Oct 02, 2023

Returning Winners, Family Connections, and Luck of the Irish at the 2023 Young Horse Show Central Championship

Gatsby’s Touch of Chrome. Melinda Prince Photography photos

The second Young Horse Show Series (YHS) Regional Championship took place on Sunday, October 1st at Haras Hacienda in Magnolia, Texas. Formerly known as the USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) Championships, this year’s qualifiers were run by the YHS, a program established to provide U.S. breeders the opportunity to show off their young stock, as well as connect them to owners, riders, and trainers looking for U.S. bred sport horses in the hunter, jumper, dressage, and now eventing, disciplines.

In previous years, horses presented for the FEH judges were shown in hand by either the owner or a handler of choice. The horse was shown at a walk and trot on the traditional sport horse inspection triangle and then let loose for the jump chute portion. Under the new program, horses are all presented at liberty by the professional handler(s) provided by YHS. The jump chute portion is available for entries as young as two years old but is up to the owner to decide if their horse is ready to present in the chute or not, and the jump chute is placed individually as its own division.

Starting with the 4-year-old division, there were three horses entered that were purpose-bred as eventers. Taking Reserve Champion both at liberty and in the jump-chute, with scores of 79.7 and 81.875 respectively, for the division was returning FEH champion, Gatsby’s Touch of Chrome (Gatsby x MFF Touch of Dutch RID). This Irish Draught Sporthorse gelding bred, owned, and ridden by Dr. Amy Clemmons of Texas is no stranger to rosettes. As a 3-year-old “Guinness” was the FEH Central Champion and has successfully competed in the program since he was a yearling. For the 2023 season, Guinness and Clemmons have also competed in the USEA Young Event Horse Series and the U.S. Event Horse Futurity qualifying for championships taking place at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in Elkton, Maryland in October.

Manu Fortis Kerrygold

Third place for the 4-Year-Old division went to Irish Draught Sporthorse mare Manu Fortis Kerrygold (Goldmaker x Manu Fortis Touch of Spice RID). Bred by Manu Fortis Farms of Kansas, this young eventing prospect is owned by Sarah Magruder and ridden by Bernadean Britt of Texas. The stand-out palomino mare scored 78 for the liberty portion and 78.875 in the jump chute to place fourth.

Work to Play

Placing fifth in the liberty portion with a score of 76, and sixth in the jump chute with a 75.875, was the Thoroughbred gelding, Work to Play (Street Sense x Malibu Mist), owned by Jayne Lloyd. Lloyd has been instrumental in bringing the YHS program to the central region this year, hosting two qualifiers at her Snowdonia Sporthorse Complex in Houston, TX. Lloyd has been credited by many owners and riders in the Central Region as a wealth of knowledge about raising and developing young horses in general, as well as always being willing to help educate owners and riders on the ins and outs of showing young prospects in hand. “We always try to present the horses to max potential," said Lloyd about the YHS program.

Dublin Realta

In the yearling division, there were three eventing-bred horses presented. The Champion for the liberty portion with an 85.7 was Irish Draught Sporthorse mare Dublin Realta (Copy Cat Creek x DKH Estrelita) bred, owned, and presented by Clemmons, whose boutique breeding program, LFH Ranch, is no stranger to the winner's circle in either the FEH or the YHS programs. This year presenting two horses to be crowned Champion, and one to Reserve Champion in three age groups.

Pikard

The Reserve Champion Yearling with a score of 85.0 was the American Warmblood gelding Pikard (PK Sirius Black x Indigo) bred, owned, and presented by Nancy Roth. Roth had three horses presented at the Central Championships and all three are out of the same mare, Indigo, who is a daughter of Oldenburg sire, Ideal.

“His barn name is Jean Luc,” said Roth. “He was also the USDF Dressage Sporthorse Reserve Grand Champion Foal at the Midwest Finals.”

Cerulean Mirror Blue Night

Third place, with a score of 79.3, went to Irish Draught Sporthorse mare Cerulean Mirror Blue Night (Bridon Belfry RID x Good Reason), bred by Jeanette Varghese, owned by Nina Collins, and presented by Marissa Hetzer. “Ilse” was one of eight Irish Draught Sporthorses registered with the Irish Draught Horse Society of North America presented as eventing prospects at this year’s event. This is the second year in a row that the Central Region has been heavily represented by this endangered breed.

Isle of View

In the 3-year-old division, Connemara part-bred, Isle of View (Duet Farms One Love x Indigo), placed first in both the liberty and the jump chute classes with scores of 84.875 and 85 respectively. Bred and owned by Roth, “Aengus” is the second of three horses sharing the same dam, Indigo. “All three half-siblings are grey, but their personalities are nothing alike,” commented Roth about her string.

Deanfield Dubhlainn

Irish Draught Sporthorse Stallion, Deanfield Dubhlainn (Braveheart RID x Jaddabreathe), placed Reserve Champion for the 3-year-old division. Bred by Debbie Fullilove of Deanfield Farm in Houston, Texas, the striking grey stallion is owned by Christine McCarter of Texas. He was one of two Braveheart RID foals presented as eventing prospects this weekend. “Jack” was also the Reserve Champion as a 2-year-old in the 2022 USEA FEH Central Championships.

Touch of Lux

Finishing the day off was the 2-year-old division. The eventing-bred horses were well-represented, with one being named the Champion of the age division in hand. The Champion was Clemmons' Touch of Lux (Derryinver Luxury Cruise X MFF Touch of Dutch), an Irish Draught Sporthorse mare sharing the same dam as Clemmons' four-year-old gelding “Guinness." Touch of Lux scored an impressive 82.9 from judge Jos Sevriens and placed fourth in the jump chute division with an 80.125.

Lumos

Westphalian gelding Lumos (Long Island T X Ideal), the third maternal sibling of Roth’s string presented today, took home the fifth-place spot in the largest class of the day with a 78.4, and sixth place in the jump chute with a 78.5.

Braveheart Skyraider

Rounding out the eventing prospects was the Irish Draught Sporthorse stallion, Braveheart Skyraider (Braveheart RID x Forte Elegante), bred and owned by Lynn Watson, which placed sixth in the liberty division with a 77.6.

Overall, the day was a wonderful testament to the quality of U.S.-bred sport horses available across the country. Judge Jos Sevriens had great notes for the competitors and was complimentary of his trip to Texas and the great young stock presented to him. Thank you to Judge Sevriens, Haras Hacienda, Marilyn Kulifay, Martin Douzant, and all the countless people who worked tirelessly this weekend in the Texas heat to make sure this event with off without a hitch!

About the Future Event Horse Program and Young Horse Show Series

The USEA introduced the Future Event Horse Program in 2007 in response to the popularity of the already established USEA Young Event Horse Program. Where the YEH program assesses 4- and 5-year-old prospective event horses based on their performance, the FEH program evaluated yearlings, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds for their potential for the sport based on conformation and type. The FEH program is now run by the Young Horse Show Series, under their umbrella.

Jul 02, 2024 Educational Activities

USEA Educational Activity Highlight: Sherwood Forest Hunter Pace | Sherwood Oregon | July 13, 2024

What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.

Jul 02, 2024 Profile

No Longer Dreaming: Claire Allen's Goal of Qualifying for USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship is Now Reality

Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.

Jul 01, 2024 Competitions

Alliston’s Busy Weekend, Braitling’s Reuniting with Five-Star Mount, & Kalkman’s Advanced Victory Highlight Twin Rivers Summer H.T.

As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Jul 01, 2024 Education

USEA Podcast #364: All Your Grooming Questions Answered

There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA