United States Eventing Association

The road to the 2026 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d’Angers, France, is officially underway. Each fall, the world's most promising young event horses converge on France to compete in the prestigious 6-year-old CCI2*-L and 7-year-old CCI3*-L Championships, making Mondial du Lion one of the sport's premier showcases of future talent. This year's championships will take place Oct. 15-18.

For more than a decade, the USEA has helped support American participation at Mondial du Lion through the annual Holekamp/Turner Grant. Established in 2015 by the late Timothy Holekamp and Cheryl Holekamp of New Spring Farm, along with Christine and T.J. Turner of Indian Creek Farm, the grant was created to strengthen the development pathway for future U.S. team horses in the sport of eventing.

Each year, the grant is awarded to an eligible USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championship competitor aiming to represent the United States in the 7-year-old Championship at Mondial du Lion. North American-bred recipients receive $17,500 in funding, while imported horses are awarded $8,000. Should the highest-scoring eligible 5-year-old from the designated championship year fail to qualify or be unable to attend, the grant will pass to the next highest-scoring horse that is qualified, able, and willing to compete.

In addition, The Dutta Corporation, sponsor of the USEA YEH Championships, has provided a flight credit to France for the Holekamp/Turner Grant recipient. Both the grant and travel award are contingent upon the horse earning full qualification for Mondial du Lion.

For the 2026 grant cycle, eligibility is based on results from the 2024 USEA Young Event Horse 5-Year-Old Championship. The horse with the highest championship score between both coasts, that also achieves full qualification for the 7-year-old Championship at Mondial du Lion, will receive the grant. Eligibility remains with the horse regardless of any subsequent rider changes; however, only USEF-sponsored entries in the 7-year-old Championship are eligible, meaning the horse must be ridden by a U.S. citizen.

Owners or riders of grant-eligible horses must notify the USEA of their intent to compete at Mondial du Lion by Sept. 1, 2026.

To qualify for the 7-year-old CCI3*-L Championship, horses must complete the FEI Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs), consisting of one CCI2*-L and one CCI3*-S completed with no cross-country penalties and no more than four penalties in the show jumping phase. The activation of a single frangible device on cross-country will not invalidate an MER. Additionally, FEI regulations require combinations to meet qualification standards for a CCI3*-L under Article 520. As a result, uncategorized athletes must obtain an additional MER at the CCI3*-S level.

While no horses have yet secured full qualification for the 2026 Holekamp/Turner Grant, four contenders have already achieved partial qualifications and remain on course to complete the remaining requirements before the qualification deadline.

Partially Qualified Horses

The following horses have received part of the necessary qualifications thus far and remain in contention for the grant:

• Fary Prince (The After Party x Farytale), a British Sport Horse gelding owned by Alliston Equestrian and ridden by Helen Alliston. Fary Prince finished fourth overall in the 2024 USEA YEH 5-Year-Old Championship and earned a qualifying result in the CCI2*-L at The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs in October 2025.

• HSH Afterglow (Hype x Ringwood Venus), an Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Valentine Jie and ridden by Caroline Pamukcu. Sixth overall in the 2024 USEA YEH 5-Year-Old Championship, HSH Afterglow secured a qualifying result in the CCI2*-L at the Ocala International Festival of Eventing in April 2025.

• MBF Braxy V (Renkum Valentino x Roxsette), a British Sport Horse gelding owned by Estrella Equestrian and ridden by Rebecca Braitling. MBF Braxy V, who competed under the name Brackenspa Valens during his 5-year-old championship season, finished 21st overall in the 2024 USEA YEH 5-Year-Old Championship. He earned a qualifying result in the CCI2*-L at the Twin Rivers Spring International in April 2026.

• Darwinn (Denver x Emma V), a Holsteiner gelding owned by Caroline Moran and ridden by Phillip Dutton. Darwinn placed 25th overall in the 2024 USEA YEH 5-Year-Old Championship and collected a qualifying result in the CCI3*-S at the Tryon International Three-Day Event in May 2026.

The USEA will continue to provide updates as more horses earn their full qualifications for the 7-year-old Championship at La Mondial du Lion. For questions or to inquire about the Holekamp/Turner Grant and The Dutta Corp. prize, contact Kate Lokey.

About the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) 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-years-old, 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 Platinum Sponsor, The Dutta Corp., Gold Sponsor Goresbridge, as well as Contributing Sponsors ARMA, Bates Saddles, CrossCountry App, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher's Water, HorseWeek, The Jockey Club, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, and Standlee, and Prize Sponsor 100xEquine for sponsoring the Young Event Horse Program. The USEA also thanks Ocala Horse Properties for their support of the 2026 USEA YEH Symposium.

About The Holekamp/Turner Grant

Founded in 2015 by Timothy and Cheryl Holekamp of New Spring Farm and Christine and T.J. Turner of Indian Creek Farm, the Holekamp/Turner Grant provides a USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championship competitor with the opportunity to represent the United States at the FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships in the 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L Championship at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d’Angers, France. With the sole purpose of paving a clear pathway for U.S. team horses to progress in the sport of eventing, recipients who are North American bred will be awarded the full cash grant of $17,500, while imported horses are awarded $8,000. Additionally, The Dutta Corp. offers a prize to the Holekamp/Turner Grant recipient, consisting of a $10,000 flight credit from the Eastern United States to Europe.