Oct 22, 2019

That Horse: Looking for Four- and Five-Star Potential

Judging the Young Event Horse Championships. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

We all have that "aha" moment when we see THAT HORSE. You know the one; the horse that shows off three lovely gaits in the dressage ring and demonstrates scope and a big ground-covering gallop as it smoothly and eagerly jumps its show jumping and cross-country courses. THAT HORSE takes our breath away; reminding us why we love horses and the sport of three-day eventing.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the USEA Young Event Horse Judge Seminar held at Fair Hill in conjunction with the 2019 USEA Young Event Horse Championships. Marilyn Payne was the panelist and she shared a plethora of information and experience. The participants were composed of passionate judges, breeders, trainers, and riders, all eager to learn and soak up what goes into judging and placing a top event horse.

Being a relatively new USEF ‘r’ Eventing Judge, I was thrilled to have the time and opportunity to join this free seminar. I’ve had a year of significant stress. Being immersed in two days of watching quality horses was like sitting back and having some uninterrupted time to savor a fine wine. And it was filled with a lot of THAT HORSE.

A list of reminders to consider when judging a Young Event Horse class. Annemarie Cochrane Photo.

On Thursday, we met in a tent above the dressage rings. It was a chilly windy morning and the tent had a mind of its own. There were moments I thought we all might be taken away like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Everyone introduced themselves and Marilyn began by initiating a discussion on YEH rules, basics, procedures, judging methodology, and scoring. It is quite different than judging a dressage test. The rider executes a basic test written specifically for the expectations of a 4-year-old or 5-year-old. The judge is looking at the gaits and overall rideability and determining if the basic training is correct. The score sheet reflects those determinations. It relies on scores from 1-10, as well as comments. You can use decimal points as well as whole numbers. If the horse has a minor inconsistency, due to outside influences such as flags blowing or loud noises, it’s not penalized. The judge must remember these are young horses. The judge is looking for the overall impression and he or she bases their overall judgment and comments on what they are seeing at that time and on that particular day.

After lunch we had the opportunity to judge six horses and discuss our marks, comments, and overall placing. Since I am used to judging each movement it took a test or two to get in the groove and navigate a YEH Test. Once in the swing of things, I was pleasantly surprised that when we went over the tests my marks and comments were not far off of Marilyn’s. Phew!

Seminar attendees observing the dressage phase of the YEH Championships. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

The end of the first day was spent walking the jumping test courses with my fellow friend and judge Heather Gillette. We carefully analyzed the courses; walking distances, measuring fences, and discussing our likes and dislikes. The courses incorporated five show jumping fences including a two stride (ascending oxer to vertical) followed by immediately galloping onto a 10-fence cross-country course. The cross-country portion had a variety of fences including a water jump. It finished with another gallop of approximately 150 meters, which was also judged.

We stared Friday by gathering at cross-country. We were lucky that it wasn’t as windy as Thursday - but it was still quite chilly, making me thankful I had long underwear, layers, and a hat. As a group, we discussed the competition rules, which again were quite different from a standard recognized USEA horse trial. We talked about judging methodology, judging the gallop, and what a judge wants to see in a young horse for upper level potential. At YEH Championships the 4-year-olds have a minimum of height at 2’11” to maximum 3”3” and the 5-year-olds have a minimum of height at 3”3” to a maximum of 3”7”.

To get rolling, Marilyn had us observing several partial rounds, which we scored and discussed. This allowed Marilyn to teach us what to look for. After we felt comfortable we judged six horses and discussed our scores and reasoning. I found the jumping phase fascinating.

The judge scores each individual fence from 1 to 5, and then gives marks from 1 to 10 for an evaluation of rideability, between fences, the open gallop, and the overall general impression. Decimal points are allowed and again there are places on the score sheet for comments.

Seminar attendees in discussion during the jumping test. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Giving a score for each fence makes you think and react quickly. Although you are scoring each fence you must also take into consideration the entire picture/course and how the horse negotiated it. A simple pleasant “hunter type” round from a horse with little scope or attack of the fences shouldn’t be the winner. The amateur or senior rider (like myself) might love this horse. But it’s the horse that has scope and a fabulous jump with bascule and a ground-covering, effortless gallop that is more desirable as a potential upper level horse, even if that horse misses at one or two fences. Given the rules differ from horse trials one sees some odd results. For example, one horse placed in the top five in the 5-year-old division after jumping the wrong last fence. The rider was told of her error and was allowed to come back in and jump the correct final fence. At a horse trial that would be an elimination.

I finished the two days with a ton of new knowledge and understanding of what is expected of these horses and how to judge them. It was particularly thrilling to see a Thoroughbred rescued from the kill pen just two years ago finish second in the 5-year-old Championship. Congrats to Ears, Kikki Dalesandro Scherrer, Erin Sylvester, and Kelly Smith of Omega Horse Rescue. What a testimonial on how raw talent, good nutrition, and proper training can produce an upper level horse.

I am very grateful for the time and energy both Marilyn Payne and the USEA has put into this program. It is extremely valuable and I hope it will continue to grow and obtain interest from our members. If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to attend one of these seminars.

Annemarie Cochrane is an adult amateur USEF “r” Eventing Judge and an equestrian sales representative in the Mid-Atlantic. She lives in Elverson, Pennsylvania with her husband.

Jun 07, 2023 Eventing News

Fast Facts: MARS Bromont CCI

After not running in 2020 and 2021, the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event returned to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Center in Quebec, Canada, in 2022. America's Jennie Saville (née Brannigan) and Twilightslastgleam won the CCI4*-L, as the chestnut Thoroughbred gelding (National Anthem x Royal Child) bred and owned by Nina Gardner moved up from eighth after dressage into the lead after cross-country with the fastest round on wet ground over the tracks designed by Derek di Grazia. Canada's Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge, a bay Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Lelia) owned by Patricia Pearce, finished second, and they are among four from the top-10 in the CCI4*-L in 2022 that return in 2023.

Jun 06, 2023 Eventing News

Hollberg Takes Top Honors in Open Intermediate and Preliminary Divisions at 2023 Essex Horse Trials

Hannah Sue Hollberg of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was on a winning streak at the Essex Horse Trials on Sunday, claiming victory in both the $10,000 Open Intermediate and Open Preliminary divisions with two horses that are fairly new to her. Some difficulty on cross-country did not stop her mount Hachi from claiming victory in the Open Intermediate with a score of 101.6, while Open Preliminary partner Rockster finished on his dressage score of 27.3.

Jun 06, 2023 Profile

“And again, and again, and again”: Knowing When to Come Again and When to Switch Up an Exercise

The great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “We win our games in practice.” With the goal of having the most effective practices possible for horses, their riders, and their coaches, Cathy Wieschhoff explains some signs that can indicate when horse and rider should repeat an exercise, switch it up, or be done with that activity. Wieschhoff brings perspective as a five-star rider that has competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and Burghley Horse Trials, a USEF “R” Course Designer for eventing cross-country and show jumping, a former Area VIII chair and member of the USEA Board of Governors, and a Level V USEA ECP Certified Coach based out of Carriage Station Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

Jun 05, 2023 Eventing News

USEF Announces Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for FEI Eventing Nations Cup Poland CCIO4*-NC-S

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Poland CCIO4*-NC-S at the Strzegom Horse Trials (Poland) from June 21-25, 2023. The team will be under the direction of USEF Eventing Emerging and Development Coach Leslie Law.

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