Mar 22, 2021

Top 10 Tips for Presenting Your Horse in a USEA Future Event Horse Competition

USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

The USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) program is designed to assess yearlings, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds for their suitability for careers as eventers. In FEH competitions, yearlings, 2-year-olds, and 3-year-olds are shown in-hand while 4-year-olds are presented under saddle. At the FEH championships, 3- and 4-year-olds also demonstrate their ability over fences in the jump chute.

Proper handling of your young horse at FEH competitions is essential to giving them their best chance for success. Susan Graham White and Robin Walker, co-chairs of the FEH Committee and the judges for the 2020 USEA FEH East Coast Championships, share their top tips to help you present your young horse and show off his potential.

  1. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and it’s true – presentation is important. Make sure your horse is in good physical condition – they should be at the proper weight, their hooves should be well maintained, and they should be well groomed prior to the competition.
  2. That goes for the handler as well – you should present a polished, professional picture. Handlers should be dressed in neat attire such as khaki pants with polo shirt and good footwear which will allow you to run safely. When FEH competitions are held in conjunction with events, boots and breeches will be considered appropriate. Helmets are required.
  3. Yearlings should have been handled enough prior to the competition that they can show off their potential. It’s a fine line and sometimes they are so overwhelmed that we get to see little of their best.
  4. The 2-year-olds are very often the most difficult year. You want them to be well-mannered and looking polished and well-presented from their body condition and feet to their handling and their tack.
  5. A 3-year-olds should have more mileage and present a more experienced picture. They should also be familiar with and prepared for the jump chute without being overschooled.
  6. The 4-year-old FEH class is designed for horses not ready for the rigors of the 4-year-old Young Event Horse (YEH)Class, but they should still be proficient and able to demonstrate their gaits under saddle. To the rider, it pays dividends to have the horses riding as well as you can get them.
  7. Practice makes perfect! You should practice regularly at home how to stand up your horse and how to walk and trot in hand. Do a small amount each day until your horse is confident and moves freely forward with you.
  8. It is often easier to position your horse by pushing them back, instead of pulling them forward, one or two diagonal strides to attain an open stance. If your horse steps forward, merely push them back a stride into position.
  9. Moving forward is key to helping your horse display their gaits to the best of their ability. If needed, you can have an assistant handler with you to follow along behind your horse with a whip to encourage them to move forward.
  10. Before you enter a Future Event Horse competition, you should make sure that you have read the rules for FEH competitions, checked out the other resources on the USEA website, and made sure you have the proper tack and other equipment.

Want more tips from top professionals? Check out other articles in our Top 10 Tips series!

About the USEA Future Event Horse Program

The USEA introduced the Future Event Horse Program in 2007 in response to the popularity of the already established USEA Young Event Horse Program. Where the YEH program assesses 4- and 5-year-old prospective event horses based on their performance, the FEH program evaluates yearlings, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds for their potential for the sport based on conformation and type. Yearlings, 2-year-olds, and 3-year-olds are presented in-hand while 4-year-olds are presented under saddle at the walk, trot, and canter before being stripped of their tack and evaluated on their conformation. Divisions are separated by year and gender. At the Championships, 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds are also required to demonstrate their potential over fences in an additional free-jump division. Click here to learn more about the Future Event Horse Program.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, Parker Equine Insurance, SmartPak, Standlee Hay Company, , and Etalon Diagnostics, for sponsoring the Future Event Horse Program.

May 30, 2023 Classic Series

The Organizers of the USEA Classic Series: Dr. Christel Carlson

The USEA Classic Series is going strong thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of event organizers who are committed to the thrill of long-format eventing. Dr. Christel Carlson, M.D. is one of the biggest champions of the program. A former competitor, she continues to contribute countless hours to the USEA as an organizer, judge (R), volunteer, and member of multiple committees. She is the owner of Spokane Sport Horse Farm in Spokane, Washington, which hosts two USEA recognized events each year. The facility’s fall event, which closes out the season in Area VII, includes Classic Three-Day divisions at the Beginner Novice, Novice and Training levels.

May 30, 2023 Eventing News

Through The Lens: 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Championship

It was a weekend to remember for eventers from 13 colleges as they convened at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, from May 26-28 for the 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Championship. The 23 teams gave their all and had tons of fun!

May 29, 2023 Eventing News

Woodside Recognizes the Best in the West

The 2023 Woodside Spring H.T. served as a celebration of the successes of the West Coast eventers that competed in the Kentucky Three-Day Event, as well as what’s in store for the future of the sport in California. On the eve of competition on Thursday, organizers at the Woodside Horse Trials held a party in honor of both Tamie Smith’s historic win in the Kentucky five-star and the team of cross country builders led by Bert Wood that unveiled new courses at The Horse Park. Derek di Grazia designed the new Advanced and Intermediate tracks, with Wood designing the new tracks for Preliminary through Starter.

May 29, 2023 ATC

Adult Team Championships Riders Must Submit Letter of Intent for AEC

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to offer the USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) at the upcoming USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), presented by Nutrena Feeds. The Adult Team Championships will be offered once again at the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, and Preliminary levels for members of the USEA Adult Rider Program, and newly added this year, the Modified level will be included in the ATC as well.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Real Estate Partner of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Outerwear of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA