United States Eventing Association

Two New Champions Crowned at the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Championships

Paso Robles, Calif.—Oct. 26—Competition at Twin Rivers Ranch did not disappoint today for the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) West Coast Championships. With a friendly galloping course and lots of options for riders to take, each combination was set up for success. Judges Christian Schact (GER) and Sally Ike (USA) had their work cut out for themselves to pick the winners.

“The horses which we saw today and yesterday; they were sometimes not the fanciest one, but they have good components, they are well trained, they are well balanced, and they were performing in an outstanding way,” Schact said.

Hometown Hero Andrea Baxter Wins West Coast 4-Year-Old Championship

When Andrea Baxter first saw MBF Dig Deep (Golddigger x Amber), bred by B.G. Damhuis, in the Goresbridge Go For Gold auction catalog, it was a no for her.

“Brian Flynn [of MBF Sporthorses] got in my ear about this horse,” Baxter said with a laugh. "He sent me new pictures, and I was like, all right, fine. So I went ahead and got him. When he got here, my breath was taken away immediately.”

MBF Dig Deep arrived to the states in February and despite his powerful presence, it wasn’t until Baxter lost her retired five-star mount Indy 500 due to foaling complications that her attention turned to her new ride.

“I needed something to get me out of my own way,” she said. “He's the stamp of what we're looking for in eventing. He's a beautiful mover, he's uphill, he's got a lovely gallop. He jumps super careful over the show jumps, and is brave on the cross-country jumps. I'm excited to develop him.”

Baxter’s family owns and runs Twin Rivers, and their tireless efforts to put on YEH events and especially the Championship is close to Baxter’s heart. As a platform for launching the careers of young horses, it provides the experience of a championship setting and serves as a reminder of what is means to present a horse.

“You are expected to present the horses the best you can, which means producing the best balance and the best forward canter that you can to make the best jump,” Baxter remarked.

Baxter’s commitment to the YEH program doesn’t end with her own rides. She also brings her own students to the event. Michlynn Sterling, one such student, took the reserve championship ribbon with her own mount Markonix (Echonix x Highly Offley Miss Arko), bred by George McCullough. “Marco,he's a funny dude,” Sterling commented. “He has a big ego, and it's been learning how to ride that and work with him a bit, because he can take over.”

Sourced by Gemme Phelan of Beechfield Stables in Ireland, Marco wasn’t initially aimed for the YEH program. But after a growth spurt at the end of the summer, he and Sterling began to click.

“I was able to figure out how to jump him and keep him softer with a good shape,” she said. “[I was able to] show him off better. He's just been a fun horse to produce. He went out there today and gave it 110%, so you can count on him. And I really like that!”

When asked what special preparations she and Baxter did for the Championships, Baxter provided a bit of insight: “Here at Twin Rivers, we have a lot of banners and the warm-up in the covered arena. That's a lot more atmosphere for the young horses. So I told Michlynn that the horses had to compete at either Twin Rivers or Woodside [Woodside, California] to come to the Championships, because the vibe is a championship feel. It's a bit electric, and so I don't think it's fair [to come unprepared]. All that atmosphere really can be overwhelming to them, so I think it's important that they've seen that before they come.”

Sterling was grateful to her coach who set her up for success with her insights as both a trainer and fellow competitor but more importantly, as an advocate for the YEH program. “It's a small group of horses, but super quality, and I know that [the event] doesn't pay for itself. ” She said. “So I thank [the Baxter’s] for putting in the effort and going and doing such a big thing for us, because it's such an opportunity for these young horses.”

The Go Get ‘Em award in honor of Don Trotter was presented to ESI Harvard (Etouloun VDL x Castellana), bred by Ennisnag Stud and ridden by Michlynn Sterling as well. This award is given to the horse with the highest gallop score in the 4-Year-Old division.

Highest National Score Wins the West Coast 5-Year-Old Championship

From the get-go, judges Ike and Schact had their eyes on Kaylawna Smith-Cook’s ride Only-Else (Idrigill x Kapry-Else), owned by Bonner Carpenter and bred by H.J. Kloosterboer. With the highest conformation score of the weekend with an 8.45, Smith-Cook and “Elsa” went from strength to strength.

“I’ve had Elsa for about a year, and I got her from Sammi Birch in England as a 4-year-old,” Smith-Cook said. “She's really special, and she just showed up for me this weekend and surprised us all.”

YEH wasn’t really on the agenda for the combination but as the partnership solidified, the opportunity for success meant it was time to turn eyes towards the final.

Good thing they did. With all the scores combined across the West Coast and East Coast YEH Championships, Smith-Cook and Only-Else are now the leading contenders for the Holekamp/Turner Grant to compete in the 7-Year-Old Championships at Mondial Du Lion at Le Lion D’Angers, France, in 2026. Qualifications still need to be met and travel plans arranged in order to receive the grant.

Smith-Cook has her eyes on the prize though. “I hope that she can do us justice and be in contention for the grant in two years. Thank you so much to the Baxters and all the organizers and everyone that has put this event on to make it possible!”

Reserve honors went to Helen Alliston aboard owner and breeder Hulme Equestrian’s Fary Prince (The After Party x Farytale). Long time supports and clients of the Allistons, both Helen and her partner James, the Hulme’s paired Helen with Fary Prince a year and a half ago.

“He's the oldest of their breeding program over in England,” she commented. “So they're off to a good start, I would say. We're very excited about him! He's very kind and professional, and seems to enjoy showing off all his talent.”

Baxter had been sneaking in Helen's ears about aiming Fary Prince at the YEH Championships. Clearly Baxter knew what she was about as the pair's 87.85 was good enough to squeak into second in a competitive 5-year-old field.

“Goals for the future are World Champion of eventing!” Helen said with a laugh. Big goals indeed!

Honorable mention must go to EA21 2024-2025 National Camp-selected athlete Elsa Warble and FE Kyoto (Karajan x Zara XXVI), bred by Wichmann Hans-Ulrich. When she was called over to the judges’ stand after the completion of her round, tensions were high. But it was for naught!

“Now here I had sometimes tears in my eyes,” Schact said when asked of the moment. “I told this rider what a fantastic job they are doing, independent from the hand. [Giving] the horse a lot of balance and freedom. That was horsemanship, that was riding, that was everything we aim for. She showed up. If we have young people with this attitude, I think our sport is going so much forward. We need to promote people with this attitude. ”

The final special recognition given in the Championship was the Safe Harbor award. This honors the most amateur friendly mount in the 5-year-old division. Cupido Van de HogeDijken Z (Campino Gold x Cendrillon de L’herse), ridden by Allyson Hartenburg for owner Amy Luca and bred by Yaelle Coudeville of Van de Hoge Dijken, earned the distinction this year.

So completes another year of the Dutta Corp. USEA YEH Championships! We’d like to take this time to thank Connie Baxter and the whole Baxter family of Twin Rivers Ranch for their hospitality and Christina Gray of Gray Area Events for her management of the competition.

In addition, the sponsors that support the YEH program year round also deserve our gratitude: championship title sponsor Dutta Corp. along with ARMA, Bates Saddles, Horse Week, the Jockey Club, Kerrits, Parker Equine Insurance, Schneider’s Saddlery, Smartpak, and Standlee.

Helpful Links:

• Live Scores
• Event Program
• Jumping Course on CrossCountry App
• YEH Rules & Guidelines
• YEH Homepage
• Twin Rivers Website
• USEA Omnibus
• Event Coverage

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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, Parker Equine Insurance, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartPak, 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 round trip flight from the Eastern United States to Europe.