Four age groups, three championships, two judges, and one horse to score in the 90s; the 2018 USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) Championships was a success. A total of 91 young horses were entered in the championships, which Robin Walker considered “very exciting and very encouraging. I’m just impressed with the whole thing.” Peter Gray added that it was “exciting to see the thoughtfulness in the bloodlines. We’re now seeing some quality young horses and adding to the depth of much needed horsepower in the United States.”
The first stop for FEH championship judges Robin Walker and Peter Gray was in the sunny state of California where the USEA FEH West Coast Championships took place on September 20 at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California. Flying directly to the next venue, Walker and Gray judged the USEA FEH East Coast Championships at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland on September 22 – 23. Last but not least the judges flew to the middle of the country to judge the inaugural USEA FEH Central Championships at the Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas on September 29.
The West Coast brought its A-game to Twin Rivers Ranch as three out of the four West Coast Champions earned the highest scores across all three championships. The highest score for a 4-year-old was given to Andrea Baxter’s Coronado (Chili Morning x Estrella) on an 82.45. Owner, breeder, and handler, Baxter described her excitement for Coronado, “This one I’m proud of because I rode his grandma [Say Grace] at Young Riders and then I bred his grandma and rode his mom [Estrella] around Rolex and his dad is Chili Morning so I’m extra proud.”
The highest scoring 3-year-old, who had the highest score out of the entire field of 91 horses, was Cheron Laboissonniere’s Holsteiner mare, Hallelujah DF (Mighty Magic x Columbia BF), on a 90.19. “We knew she was special right from the beginning,” said Jennifer McFall, the breeder and handler of Hallelujah DF. “This program has set her up so well for the future.”
The honor of highest scoring 2-year-old went to Ann Patton’s Iluminada on an 88.35. It was a close call for the babies of FEH, but the East Coast claimed ownership of the highest scoring yearling, Cynthia McNemar’s Oldenburg, Royal Casino (Rosenthal x Lady Logan), who took home the highest yearling score with an 88.33. To learn about the FEH Champions from East, West, and Central FEH Championships, please see below.
2018 USEA FEH West Coast Championships
Yearling Overall Champion
81.58 - Twain’s Fireflight DF, Oldenburg (The Twain x Dominga)
Owner: Sarah Moseley
Breeder: Dragonfire Farm
Handler: Sarah Moseley
2-Year-Old Overall Champion
88.35 - Iluminada, Irish Sport Horse (Mighty Magic x La Patrona)
Owner: Ann Patton
Breeder: Unknown
Handler: Ann Patton
3-Year-Old Overall Champion
90.19 - Hallelujah, DF Holsteiner (Mighty Magic x Columbia BF)
Owner: Cheron Laboissonniere
Breeder: Dragonfire Farm
Handler: Jennifer McFall
4-Year-Old Overall Champion
82.45 - Coronado, Oldenburg (Chili Morning x Estrella)
Owner: Andrea Baxter
Breeder: Andrea Baxter
Handler: Andrea Baxter
2018 USEA FEH East Coast Championships
Yearling Overall Champion
88.33 - Royal Casino, Oldenburg (Rosenthal x Lady Logan)
Owner: Cynthia McNemar
Breeder: Cynthia McNemar
Handler: Cynthia McNemar
2-Year-Old Overall Champion
85.98 - Jaguar My, Selle Francais/Thoroughbred (Jaguar Mail x Katlyn Lil)
Owner: Denis Glaccum
Breeder: Denis Glaccum
Handler: Alyssa Peterson
3-Year-Old Overall Champion
87.64 - Solo Hit, Oldenburg (Sagnol x Arista GS)
Owner: Lauren Welsh
Breeder: Red Gate Sporthorses
Handler: Martin Douzant
4-Year-Old Overall Champion
78.49 - Star Quality CSF, Canadian Warmblood (Schwarzenegger x Garcia)
Owner: Chrissteen Miller
Breeder: Tracy Anderson/Cornerstone Farm
Handler: Laura Kosiorek-Smith
2018 USEA FEH Central Championships
Yearling Overall Champion
80.67 - Deanfield Ice Queen, Irish Draught Sport Horse (Braveheart x Glenlord’s Laralie)
Owner: Christine McCarter
Breeder: Christine McCarter
Handler: Christine McCarter
2-Year-Old Overall Champion
84.55 - Changi, Thoroughbred (Giant Oak x Our Miss Brookside)
Owner: Jeanne Dolan
Breeder: Al Ulwelling & Bill Ulwelling
Handler: Jeanne Dolan
3-Year-Old Overall Champion
78.93 - Diamond Davinity, Dutch Warmblood (Diamond Domini x Hyperboreas)
Owner: Jayne Lloyd
Breeder: Jayne Lloyd
Handler: Martin Douzant
4-Year-Old Overall Champion
80.56 - Two Step Program, Thoroughbred (Two Step Salsa x Itzcocktailtime)
Owner: Ellen Doughty-Hume
Breeder: Ellen Doughty-Hume
Handler: Lindsay Gnann
Check out USEA’s coverage on the Championships at following links:
About the USEA Future Event Horse Program
The USEA introduced the Future Event Horse (FEH) Program in 2007 as a pilot program in response to the popularity of the already established USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) 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, and 3-year-olds for their potential for the sport based on conformation and type. Horses are presented in hand and divisions are separated by year and gender. At the Championships, 3-year-olds are also required to demonstrate their potential over fences in an additional free-jump division. New in 2017 was the FEH 4-year-old division, designed for youngsters not quite ready for the rigors of the Young Event Horse program. These horses are presented under saddle at the walk, trot, and canter before being stripped of their tack and evaluated for their conformation. Additionally, 4-year-olds also participate in the free-jump divisions at Championships to show their potential over fences. Click here to learn more about the Future Event Horse Program.
The USEA would like to thank SmartPak, Standlee Hay Company, and Merck Animal Health for sponsoring the Future Event Horse Program and Twin Rivers Ranch, Loch Moy Farm, and the Texas Rose Horse Park and Snowdonia Farms for hosting the USEA FEH Championships.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
From Starter all the way to the top of the sport, the rider’s ability to identify and influence the rhythm, relaxation, balance, straightness, and adjustability of their horse is key, whether you’re riding on the flat or over fences.
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) and the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Committee regretfully announce that the 2025 YEH Symposium, planned for Monday, Feb. 17 in Ocala, Florida, has been cancelled. Following the great success of the event in 2024 and due to unforeseen changes in venue availability, the YEH Committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming educational event to ensure that the quality of the symposium is not sacrificed.
Each year, the USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) brings aspiring and certified coaches together for the ECP Symposium. The goal of the Symposium is to exchange ideas and techniques about teaching horses and riders, all while following the philosophy of correct basics on the flat and over fences.