United States Eventing Association

Two hundred and forty Novice pairs took off on Jay Hambly’s cross-country course today as the temperature and competition started heating up at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. Riders and horses covered six divisions that spanned the entire length of the day, and five out of six riders managed to keep their overnight standings.

It was the first day of competition for Novice division riders in the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. A sunny and breezy day allowed them the opportunity to strut down the centerline and secure a solid foundation for their overall score.

Show jumping at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds brought the USEA Modified Championship to a close today and ribbons were pinned on each winner before riders took off on their victory lap. Major leaderboard shakeups brought up lots of emotions and joyous cause for celebration. Everyone rode for their personal best and the final scores reflected not a forecasted lineup but a humbled example of how not grit can get it done.

Horse and rider pairs in the Bates USEA Preliminary Championship divisions tackled cross-country as the competition for the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds progressed into the second phase. There are four championship divisions offered at the Preliminary level this week: Bates USEA Preliminary Horse, Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur, Bates USEA Preliminary Rider, and Bates USEA Preliminary Junior/Young Rider.

There were several leaderboard changes as the Modified championship divisions at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds took to Jay Hambly’s cross-country track today at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The first day of competition at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds featured dressage competition for the Modified level competitors, allowing them the opportunity to dance down the centerline and secure a solid foundation for their overall score.

Watching the final show jumping phase at Rebecca Farm, it was hard to tell that Karma had just galloped around her first CCI4*-L the day before.

The 9-year-old Oldenburg mare (Escudo II x Travita) pinged up over every fence with James Alliston to earn one of two double-clear rounds and finish on her dressage score of 32.6 for the win.

Running earlier than expected due to peak heat, all 14 CCI4*-L riders came out of the start box at Rebecca Farm this morning, but not all of them crossed the finish. Buck Davidson, who was holding second place standing coming out of dressage yesterday, incurred a refusal and a fall from Business Class at what was arguably one of the most challenging aspects of the Ian Stark’s course—the Snake, which dropped into the water where a set of bounce logs led to a triple brush.

Just as the sweat of the day started beading up on foreheads, CCI4*-L competitors entered the dressage arena at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, ready to bring on a heat of their own. In many ways, this initial phase makes a first and lasting impression—a score that will be relentlessly chased throughout the weekend as the jumping phases stack up on the westward horizon.

“Look at me, Shrek! I’m trotting!” When sitting ringside at the Event at Rebecca Farm’s first horse inspection, does this notable line from the DreamWorks beloved Donkey flood your ears, or is it just me?

With an impressive peppering of spectators taking shade on the grassy banks, enthusiastic steeds and their riders in the CCI4*-L division took matching steps in front of the ground jury. All 14 horses presented passed.