United States Eventing Association

VIDEO: Judging the Young Event Horse's Gaits

In lieu of the USEA Educational Symposium, which could not be held this year due to COVID-19, this week we are bringing you educational content from the USEA Instructors' Certification Program, the USEA Young Event Horse program, and the USEA Future Event Horse program.

Gain insight into the minds of USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) judges by checking out this footage from the 2020 USEA YEH Symposium, part of the 2020 USEA Educational Symposium!

Led by YEH Committee Co-Chair Marilyn Payne, judges and spectators in attendance at the 2020 YEH Symposium evaluated four demo horses on the flat and discussed scoring for each at the walk, trot, and canter. Each demo horse received coaching from Andreas Dibowski, the Educational Symposium’s guest clinician, and the judges were asked to score each horse again.

Then, the exercise was repeated out on the cross-country field for the gallop. Several demo horses demonstrated their gallops to the judges before they discussed the positives and negatives of each horse and then stated how they would score the gallop and why.

Read more about the 2020 YEH Symposium, part of the 2020 USEA Educational Symposium, here.

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 aged four and five, 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, Parker Equine Insurance, Etalon Diagnostics 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.