United States Eventing Association

Coverage of the 2013 IDHSNA USEA Future Event Horse East Coast Championships is being provided through a partnership with The Equiery.

Fair Hill NRMA, MD - Relatively new to the equine competition world, Future Event Horse (FEH) competitions allow horse owners to obtain an evaluation of their prospects as yearlings, two and three year olds by experienced conformation judges. Young horses are evaluated based on six criteria that have proven good indicators of horses which are likely to excel in three day eventing. This can be a valuable tool in an owner’s decision as to whether or not to point their young horses toward a career in eventing. In the past, many of the most successful eventing horses have been imported from Europe. American breeders have made a concerted effort to create successful breeding programs in this country. The FEH Championships held on the east and west coasts have given a better understanding of what is needed to create a strong resource of eventing horse prospects.

Fair Hill International’s Festival in the Country was chosen to host the 2013 IDHSNA USEA FEH East Coast Championships. Twenty-four 1 to 3 year olds were shown in hand on the traditional walk trot triangle format.

The entry that most impressed the judges was Rule of Thumb, a Warmblood/Thoroughbred 3 year old who bested 8 other colt/geldings in the largest class of the day. He was chosen as Overall Champion of the competition. Rule of Thumb by Royal Appearance out of Nadia VT is owned by Steplin LLC, bred by Virginia Tech, and shown by in hand by Jeff Speagle.

The Overall Reserve Championship came from the Two Year Old Division. Ghiradelli, a Dutch Warmblood by Judgement ISF out of AlexisTitty11Z placed 2nd in her fillies division but proved that she had a great deal more to show the judges during her second appearance enabling her to win the Two Year Old Champion Class. She then capped off her performance in the Finals by taking home the Reserve Honors. Ghiradelli was bred by Apple Lane Farm and shown by owner, Dayna Gant.

A yearling, a Hanoverian/Thoroughbred bay filly, Crazy for Calypso, earned the day’s high score of 80.2. The filly, by Coconut Grove 20 was bred and owned by Valerie Fox. Returning to face the geldings/colts winners, she finished 3rd in the Yearling Champion Class and was awarded the Born in America Award for the highest scoring U.S. bred horse in her age group. Another notable entry Red Letter Day, won her 2 year old division and the Born in America Award. Red Letter Day, a chestnut Hanoverian by Redwine by Whimczical was shown and owned by Alexis Dankanich and bred by Karen Severns.

Complete results will be posted online at www.useventing.com/programs/feh at the end of the event.