The sport of dressage is one of the most beautiful, and challenging, equestrian sports out there. It takes years and years of training for a horse to achieve the highest levels of competition. Not every horse has what it takes to excel, and horses below the age of 10 are rarely seen at the FEI level. Unlike other sports, where young horses excel, dressage is often ruled by the older horses, in part due to the time it takes to train a horse to the highest levels.

The Young Horse Dressage program exists as a realm of competition for young dressage horses on the "fast track" to the FEI. Somewhat controversial in nature, this series is not suited for all dressage horses, but this YHD program does provides a forum for those exceptional young horses who are ahead of the curve on dressage and are aiming for the FEI at a younger age.

The HF Dressage Association offers these HFDA Young Horse Dressage (YHD) classes to HFSHC. There will be three levels, or divisions;

4 Year Old Division
5 Year Old Division
6 Year Old Division

As of 2007, the HFDA will be adding these classes to their regularly scheduled HFDA shows, and will also be responsible for approving these classes in a handful of "other" dressage shows. Due to the strenous nature of these classes, there will be strict rules applied to any horses who wish to compete here.

1. Horses must first be enrolled in the HFDA's YHD program in order to be eligible to enter these classes. In order to enroll, horses must meet stringent standards on breed and past show results. See below for details on enrolling...

2. Horses competing in the YHD may not compete in anything except their age-group YHD class, and halter/in-hand if desired. Horses are expected to rest or train on days when there is no YHD class offered. They may not show in any other dressage tests (ie, not 1st level, 2nd, etc), but may show in halter on those non-YHD days if desired. This is due to the strenous nature of the YHD tests - these youngsters deserve extra rest in order to keep their minds and bodies strong for competition, and the four opportunities per month will provide ample show time. Horses found to be competing in anything other than YHD and halter will be removed from the program and not permitted to enter future YHD classes.

3. YHD classes will be offered at no more than 4 shows per month (per HFDA approval). Those shows must be approved by the HFDA, and must be open-competition, A-rated shows. These classes will not be approved for breed-specific or non-A rated dressage shows. You are not obligated to enter your horse in every YHD show/class.

Food For Thought Before Enrolling

Please note, the YHD program is not for all horses! The majority of FEI horses got to where they are today by accending the standard levels in dressage, advancing at their own pace, regardless of year-born. Many horses are simply not ready for this level of competition at such a young age. Some breeds, such as the Lipizzan, do not begin strenous training until a much older age, and therefore would be better suited to entering regular dressage classes and training their way up, joining the FEI ranks at a time most appropriate to them.

Additionally, it is often said that the younger a horse begins FEI dressage, the shorter his career. The strenous nature of dressage takes its toll on younger bodies and minds, and those horses who take more time advancing seem to remain in competition longer. Please take this into account - a horse participating in the YHD program will enter FEI at a young age, and therefore it may be unrealistic to expect him/her to continue to compete at FEI for many years. If you wish for more longevity in the show ring, you may want to consider training your horse more slowly in the regular tests, and skipping the YHD.

What you may expect from your YHD horses.

The HFDA tests for each division shall be based on the RL FEI Tests. I am told that both the 4 and 5YO tests are roughly equivalent to 1st Level Dressage tests, though the 5YO test is more advanced than the 4YO test, of course (5YO contains collected trot, collected canter, counter canter, etc.) The 6YO test is roughly equivalent to 3rd Level Dressage tests. (Source)

Horses competing in the YHD would, in theory, progress from 4YO test, to 5YO test, then 6YO test. Horses are not required to enter the YHD at ever year - they could begin the YHD at the age of 6 for example, or could begin in YHD as a 4YO but be withdrawn at a later age.

Once they turn 7YO, you must evaluate how they have been performing. Most horses would be best served to move into 4th or even 3rd level dressage for more time and experience before advancing to FEI, while a few horses may be ready to advance to Prix St George (note that 7 is the youngest age a horse is allowed in PSG in RL). It takes a very exceptional 7YO to take on Prix St George, so this progression would only be suggested for those horses who finish the YHD year at the very top of their class - the rest would be advised to spend a little time at 3rd/4th before advancing to PSG. The HFDA recomments that you spend AT LEAST 1 year at PSG and 1-2 years at Intermediate, before advancing to Grand Prix at the age of 10 at the youngest. However, since RL rules allow horses as young as 8 to compete at Grand Prix, this will be permitted in HFSHC (though not recommended).

