, 2022.

Divisions being offered include both the YEH 4- and 5-year-old divisions, the FEH Yearling, 2-year-old, 3-year-old, and 4-year-old divisions, and the NEH 2’-2’3” division. Entries open on May 24 and close on June 21, 2022. You can access the USEA Omnibus listing for the Woodloch Stable Young Event Horse Qualifier here. Beth Wheeler will serve as the judge for the YEH and NEH classes with Lori Hoos serving as judge for the FEH classes. Robin Walker will be serving as Course Designer.

Woodloch Stable hosts several clinics throughout the year with renowned horsemen and has offered unrecognized schooling shows of various disciplines for many years. The addition of their new USEA YEH/FEH/NEH Qualifier is an exciting opportunity to bring these programs into Area IV for the first time.

"After recently purchasing a 2-year-old and then seeing an editorial showcasing the Future Event Horse Championship in California through USEA, I made it my mission to bring the Young Event Horse, Future Event Horse, and New Event Horse programs to Area IV!" shared Organizer Vanessa Stroh. "The endeavor has been a team effort and everyone is very excited to host our area’s first YEH/FEH/NEH Qualifier this summer! I’m forever grateful to our gracious host, the Rambergs & Woodloch Stable, Inc. for making it all possible."

The facility at Woodloch features 20 permanent day stalls as well as 16 overnight temporary stalls, a 40x80 regulation dressage arena with soft sand and fiber footing by MasterSurfaces, and cross-country jumps from pre-Starter through Preliminary level across rolling terrain.

About the USEA Young Event Horse 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, 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 Bates Saddles, SmartPak, Standlee Premium Products, Parker Equine Insurance, Capital Square, Kerrits, and The Jockey Club for sponsoring the Young Event Horse Program. Additionally, the USEA would like to thank The Dutta Corp., Title Sponsor of the Young Event Horse Championship

About the USEA Future Event Horse Program
The USEA introduced the Future Event Horse Program in 2007 in response to the popularity of the already established USEA Young Event Horse Program. Where the YEH program assesses 4- and 5-year-old prospective event horses based on their performance, the FEH program evaluates yearlings, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds for their potential for the sport based on conformation and type. Yearlings, 2-year-olds, and 3-year-olds are presented in-hand while 4-year-olds are presented under saddle at the walk, trot, and canter before being stripped of their tack and evaluated on their conformation. Divisions are separated by year and gender. At the Championships, 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds are also required to demonstrate their potential over fences in an additional free-jump division. Click here to learn more about the Future Event Horse Program.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, Parker Equine Insurance, SmartPak, Standlee Premium Products, Saratoga Horseworks, Capital Square, Kerrits, and The Jockey Club for sponsoring the Future Event Horse Program.

About the USEA New Event Horse Program

The USEA New Event Horse (NEH) Series classes are designed to be an introduction to the sport of eventing for horse and rider. Adapted from the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Program, the NEH classes include a dressage phase and a jumping test and are intended to assess a horse’s capability for eventing and provide a stepping stone to recognized eventing. New Event Horse classes focus on education and preparation to begin eventing in a correct and progressive manner. The ultimate goal of the New Event Horse Series is to choose the horse that possesses the talent and mindset who, with proper training, would be the horse most likely to become a competent, safe, and fun adult amateur, junior, or young rider horse at the Preliminary level and below. Click here to learn more about the USEA New Event Horse Program.