United States Eventing Association

The race to Le Lion continues, as the 2025 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships edge closer on Oct. 16-10. This event, which features both the 6-year-old CCI2*-L and 7-year-old CCI3*-L divisions, is known as the pinnacle for young horses.

The USEA continuously tracks the horses in contention for the 7-year-old championship at La Mondial du Lion 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 USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) competitor per year to represent the United States in the 7-year-old championship.

The Holekamp/Turner Grant was founded by the late Timothy Holekamp and his wife Cheryl Holekamp of New Spring Farm and Christine and T.J. Turner of Indian Creek Farm in 2015. The intention of the grant is to further develop an upward pathway for U.S. team horses in the sport of eventing. Grant recipients who are North American-bred will be awarded the full cash grant of $17,500. Imported horses will be awarded $8,000. If the highest-scoring horse from the 2023 USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) 5-year-old Championship does not qualify or is unable to attend the event in their 7-year-old year, the grant will be awarded to the next highest scorer who is qualified, able, and willing to go.

This year, the Dutta Corp., a platinum sponsor of the USEA YEH Championships, is providing a $10,000 flight credit to travel to France for the event. This flight prize will be awarded to the Holekamp/Turner Grant recipient. The grant and prize recipient must be fully qualified to compete.

This year, the horse that has the highest score from the 2023 USEA Young Event Horse 5-Year-Old Championship that is also fully qualified to compete in the 7-year-old Championship will receive the grant. The eligibility of the grant remains with the horse, regardless of change of rider after the 5-year-old Championships, but for the grant, only USEF-sponsored 7-year-old entries will qualify. Thus, only horses ridden by U.S. citizens are eligible.

Owners of grant-eligible horses must notify the USEA of their intentions to compete in the Championships by Sept. 1.

To qualify for the 7-year-old CCI3*-L Championship, a horse must complete the Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER) for the level, which is one CCI2*-L and one CCI3*-S, both of which must be without any cross-country penalties and a maximum of four jump penalties in show jumping. Activating a maximum of one frangible device on cross-country will maintain the MER results. New for this year, the FEI has clarified that combinations must meet qualifications for a CCI3*-L as per Article 520. This means uncategorized athletes need to obtain an additional MER at a CCI3*-S as well.

At this time, there are a total of six horses fully qualified for Mondial du Lion. In addition, 11 horses have partially qualified and still have time to obtain final qualifications before the qualification close date of Sept. 15.

Fernhill Bertus, a Hanoverian gelding (Balou Peggio x Celine) owned by Beth Brown, was the overall reserve champion of the 2023 YEH 5-year-old Championships, and therefore the highest-placed fully qualified horse for the grant as of Aug. 1.

The following horses were fully qualified at our last update (in order of 2024 overall ranking):

• Camelot PJ | Hanoverian gelding (Colman x Evita) | Bred by Dr. Jacobs, owned by Andrea Baxter and Estrella Equestrian, and ridden by Baxter.
• Arden Augustus | American Warmblood gelding (Jaguar Mail x Juneau) | Bred and owned by Anita Antenucci, and ridden by Sharon White.
• Kokoleka | Irish Sport Horse mare (Sligo Candy Boy x Castle Pacino) | Bred by Noel Ruane and owned and ridden by Katherine Brown.
• The Big Easy | Irish Sport Horse gelding (Mr. Lincoln B x PLS Hippo Q) | Bred by William McDonnel Jr, owned by Andrea Baxter and Estrella Equestrian, and ridden by Baxter.

New Faces

In our first update, we outlined the five horses who had already met the full qualifications for grant consideration and the nine horses who had partial qualifications at that time. We are pleased to report that one more horse, LS Crown Royale, has finalized his qualifications, and three additional horses have earned partial qualifications.

LS Crown Royal (Comte x Estefania), a Hanoverian gelding bred by Felix Geffken and owned and ridden by Jordán Linstedt-Granquist, achieved his final qualification at The Event at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, Montana) in July, where he placed fifth in the CCI3*-L. Earlier this year, he finished sixth in the CCI3*-S at Aspen Farms (Yelm, Washington) and won the CCI2*-L at Twin Rivers (Paso Robles, California). He is ranked just below Arden Augustus on the list of fully qualified horses.

In addition to the nine partially qualified horses from our last update, one horse ridden by a U.S. rider has recently received part of the necessary qualifications to be considered for the grant:

• Quantum Cooley (Dakar VDL x Ming Dynasty), bred by Diana H. Warrington, owned by the Raise The Bar Syndicate, and ridden by Fylicia Barr.

There are five horses in the field who are partially qualified but are currently being campaigned by non-U.S. riders. If one of these horses were to be selected for the grant, they would have to be ridden by a U.S. rider at Le Lion. The following three horses recently achieved partial qualification:

• Chiaro Z Excalibur (by Contendro I), a Zangersheide gelding bred by H. Smeets, owned by Peter Barry, and ridden by Colleen Loach (CAN).
  
  
• Quality Corruption (by Lagans OBOS Quality), bred by William Kennedy, and owned and ridden by Shelby Brost (CAN).
  
  
• Excalibur O’Donoghue (by Timone), an Irish Sport Horse gelding bred by Robert Hartigan and owned and ridden by Sabrina Glaser (CAN).

Finally, the following two horses are still partially qualified, however due to the new requirements, their riders must obtain an additional MER at the CCI3*-S level:

• Carsonstown Basil (Lougherne Cappuccino x Graf Unique), an Irish Sport Horse gelding bred by Brian Livingstone, owned by Sally Cox, and ridden by Elinor Macphail O’Neal.

• Betty Z (Bamako de Muze x Wisma I), a Zangersheide mare bred by Mareline Stud BVBA and owned and ridden by Morgan Batton.

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

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 ARMA, Bates Saddles, HorseWeek, The Jockey Club, Kerrits, Schneiders Saddlery, and Standlee for sponsoring the Young Event Horse Program. Additionally, the USEA would like to thank The Dutta Corp., Title Sponsor of the Young Event Horse Championships.

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 flight credit from the Eastern United States to Europe.