What is the FEI Youth Pathway?
I'm going to preface this by saying this post will not apply to everyone. Not even close. Of the youth riders who will come through the sport and make it to the professional level, only a fraction will come through the FEI Youth Pathway. And that’s more than okay. There are plenty of other ways to Rome, and there are many very successful riders and trainers in the world who never competed in these divisions. However, given my background, I get asked about the FEI youth divisions a lot. So I thought I would do a series leading into the FEI North American Youth Championships (July 30 - August 4 in Traverse City, Michigan) that introduces parents (and maybe even some trainers and youth riders) to the Pathway.
So what is the FEI Youth Pathway?
We are going to strip this way down. I'm talking confused and bemused dad at a horse show level. I can see him now. He's standing a few feet off the rail at the warmup, gingerly holding a sweat scraper and a pair of bell boots. He has no idea what either of these items do. His daughter is trotting (or is it cantering?) a sizeable portion of his 401k around the arena. And she's happy. Well, he thinks she's happy. Right now she sort of looks like Serena Williams staring down an opponent across the net.
Yep, Dad, I'm talking to you.
Your kid is talented. Everyone says it. Her trainer. The clinicians you spend too much money on. The judges who score her "in the 70s." And she has a nice horse that she works really hard to keep. Maybe she's putting in some sweat equity at the barn after school and on the weekends. Maybe she's bargained on great grades and model behavior to earn this beloved animal. In any case, she is really invested in this dressage stuff.
Someone — a friend, a trainer, a passerby (let's be real, it's probably Debbie DelGiorno) — pulls you aside and says, "You know, she should really aim for the FEI blah-blah-blah division."
And if you are like many parents, that's where things stop making sense. Heck, even if you have an equestrian background, this can still sound like ancient Greek.
I've got you.
Here take my hand. If you are the drinking kind, pour yourself a glass. We are going to walk through this really slowly.
What is the FEI?
The FEI is the International Equestrian Federation. Basically they are the governing body for equestrian sport worldwide. So if we are talking FEI-anything, we are typically talking about stuff that occurs at the international level.
You will hear "FEI" thrown about loosely, and it can get very confusing. So I've made a glossary to get you started:
FEI level: If a horse or rider is described as "FEI level" it typically means that they have competed in one of the standardized tests published by the FEI. But not just any test... usually we mean the most advanced tests in the sport. In ascending order these are: Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I, Intermediate A, Intermediate B, Intermediate II and Grand Prix.
["Wait, wait. What is a test?" Oh boy, we've got a lot of work to do. That's okay. A "test" is that pattern your kid rides at competitions that you may have thought was random, but is actually standardized. Each test is designed to assess the quality and training of the horse. Each part of the test is called a "movement." Your kid will get a score from 0-10 for each movement. These are then tallied up into a final score that is displayed as a percentage.]
FEI caliber: Typically used to describe a horse that has the potential to do one of these FEI tests.
FEI sanctioned competition: These are commonly called "CDIs" (Concours de Dressage). A CDI is an international dressage competition. CDIs are rated from 1 to 5 stars. Star ratings for CDIs relate to the number of judges present, the participation requirements, and the prize money they offer. Bottom line, the higher the stars, the more weight the competition carries and the more impact it has on the international rankings of athletes across the world.
FEI vet: A veterinarian that is credentialed by the FEI to oversee horse health and welfare at a CDI. They are familiar with the standards of care espoused by the FEI, including the horse's physical soundness to compete and restrictions on medications you can give the horse.
FEI groom: A magical person hired to manage the daily care and wellness of a horse, particularly at competitions. An FEI groom will have experience managing horses competing at the FEI level, and know the rules surrounding CDI level competition. If you ride at The Dressage Academy, you have to earn the help of one of these esteemed individuals – we don't allow grooms of any sort, but that's for another post.
I think you probably get the gist.
Okay, let’s get back to the FEI Youth Pathway
So when we talk about the FEI Youth Pathway, we are talking about an internationally recognized development pipeline for kids. The FEI designed this to help youth get from the lower levels of dressage all the way up to the highest levels of the sport. Each step in this Pathway is marked by a "division." Each division is defined by the rider’s age and level of riding. As the rider ages, the difficulty of the divisions and the tests within those divisions increases.
So in order, here are the Divisions:
FEI Children’s Division
The rider must be aged 12 through 14.
The FEI Children’s tests consist of first and second level movements.
“What is first and second level?” That’s for a different post. Right now, go ask your kid or your kid’s trainer. They can explain.
You can ride a horse or a pony in this division at the national level and in CDIs in North America. It is, uh… complicated at the international championship level at the moment with many decisions pending. The bottomline: Please be sure to consult your trainer before you run off and get your child a pony. They are super cute, I know, but a pony may not be well suited for your child’s goals.
“A pony? You mean a baby horse?” No. A pony refers to the height of the horse not the age. Just like people come in different shapes and sizes, so do horses. Ponies are specifically bred to be shorter, and can therefore be better suited for small children. In dressage, ponies cannot exceed 148 cm (or 149 cm with shoes) in height.
All FEI Children’s tests are recognized as the highest test at Second Level for USDF Awards purposes.
“What is USDF?” This is the United States Dressage Federation. There are more acronyms coming up, so at this point you may want to take a minute to read the FAQ’s found at the bottom of the webpage here. It will take you two minutes.
Tests offered: Children Team, Children Individual Test
FEI Pony Division
The rider must be aged 12 through 16.
