United States Eventing Association

USEA Welcomes New Partnership with Etalon Diagnostics for YEH and FEH

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce the new partnership with Etalon Diagnostics. As a Contributing Level Sponsor to the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) and USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) programs, Etalon Diagnostics will provide 10 Minipanel PLUS Tests with Ancestry/Composition to be used towards prizes for the USEA YEH and USEA FEH Championships. Etalon Diagnostics is also offering a discount to USEA members who may use the code “USEAMember” to receive a 15 percent discount off Minipanel PLUS test and a gift with purchase.

The upcoming USEA FEH West Coast Championships will be held on September 19 at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California. The USEA FEH Central Championships will be held on September 26 at Snowdonia Farms in Tomball, Texas. The USEA FEH East Coast Championships will be held on September 28-29 at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland.

The USEA YEH East Coast Championships will be held on October 17-18 at Fair Hill International in Elkton, Maryland. The USEA YEH West Coast Championships will be held on October 20 at Fresno County Horse Park in Fresno, California.

“At Etalon we believe backing your training and health care with solid science is the key to success: know your horse right down to the DNA,” said Christa Lafayette, Founder and CEO of Etalon Diagnostics. “Our genetic analysis helps riders, trainers, and owners understand each horse’s unique strengths and weakness. For young horses, this information is imperative from the start to ensure better performance, riding suitability, safety, and happiness in both horse and rider.”

Lafayette continued, “In partnership with USEA Young Event Horse Program, we have the opportunity to embrace novel scientific solutions and demonstrate to the equine community how innovation and collaboration can solve some of our most complex challenges at a much earlier stage in the horse's life and training. Keeping our horses' health and well-being is of utmost importance. We believe our genetic platform and research efforts align perfectly with the USEA mission. In addition, the accumulation of genetic data will provide amazing educational opportunities for all USEA’s members and scientists alike. Together we will work to improve the health and wellness of our beloved equine athletes.”

The California based company offers unique comprehensive equine DNA testing. The team behind Etalon Diagnostics includes top scientists, geneticists, biologists, tech experts, professional equestrians, and animal lovers from the Silicon Valley, esteemed Universities, and laboratories around the nation. Their genetic diagnostic platform includes many new equine trait markers for health diagnostics and performance at an affordable price.

“We are very thankful for the support of Etalon Diagnostics,” said USEA CEO Rob Burk. “Etalon Diagnostics is the industry leader in equine DNA testing and this new partnership is a perfect fit for the USEA young horse programs.”

For more information on Etalon Diagnostics, please visit www.etalondx.com. Don’t forget to enter in the upcoming championships. Check the list of FEH Qualified Horses and YEH Qualified Horses.

About the USEA Young Event Horse 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 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 Bates Saddles, SmartPak, Standlee Hay Company, C4 Belts and Etalon Diagnostics for sponsoring the Young Event Horse Program.

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, SmartPak, Standlee Hay Company, C4 Belts, Etalon Diagnostics and Guardian Horse Bedding for sponsoring the Future Event Horse Program.