Eventing’s Future Stars Shine Bright at the First 2026 Bred to Event Classic Qualifier at Loch Moy Farm

On August 22, Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland hosted the first qualifying show for the 2026 Bred to Event Classic series. The series, sponsored by Horse Sport Maryland, highlights the breeding and development of young event horses.

The Bred to Event Classic aligns with the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation’s mission to support the future of eventing, the series invests in both breeders and young horses, providing a platform to showcase the quality and potential of horses from yearlings through five-year-olds.

At each qualifying show, young horses are evaluated for conformation, movement and jumping potential with those horses earning a 74% or higher in conformation earning a spot in the Bred to Event Championships. Yearlings and two-year-olds are shown at liberty while three-year-olds are also shown through a jump chute. Four- and five-year-olds are shown under saddle in a material type dressage class in addition to either being shown through a jump chute (option for four-year-olds) or over a derby style cross-country course (all five-year-olds and option for four-year-olds).

One of the top scoring horses at the August qualifier was Tiamo, a KWPN gelding bred by Masha Voica of Canada and owned by Gaia Larsen of Maryland. Tiamo won Class 3, the Three-Year-Old In Hand Qualifying class. Judges Susan White and Cathy Slaterbeck gave Tiamo, who is by Le Formidable out of Lucky Girl, by His Royal Badness, an 80.33 for jumping, which was the highest score through the jump chute for the day. Scores are weighted and converted to a percentage for the final score, which for Tiamo was 78.512%, also the highest final score of the day.

At the heart of the program are the breeders, who thoughtfully produce the next generation of event horses, and the owners who believe in these young horses and provide the support, time and resources needed to develop their potential. Their commitment to breeding quality event horses is essential to the future of our sport.

Owner and breeder Stephanie Marie Peralta produced the Class 1 (Yearling In Hand Qualifier) winner, a Holsteiner filly named SES Tachira (Fabregas x SES Coro, Into Mischief). The Maryland-bred very narrowly beat out another Maryland-bred Holsteiner filly, Duplicata WG (Duplexx x Jaguar Rosetta WG, Jaguar Mail), owned by Katie Novotny and bred by Novotny and Eileen Pritchard Bryan. Peralta’s filly earned a final score of 76.95% for the win while Novotny’s filly earned a 76.90% for second.

“She’s a great eventing prospect because she has all the pieces: correct build and pure gaits for suitability for all three rings,” Peralta stated about her homebred. Peralta has already started Tachira’s eventing training by introducing her to obstacles, such as water crossings, in hand. “She is so brave and eats up any challenge,” Peralta added.

Out on the Derby Course, it was the Pennsylvania-bred Thoroughbred Brave Sand River that impressed the judges the most. Bred by Moneylane Farms, the five-year-old gelding was ridden by owner Dayna Blumel to a jump score of 76.45 and won Class 8 (Five-Year-Old Qualifier).

Additional class winners are listed below with complete results found here.

CLASS 2 – Two-Year-Old In Hand Qualifier: SIGMA OASIS (American Dream X Shea Ballet, Polish Miner) Pennsylvania-bred Trakehner filly • Breeder: Alayna Pastuck (PA) • Owner Kristine Miller (MD)
CLASS 7A – Four-Year-Old Section A Qualifier: SEQUIN (Secret X Quintessa MF, Quarterback) Maryland-bred Hanovarian mare Breeder: Andrew Birtle & Susan Graham White (MD) • Owner: April Shaver (VA)
CLASS 7B – Four-Year-Old Section B Qualifier: FUTURE PARADIGM (Ramiro B X Future Golden Glove, Hand in Glove) UK-bred Warmblood mare • Breeder: Future Sport Horses (UK) • Owner: Elizabeth Callahan (MD)

Loch Moy Farm would like to thank all the breeders, owners, riders, judges, volunteers and supporters who made the first qualifying show such a success. The next Bred to Event Qualifier is October 23, followed by the Bred to Event Championships on October 24-25 at Loch Moy Farm. “We look forward to seeing the next generation of eventing stars!” said Loch Moy Farm owner, Carolyn Mackintosh.

For more information about the Bred to Event Classic, please visit this website.