The FEI Pony tests consist of second and third level movements.
Only ponies are permitted to compete in this division. Ponies cannot exceed 148 cm (or 149 cm with shoes) in height and must have a USEF dressage pony measurement certificate.
“What is USEF?” See, you didn’t read the FAQ’s did you? Go do that here. I promise it will only take you two minutes.
All FEI Pony tests are recognized at the highest test of Second Level for USDF Awards purposes.
Tests offered: Pony Riders Team, Pony Riders Individual, Pony Riders Freestyle
FEI Junior Division
The rider must be aged 14 through 18.
The FEI Junior tests consist of third and fourth level movements.
Only horses can compete in this division, meaning the horse must measure ABOVE 148 cm in height (or 149 cm with shoes).
All FEI Junior tests are recognized at the highest test of Third Level for USDF Awards purposes.
Tests offered: Juniors Team, Juniors Individual, Juniors Freestyle
FEI Young Rider Division
The rider must be aged 16 through 21.
The FEI Young Rider tests consist of fourth level and Prix St. Georges movements.
Again, only horses can compete in this division (no ponies).
FEI Young Rider tests are recognized at the Prix St. Georges Level, while the Freestyle Test is recognized at the highest test of Fourth Level for USDF Awards purposes.
Tests offered: Young Riders Team, Young Riders Individual, Young Riders Freestyle
FEI Under 25 Grand Prix
The rider must be aged 16 through 25.
The FEI U25 Grand Prix test consists of movements from the Grand Prix.
Only horses can compete in this division (no ponies).
The FEI U25 Grand Prix test is recognized as Intermediate II for USDF Awards purposes.
Tests offered: Grand Prix 16-25
There is probably some stuff in here that you didn't understand. That's okay. The most important thing to understand is your child's age. So, naturally, this is where we make it more difficult. You thought you knew your child's age, but dear reader, you probably do not.
According to FEI rules (as well as US Equestrian Federation rules), a rider competes as the age they are turning in that year. For example, if your child turns 16 on December 5, 2024 they will compete as a 16 year old for the entire 2024 year.
Understood? Great! So now refer back to the list and see what division/s your child is eligible for based on her age. Ask your trainer about all the other requirements of that division. If you are wondering if your kid is ready for this division, don’t worry. I will be back with another post soon that will help you assess your child’s readiness.
So what’s the big deal?
Now, if you are not coming from the competitive dressage world it may be hard to understand why all of this stuff matters. If your kid pursues the FEI Pathway, do you get some award for World's Greatest Parent? No, but you probably should. Does your kid get a full ride to college? Probably not. Do they win some medal? Yes! Yes, this they can get.
But the medals are really the least valuable thing on the table. Here are some things your child will gain from pursuing the FEI Youth Pathway:
An international standard of achievement.
National and even international recognition.
The opportunity to work with our United States team coaches as part of special training and observation events.
The opportunity to represent the United States in international competition.
Perseverance. There are two major championships that your child can qualify for while pursuing the Pathway. And the qualifying process for these championships is not for the faint of heart. It takes real passion, commitment and a heck of a good attitude to succeed.
The opportunity to connect with other driven young people who share the same passion for equestrian sports. These friendships can last a lifetime.
If they qualify for North American Youth Championships, they get the experience of competing on a team that mimics the experience of competing on a Pan American, World Equestrian Games or Olympic Team. This is invaluable for a rider that has dreams of representing their country on a senior team one day.
Let’s talk more about these championships
FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC)
NAYC is a very prestigious intercontinental championship of which there are only a few in the world, including the Pan American Games. NAYC is unique in that it brings together the best young equestrians in two different riding disciplines — dressage and show jumping — to compete side by side over the course of a week. This is an international team-based competition recognized by the FEI (thus it is a CDI).
For the dressage NAYC, FEI Children’s (new in 2025!), FEI Junior, FEI Young Rider and FEI U25 Grand Prix divisions are currently offered. Qualification is determined by a regional system (the U.S. is divided into nine regions). At NAYC, each region is considered its own country. To qualify, a rider must compete in the required number of qualifying competitions, receive the required number of scores, and achieve above the minimum required score average. Only the top four riders in the region for each division who have met the qualification criteria will be invited to compete.
“Required number of competitions? Required scores? Can you be more specific?” Trust me. It’s coming. Stay tuned for the other three posts in this series which will get into all of the excruciating details.
USEF National Championships
USEF National Championships (aka. Festival of Champions) hosts the national championships for all of the FEI youth divisions in the United States. This is just a national championship and not an international competition.
To qualify, a rider must compete in the required number of qualifying competitions, receive the required number of scores, and achieve above the minimum required score average. Unlike the NAYC, there are no specific teams for each region. Instead, riders compete as individuals and are ranked over the course of the qualifying period against other riders in their respective divisions. Only the top 12 riders in the country are chosen for the championships, so even if you meet the qualification criteria, you might not receive an invitation.
So, that’s it! Are you ready to get started?
Now that you know what the FEI Youth Pathway is, it’s time to assess if your child is ready to pursue it. Stay tuned for my next post about preparing for the Pathway.
*SUPER IMPORTANT: This post is for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most up to date rules/procedures. If you are interested in pursuing the FEI Youth Pathway, I strongly encourage you to check the United States Equestrian Federation, United States Dressage Federation, and FEI websites regularly to stay up to date on the latest rules and regulations.
