United States Eventing Association

What to Expect at a FEH Free Jumping Competition

The Young and Future Event Horse article series is being provided through a partnership between Mythic Landing Enterprises, LLC., and the USEA.

Part One: Preparing Your Future Event Horse for the Free Jumping Competition at Home

Samantha Allan is a prominent name in the Future and Young Event Horse program as she can be seen judging many FEH and YEH competitions across the East and West Coast. Allan is an USEF Eventing judge (r), USEF Eventing TD (r), a USDF Bronze medalist and has successfully competed at the upper levels of Eventing. With the most recent addition of free jumping to the Future Event Horse championships, Allan explains what to expect in this portion of the competition and what the judges are really looking for.

The free jumping portion of the Future Event Horse championships is an exciting addition that will help judges to further determine whether a horse is the right type to be successful event horse for the upper levels. Allan describes, “The jump chute will be set-up in an enclosure that is 7’ high. The chute will go all the way down one long side and around the corner. The owners of the horses have input on adjusting the distances in between the three jumps as the point of this new addition is to show the horse off to the best of its own ability.”

Many thanks to Priefert for providing a safe jump chute arena for our East Coast Championships at Loch Moy Farm.

The distance can be adjusted 9’-12’ between the ground pole and obstacle 1, 18’ – 22.5’ to the second element and then anywhere from 19’ – 25’ to the third. Every horse has a different step, so the flexibility of these distances make this exercise fair to the horse.

Allan goes on to explain what to expect when this portion of the competition begins. “First, each horse will canter through each direction with all the poles removed. Then the jumps will be set up according to the individual horse. It is typically started with a cross rail and ends up set as a vertical, to a vertical, to an oxer, however, this can be adjusted according to the horse’s needs.”

As these horses go through the chute, the judges are paying attention to the form of the horse and their expression through the approach, take off and landing of each element. “I’m looking for a horse that’s brave and willing to go forward down the chute and I’m particularly watching how quickly they leave the ground. If they’re slow off the ground, that’s a big concern for me. I also want to see them get their feet out of the way, be able to pat the ground, and use their neck as they come up into the air and bring their shoulders up,” Allan said.

Allan wants to see horses keep their knees equal to or above the horizontal line of the elbow, like this horse.

One of the biggest jumping flaws that Allan will pick up on is if the horse drops their knees below the horizontal line of the elbow. She continues, “If the horse is dropping a knee they’re more likely to catch a leg and twist on a solid fence. I also want to see them jump across the fence, not straight up and down, and then land and step away from the jump. I’m also looking to see their reaction if they make a mistake. When they come around to try it again are they going to be quicker with their front end or hind end or be backed off?”

Free jumping is such an integral part to any event horse’s training because it teaches them to look out for themselves without interference or help from the rider. They make their own mistakes and are solely responsible for them. Allan notes that as their training progresses and the fences get bigger and more technical, it’s imperative for them to know how to watch out for themselves so they can save their rider when a mistake is made.

FEH Introduction to Free Jumping: Text | Video

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New in 2016, the FEH Championships will feature a free jumping competition in addition to the standard in-hand class. Jump Chute opportunities before these championships will be announced, and currently Dragonfire Farm is hosting a free jumping clinic on the west coast this month, May 21-22. Loch Moy Farm will host free jumping clinics on July 7 and October 5.

West Coast Championship at Twin Rivers, Septmeber 23, 2016

East Coast Championship at Loch Moy Farm, Oct. 6, 2016 (A qualifier will be held the day before, Oct. 5)

About the Future Event Horse Program

The Future Event Horse (FEH) program evaluates the potential of yearlings, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds to become successful upper level event horses. In order to get a more complete picture of a young horse's potential, the USEA is officially introducing free jumping divisions for 3-year-olds in 2016. Through the jump chute, the judges will be able to examine the horses’ canter movement, jumping technique, jumping ability and scope. This process was introduced to the East Coast in 2015 and will be mandatory in the three-year old divisions at both the East and West Coast Championships in 2016. This video is designed to give owners, handlers and breeders the opportunity to become familiar with the process. Please direct any questions involving the FEH Program to Kate Lokey, [email protected].