USEA/Veronica Green-Gott photo
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is excited to announce the Opportunity Event Horse (OEH) Program, a new pilot program for the 2025 competition season. The OEH Program is designed to introduce horses and riders to the sport of eventing in a supportive and encouraging environment. Not yet a member of the USEA? New to the sport of eventing or have a horse who has never competed? This is the class for you!
The goal of the Opportunity Event Horse (OEH) Program is to offer an introductory competition option for horse and rider combinations that may not be ready to step up to a full recognized event or the Young Event Horse (YEH) program yet. The format will run like the Young Event Horse program with two sections: the dressage phase and the jumping test/gallop/general impression phase. The dressage test will be worth 30% of their final score, and the jumping test/gallop/general impression will be worth 70% of the final score. Horses are permitted to enter more than one opportunity class and may also participate in a YEH qualifier offered at the same event if they meet the respective age requirements. In this case, the horse and rider must complete their YEH test first, so as not to allow an unfair advantage to school the course.
No matter the year(s) of experience combinations have, the only requirement for horses to be eligible to compete in an OEH class is they must be a minimum of 4 years old. Classes may be held at specifications of the Starter, Beginner Novice, or Novice level at discretion of the organizer. Heights will reflect the greenness of horse and rider and should remain at the lower end of the range for each level for the entire year. Competitors will have the opportunity during the event to school in and around the dressage arena before entering for their test, and they should be given the chance to show their horses the fences on the jumping test course, including walking/trotting through the water complex, before their round starts. The goal is to give horse and rider combinations the opportunity to gain confidence and valuable experience as an introduction to the sport of eventing, in hopes that it will spark their interest in continuing to participate in more events in the future.
View the list of 2025 USEA OEH competitions below, and keep in mind that the calendar is subject to change. New competitions can be added regularly, so members are encouraged to reach out to their favorite local events to encourage them to participate. Please continue to check here for any updates throughout the year.
2025 USEA Opportunity Event Horse
Snowdonia Sport Horse Complex YEH/NEH/OEH (Area V) | March 30, 2025
Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. YEH/NEH/OEH (Area VI) | June 13, 2025
Snowdonia Sport Horse Complex YEH/NEH/OEH (Area V) | June 22, 2025
Applewood Farm YEH/OEH & Mini Event (Area II) | July 16, 2025
Shepherd Ranch Pony Club HT II YEH/NEH/OEH (Area VI) | August 1, 2025
Applewood Farm YEH/OEH & Mini Event (Area II) | August 13, 2025
Kinnitty Capall Stables YEH/OEH (Area I) | September 7, 2025
*There is no championship for the OEH program.
Are you interested in hosting a USEA Opportunity Event Horse competition? Learn more about OEH program requirements here, and contact staff liaison Kate Lokey at [email protected] to register.
The OEH Program was approved as a pilot program for 2025, which means it will not be instituted as a permanent USEA Program unless there is enough interest and participation in classes offered at events this year. Don’t see a USEA Opportunity Event Horse competition near you? Please contact your local USEA Horse Trial organizers to express interest and ask if they are willing to host the Opportunity Event Horse Program at their venue.
About the USEA Opportunity Event Horse (OEH) Program
The USEA Opportunity Event Horse (OEH) Program was proposed at the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in December 2024 as an introductory competition option for horse and rider combinations of any age that may not be ready to step up to a full recognized event or the Young Event Horse (YEH) program yet. Much like the YEH program, OEH classes require the horse and rider to complete two phases of competition, typically on the same day. The first is a dressage test, and the second is a jumping, galloping, and general impression phase. Unlike the YEH, the OEH is open to all horses 4 years or older. The OEH will run as a pilot program in 2025 and if enough participation warrants, it will be implemented as a permanent USEA Program moving forward. For more information on the OEH, click here.
