United States Eventing Association

Spend the day immersing yourself in the intricacies of producing Young Event Horses at the 2026 Ocala Horse Properties USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Symposium on Monday, Feb. 16 in Ocala, Florida. A star-studded list of presenters and demonstrators will be on-hand to teach attendees about the proper training and evaluation of the next generation of four- and five-star horses. Click here to register!

The Facts:

• The Ocala Horse Properties USEA YEH Symposium is a great opportunity for competitors, coaches, trainers, parents, owners, breeders, and avid supporters of the sport to learn about the evaluation and training of young event horses.
• The event will be split into two sessions:
• The morning session will be hosted at Majestic Oaks Ocala at 17500 N US Hwy 441, Reddick, FL 32686 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST. Check-in and on-site registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.
• The evening session will be hosted at HITS Ocala in the Grand Prix Arena at 13710 US Highway 27, Ocala, FL 34482 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST. Click here for a facility map. Check-in and on-site registration will begin at 3:00 p.m.

• At Majestic Oaks, an expert panel of industry professionals, including Karen O’Connor, Debbie Adams, Caroline Pamukcu, and Nathan Mitts will lead a session on “Evaluating Conformation, Jumping, & Galloping in Young Horses.”
• Lauren Nicholson, Buck Davidson Jr., Alex O’Neal, and Mia Farley will serve as the demonstration riders for the morning session. Each rider and their young horse will have 30 minutes to complete a YEH Jumping and Galloping test, commensurate to a course that would be used at a YEH qualifying event later in the season for the 5-year-old age group, and then they will return to the panel and audience to discuss their ride.
• In the evening at HITS Ocala, Peter Gray and Leslie Grant-Law will moderate a YEH Masterclass with Jonathan Holling, Leslie Law, Phillip Dutton, and Olivia Dutton as they provide mounted demonstrations about various training techniques for young horses. This will include topics like how to strengthen and improve a horse’s jump, how to build confidence, and how to introduce new cross-country obstacles.

The Schedule

Morning Session at Majestic Oaks Ocala

• 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - “Evaluating Jumping, Galloping & Conformation”
  • 9:00 a.m. – Panelist Introductions and Overview of the Upcoming Demonstration Format
  • 9:10 a.m. – Lauren Nicholson
  • 9:30 a.m. – Mia Farley
  • 10:10 a.m. – Break
  • 10:25 a.m. – Alex O’Neal
  • 10:55 a.m. – Buck Davidson Jr.
  • 11:25 a.m. – Lauren Nicholson
  • 11:50 a.m. – Wrap-Up and Q&A

Evening Session at HITS Ocala

• 3:30 – 7:00 p.m. - “YEH Masterclass”
  • 3:30 p.m. – Introductions and Overview of Session
  • 3:45 p.m. – Leslie Law and Jonathan Holling
    • Demonstrate how to warm up on the flat and how to strengthen and improve a young horses jump over fences
  • 4:30 p.m. – Olivia and Phillip Dutton
    • How to build confidence over fences and introduce new obstacles to young horses
  • 5:30 p.m. – Ocala Horse Properties Presentation
  • 5:40 p.m. – Dinner from Archies Pizza and Q&A

*Please note that times are approximated, and the schedule is subject to change.

The Sponsors

• A representative of Ocala Horse Properties, title sponsor of the 2026 USEA YEH Symposium, will be on-site at HITS Ocala to give a brief presentation and mingle with attendees. The no. 1 ranked realtor in Ocala is eager and ready to help you find your next farm or ranch in the area.

Registration

• The 2026 Ocala Horse Properties USEA YEH Symposium is $50 per session or $90 for the full day of learning.
• Advanced registration is encouraged to ensure a quick and efficient check-in process. Click here to register.
• On-site registration will be available at both venues with a credit card or check as payment.

If you have any questions about the 2026 Ocala Horse Properties USEA YEH Symposium, please contact Abigail Fulmer at [email protected].

Helpful Links:

• YEH Homepage
• Event Coverage
• YEH Symposium Registration
• YEH Rules & Guidelines
• 2026 YEH Series Calendar

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 Platinum Sponsor, The Dutta Corp., Gold Sponsor Goresbridge, as well as Contributing Sponsors ARMA, Bates Saddles, CrossCountry App, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher's Water, HorseWeek, The Jockey Club, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, and Standlee, and Prize Sponsor 100xEquine for sponsoring the Young Event Horse Program. The USEA also thanks Ocala Horse Properties for their support of the 2026 USEA YEH Symposium.