United States Eventing Association

The Young and Future Event Horse article series is provided through a partnership between Mythic Landing Enterprises, LLC. and the USEA.

Laurie Cameron grew up riding with the Jericho Forest Pony Club in Massachusetts. When a working student position fell through, she landed at the Delaware Equine Center for a gap year before starting college, and this defining year would ultimately lead her to a career in equine veterinary medicine. In addition to a successful equine veterinary practice, Laurie also heads a select sport horse-breeding program at her Clear Blue Farm in Stockton, New Jersey. She is now a successful owner and breeder in the USEA Future and Young Event Horse programs, with a number of horses having earned top honors at the Championship level.

It began with one Thoroughbred mare named Bit Of Elegance and The Chronicle of the Horse Stallion issue. Many years later, after a lot of research and education both in the U.S. and in Germany, she appreciates how lucky she was to have Bit of Elegance as her first broodmare. The mare’s most successful event horse offspring to date, Are You Ready, was campaigned to the three-star level by Kristin Bond.

Every breeder has a specific set of qualities that they look for when pairing the right mare and stallion together. A Bit of Elegance, who passed away in 2008, produced some of Laurie’s most successful offspring for a variety of reasons. Looking at her on the ground, there was nothing outstanding about her, but she had correct leg conformation and was harmonious in her type. She was a good mover and a great jumper. She was a forward thinker and had an amazing work ethic. All these qualities combined make a physically tough and resilient horse, which are vital qualities for event horses. The stallions that Laurie chose for this mare’s line were most often Hanoverians that have high performance test scores in rideability, jumping and dressage and often have show jumper pedigrees.

Laurie has been a part of the Future and Young Event Horse programs since they began and believes it truly makes a difference when producing the next generation of upper-level event horses.

“The Future Event Horse program has a strong foundation in education,” she said. “As an owner, rider and breeder, you have the ability to learn things about your horse that you may not have realized. Although the in-hand work is not physically challenging, the mental aspect can be.”

Laurie believes that being able to take young horses to competitions and seeing how they cope with the low-key but nevertheless exciting environment is important when evaluating where they are in their training and what may need to be worked on at home.

“The judges that inspect each and every horse are incredibly knowledgeable,” said Laurie. “Their opinions and comments carry so much importance to aid in evaluating where your horse is in his or her training, maturity and overall growth.”

Laurie expressed her gratitude specifically to Susan Graham White and Marilyn Payne, renowned judges in the program who have given her invaluable feedback over the years.

“They have invested so much time and thought into determining what makes a top event horse in order to make our country one of the most successful in this sport,” Laurie said.

The Future and Young Event Horse programs are essential to the recognition of raw potential and the development of the upper level prospect. It gives breeders a venue to showcase what they are producing as well acknowledging the owners and riders of these exciting up-and-comers.

The ultimate goal of Laurie’s program is to produce a horse that has the ability to compete at the four-star level. Her homebred filly Maybe Magic C (Mighty Magic - Winter Morning) was the 2014 Overall Reserve Champion at the East Coast FEH championships, as well as the “Born in the USA” champion. As just a yearling, the mare stepped up to the plate on a very windy and cold November day and put in an experienced performance. With 80% Thoroughbred in her pedigree, Laurie considers her a legitimate four-star candidate.

The Young Event Horse four- and five-year-old classes are the next step in young horse development. Early Review (Earl - Lois Lane), ridden by Lillian Heard is an up-and-coming 6-year old that is bred and owned by Laurie. The mare has competed in the both the four- and five-year old Young Event Horse divisions. Laurie describes the Young Event Horse division as a very natural progression from the Future Event Horse division. The competition level increases but at the same time, the youngsters never feel too overwhelmed, explained Laurie. The horses that participate in this division do not need to have extensive show experience to compete. The low-key environment combined with an appropriate dressage and jumping test for their age gives these horses the chance to gain confidence in their ability.

“Additionally, the judges are more understanding if the horse makes a mistake and will always give a reward when they learn from them. For example, the judges look kindly upon a horse that knocks a rail and then improves their form over the jumps as they continue their course.”

Laurie feels that the horses that compete in the 5-year-old division are ready for ‘real’ competition. This division helps to determine where the horse is in its career and if it has the ability and mind to campaign at the upper levels. The judges are looking for the quality of gallop and jump for the level and most importantly, rideability. Laurie’s Early Review was the winner of the Safe Harbor Award at the Young Event Horse East Coast Championships both as a 4-and 5-year old. This award is given to the most amateur-friendly, rideable horse competing in the four-and five-year-old Championship classes.

“In Europe, there is a stronger emphasis on breeding and developing horses specifically for eventing. For a number of years now, other countries have reaped the benefits of strong young horse programs, and while we are just getting started, it is the hope that the FEH and YEH will be an important launching pad for a strong young horse program in the U.S.”

To learn more about Laurie Cameron and her program, visit her web site at www.clearbluefarm.com