2010 Future Event Horse Calendar

What is the Future Event Horse Series?

The Future Event Horse (FEH) series was introduced in 2007 as a pilot program as, what the USEA hoped would be, a successful pre-cursor to the already popular Spalding Labs/USEA Young Event Horse series, which is designed for four- and five-year-olds.  Since the “test year” was so successful – with more than fifty young horses competing at the year end Championship show – 2008 would see the FEH’s first season as a bonafide USEA program.

The FEH program focuses on yearlings, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds, and judging the potential they have to become a successful event horse.  Each age group is judged separately, and genders within the age group are judged separately when the number of entries allows.  In order to compete in FEH classes, horses must be registered with the USEA, but a special rate of $25 is available for owners who may not want to register the horse fully yet.

Why Is It Important?

Experience is one of the many perks the FEH program offers.  Most events, even at the lowest levels, are full of excitement and can be overwhelming for even the most experienced of horses.  Giving youngsters the opportunity to get out and gain experience is important in their early development.  Plus, it lets handlers get a sneak peek into the future work ethic of their fledging eventer.

Another goal of the program is to bring more breeders into the world of eventing.  While there are countless breeders who specialize in creating dressage and show jumping prospects, there are considerably fewer breeders who specialize in breeding specifically for eventing.

What is Judged?

In FEH classes, horses are judged on both their conformation and the quality and correctness of their gaits.  Upon entering the arena, their handlers are asked to stand the horses up for inspection to allow the judge to analyze the strengths and weaknesses in their conformation.  Then, they are asked to walk a 15-meter triangle, and then trot a 30-meter triangle.  Finally, they are asked to stand up one last time for the judge to make their final observations.

There are several main points that a judge will look at during the presentation of a competitor.  Firstly, they will look at the straightness of the horses' legs and the quality of their feet.  Also, they will analyze the conformation as a whole to determine if the horse will be able to stand up to the stresses of eventing.  Additionally, the judge will look for the horses' gaits to be straight, correct, swinging and uphill.  The USEA stresses that these factors are more important than "flashy movement" because "event horses are not beauty queens, but athletes."

Entry Forms for FEH Qualifiers

Future Event Horse Entry Form 

Note: These are subject to change!

All Future Event Horse (FEH) Classes are held under the auspices of the USEA and are considered as USEA "Tests." The USEA establishes the guidelines and the policies for the Future Event Horse Series. In all cases the decision of the judge is final

Separate classes will be held for yearlings, two-year-olds and three-year-olds and the goal is to offer these classes by gender.

Where sufficient entries permit each class will be divided into colts, geldings and fillies. Where there are combined classes of colts and fillies all will be judged as one class and the highest placed colt and filly will be recognized. For example, if there is only one filly in the class and she places third overall she will be recognized as the winning filly of that age group.

Combining age groups is not allowed. Each age group will be judged independently of the other. A yearling will not be judged in the two- or three-year old class, and a two-year-old not be judged in a three-year-old class.

January 1 will dictate the age of the horse. Horses born in 2007 will be considered one-year old on January 1, 2008.

Breeder: considered the owner of the mare when she was bred.
Colt: an ungelded male three-years-old or younger.
Filly: a female three-years-old or younger.
FEH Gelding: a gelded horse three-years-old or younger.
Handler: the person presenting the horse to the judge and leading the horse during the walk and trot phases.
Whip Assistants: the person designated by the handler and/or owner to follow behind the horse to encourage it to move forward.

• Braiding is optional (but recommended for the Series Championship).
• Bridles are required on all horses two-years-old and older in the competition ring.
• Bridles consist of a snaffle type bit with two reins and headstall with throatlatch. Nosebands are optional. Horses may also be shown in a newmarket chain shank, instead of reins.
  
• Yearlings may be shown in halters or bridles.
• Each horse must have a separate handler at all times.
• Bandages of any kind are prohibited.
• Handlers should be dressed in semi-formal attire, such as khaki pants with polo shirt and good footwear which will allow you to run safely. Jeans or overly casual attire is not allowed. Footwear must be able to protect the foot should a horse step on you.
• Handlers may carry one standard whip or standard lunge whip with no attachments.
• Whip assistants may carry one standard whip or standard lunge whip with no attachments.
• Disruptive noise makers, snapping whips or any other noise-making device are not permitted in the competition ring or the warm-up area.
• Only one horse at a time is permitted in the competition arena.
• Unruly horses or one whose actions threaten to endanger the handler, officials or others must be excused.

• The competition arena will be set up with a 30 meter equilateral triangle. A 15 meter triangle will also be marked within the larger triangle.The presentation for conformation will be at the apex of the triangle where the judge will be waiting.
• Handlers will enter the competition arena at the walk. Horses will be halted at the presentation area and prepared for inspection by the judge who may give additional instructions. The judge will walk around the horse to inspect it from the near side, the off side, the front and rear.
• Handlers will then be asked to walk the horse up the left hand side of the triangle to the 15 meter mark, across the top of the 15 meter triangle and back down the right hand side to the presentation point.
• Handlers will then trot the horse back up the left hand side of the triangle to the top (30 meter mark) across the top of the triangle and back down the right hand side to the presentation point. The judge may ask for any of these movements to be repeated.
• Back at the presentation point, handlers will stand the horse up for a final review and any further instructions from the judge.
• Horses must always be shown to the right of the handler and must always be turned away to the right so as to avoid a youngster stepping on or pushing the handler off balance.

• The horse's conformation must allow for it to stand up to a career that will consist of training, competition and performance at the upper levels of the sport of eventing. Therefore, conformation defects which might indicate early unsoundness will lower the scores.
• Blemishes such as scars and/or splints should not count as it is future performance that is being determined. Event horses are not beauty queens but are athletes.
• Straight limbs and good feet are key. Weaknesses or faults predisposing a horse to unsoundness or difficulty with training should be penalized.
• Overweight horses of any age are undesirable and handlers/owners should be advised if the horse is carrying too much weight for its age.
• Colts and fillies are expected to look and perform appropriately for their age. Attempts to speed up a horse's development by overfeeding, or by any other means, are discouraged.
• Gaits should be pure and correct. This is more important than a flashy movement. Event horses must show a willingness to move forward and cover the ground. Straightness is desirable. Judges will be looking for horses who swing through the back and who show an uphill tendency.
• Unsound horses will be disqualified.