On Friday an impressive group of yearlings, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds gathered at Loch Moy Farm to participate in the IDHSNA/United States Eventing Association (USEA) Future Event Horse (FEH) Series. The weather was wonderful, the babies perfectly behaved, and the Maryland Horse Trials volunteers were absolutely great.
The FEH competition was judged by the venerable Sally Ike, who was also the technical delegate for the horse trials. After the competion ended, Ike commented on how impressed she was with the behavior of the horses, especially the yearlings, and what a fine group of horses had been presented that day.
The highest score of the day was awarded to Marsha Spencer's Salute the Captain. The breathtaking chestnut gelding earned scores of eight or above in every catagory the FEH evaluates on. Salute the Captain seemed mature beyond his years as he confidently walked and trotted the triangle for handler, Erin Durst. This is the gelding's third FEH win as he won the yearling class at the Wardeca Horse Trials and the Serra Valley Farm Horse Trials.
The second-place in the yearling class went to Jill Windsor's Skylark W.S. who was not far behind the leader with a score of 80.5. Ike said it was a tough decision to make as she loved the "filly's presence."
In the two-year-old division, Sally Shirley's Jackie's Gold Nugget, took top honors with a 74.5. The tall, bay, colt towered above the other FEH entries, but still was an absolute gentleman for his handler.
The three-year-old division had stiff competion. Lauren Seitz's Just About Perfect lived up to her name and put in an almost perfect performance to win the division with an 80.5. The Oldenburg Filly was beautifully presented by her handler. Finishing just one point and a half behind the winner was another filly, Michele Hobson's Hera.