United States Eventing Association

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is excited to announce the introduction of the free jump chute in the three-year-old division at the East Coast Future Event Horse (FEH) Championship this year. This topic was first introduced to USEA members at the 2014 USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, and further explored and demonstrated at the “Evaluation of the Young Horse Symposium” in Ocala, Florida in February.

This year, the jump chute will be available for the three-year-old division at the East Coast Championship only, but will likely be available for both East and West Coast FEH Championships in 2016.

In addition to the regular format of the FEH classes, in which each age group is judged in hand, three-year-olds in the FEH East Coast Championship will be asked to free jump through the jump chute in order to analyze the horse’s full potential for Eventing. Through the jump chute, the judges will be able to examine the horses’ canter movement, jumping technique, jumping ability and scope.

The jump chute will be set up in standard format with a placing pole, two verticals and an oxer. The three-year-olds will be allowed to jump through multiple times, slowly building height, but not to exceed 3’6” at the final oxer. Safety will be paramount, and the process will be fair and generous this year, allowing competitors to become familiar with the process. Exact heights and distances will be finalized in July.

The East Coast Championship will take place at Loch Moy Farm in Maryland on Thursday, October 8, 2015, and Loch Moy Farm will also be offering an FEH competition on Wednesday, October 7, 2015, which participants can use as a qualifier for the Championships the next day. There will also be an educational clinic opportunity for three-year olds to practice the jump chute at Loch Moy Farm on October 7th.

The FEH West Coast Championship, which will not offer a free jump portion, will be held Thursday, October 1, 2015 at Woodside International in California.

Advanced level event rider, USEF Eventing Judge, Technical Delegate and FEH Committee member Samantha Allan has been confirmed as a judge for both the East and West Coast FEH Championships. On the West Coast, Allan will be accompanied by the prestigious Sport Horse Breeding Judge, KWPN-North American founding member and FEH Committee member, Faith Fessenden. Three-time Olympic Event rider and former Canadian Eventing Coach Peter Gray, alongside upper level rider, ICP 4 instructor, and FEH and YEH Committee Advisor Robin Walker, will join Allan on the judge's panel for the East Coast Championship.

Jump Chute Clinic To Be Hosted at Loch Moy Farm in July

In order for horses to prepare for the jump chute at the Championship this fall, the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm has agreed to host a jump chute clinic on Thursday, July 16, 2015. The clinic is open to horses of all ages, but precedence will be given to horses that are three years of age and are competing in the USEA FEH Series.

The setup will be the same as the jump chute that will be used at the Championship in October. The clinicians will be FEH Committee members Robin Walker and Samantha Allan, who will help introduce young horses to free jumping in a safe manner.

The cost for the jump chute clinic will be $60 per horse for a 30 minute session. Anyone may audit for $10. To learn more and register for the clinic, go here. To learn more about the USEA Future Event Horse Program, go here.