with—so we are trying to push the idea of helping to grow the sport in the Midwest and we’re also trying to reach out to new people. We are trying to get people who normally would not come to a rated event to come and experience what we can do and I think that offering the schooling is part of that,” says Dan Urban. The cost for young horse schooling on the day before
each rated show started was just $35. For this they would get to school in the rings and hack around the grounds of a USEF-rated show to experience big show atmosphere on top of schooling the courses. The idea was that they would trailer in for the day, but can also stay overnight or stay on to compete in the show for an additional fee. Dan talks about one woman who trailered
in from several hours away to take advantage of the schooling, “There was somebody who was in the Des Moines area for the summer working with a trainer there. I think actu- ally she is originally from Kentucky. So, she got wind of it and came out and rode her horse around the property. She rode him in every ring. She rode him in the morning, put him away, then rode him again in the after- noon. She took him on the trails and rode him around the property. She made full use of the day. She was thrilled that she was able to get her young horse some exposure.” “We have open schooling for anybody who has entered
people to bring ‘starter’ horses, young horses, green horses and not have to pay $1,500 a week to do that,” he says. Dan says that they will continue the young horse school-
ing next season at Quail Run. To find out more, visit quailrun-
horsecentre.com or
urbanequineevents.com. For more infor- mation on the Omaha Equestrian Federation’s programs, visit
omahaequestrian.com or find them on Facebook.
“We are trying to bridge the gap between us and some of those folks who are showing on the unrated circuits and maybe are a little bit tentative to come to a larger event…”
my horse shows,” Dan explains. “Virtually every day people can school in the rings, sometimes before the show day, but mostly after the day is done. We open it up and let people jump their horses around.” The Urbans also participate in the USHJA Outreach
program at their Quail Run shows. “It’s the same concept, except this time the emphasis is on developing riders. I’m trying to reach out to grow the base of our sport. So, maybe I can draw in those event riders who need some show jump- ing practice. Or some Pony Clubbers who aren’t thrilled about having to be members of the federation to come show. We are trying to bridge the gap between us and some of those folks who are showing on the unrated circuits and maybe are a little bit tentative to come to a larger event, and encourage them to see what we have to offer.” He also points out that there are many benefits to these schooling sessions and local show days at licensed competi- tions that make for a quality experience for young horses and developing riders. These include licensed officials, safe sport policies, level playing field in terms of medication regulation, good footing and so on. “The USHJA Outreach program is designed for that purpose and hopefully we can start getting more people in our stalls, because it isn’t such a big scary deal to come to a rated event,” he adds. It would be beneficial for local breeders and young horse
trainers to take advantage of schooling young horses at rated shows. “I would hope that other management companies [in other regions] are open to the idea of making it easier for
YOUNG HORSE SHOW SERIES In 2009, breeder Jean-Yves Tola pitched his idea of the Young Horse Show series (YHS) and the first show was launched at Spy Coast Farm, just down the road from the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the following year. He saw a need for an event where young sport horses could get show mileage and be showcased as sales pros- pects if applicable in a friendly, safe and professional environment, all at an afford- able cost. “The fact that no such system existed
in the U.S. is what led me to start it. Basi- cally as a breeder and a person who deals with young horses, and being from Europe, I was also disappointed to see how poor the business side of breed- ing in this country is,” Jean says. “By poor
I don’t mean bad, but I just mean something that’s not really going. It’s almost nonexistent. With such potential, such numbers, such size, such farms, such people and such horses, we should be up there!” The French expatriate says he did some trail riding as a kid and took care of horses in exchange for lessons. But it was not until he moved to the U.S. and met his wife in 1990 that he slowly but surely got back into horses. “She was riding pretty intensely while in Colorado. When we moved back to California in 1996, we bought our first farm and started breeding,” he says. “As I got more involved, I quickly
realized where the problems were in the industry, especially with the young horses and the breed- ing. When I stopped working in the music business and moved to Kentucky, I really went full steam and used my experience as a production manager/ organizer and started the North American Studbook (NAS) and then the Young Horse Show series,” the former jazz musician continues. After the success of the first “test” show at Spy Coast in 2010, Jean and Spy Coast’s Lisa Lourie approached Equestrian Sports Production owners Mark and Katherine
Jean-Yves Tola, foun- der of the Young Horse Show Series (YHS), saw a need for an affordable event where young sport horses could get show mileage, and be show- cased as sales pros- pects, in a friendly, safe and professional environment.
Warmbloods Today 35
Courtesy of YHS
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