United States Eventing Association

This year marked the seventh annual USEA Young Event Horse Championships where four- and five-year-olds competed for the chance to be named the top rising stars. The East coast horses had their chance to compete last week in conjunction with the Fair Hill International CCI2*/3* in Elkton, Maryland.

Topping the five-year-old division was Royal Tribute, a horse who has earned much success despite his youth. The 17.1 hand Oldenburg gelding (Royal Prince x Firstar) who is owned by Kristen Burgers and Doug Payne was ridden by Doug to an impressive 91.01.

“Tribute” began his winning streak as a three-year-old by claiming the Grand Championship at the 2009 IDHSNA/USEA Future Event Horse Championships. After graduating from the in-hand program, Tribute then went out and won his very first USEA recognized event at the Beginner Novice level this February at Sporting Days. As Tribute steadily rose through the ranks, he capped off the season with a third place in the Training Horse Division at the Nutrena/USEA American Eventing Championships in September and of course his YEH Championship win.

“I think it was a very good test for all of the horses, the show jumping was in a large area but there were still tight turns,” said Doug. “The cross-country portion was a good test with a nice rhythm and flow so you could really show the horses to their best. Tribute really handled it better than I could have expected.”

After collecting quite a few feathers in his hat this year, Tribute is going to have a nice long vacation and will come out next season back at Training level. “There is no point in rushing a horse of his size and talent,” said Doug. “So we will just go at the pace he is comfortable with.”

Phillip Dutton rode Kristin Schmolze’s Irish Sport Horse gelding, Lumiere Royal (Lux Z x Cavalier Lolla) in to the Reserve Championship position on an 89.91. Lumiere Royal was also the winner of this year’s Safe Harbor award. The Safe Harbor Award is presented to the young horse who consistently exhibits the most graceful and rider friendly performance throughout the competition.

In the four-year-old division, Jules Stiller and Kelli Temple’s striking gray Dutch Warmblood gelding, Corneel (Cortano x Godiva) stole the show. With Kelli in the irons, Corneel earned an 89.47, four points over second place finishers, Martha McDowell and The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

“Corneel is basically a six-year-old in a four-year-old body,” said Kelli. “He came over from the U.K. in July of this year and he has done three events before this one. These championships are easily the most atmosphere he has been in, and he handled it really well. What better experience could your horse have then to learn to deal with this atmosphere from the beginning?”

“I think that this is a really great program,” continued Kelli. “It is a great way to introduce these young horses to eventing without the pressure of knowing if they have a stop it will go on their record and this has really been a great experience for the horse to come here and see everything.”

The Fantastic Mr. Fox, a Holsteiner/Thoroughbred bred and ridden by Martha McDowell and owned by Greg McDowell finished the four-year-old division in second place with an 86.52.

For their wins in the Young Event Horse Championships, Doug Payne took home a custom Stackhouse saddle and Fleeceworks Saddle Pad Set, while Kelli Temple earned a Wellfleet Eventer Bridle from SmartPak Equine and a Fleeceworks Saddle Pad Set.

The USEA Young Event Horse Championships would not be possible without its fabulous sponsors: Stackhouse Saddles, Fleeceworks, SmartPak Equine, and SUCCEED.