And of course, keep in mind that not every horse has Grand Prix potential - many exceptional individuals reach their peak at Prix St George, and are no less respected in their division!

HOW TO ENROLL IN THE YHD PROGRAM

Horses must be ENROLLED to compete in the YHD program. You cannot just enter your horse in these divisions. All nominations must be submitted for approval -- a list of eligible/enrolled horses will be posted.

Please note that horses enrolled in the YHD program may compete ONLY in YHD classes, and in-hand/halter! They may not compete in other levels of dressage or under-saddle/in harness. This is due to the strenous nature of this program - on days when there is no YHD class on the calendar, horses are expected to rest/train, or may compete in-hand. YHD horses found competing in other classes will be removed from the YHD program.

Eligibility for nomination is as follows:

1. Horses born in 2015, 2016 or 2017 only
2. Ponies are not eligible.
3. Must be of an approved breed (below).
4. Must attach past show record for approval. Records with non related past disciplines will not be accepted. (ie. Saddleseat, Cow Events, etc.)

Horses with a showing history (including racing) must show in Dressage for at least 3 months before being eligible for the YHD. Other classes in the mix (such as halter or low hunter/jumper) are ok but remember once in the YHD program they can ONLY show in YHD.

If newly bred/created/adopted with no show record, the 3 month period will be waived and the horse automatically qualifies, assuming they have met the other conditions.

One-Time Nomination fee of $100 per horse to be paid in full upon submission. It will be refunded if you horse is not approved.

Eligibility Notes:

-Your horse is NOT eligible if it has retired from racing and taken time off but has not yet competed in dressage. An ex-racehorse may join the YHD program if they have had a sufficient rest and retraining after racing (6 months recommended), and then begin in green-as-grass/training level dressage for at least 3 months before submitting to the YHD program.

-Your horse is NOT eligible if they have competed in hand, under saddle, or over fences unless their record shows DRESSAGE classes within the most recent 3 months of their record.

-If they've shown less than 3 months, they may possibly be considered, as long as their show record contains only dressage in the last three month period (ie, unshown for awhile then some dressage). For example, newly adopted Humane Society horses, or horses previously inactive may enroll, though some recent dressage experience is needed first.

Suitable Breeds:

In my limited research of real-life FEI Young Horse Dressage competitors, 100% of the horses I have found are warmblood breeds! This is not to say that other breeds couldn't perform in this program, but the program is really best suited to warmbloods. If you are searching for a horse to enter in the program, we strongly suggest you focus on warmbloods (Hanoverian, Holsteiner, Trakehner, Dutch Warmblood, etc.)

Our list of breeds notes which breeds are recommended for this program (warmbloods), and which ones are just "acceptable". The acceptable breeds are ones that are not likely found in the Young Horse Dressage program in RL, but which we will accept as possible. The individuals would need to be of exceptional dressage potential, though, bred and built for potential FEI dressage competition.

If you have a young horse that is NOT of the breeds listed here that you feel has FEI potential, I encourage you to enter them in the standard dressage classes and work up through that method. If you feel their breed should be listed, please contact me with examples and research of RL horses of that breed in FEI competition, and more particularly, horses of that breed in the RL FEI Young Horse Dressage Program.

Recommended Breeds German Warmbloods (Hano, Holst, Trak, etc.) Dutch Warmblood Danish Warmblood Other Warmblood Breeds (depending on which breed it is)

Acceptable Breeds Warmblood-Crosses (depending on what crossed-with) Thoroughbreds Arabians Akhal-Tekes Andalusians Lusitanos Crosses of the above (depending on what crossed-with)

Note, Friesians and Lippizans are not on this list because they are a more slowly-maturing breed, and would likely be better suited to advancing to FEI through standard classes. But contact me if you have evidence of young horses of this breed competing at the FEI level.

Submit Your Horse

To submit your horse(s) for nomination into the YHD program for 2010, please email the following to hfda@hfshc.com with the subject "YHD Nominations".

Your Username:
Email:

(copy for each horse)
ID#:
Name:
Year Born:
Breed:
Link to show record: (or name of text file attached)

Total Fees: ($100 x # of horses)
Send check to ASSOC_DA

ATTACHMENTS: be sure to attach records for your horses ONLY if those records are not available online. Please include links if they are not.

A Word For Show Hosts

If you are hosting a HFSHC show and would like to place the YHD classes on your show bill, contact hfda@hfshc.com with a draft. No more than 4 total shows per month will be approved to host YHD classes.