United States Eventing Association

Showcase Your Young Horse’s Talent at a 2020 USEA YEH Event

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) 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 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.

There are ample opportunities for young horses to get out and compete in YEH classes in 2020, whether they are trying to qualify for the USEA YEH Championships or just looking to gain experience without the stress and pressure of a full horse trials.

The Young Event Horse classes give riders, owners, and breeders the opportunity to showcase the potential of their 4- and 5-year-old horses under saddle with a dressage test and a jumping and galloping test. At the Championships, the YEH horses are also judged on their conformation. To be eligible for the YEH East Coast Championships, horses must earn a 75% or higher at any YEH qualifier. To be eligible for the YEH West Coast Championships, horses must earn a 70% or higher at any YEH qualifier.

Ready to get out there and compete? Check out the calendar of YEH events for 2020:

2020 USEA Young Event Horse Calendar

Organizers are consistently adding to this calendar - 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.

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 Hay Company, C4 Belts and Etalon Diagnostics for sponsoring the Young Event Horse Program.