United States Eventing Association

Audrea Dyer's Aiming for the YEH Championships on Homebred Thoroughbred At Close Range

At Close Range, known as "Ninja," is a 2020 Thoroughbred gelding by Saketini, bred and owned by me, Audrea Dyer. He is out of the G3-placed mare Bodacious Barb, a successful runner by Agnes Gold (JPN).

Barb was given to me by her owner/breeder Susan Stark; I had re-started a few of her horses off the track, including Barb's half-brother Brawne Brew. Brew was a huge, rangy horse with great movement and a good mind; that all came from his dam (Barb's mother) Fleeting Kiss. Barb isn't quite as good looking as her brother, but her athleticism was evident in her success on the track, earning black type and $130,000 and racing soundly until age 7. Agnes Gold was an unpopuar turf sire from the Sunday Silence line. I had a lot of faith in the female family (Fleeting Kiss by Kissin Kris; and second dam by Tri Jet, both excellent types for sport). I wanted another mare to support my Thoroughbred stallion Saketini, and Barb seemed like a good match for him.

Ninja is Barb's first foal, and he was easy to overlook as a baby. Very plain bay, a bit insecure, he was overshadowed that spring by my 2020 Saketini filly "Akita" who was a standout. Nonetheless, Ninja had all the right pieces, and at times I could see a glimpse of what he might grow up to be.

In 2021 I had plans to take Saketini to the Preliminary Three-Day at Midsouth Team Challenge (Lexington, Kentucky), but I found out the division was cancelled on opening day. Instead, I got a wild idea to take my yearlings to the Future Event Horse Central Championships in Texas. With a month to prepare, I did a lot of ponying and got Ninja and Akita into shape. I hauled them both to Tomball, Texas, they qualified the day before, and then entered in the Championship class. Akita was the highest placed filly, and Ninja won best colt and Champion Yearling with a score of 78.75 (even if he did try to lay down in front of the judges to scratch his braids out!).

I started Ninja under saddle at age 2, and I was really impressed with his natural balance. All my Saketini offspring have been very easy to start, and Ninja was no exception. We spent his first year under saddle mostly hacking out, riding a bit in the fields, and just an occasional few circles in the arena. In the middle of his 3-year-old year, the flatwork became a little more constructive.

I really wanted to aim for the Young Event Horse series at age 4, and specifically The U.S. Event Horse Futurity to promote U.S.-bred sport horses. As one of the very rare breeders of Thoroughbreds for sport, I feel it's especially important to promote purpose-bred Thoroughbreds and show off what my stallion can produce. I've proven them in the FEH division, and it's time to continue that success in their under-saddle career.

Knowing that the Florida season and our local qualifiers would be early over winter, I started Ninja over fences around October of 2023. We did little cross rails, tiny logs, and went to a couple low key hunter paces. He was silly and playful, but every so often gave a big effort and showed he had some talent, and jumping came easily to him. I wanted the chance to qualify early for YEH Championships, so we aimed for the first opportunity in January.

It was very early to ask that much of a 4-year-old, but I had been carefully preparing him since he was a yearling. The best part about the USEA Young Event Horse series is the judges want the young horses to succeed and have a positive experience; baby horse moments are tolerated (especially early in the year!), and the jumps were set to be inviting.

Ninja was still quite impressed with them and gave a really good showing. I got a bit lost and cantered right past one of the cross-country fences fences, but despite earning a 0 score for that fence, Ninja had the highest jumping score overall and won his class, qualifying for the YEH championship.

The best part about qualifying so early is that I can let him dictate his own pace the rest of the season. He got a nice break after January, and when we started back up I was in no rush. We've done a good bit of cross-country schooling and some local unrecognized events to give him more competition experience. It's a relief not having to chase qualifiers or haul out of state to compete. I am aware that he needs more exposure, as the atmosphere at Fair Hill can't be replicated at schooling shows. Maybe we will hang out in the warmup at the World Equestrian Center-Ocala or even ship in to some local western events just to see new places.

Recently we did a local eventing derby that was the same schedule as the YEH events—a dressage test followed by a combined show jumping and cross-country round. It was great practice for Ninja, who put in his best dressage score to date (29.4 at Novice).

Our judge was Lori Hoos, who happened to be his FEH Championship judge back in 2021. This was her first time seeing him since then, and though she didn't immediately recognize him, he still gave her a great impression. Judging young horses, especially yearlings, is hard, but I think she saw some positive things in Ninja back then that he's now showing as an adult.

Our sport used to be much more Thoroughbred-centered, but the pendulum has swung almost entirely in favor of purpose-bred warmbloods. And I agree that it is not easy, nor as successful, to start with an off-track horse and develop it into an upper-level event competitor. However, as someone who works with a lot of young horses of various purpose breeding, I have come to increasingly value the work ethic, heart, and natural desire to go forward that you find in a quality Thoroughbred.

My breeding program is small, but I aim to create horses that I would like to ride: full Thoroughbreds with intelligence, balance, jump, and movement to be competitive in sport. I start them all myself and bring them along sensibly. I ride a lot of horses for other people—nice horses—but there's nothing like coming home and swinging a leg over my own homebreds. Time will tell if they will make it to the top of the sport, but I'll enjoy the ride along the way.

Ninja is carrying the flag for sport-bred Thoroughbreds, my breeding program, my training program, and representing his sire Saketini. Ninja shows up to work with a smile every day and an occasional playful squeal. I was breeding for an upper-level horse: smart, balanced, athletic, and fun, who loves to gallop and jump, and so far, he's exceeding all my expectations.

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, Schneiders Saddlery, HorseWeek, Kerrits, Parker Equine Insurance, SmartPak, Standlee, 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 Championships.