United States Eventing Association

The race to Le Lion continues, as the 2026 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses draw closer on Oct. 15-18 in Le Lion d'Angers, France. Featuring the prestigious 6-year-old CCI2*-L and 7-year-old CCI3*-L Championships, Mondial du Lion remains one of the world's premier showcases for young event horses.

The USEA continues to track horses eligible for the Holekamp/Turner Grant, which provides significant financial support to one USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championship competitor each year as they pursue the opportunity to represent the United States in the 7-year-old Championship at Mondial du Lion. The grant, established in 2015 by the late Timothy Holekamp and Cheryl Holekamp of New Spring Farm and Christine and T.J. Turner of Indian Creek Farm, was created to strengthen the development pathway for future U.S. team horses in the sport of eventing.

North American-bred recipients receive $17,500 through the Holekamp/Turner Grant, while imported horses receive $8,000. If the highest-scoring eligible horse from the 2024 USEA Young Event Horse 5-Year-Old Championship does not qualify or is unable to compete, the grant passes to the next highest-scoring horse that is qualified, able, and willing to attend. In addition, The Dutta Corporation will once again provide a $10,000 flight credit to Europe for the grant recipient. Both awards are contingent upon the horse earning full qualification for Mondial du Lion.

For the 2026 grant cycle, the horse with the highest score from the 2024 USEA Young Event Horse 5-Year-Old Championship that also earns full qualification for the 7-year-old Championship will receive the grant. Grant eligibility remains with the horse regardless of any rider changes following the YEH Championships; however, only USEF-sponsored entries are eligible, meaning the horse must be ridden by a U.S. citizen. Owners or riders of grant-eligible horses must notify the USEA of their intent to compete by Sept. 1.

To qualify for the 7-year-old CCI3*-L Championship, horses must complete one CCI2*-L and one CCI3*-S Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER), both without cross-country penalties and with no more than four penalties in the show jumping phase. FEI regulations also require combinations to meet the qualification standards for a CCI3*-L under Article 520, meaning uncategorized athletes must obtain an additional CCI3*-S MER.

Since our last update in June, Caroline Moran and Phillip Dutton's Darwinn has become the first horse to achieve full qualification for the 2026 Holekamp/Turner Grant. Ridden by Dutton, the Holsteiner gelding (Denver x Emma V) secured the final qualification at the Bromont CCI in June, finishing second in the CCI2*-L to complete all requirements for Mondial du Lion.

Three additional grant-eligible horses remain partially qualified and still have the opportunity to complete the remaining requirements before the Sept. 15 qualification deadline.

Partially Qualified Horses

The following horses have received part of the necessary qualifications thus far and remain in contention for the grant:

• Fary Prince (The After Party x Farytale), a British Sport Horse gelding owned by Hulme Equestrian and ridden by Helen Alliston. Fary Prince finished fourth overall in the 2024 USEA YEH 5-Year-Old Championship and earned a qualifying result in the CCI2*-L at The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs in October 2025.
• HSH Afterglow (Hype x Ringwood Venus), an Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Valentine Jie and ridden by Caroline Pamukcu. Sixth overall in the 2024 USEA YEH 5-Year-Old Championship, HSH Afterglow secured a qualifying result in the CCI2*-L at the Ocala International Festival of Eventing in April 2025.
• MBF Braxy V (Renkum Valentino x Roxsette), a British Sport Horse gelding owned by Estrella Equestrian and ridden by Rebecca Braitling. MBF Braxy V, who competed under the name Brackenspa Valens during his 5-year-old championship season, finished 21st overall in the 2024 USEA YEH 5-Year-Old Championship. He earned a qualifying result in the CCI2*-L at the Twin Rivers Spring International in April 2026.

The USEA will continue to provide updates as more horses earn their full qualifications for the 7-year-old Championship at La Mondial du Lion. For questions or to inquire about the Holekamp/Turner Grant and The Dutta Corp. prize, contact Kate Lokey.