United States Eventing Association

A Junior Gets Her Shot at AEC Thanks to a Generous Surprise

Only a few weeks ago, 13-year-old Julitta “Adele” Bryant was convinced that a trip to this year’s USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds wasn’t in the cards for her. But the hard working teen from Ponce De Leon, Florida, was in for a major surprise, thanks to the incredible generosity of a close family friend and fellow eventer.

Kelly Boos, a professional based out of Bowling Green, Kentucky, had competed alongside Bryant’s mother, Katie Bryant, for decades, and the pair often traveled together for shows and clinics. “We had some pretty entertaining adventures,” recalled Katie. “She has a son I used to tote around and play with at the shows when he was little—he’s about five years older than my daughter.”

This year, Boos had hoped to contest her first AEC with her mare WT GoLightly after having qualified for the Beginner Novice Horse division. But after Boos severely injured her foot and the mare sustained a bruised coffin bone, all in the same week, their championship dreams were sidelined. “The AEC was a goal I set early on this year,” she said. “My mare is brand new to eventing so figured it would be a fun goal. She was a 1.30-meter jumper prior to me so we’ve had some hurdles to overcome, but she has really taken to it. We were able to qualify within the first three shows, so I am beyond proud of how far she’s come in less than a year.”

Even though Boos had the opportunity to get her entry fee back before the cut-off date, she decided to help out her friends. She offered up her entry and stabling fees to the Bryants to give Adele a chance to compete. “I just see how hard [Adele] works,” said Boo. “She set the AEC as a goal, and so I wanted to see her go. She’s one of the hardest working kids and absolutely deserves to be there.”

Katie was touched by Boos’ offer, but didn’t think that Adele was qualified. Adele and the family’s 14-year-old Oldenburg mare, Sandance Dash, or “Lily,” had gotten two third-place finishes and a fifth at Novice events this year, so even though they’d qualified for their Area Championships, it didn’t look like the AEC was a possibility.

“I tried to put Kelly’s offer out of my mind, but I kept thinking how I wished she was qualified and how we’d actually be able to afford to go because of this,” remembered Katie. “The next night I couldn’t sleep, so I popped on the qualified riders list knowing her name wouldn’t be there, and there it was.”

She was confused because she hadn’t known about upgrade placings and upgrade points that allow an amateur or junior to gain qualifications if they’re in an open division competing against a professional. As it turns out, at Adele’s very first event of the season, she had actually gotten a qualifying result since she was a junior and a pro placed in front of her. Her upgraded placing was second—an automatic qualifier for the AEC Junior Novice division.

“I ran to her room to wake her up and told her she was going to AEC,” said Kelly. “This was her biggest goal for the past two years, but especially this year, and we were all praying she’d make it.”

When Adele found out her dreams of attending the AEC this year were about to become a reality, she was shocked and grateful for Boos’ kind gesture. “It really touched me because I hadn’t planned to go, and then suddenly I was,” she said. “And Kelly had practically paid for everything. I was just like, wow, that’s incredibly generous, because it was before the 13th, so she could have gotten refunded.”

The news was even sweeter for Bryants, knowing how hard their daughter had worked with Lily. Adele had just taken over the ride in March and felt like the AEC might be attainable, but after hitting the dirt a few times, she felt discouraged. “She kept pushing forward, and they’ve developed a really good relationship,” said Katie. Her daughter works three days a week at a local dressage barn as well as riding several horses at her family’s own farm and helps to manage the facility.

“It means a lot to us to see her being able to reach her goals that she’s worked so hard to achieve,” said Katie. “It has been even more of a blessing not having to worry about whether we could afford to make her dreams come true.”

For the Bryants, horses and family have always gone hand in hand. Katie grew up riding homebred Thoroughbreds back in Utah, and when her family moved east, she connected with Pat Burns and her daughter, Olympic eventer Julie Richards, whom she and Adele still train with.

Katie’s mother, Linda Crabtree, who also evented, is a vital part of the Bryant’s farm, Dream Acres Sport Horses, which focuses their breeding program on Hanoverians. “My mother’s love of horses has transcended through generations,” said Katie. “She and I have been breeding, training, and selling together for the last 20 years, but she’s recently handed over the torch, and now I’ve begun the journey with my own daughter.”

Adele is now proudly carrying that torch with the mare her family bred. Lily is sired by their late stallion, San City, whom Katie competed at the AEC 12 years ago. Though Katie sold young Lily as a weanling, she bought her back after the owners moved to England. The mare competed up to Preliminary with other riders before Adele took over the reins this year. “I find it so funny that I'm actually going to AEC with her,” said Adele with a laugh, reflecting on her mare’s journey.

Now that she’s officially entered, Adele can look ahead to the Championships. She’d never been to the AEC before, but earlier this spring she and a friend attended the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, so she got her first taste of the Kentucky Horse Park. Her most anticipated phase? The climax of the event in the venue’s legendary stadium. “I love show jumping,” she said. “That’s where you win or lose. That's the deciding factor for every event there. In the end anything can happen.”

As the date draws ever nearer, Adele has been hard at work fundraising to cover the remainder or her expenses, baking treats and making soaps. And luckily, at the AEC she’ll have plenty of support from her family. “All eight of us will be there cheering her on,” said Katie. “Her father, five siblings, and my brother-in-law. We’ll just be missing my mom, who’s in Africa serving a mission.”

And Adele’s benefactor, Boos, will also be there to see her compete. “As bummed as I am to scratch, I will definitely still be there cheering everyone on,” she said. “The AEC is a huge goal for everyone, and not everyone is fortunate enough to make it. I believe the vibe at AEC is just totally different, and it’s amazing to watch everyone just have a great time. I am excited for AEC to return [to Kentucky] in 2026, and I will absolutely plan to be there!”

With AEC mere days away, Katie reflects on the generosity and encouragement from friends and family. “The response we've had to those willing to help support her on this journey has been overwhelming,” she said. “We are so grateful to all who have contributed to making her dreams a reality, especially to Kelly who put this all in motion.”

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.