United States Eventing Association

Cedar Ridge Farm Hosts Another Successful USEA YEH, NEH and FEH Competition

With the luck of a lovely cool summer morning in Georgia, Cedar Ridge Farm in Athens hosted its seventh annual USEA Young Event Horse (YEH), Future Event Horse (FEH) and New Event Horse (NEH) show series.

As in the past, numerous sponsors generously donated to a $2,500 purse so each recognized level had the chance at $500 per division of prize money.

Saturday morning 20 FEH participants went before judge Lori Hoos of Franklin, Tenn. All were well presented and well shown, with only a few fractious yearlings. Anke Boersma professional dressage trainer and handler was present to assist with many.

The Yearling division was won by De Firenze, owned and bred by Jean Corbett Fowler, Covington, Ga. Jean had four entries this year, and has participated over many years as the show has grown. In fact, Jean bred and owns the top yearling for last year as well as this year, which are full brothers out of Miss Florence, by Don de Marco. The 2-year-old division was won by last year’s third place Yearling, Berceuse, owned by Laura Carter and her Aunt, Delight Willing of Washington.

There were eight in the 3-year-old division and last year’s 2-year-old winner took home the top place this year. Covert Affair, owned and bred by Jessica Cardot of Hull, Ga. impressed a different judge this year and has now won each of his FEH years in competition. We look forward to his 4-year-old YEH entry!

The NEH was held immediately following the FEH and a great group of five contested a Beginner Novice version of the jump course. Karen Czarick and Moogatti had a lovely round and took home numerous donated prizes. A number of young horses made their show debut at the NEH, and one 19-year-old dressage horse enjoyed his first cross-country course!

The YEH was held Sunday morning again with the luck of cooler than usual summer temps. The judge remarked she had not seen such class young horses gathered for a show in some time. All were well presented, well ridden and the scoring was tight.

The 4-year-old YEH was won by Brittany Kart on Filomena, who started successfully in the FEH and is now an accomplished young mare beginning her career.

The 5-year-old YEH was dominated by two horses owned by Donna Miller and her daughter Devon Brown. Scoring in the 80s separated their horses from the rest of a truly stellar group then it came down to mother versus daughter! Donna’s horse “Salty” bred from her own Connemara stallion, Ard Celtic Art, showed superb jump style and genuine enthusiasm for his job. However, daughter Devon on her superstar new horse Fabian stole the show. Her stunning Dutch gelding showed strength in all sections and placed first with overall high score of the show at 84.68. Devon was clearly excited and thrilled to have such a positive ride and show for her horse’s first YEH outing.

Cedar Ridge Farm wishes all the competitors the best of luck at the championships at Fair Hill this fall, and looks forward to another exciting show next summer. Due to a high level of interest the CRF management is looking to add a second in this show series and will host this in Tryon, N.C. Details to follow.