The USEA established the Young Event Horse (YEH) program in 2004 to identify young horses that possess the talent and disposition to, with proper training, excel at the uppermost levels of the sport. While the goal of the YEH program is to identify horses that will be successful at the four- and five-star levels, horses with the potential for lower-level success are also showcased by the program.
Throughout the competition year, YEH classes are offered at competitions around the country, giving 4- and 5-year-old horses the chance to gain experience in eventing and show off their skills under saddle in dressage and over fences in a jumping and galloping test. Whether you are looking to qualify for the 2021 Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse Championships or simply give your young horse some competitive experience without the stress and pressure of a full horse trials, YEH classes are a great way to introduce your young horse to the sport of eventing.
To qualify for the 2022 Dutta Corp. USEA YEH East Coast Championships, horses must earn a score of 75 percent or higher at any YEH qualifying event. To qualify for the 2021 Dutta Corp. USEA YEH West Coast Championships, horses must earn a score of 70 percent or higher at any YEH qualifying event.
The USEA YEH Committee recently added a few rule changes that were approved by the USEA Board of Governors at their December 2021 meeting. Those rule changes are updated in the YEH Rules document and the following are now in effect for 2022:
Ready to get out there and compete? Check out the 2021 calendar of YEH events:
2022 USEA Young Event Horse Calendar
Event |
Dates |
Stable View YEH Qualifier (Area III) |
February 15, 2022 |
YEH/FEH at Florida Horse Park (Area III) | February 22, 2022 |
Full Gallop Farm Mid February H.T. (Area III) |
February 23, 2022 |
Full Gallop Farm March H.T. (Area III) |
March 2, 2022 |
Full Gallop Farm March I H.T. (Area III) |
March 12-13, 2022 |
YEH/FEH at Florida Horse Park (Area III) | March 22, 2022 |
Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Area V) |
March 25-27, 2022 |
YEH/FEH at Florida Horse Park (Area III) | April 5, 2022 |
Pine Hill H.T. (Area V) |
April 9, 2022 |
MDHT FEH/YEH/NEH Qualifier (Area II) |
April 10, 2022 |
Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (Area VII) |
May 12-15, 2022 |
Galway Downs Spring H.T. (Area VI) |
May 13-15, 2022 |
Winona H.T. (Area VIII) |
May 13-15, 2022 |
Hunt Club Farms H.T. (Area II) |
May 20-22, 2022 |
MDHT FEH/YEH/NEH Qualifier (Area II) |
May 15, 2022 |
VHT International & H.T. (Area II) |
May 26-29, 2022 |
Twin Rivers Summer H.T. (Area VI) |
June 30-July 3, 2022 |
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Area III) |
July 1-3, 2022 |
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Area III) | July 8-10, 2022 |
The Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm II (Area II) |
July 15-17, 2022 |
Applewood Farm FEH/YEH Qualifier (Area II) | July 16, 2022 |
Hunt Club Farm H.T. (Area II) |
July 29-31, 2022 |
Applewood Farm FEH/YEH Qualifier (Area II) | August 17, 2022 |
Waredaca Farm H.T. (Area II) |
August 19-21, 2022 |
Five Points H.T. (Area II) |
September 10-11, 2022 |
MDHT YEH/NEH Qualifier (Area II) |
September 11, 2022 |
Flying Cross Farm H.T. (Area VIII) |
September 16-18, 2022 |
Twin Rivers Fall International (Area VI) |
September 22-25, 2022 |
Spokane Sport Horse Fall H.T. (Area VII) |
September 29-October 2, 2022 |
The Dutta Corp. USEA YEH East Coast Championships at Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill |
Oct. 13-14, 2022 |
The Dutta Corp. USEA YEH West Coast Championships at Twin Rivers Ranch |
Oct. 28-29, 2022 |
The calendar of YEH events is updated periodically throughout the year. Please click here for the most up-to-date calendar information.
Don’t see a YEH event near you? Please contact your local USEA Horse Trial organizers to express interest in attending YEH classes and ask if they are willing to add them to their event.
For more information regarding the YEH Program, contact Kate Lokey at [email protected] or (703) 779-9897.
Helpful Links For YEH:
2022 YEH Championship Information
Holekamp/Turner Grant Information
YEH 4-year-old Dressage Test for Qualifiers
YEH 5-year-old Dressage Test for Qualifiers
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 Premium Western Forage, Parker Equine Insurance, Saratoga Horseworks, 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.
The coveted Spirit Award, which originated from the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship and quickly became as important as the competition itself, will be returning this year with double the excitement at the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships! With the two program championships merging for the first time, the organizing team at Stable View is committed to making the weekend an unforgettable experience for these middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. Separate Spirit Contests will be offered for each program , and Stable View has generously donated perpetual trophies for the two contest champions. The 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Championships will be held at the Stable View Local Charities H.T. on May 4-5, 2024 in Aiken, SC. Click here to learn more and prepare to enter on opening day tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19!
Sometimes all it takes is a little luck on your side to make your dreams come true. We recently asked our USEA membership to share why they feel so lucky to be partnered with the horses they compete with, and we received over 100 heartwarming stories! We compiled some of our favorites below in celebration of today’s luck-themed holiday.
With Paris Olympic team selection this summer as a big goal, Liz Halliday headed out onto Ian Stark’s CCI4*-S cross-country course today at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International hoping to make the time with Miks Master C and show off a smooth round. After leading the division from day 1’s dressage on a 22.5, Halliday was able to accomplish both things and win aboard Ocala Horse Properties’ and Deborah Palmer’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF).
The standings after today’s CCI4*-S show jumping at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International shuffled with 14 double-clear rounds out of 35 to start, but Liz Halliday stayed right where she was at the top of the leaderboard aboard Miks Master C.