United States Eventing Association

Rosie Smith’s rose gold accented helmet matched her perfectly tidy bun of red hair as she took the third spot in the USEA Training Rider Championship at the 2022 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nurena Feeds. Every little detail came together while aboard her trusted partner of nine years: the 20-year-old Connemara Irish Draught named Seamus (by Corrcullen, RID). But Smith’s first jump, back when she was only 15 years old, wasn’t with an English saddle.

Katharina Huenermann drove nearly 2,300 miles while making the trek from Atlanta, Georgia to Kalispell, Montana for the 2022 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds with her beloved 6-year-old Welsh Arabian gelding Targaryen TWF (Winterlake Tristan x CNF Marteenna) in tow. With a second-place finish in the USEA Beginner Novice Rider division, Huenermann left the arena aboard “Teddy” with a memory of a lifetime. It was the perfect conclusion to a special partnership as Huenermann handed off the reins to Teddy’s new owner, Bozeman, Montana resident Jodie Knox, not without shedding a few tears and wrapping her dear friend in a warm embrace. While adding another decorative finish to the young gelding’s resume, Huernermann also celebrated yet another successful equine adventure with her mother Dagmar Weisser-Berner, who flew in from Germany to show her continued support for her daughter’s involvement in this sport.

Clips, combs, a big dull needle, gloves. Area VII eventer Lilia Haberman describes what most realize is a survival kit for braiders. And that’s exactly what she is: a braider, not to be mistaken with a groom. Grooms tend to be an all-in type, usually pairing the service offered with a specific professional and growing alongside a barn family—a right-hand man (or woman) for any event. But for Haberman, her braiding service goes wherever she does, whether that’s to events as a competitor or volunteer.

His legacy is in his name: Steady Eddie (Jetball x Tuonela). The 16.1 bay Thoroughbred gelding owned by Denise Lahey, Pierre Collin, and George and Gretchen Wintersteen has officially retired at 19 years old. But before we reminisce his decorated record as an eventer, lets first remember and pay homage to his first career as a racehorse in Australia, where he raced under the name Big Jet.

For Immediate Release: The USEA Beginner Novice Championship took an early and fiery start to the day with ponies, horses and riders ready to leave their best round in the show jump arena, signaling the final phase on the final day of the American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. The smokey skies gave way to a cloudless, picturesque backdrop as the sun shone bright on new winners through each level of this division.

For Immediate Release: The USEA Novice Championship divisions came to a tidy and tight-knees show jumping finale today at the 2022 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. All riders and their mounts brought their season’s best riding and piloting to the arena for this final phase.

For Immediate Release: The morning sun played all the right angles on each horse and rider combination on Saturday morning as the final phase of the USEA Training Championships at the 2022 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds began at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana. Show jumping rounds offered fair questions and opportunities to maintain a leading score or bump up to a winning position, and ultimately improved partnerships in the saddle.

For Immediate Release: Novice competitors left it all out on the field today as they conquered a challenging but fair championship cross-country course. The Ian Stark-designed course offered interesting questions for novice riders who may or may not have found them familiar but these leaders tackled each obstacle with the right answers to cohesively maintain their overnight lead.

Show jumping at the 2022 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds brought the Bates USEA Preliminary Championship to a close today and ribbons were pinned on each winner before riders took off on their victory lap. With winners in every level, each offered different expectations and emotions to the table. This division had a wide range of riders who rode for the win and, most importantly, for their personal best.

If your eyes felt a little misty this morning following the USEA Open Modified Championship show jumping rounds taking place at the 2022 USEA American Eventing Championship (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds, you weren’t alone. Madison Langerak’s white glove came up to catch her tears of joy while her other hand fell on Normandy Kivalo’s glistening neck after a clear round, signaling that they had indeed taken the win, finishing on their impressive dressage score of 20.6 from Wednesday.