United States Eventing Association

The USEA Appreciation Awards were created as an opportunity for the eventing community to recognize and honor people who have served the sport tirelessly both in a non-riding capacity and riding capacity. While tabulating horse and rider awards is a simple matter of calculating points earned in a competition, it is a very different proposition when it comes to the non-rider awards; these awards require nominations from our members.

Over 211 Thoroughbreds traveled to the Kentucky Horse Park to compete at the 2021 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds on August 31 – September 5. There were four T.I.P. registered horses competing in the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, four in the Intermediate Championship, 20 in the Bates Preliminary divisions, 11 in the Vetoquinol Modified Championship, 51 in the Training divisions, 64 in the Novice divisions, and 57 in the Beginner Novice divisions.

The USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) were a huge success this year, garnering a record-breaking 58 ATC teams at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds. The ATC provides USEA Adult Rider program members with the chance to compete as a team and represent their Area in a friendly and fun environment at the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, and Preliminary levels.

Perhaps one of the best reasons to be a member of USEA is the opportunity to qualify for and participate in the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. This year there was a record 1,178 entries and a waitlist of over 150. There were 1,009 pinnies handed out and 939 horses started the competition. All combined it made for the largest horse trials in USEA history. Competitions ran in all USEA divisions and additional prizes were given for teams, incentive programs, amateur, and young rider divisions.

“Hey, quick question,” Jane Mortensen asked the USEA team at the media tent of the 2021 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. “Do you happen to know how old the oldest horse competing here this week is?”

Thanks to the support of Joan Iversen Goswell, the Worth the Trust Educational Scholarships were established in 2000 to provide financial assistance to amateurs to pursue their education in eventing. The funds from the Worth the Trust Educational Scholarships may be used for training opportunities such as clinics, working student positions, and private or group instruction, or to learn from an official, course designer, technical delegate, judge, veterinarian, or organizer.

Nicole is joined by Boyd Martin and Gerlinde Beckers to relive the 2021 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds! Nicole and Boyd talk about On Cue and their experience in the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, while she and Gerlinde chat about her fairytale finish in the Beginner Novice Master Amateur division.

The championships will take place over the Labor Day weekend and the tourist season in Montana will still be in full swing. As a result, it is essential that riders make hotel and car rental reservations immediately. This year, due to a massive influx of visitors, hotels were fully booked months ahead and there was not a car to be rented within a hundred-mile radius. You can always cancel in the event you are unable to travel to Montana next year, but we want to alert you to the need to make your reservations early to avoid disappointment and stress.

Volunteering is an essential part of the sport of eventing. With fences to be judged, scores to be tallied, rings to be stewarded and countless more tasks to be accomplished throughout each day, event organizers rely on the invaluable help of event volunteers to keep events running smoothly. These efforts are monumental at any regular horse trial but are magnified exponentially when it comes to the production of the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (AEC).

The USEA Foundation is now accepting applications for the Essex Horse Trials Grant, the Seema Sonnad Junior Rider's Grant, and the Haller Scholarship for Eventing Officials.