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This year’s Dutta Corp USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) West Coast Championships began today in the beautiful wine country of Paso Robles, California, at Twin Rivers Ranch. The surrounding wineries slowly transition to the beautiful shades of fall, leaving a fitting backdrop for 32 highly qualified youngsters to battle it out for the coveted championship titles.
After day 1, Amber Birtcil, claimed the top standings in both divisions. Currently in the 4-Year-Old Championship, Cellar Farm Corp.'s Dutch Warmblood gelding, Oxford K (Grand Slam VDL x Walzing Patty), bred by P. Kamphof, and their Dutch Warmblood gelding, Oriental Star (Comme Prevu x Heaven Angel), bred by S.A.M. Egbergen, are tied for the top spot. Keeping the momentum going, Birtcil also leads the 5-year-old division with another Cellar Farm Corp.-owned horse, Nevada (II Est Balou x Onile W), a Dutch Warmblood gelding bred by M.G.J. Jansman.
Check out the gallery below for scenes from today's action, and log back onto USEventing.com tomorrow for the final crowing of the Dutta Corp. USEA YEH West Coast Championships!
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About the 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, Capital Square, HorseWeek, Kerrits, Parker Equine Insurance, SmartPak, Standlee, and The Jockey Club 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.
About The Holekamp/Turner Grant
Founded in 2015 by Timothy and Cheryl Holekamp of New Spring Farm and Christine and T.J. Turner of Indian Creek Farm, the Holekamp/Turner Grant provides a USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championship competitor with the opportunity to represent the United States at the FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships in the 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L Championship at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d’Angers, France. With the sole purpose of paving a clear pathway for U.S. team horses to progress in the sport of eventing, recipients who are North American-bred will be awarded the full cash grant of $17,500, while imported horses are awarded $8,000. Additionally, The Dutta Corp. offers a prize to the Holekamp/Turner Grant recipient, consisting of a round trip flight from the Eastern United States to Europe.
