United States Eventing Association

Bring on the Babies: 2022 USEA FEH Calendar and Format Updates

The USEA Future Event Horse Program (FEH) was introduced in 2007 to evaluate yearlings, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds for their suitability for the sport of eventing based on conformation and type. The FEH program also created a pipeline for horses to gain experience competing before attending USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) competitions.

Yearlings, 2-year-olds, and 3-year-olds have traditionally been evaluated in-hand while 4-year-olds are presented under saddle at qualifiers. Then at the USEA FEH Championships, the 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds have also been asked to canter and free-jump fences in a jump chute.

New this year, the FEH Committee proposed a format change to the 3-year-old division for the championships only. The USEA Board of Governors approved the format change for 2022, where 3-year-olds will not be presented in-hand around the triangle, but will instead be judged in-hand and at liberty in the jump chute. This means that the 3-year-olds will be stood in-hand for conformation and walking movements in the jump chute, and then will be let loose at liberty for trot and canter evaluation in a figure-eight pattern before jumping. This format change is for the Championships only, and 3-year-olds will continue to be judged in-hand in the triangle format for all qualifiers. Further explanations and documents outlining the changes will be available on the USEA website soon.

To qualify for the USEA FEH Championships, FEH horses must earn a minimum qualifying score of 72 percent at any qualifier to be eligible. Horses may qualify in any part of the country but may only compete in one Championship. The 4-year-old horses may also qualify for both the FEH and USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championships but may only choose one program Championship to compete in, as they may not compete in both the FEH and YEH Championships in the same year.

Ready to get your baby horses out? Mark your calendar with the below FEH qualifiers, and please note that this FEH calendar is subject to additions, as various organizers may add FEH classes throughout the competition year.

2022 USEA Future Event Horse Calendar

All three USEA FEH Championship venues also plan to host a last chance qualifier the day before their respective championships. These will be added to the calendar once they are fully registered by the organizers.

Don’t see an FEH event near you? Please contact your local USEA Horse Trial organizers to express interest in attending FEH classes and ask if they are willing to add them to their event.

For more information regarding the FEH Program, contact Kate Lokey at [email protected] or (703) 779-9897.

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 Western Forage, Saratoga Horseworks, and The Jockey Club for sponsoring the Future Event Horse Program.