United States Eventing Association

A Former Ranch Horse and a Welsh Cob Lead the Way in the Inaugural Horse & Country USEA Starter Championships at #AEC2024

When the USEA announced the addition of two Starter level Championships during the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds, USEA members from around the country rejoiced. On Friday afternoon, 60 Starter level competitors made history as the first-ever Starter competitors at the AEC as they made their way down the centerline.

Horse & Country USEA Open Starter Championship

Ranch horse? Check. Roping horse? Check. Dressage– both English and Western? Check and check. Bonanza On Ice (Gunner On Ice x Majors Barbie Doll), the 7-year-old Quarter Horse gelding who is currently leading the Horse & Country USEA Open Starter Championship truly does it all and this year he added eventing to his skillset with Sophia Harris in the saddle.

“He has done ranch horse versatility and cow horse, my husband has roped off of him, and he has done a lot of dressage and is pretty accomplished at that,” said Harris, Delta, Colorado. “I’ve done eventing my whole life and earlier this year, I suggested to Connie [Klauzer, the horse’s owner] that we try some eventing with him– and here we are!”

Harris describes “Bonanza” as a willing-to-please type of gelding who just wants to do right by his rider, which has attributed to his ability to adapt to new disciplines quite quickly.

“Quarter horses in general are very versatile,” she said. “Sometimes a horse that might be bred to do something maybe doesn't like their job or isn't very good at it, so to give them an outlet like eventing, where it's a triathlon where they get to they get to shine in maybe one event more than the other, but it's a cumulative score that gives them their success– I think is really cool.”

So, with Klauzer’s blessing, Harris began introducing Bonanza to jumping earlier this year. She warned the owner that this was probably going to be an easy year for the horse– they would do some schooling shows and just allow him to acclimate to his new job, but Bonanza had other ideas.

“He started doing pretty well at the schooling shows that I took them to, so I put them into a recognized show, and they were doing pretty well in that and I just happened to look up what the qualifications were for qualifying for the AEC, and we ended up making it. I wasn't going to pass up a chance to be here.”

Harris and Bonanza posted an impressive 22.8 in the first phase of the Championship on Friday to take the early lead. Just fractions of a point behind the leaders are Beth Hathaway and her own 4-year-old Canadian Warmblood mare Iris on a score of 23.2. A score of 23.8 placed Laura Kiff and Hunter, a 12-year-old Appaloosa Sport Horse gelding owned by Allison Hodge, in third.

Horse & Country USEA Starter Junior Championship

When we last spoke to Priscilla Pignatelli in April of this year, the 11-year-old rider had her sights set on competing at the AEC this year. After the first day of competition, she is leading the Horse & Country USEA Starter Junior Championship with a score of 22.0 aboard her beloved partner, Dittos Gold En Fury.

“When we went into the arena today, I was nervous, because who isn't going to the AEC? But after the ride, it really didn't matter what our dressage score was. I was so happy with him, and that was one of our best dressage rides ever,” said Pignatelli, Ocala, Florida.

The young rider has been paired up with Emily Holmes’ 15-year-old Welsh Cob gelding since December of 2023 and together they have won five out of six events that they have competed in. It’s not uncommon for this pair to snag the early lead after dressage, after all – it is Pignatelli’s favorite phase. But the former hunter/jumper rider loves everything about the sport of eventing.

“I love dressage because my horse loves it,” she said. “And then the freedom you feel in cross-country, it's a feeling you can't get anywhere else. Running through a show jump course with your pony making those tight turns, getting over the jumps, quickly glancing behind yourself to see if you knock the rail or not– the adrenaline rush is amazing!”

She is eager to get out on the cross-country in her hot pink getup because everyone calls her Palomino partner “the Barbie pony,” and just enjoy the ride with “Max.”

Paige Markel is in second aboard Lara Markel’s 15-year-old Pony of the Americas mare Tinkerbelle on a score of 24.8. Peyton Bizjak rode Rachael Schindler’s 12-year-old Haflinger mare Melody of Excellence HOF (Standard of Excellence TOF x Maserata TOF) to the third-place spot with a score of 28.8.

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About the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC)

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport at the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Starter to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of combinations from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels. In fact, the 2021 AEC garnered over 1,000 entries and now stands as the largest eventing competition in North American history. The 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held Aug. 27—Sept. 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena Feeds; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsor: Bates Saddles, Horse & Country; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Parker Equine Insurance, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, Kerrits, The Jockey Club, Rood & Riddle; Bronze Level Sponsor: 70 Degrees, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kraft Horse Walkers, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorses Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health; Contributing Level Sponsors: Cross Country App, Georgetown – Scott County Tourism, Lexmark, L.V. Harkness, #WeRideTogether; and Prize Level Sponsors: BEMER, Big Ass Fans, Boyd Martin Fan Shop, Ecogold, EquiFit, Equilab, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, Kentucky Equine Research, LeMieux, Mare Goods, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Palmera Polo, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman / Equine Network, Rachel Dory Equine Fine Art, Remond Minerals, Secretariat Center, Shapley’s, Sidelines Magazine, Strides for Equality Equestrians, and VTO Saddlery.