United States Eventing Association

Spectators could be forgiven for thinking they were seeing double during the victory gallop in the Novice Junior 15 & Under division at the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. Two identical flea-bitten ponies were galloping around, second- and third-place ribbons streaming in the breeze, under the command of 13-year-old Kendal Fansler of Clarksville, Maryland.

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final, which will take place during the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds on Aug. 26-31, is the highlight of an already jam-packed championship schedule. This year, the championship will be hosted at Galway Downs in Temecula, California, giving West Coast-based, upper-level eventers the “home field advantage” during this exciting showdown.

2020 was a year of extreme change for the world as the COVID-19 pandemic spread. After enduring lockdowns and restrictions, people’s priorities changed. For some, it was a year of transformation. Adult amateur Susan Hamblen was one of those people, ready to quit riding until she met a young pinto crossbred of unknown breeding in rural eastern Pennsylvania who would change her life.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (AEC) is the annual national championship for every level of the Olympic equestrian sport of eventing. The USEA is officially accepting bids for the following service providers at the 2025 USEA AEC which takes place Aug. 26-31, at Galway Downs in Temecula, California.

“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that. He is quite the athlete!” Such comments are fairly common for Jennifer Skinner to hear about her American Quarter Horse stallion Bullys Legacy (“Diggy”). Eleven years ago Skinner, a professional barrel racing and young horse trainer in Bryan, Texas, welcomed the bay colt into the world—he’d been the culmination of dream bloodlines, bred for a career in her industry.

As I walk down the ramp into the Rolex Arena to compete in the 2024 $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds, I ask myself, “What am I doing here?” I look around in the warmup area, and everyone is a big-name rider—several are past Olympians—and here I am, a rider no one has heard of.

Drumroll please… After much consideration, the United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) and our partners at Adams Horse Supply are proud to announce the winner of the ATC Scavenger Hunt hosted during the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds.

When 15-year-old Sophia Lieberman first laid eyes on her dapple gray mustang Bear Necessities three years ago in Alabama, she had no idea what the future might hold for them. Lieberman and her mother, Dr. Alison LaCarrubba, DVM, were on the hunt for a new project pony, and the 14-hand gelding seemed like he might be a good fit.

USEA CEO Rob Burk and USEA President Lou Leslie hopped on a call with Host Nicole Brown to chat all about the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds. From how the eventing community rallied together following Liz Halliday's fall in the Advanced Final to the amazing stories that came to light during the event, we chat about everything at this year's AEC that inspired us and remind us why this event is truly one of the most exciting events of the year!

With the USEA American Eventing Championship presented by Nutrena Feeds gaining in popularity and prestige every year, it came as no surprise to Event Secretary, Cavan Allen, and Head of Scheduling, Debbie Hinkle, that attempting to accommodate over 1,000 entries for this year’s event would take a herculean effort.