Are you interested in competing in the sport of eventing but aren’t quite sure how to get started? Do you have a horse that is looking for a new career? Consider participating in a USEA New Event Horse (NEH) competition in 2023! The USEA NEH Program was created to be an introduction to the sport of eventing for both horse and rider, and the 2023 NEH Calendar is now available here.
Adapted from the USEA Young Event Horse Program, NEH classes are intended to assess a horse’s capability for eventing and provide a steppingstone to recognized eventing by focusing on education and preparation to begin competing in a correct and progressive manner. In NEH classes, horses are asked to compete in two sections: the dressage phase and the jumping test/gallop/general impression phase. The ultimate goal of the New Event Horse Program is to choose the horse that possesses the talent and mind set and who, with proper training, would be the horse most likely to become a competent, safe, and fun adult amateur, junior, or young rider horse at the Preliminary levels and below. USEA members with a Supporting Membership or higher and horses with a Limited Registration or higher are welcome to participate. Anyone who is not already registered with the USEA can do so the day of the competition as well.
View the list of 2023 USEA NEH competitions below, and keep in mind that the calendar is a preliminary, tentative list of competitions that is subject to change. New competitions can be added regularly, so members are encouraged to reach out to their favorite local events to encourage them to participate in the NEH program. Please continue to check here for any updates throughout the year.
EVENT | DATE |
Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Area V) | March 24-26, 2023 |
Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Area V) | May 6-7, 2023 |
The Vista Spring YEH/FEH/NEH Qualifier (Area III) | May 17, 2023 |
USEA MDHT YEH/NEH/FEH Qualifier (Area II) | May 28, 2023 |
Woodloch Stables YEH/FEH/NEH (Area (IV) | June 24, 2023 |
Twin Rivers Summer H.T. (Area VI) | June 29-July 2, 2023 |
The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm (Area II) | July 14-16, 2023 |
Five Points H.T. (Area II) | September 9-10, 2023 |
USEA MDHT YEH/NEH Qualifier (Area II) | September 17, 2023 |
*There is no championship for the NEH program
Are you interested in hosting a USEA New Event Horse competition? Learn more about NEH program requirements here and contact staff liaison Kate Lokey at [email protected] to register.
Don’t see a USEA New Event Horse competition near you? Please contact your local USEA Horse Trial organizers to express interest and ask if they are willing to host the New Event Horse Program at their venue.
About the USEA New Event Horse (NEH) Program
The USEA New Event Horse (NEH) Program is designed to be an introduction to the sport of eventing for horse and rider. Adapted from the Young Event Horse Program, the NEH classes are intended to assess a horse’s capability for eventing and to provide a steppingstone to recognized eventing. New Event Horse classes focus on education and preparation to begin eventing in a correct and progressive manner. Horses are asked to complete two sections: dressage and jumping test/gallop/general impression.
While many outstanding upper-level prospects may find the New Event Horse classes helpful, these classes are intended to be more introductory in nature and to place a greater emphasis on temperament and suitability. The ultimate goal of the New Event Horse Program is to choose the horse that possesses the talent and mind set and who, with proper training, would be the horse most likely to become a competent, safe, and fun adult amateur, junior, or young rider horse at the Preliminary levels and below. Click here to learn more about the New Event Horse program.
From horse trials in her home state of California where she prepared herself and her horses to take on the best in the nation and around the world to five-star events overseas where she represented the United States on some of eventing’s biggest stages, Tamie Smith had a remarkable season and finished 2022 as the Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year for the second year in a row.
TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City, Florida, held its first CCI4*-S competition in the fall of 2021 and is now gearing up for the location’s third-ever FEI event and inaugural spring event this weekend during The Event at TerraNova which takes place March 30-April 2.
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.
Many riders across all levels have found that working with young horses has provided them with the most valuable experiences in eventing. The opportunities for young event horses have never been more exciting. The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast and West Coast Championships continue to grow in profile as the culmination of a calendar of qualifying events is expanding to more areas of the country. More American riders and their young horses are aiming for the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion D’Angers, France, particularly thanks to programs like the Holekamp/Turner YEH Lion d’Angers Grant. That’s become one of the most attended sporting events in the entire country. It’s given young event horses from the United States a chance to represent the growth of the American eventing community’s dedication to properly developing talent in the sport.