Canadian Young Event Horse Series

Calendar of Events

NOTE: Please mail CYEH membership prior to April 30th. Memberships must be purchased ahead of competition and mailed to the address provided on the form.

This membership fee will enable the program to continue to grow and we would like to earmark some of the money to educate judges.

This series is a wonderful introduction to eventing for young horses and a great venue for breeders to showcase their young horses without breaking the bank!
There are five divisions including: a 2 yo line class, a Future Eventer 3 Yr, 4 year old, 5 year olds and an open division. These 4 year old, 5 year olds and an open division classes are comprised of a dressage test, a jumping test (similar to a short course event), a conformation class and a suitability class, all judged on the horse's potential. The 3 Yr Old Future Event Horse class is to be judged in hand only, braided & dressed in a bridle.

Due to the great feedback the CYEH series will be adding a 2yo line class at competitions in 2010 as well.

Points will be awarded to 8th place (double points at the finals) and will count towards year end awards. Horses may also qualify to compete at the series finals in September.

The young event horse competitions differ from regular horse trials in that the emphasis is on evaluating the horse's potential as an event horse, not his performance on a given day. As such, the horses are not judged based primarily on precision, accuracy and obedience as is the case at a horse trial, they are judged based on their potential to develop into a promising upper level competitor. This makes the young event horse competitions ideal venues for introducing your young and/or inexperienced horses to a show environment.
The shows are run in a quiet, relatively informal manner as compared to a normal show, and the 4 different phases are conducted at a comfortable pace, generally without set times so there is no rushing the youngsters from 1 phase to the next to be on time. A competition will begin with a dressage test, followed by a jumping test, a conformation assessment, and finally a suitability class.


DRESSAGE: The dressage test differs from a horse trial in that the marks are not awarded on a "per movement" basis. The judge awards marks based on the overall ability of the horse (e.g., trot quality, canter quality, etc.). This means accuracy is not critical and the horse will not be penalized for green errors such as late transitions etc. The judge may stand wherever he or she chooses, not necessarily at C.

JUMPING: The jumping test is designed with the green/youngster in mind. Four year olds may jump from a trot and green stops and rails are assessed based on the circumstances and if the horse learns from his mistake. The courses are very inviting and greenie- friendly with good ground-lines, proper striding and nothing scary or tricky. There is a combination of mostly stadium-type jumps with a few cross country jumps. Brush boots and cross country vets may be worn but are not mandatory. Immediately following the jumping round you will have the opportunity to trot for a few moments to allow the horse to catch his breath, then you will be required to show a short gallop.

CONFORMATION: Following the jumping you will be asked to remove your horse's saddle and present him for conformation assessment on the line. The horse will need to stand, then walk and trot in a straight line (it is a good idea to practice trotting on the line prior to the show).

SUITABILITY: Once all of the horses have been presented to the judges on the line, you will be required to ride your horse in a "hack" type class. All of the horses in the class will walk, trot and canter both directions in the ring at the same time to allow the judges a final look and direct comparison.

By the end of the day, you will most likely find you have had a very enjoyable, relaxing day and your horse has had a very positive, confidence-building experience that will provide an excellent foundation for more high-pressure, hectic competitions to come, whatever they may be. You will also be provided with copies of the judge's sheets that will include detailed remarks regarding your horse's conformation and potential in the dressage and jumping phases. Some judges go so far as to explain conformation points directly to you and provide suggestions immediately following the dressage test which is extremely helpful.

• MH Lessard - Co-ordinator
• MH Lessard - Memberships
• Earlma Shaw - Results
• Ruth Armstrong
• Marika vanHoogenhuize
• Suzanne Dow
• Marni Reymers - Promo Poster