Area Championships
2026 USEA Area Championships
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL
- All Area Championship competitors must be current USEA Members.
- All qualifying competitions must be USEA registered horse trials, three-day events or CIs.
- Divisions must have five or more starters to count as qualifying competitions.
- Qualifiers must be achieved at the level intended for competition at Championships
- List the qualifying competitions on the entry form.
NOTE: Whips are not permitted to be carried in the Dressage Test at USEF/USEA Championships or USEA Area Championship divisions.
AREA I
(Preliminary, Modified, Training, Novice, Beginner Novice and Starter)
TBD
Placing to Qualify: 1st thru 3rd at one Event, includes amateur placing.
Qualifying Period:
In Area: Starter, BN, N, T Any Area: P, M
Placing 1-5 at the 2025 Championships counts as a qualifier.
For a detailed account of Area I Championship policies and specifications go to Area I Championships
AREA II
(Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified, Training, Novice, Beginner Novice, and Starter)
TBD
Qualification Period:
For detailed account of Area II Championship policies and specifications go to www.usea2.org
AREA III
TBD
Qualifying Period:
Placing to Qualify:
Starter - Preliminary: 1st thru 5th at one event with no cross-country jump penalties
Intermediate: completion of a minimum of 2 events (Intermediate HT or 3*) with no cross- country penalties.
Open to members of other Areas but non-residents must qualify within Area III.
For a detailed account of Area III Championship policies and specifications go to www.usea3.org
AREA IV
TBD
Placing to Qualify: 1st thru 5th at one event in any Area. Modified and Preliminary placings are waived of minimum starter requirement but must achieve MER.
Qualifying Period:
Riders must compete in at least one Area IV horse Trial during the qualifying period.
Championship divisions are only open to residents or declared residents of Area IV.
For a detailed account of Area IV Championship policies and specifications go to www.usea4.org
AREA V
TBD
Qualifying Period:
Placing to Qualify: Must place 1st through 5th at the same level of the championships in a qualifying division of a USEA recognized horse trial within Area V. Qualifying ride must have five or more starters in the division.
For a detailed account of Area V Championship policies and specifications go to Area V Championships webpage here
AREA VI
TBD
Qualifying Period:
Qualifications: You must complete 2 events at the level as a pair in any area. You and the horse must qualify together.
Championship divisions offered:
- Starter | Junior Rider, Senior Rider, and Open
- Beginner Novice | Rider, Junior Rider, and Senior Rider. Open division will compete in the BN/N Challenge
- Novice | Rider, Junior Rider, and Senior Rider. Open division will compete in the N/T Challenge
- Training | Rider, Junior Rider, and Senior Rider. Open division will compete in the T/M Challenge
- Modified | Rider, Junior Rider, and Senior Rider. Open division will compete in the M/P Challenge
- Preliminary | Open
For a detailed account of Area VI Championship policies and specifications go to
AREA VII
TBD
Placing to Qualify:
Qualifying Period:
For a detailed account of Area VII Championship policies and specifications go to https://www.areavii.org/area-vii-championships
AREA VIII
TBD
Placing to Qualify:
Riders must be members of USEA Area 8 as determined by their address of record with the USEA or declaration of Area. Placings earned through the USEA Amateur Upgrade Policy will count as a placing requirement.
To compete for the Adult and Young Riders awards competitors must be a member of the Area 8 Adult Rider or Area 8 Young Rider program no later than opening date for entries.
Qualifying Period:
For a detailed account of Area VIII Championship policies and specifications, including residency requirements go to www.usea8.org
AREA IX
TBD
Qualifying Period:
1. All entries must be submitted by the posted closing date of the show.
2. Rider and Horse must qualify as a pair.
3. Starter through Training Level Qualifications: 1st through 5th at one USEA recognized event with a minimum of 5 starters. Modified and Preliminary placings are waived of minimum starter requirements but must achieve an MER.
4. Completion at any level must meet the USEF definition of a MER to qualify for championships.
Area IX Members may qualify in any area, but they must have competed in at least one USEA recognized event within Area IX during the qualifying time period, although it does not need to be on the horse they are showing in the Championships.
5. Open to members of other areas but non- Area IX riders must qualify within Area IX.
For a detailed account of Area IX Championship policies and specifications go to www.areaixeventing.com
AREA X
TBD
Qualification Period:
1. Area X: Divisions with fewer than three starters, must obtain a MER for the placing to count. (No need to mention placing because a placing is guaranteed with less than 3 starters)
2. Area X and declared Area X horse and rider combinations must place first (1st) through fifth (5th) in any one event anywhere.
3. Horse & rider combinations from other areas must place first (1st) through fifth (5th) in any event within Area X.
4. Horse and rider must qualify together.
