United States Eventing Association

The sun was shining, and the young horses came to impress on day 1 of The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) West Coast Championships at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California. Five 4-year-olds and 13 5-year-olds were presented to judges Sally Ike in the dressage ring and Christian Schact in conformation to cap off a short but sweet start to the week.

The second event in the two-leg Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championships starts tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 18 at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California and continues through Saturday, Oct. 19. Today, competitors have one more chance to earn their spot in the Dutta. Corp YEH West Coast Championships this week during Twin Rivers’ Last Chance Qualifier, which will see one 4-year-old and five 5-year-olds attempt to secure a 70% of higher to finalize their qualification.

The Thoroughbred mare Rose Traveler (War Dancer x Nashwan Rose) was the last to be seen in the 2024 Dutta. Corp USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast 5-Year-Old Championship, and she definitely lived up to the age-old adage, “saved the best for last.” The mare was ranked 31st in the conformation and 22nd in the dressage, but her jumping and galloping efforts absolutely impressed the judges, launching her up the leaderboard to claim the champion title.

A field of 30 promising 4-year-olds completed all phases of the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast 4-year-old Championship today, and it was Leslie Morse’s homebred Dutch Warmblood mare Prime Star (Kingston x Stradiveria), ridden by Madison Temkin, who rose to the occasion. “Star” held the top spots in both the conformation and dressage phases and second place across the jumping and galloping phases to secure the champion title on a cumulative score of 88.76.

Not to be overshadowed by the epic five-star competition taking place this week at the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, 72 of the country's best and brightest 4- and 5-year-old horses will converge on Elkton, Maryland, for the 2024 Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast Championships, presented by Dubarry of Ireland. On Thursday, Oct. 17 and Friday, Oct. 18, join the USEA in Timber Field as we witness new champions emerge from this exciting crop of potential future four- and five-star horses!

Since 2005, the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) classes for 4- and 5-year-olds have showcased rising stars in the eventing world, and many graduates of the program have gone on to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is pleased to announce the Equine Network’s Horse Week has returned as a “Media Partner of the USEA,” as well as a “Contributing Sponsor for the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships.”

At Close Range, known as "Ninja," is a 2020 Thoroughbred gelding by Saketini, bred and owned by me, Audrea Dyer. He is out of the G3-placed mare Bodacious Barb, a successful runner by Agnes Gold (JPN).

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is pleased to announce The Jockey Club has renewed its sponsorship as “Silver Level Sponsor of the USEA American Eventing Championships” and “Contributing Sponsor of the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Series.” They also provide Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) awards to all TIP champions and reserve champions at the AEC, as well as the YEH Championships.

The race to Le Lion continues, as the 2024 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships edge closer on Oct. 17-20. The USEA continuously tracks the horses in contention for the 7-year-old championship in Le Lion d’Angers, France, and this year includes several competitive horses vying for the Holekamp/Turner Grant, which provides significant funds to one eligible horse to represent the United States in France.