United States Eventing Association

Etalon Diagnostics Returns to Sponsor YEH and FEH

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce the renewed partnership with Etalon Diagnostics. As a Contributing Level Sponsor to the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) and USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) programs, Etalon Diagnostics will provide 10 Minipanel PLUS Tests with Ancestry to be used towards prizes for the USEA YEH and USEA FEH Championships. Etalon Diagnostics will also join as an Educational Partner of the USEA and will be offering a 15 percent discount to USEA members who use the code ‘USEAMember’ when purchasing a Minipanel PLUS test.

"Team Etalon is excited to partner with the USEA to maximize the human-equine partnership in the world of eventing. We are committed to helping horses and riders excel through genetic testing and continuing our research on equine ancestry, health and disease risk, performance abilities, and more. Thank you to the USEA for teaming with Etalon Diagnostics in sponsorship of the Young Event Horse Program and Future Event Horse Program to discover what makes a horse a champion,” said Team Etalon.

Etalon Diagnostics strives to create meaningful, useful, and scientifically valid methods for improving the lives and health of horses. The California based company offers unique comprehensive equine DNA testing. The team behind Etalon Diagnostics includes top scientists, geneticists, biologists, tech experts, professional equestrians, and animal lovers from the Silicon Valley, esteemed Universities, and laboratories around the nation. Their genetic diagnostic platform includes many new equine trait markers for health diagnostics and performance at an affordable price.

“As the industry leader in equine DNA testing, Etalon Diagnostics allows you to better understand your horse through science,” said USEA CEO Rob Burk. “During my graduate and undergraduate studies, I was intrigued by this research. I learned early on that understanding equine genetics is an incredibly valuable tool as we strive to identify and develop suitable horses for eventing. This partnership is the perfect fit for the USEA young horse programs. We are extremely grateful for their continued support.”

For more information on Etalon Diagnostics, please visit www.etalondx.com.

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 Hay Company, Parker Equine Insurance, Etalon Diagnostics, 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.

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 Hay Company, Etalon Diagnostics, and The Jockey Club for sponsoring the Future Event Horse Program.