Future Event Horse (FEH) classes will be held in conjunction with the Irish Draugth Horse Society of North America's 2009 Annual Horse Show. The FEH classes will be held on Thursday, October 1, in Lexington, VA, at the Virginia Horse Center.
This will be a great opportunity to get your babies used to showing as the Virginia Horse Center is the same venue where the FEH Championships will be held on October 30. Remember there is no qualifying score needed to attend the championships; the only requirement is that your horse has attended one FEH show prior to the Championships.
The October 1st classes are currently scheduled to start at 4 p.m. The judges will be Oliver Fleming, John Walsh, and Barbara Batterton. The cost of FEH classes is $20.00 for Irish Draught Horse Society of North America Members and $45.00 for non-members, there is an additional $10.00 starting fee. All horses entered in the FEH Series classes will need to be registered with the USEA, however, the owners/handlers do not need to be members of USEA. Please note that these classes are qualifiers for the USEA FEH Championships.
Walsh is a member of the Irish Draught Horse Society Limited's 2009 National Council and a member in good standing of the IDHS pannel of judges. Walsh is from Coorycullane, Dunmanway, Co Cork, Ireland, and is a breeder of Irish Draught horses. He has judged and competed with his own horses at many Irish Draught shows in Ireland.
Fleming is a member of the Irish Draught Horse Society Limited and a member in good standing of the Irish Draugth Horse Society pannel of judges. Fleming is from Thornfield, Rathcline, Lanesboro, Co. Longford, Ireland and has judged many shows in Ireland and the United States. He was one of the inspectors on the U.S. Inspection tour in 2004, also performing duties judging the North East Regions Irish Extravaganza Horse Show. Fleming and his wife Elizabeth are breeders and both are recognized judges.
Barbara Batterton has been judging for numerous years and judged the Fox Hunter Championships North America in 2008 and is currently an “r” dressage judge. She regularly hunts with and is a member in good standing of the Blue Ridge Hunt. Batterton has judged at horse trials and shows including Surefire Horse Trials and Senneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials, and she is a member of the 2009 Board of Director for the Clark County Equine Alliance.