Marilyn Payne, FEI judge and co-chair of the YEH Committee, says that the program also serves to provide a showcase for young horses destined to become amateur or young rider mounts. For many breeders, this is an incredibly lucrative market and participation in the program serves as a spotlight for their horses. The YEH program allows four- and five-year-olds to compete against other animals of the same age. 2013 was a big year for the program; according to Rob Burk, senior director of programs for the USEA, there were 21 regular YEH competitions held, and two championships, for a total of 23 contests, with 254 horses competing across the country. Nine of out of 10 of the USEA’s Areas hosted at least one YEH competition. Though the program is not quite a decade old (the first competitions were held in 2004), it is already producing results. “I love the fact that the only three horses who were products of the YEH program that were entered to compete in the Preliminary Level at the American Eventing Championships [in 2013], finished first and second in the Preliminary Horse division, and first in the Preliminary Amateur division,” says Burk. “Those odds are astronomical and proof that the program has done a good job of identifying potential.” Today we will take a look at the basics of this program, its impact on event horse breeding in the U.S., and plans for the future.
When the YEH Program was first conceptualized, the USEA looked to similar programs already in existence abroad to use as models. Payne says that England’s program is amongst the best established, and culminates each year with a competition at Burghley. “However, the horses only compete in the ring,” says Payne. “In the Irish program, the emphasis is on crosscountry. We took a little bit from each program.” Horses are assessed in three areas during a Young Event Horse competition: conformation and type, dressage, and jumping. While the primary goal of the program is to provide a showcase to find future CCI3* and CCI4* horses, Payne says that an equally important objective is to encourage be low key and inviting, and the intensity increases throughout breeders to breed horses specifically for the sport of eventing. the year, culminating with the most difficult courses at the cham“Most breeders focus on either dressage or jumpers,” says pionships. Jumping tests usually consist of five to six fences each Payne, a sport horse breeder herself for the past 30 years. for cross-country and show jumping. “As you breed for eventers, some will be better suited for “For the four-year-olds, all the fences should be lower and more introductory in nature,” says Payne. “Horses are dressage or jumpers, so you place them there. However, we are really looking for the athlete that will be a CCI horse. encouraged to trot fences in preparatory competitions. By Usually this animal is a Thoroughbred or has Thoroughbred the time you reach the championships, horses should be able blood. They need to be able to go the distance.” to canter and jump out of stride.” The YEH Program also gives trainers a place for young horses to train and school without the pressure and strenFrom the Breeder’s Perspective uous effort of a bigger competition. Horses are assessed in Tim Holekamp of New Spring Farm in Missouri and Florida three areas: conformation and type, performing a dressage is well known to eventers as the owner of the Trakehner test, and the jumping test, which includes a gallop. “The stallion Windfall; he also currently serves as the co-chair jumping test is a much shorter course than even what you of the YEH Committee. Although he has chosen in recent would see at a lower level event,” says Payne. “The dressage years not to enter his own horses in YEH competition, so is quite basic; horses walk, trot, and canter, and the rider as to avoid concern about conflict of interest, in future should aim to show off the horse’s gaits. We reward horses years, he may do so again. He and his wife initially became ridden freely forward and with quality gaits.” involved in order to get an accurate outside evaluation of the potential of their homebreds. Horses compete at regional qualifying competitions throughout the year; those with outstanding scores at the regional events are “[We] have been breeding horses mainly for eventing for eligible to compete at one of two national championships (East nearly 30 years,” says Holekamp. “It took us half that time and West). Generally, early season competitions are intended to just to get a grasp of what parameters are most important 62
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PHOTO: LESLIE THRELKELD/USEA
Purpose
| March 2014
2/7/14 12:57:45 PM