Do Young Horse Classes Translate to FEI Success?

Natalie DiBerardinis
Breeding Manager, Hilltop Farm

​So one of the important topics that has been under discussion over the past ten years or so is this: Do the Young Horse classes really predict talent for the future FEI horse  or are they rewarding extravagent movers that won't be able to handle more collected work that is the core of the FEI work?  It's a complicated question, with many factors including pre-selection, training, etc but overall, I do believe we see a far greater number of these horses progress into the FEI levels.

I reviewed the USEF National Championships from 2011-2016 for the top 5 placing horses in the FEI 5-year old & FEI 6-year old classes to see what their own development has shown us.  That gave me 51 horses to look at (some horses placed in the top 5 both years, and I didn't look at the 2016 5-year olds as they aren't old enough to compete in the FEI classes).  

Of those 51 horses, 30 are competing at Prix St. Georges or above.  That's a 'graduation rate' to the FEI ring of almost 59% (there are also 2 horses competing in the FEI 7-yr old Division but I didn't count them in my statistics).  Nine of these horses have competed at least to the Developing Grand Prix level, and one was a member of the Pan-American Gold Medal Team.  Keep in mind also that these horses currently range from ages 7 to 12.  To add another layer, I also looked at how many of these horses were US-bred (Full disclosure: I did include one by a US-breeder who bred this particular horse in Germany).  Fifteen of the 30 horses now competing at the FEI levels are US-bred. Those are some very strong stats for the top 5 finishers!

**US-Bred**Somer Hit (Sandro Hit-Rotspon), breeder Mo Swanson
Lauren Chumley/Alice Tarjan
3rd in 2011 (5yr) with 8.408/1st in 2012 (6yr) with 8.050
Showing Int II-Grand Prix by age 8

Sanceo (San Remo-Ramiros Son II)
Sabine Schut-Kery
4th in 2011 (5yr) with 8.116
Team Gold Medal at 2015 Pan-Am Games, Showing Grand Prix

Elfenfeuer (Florencio I-Sion)
Alice Tarjan
2nd in 2012 (5yr) with 7.864; 5th in 2013 (6yr old) with 7.832
Showing Int II-Grand Prix by age 7

**US-Bred**Freedom (Feuri x Windjammer), breeder Barbara Cadwell
Patrica Becker
3rd in 2012 (5yr) with 7.612
Showing Grand Prix

Horizon (Hotline x Revue)
George Williams
4th in 2012 (5yr) with 7.592
Showing PSG/Int I with Adrienne Lyle

Fashion Designer OLD (Faustinus x Forst-Design)
Nadine Buberl
1st in 2013 (5yr) with 9.012; 3rd in 2014 (6yr) with 8.12
Showing Inter II with Cesar Parra

Fiderhit OLD (Fidertanz x Fleur)
Nadine Buberl/Cesar Parra
3rd in 2013 (5yr) with 8.620; 6th in 2012 (6yr) with 7.798
Showing in FEI Young Riders with Barbara Davis

**US-Bred**Qredit Hilltop (Quaterback-Dream of Glory), breeder Judy Yancey
Christopher Hickey
4th in 2013 (5yr) with 8.480
Shown through Intermediate I with Michael Bragdell

**US-Bred**Benefactor RRS (Bonheur-Rubinstein), breeders Melinda Walton & Larry Smith
Silva Martin
5th in 2013 (5yr) with 8.452
Showing PSG

Emilion SA (Painted Black x Karisa)
Kelly Casey
1st in 2014 (5yr) with 8.680
Shown to PSG

Elian (Sir Oldenburg x Barliane)
Anna Marek
3rd in 2014 (5yr) with 8.14
Showing PSG

**US-Bred**Wakeup (Wagnis-Macho), breeder Beverly McLean Tetrick
Emily Wagner
1st in 2011 (6yr) with 8.736 (also won as a 5yr old)
Competed at 2010 World Young Horse Championships, won Developing PSG Championships & 2nd at Developing GP Championships, Showing Grand Prix

**US Breeder**Bon Chance (Belissimo M-Weltmeyer), breeder Marefield Meadows
Caroline Roffman
2nd in 2011 (6yr) with 8.736
Shown to Grand Prix, now in U25

Aesthete (Trento B x Unusual)
Silva Martin
3rd in 2011 (6yr) with 8.728
Now showing Inter II

Riccidoff (Riccione x Don Sarina)
George Williams
4th in 2011 (6yr) with 8.084
Showing PSG/Int I with Adrienne Lyle

Adje (Rousseau-Jazz)
Willy Arts
5th in 2011 (6yr) with 8.076
Showing PSG

Simply Nymphenburg (Sir Donnerhall I x Wendy)
Cesar Parra
2nd in 2012 (6yr) with 7.796
Showing in FEI Young Riders with Barbara Davis

Vitalis (Vivaldi-D-Day)
Charlotte Jorst
1st in 2013 (6yr) with 9.152
Showing PSG/Int 1 with Isabel Freese

Sunshine Tour (Sir Donnerhall x History)
Jane Karol
2nd in 2013 (6yr) with 8.028
Winner of 2016 Developing GP Championships, showing GP

**US-Bred**Caliente DG (OO Seven x Satina), breeder DG Bar Ranch
Craig Stanley
3rd in 2013 (6yr) with 7.940
Showing PSG/Int I

**US-Bred**Clapton JP (UB40 x Liana), breeder Peggy Mills
Holger Becktloff
4th in 2013 (6yr) with 7.782
Showing Grand Prix

**US-Bred**Ripline (Hotline x Riviera), breeder Oak Hill Ranch
Heather Blitz
1st in 2014 (6yr) with 8.612
Showing PSG/Int I

**US-Bred**Hemmingway (Hofrat-Archipel), breeder Angela Barilar
Angela Jackson
2nd in 2014 (6yr) with 8.572
Showing PSG/Int I

**US-Bred**Sir Steinerman (Stedinger x Donnabella), breeder Marlace Hughes
Amy Lewis
4th in 2014 (6yr) with 7.994
Showing PSG

**US-Bred**Doctor Wendell MF (Don Principe-Sandro Hit), breeder Marydell Farm
James Koford
5th in 2014 (6yr) with 7.976
Showing Int II/Developing GP, winner of 2015 US Dressage Finals at PSG

**US-Bred**Gallant Reflection HU (Galant du Serein-Rohdiamant), breeder Horses Unlimited
Lisa Wilcox
1st in 2015 (6yr) with 8.136
Showing Int II

**US-Bred**Floretienne (Florestan-Jazz), breeder Judy Yancey
Emily Wagner Miles
2nd in 2015 (6yr) with 7.836
Showing PSG/Int I

Ellert HB (Johnson x Alanda-B)
Jordan Rich
4th in 2015 (6yr) with 7.676
Showing PSG

Lucky Strike (Lord Laurie x Heidi)
Endel Ots
1st in 2016 (6yr) with 8.604
Competed at 2015 & 2016 World Young Horse Championships, showing Developing PSG

**US-Bred**Sternlicht Hilltop (Soliman de Hus-Rascalino), breeder Rachel Ehrlich
Michael Bragdell
3rd in 2016 (6yr) with 8.028
Competing PSG