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Jun 16, 2024
Be a VIP at the 2024 USEA AEC by Volunteering!
Do you have plans to attend the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park this Aug. 27 – Sept. 1? Make your mark on the event by signing up to volunteer! Volunteer positions are open to everyone, including competitors, trainers, owners, fans, friends, and family that are making the trip to Lexington, Kentucky, later this summer, and the USEA highly encourages its members to find the time in their busy schedules to give back. These Championships cannot run without the support of hundreds of volunteers that donate their time.
All AEC volunteers will be rewarded for their efforts in supporting the biggest eventing competition of the year. Every AEC volunteer will receive exclusive AEC volunteer merchandise and an assortment of goodies from our event sponsors. Volunteers will also be provided with lunches each day and will have the opportunity to be featured on the USEA website. After the AEC has concluded, the USEA will feature one special AEC volunteer in an article published on useventing.com and the USEA social media channels. The volunteer will be selected at random, but the more days you volunteer, the higher your chances are of getting picked to be featured.
Consider making a vacation around your volunteering! The Kentucky Horse Park is in the heart of horse country, offering tours of historic Thoroughbred breeding farms, racetracks, world-renowned veterinary clinics and more. In addition, Lexington is an outdoor oasis that has activities for the whole family to enjoy, such as a visit to Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest to hike or a stroll through The Arboretum, the State Botanical Garden of Kentucky. For Adult Riders and eventing parents looking for a break from the non-stop equine action, Lexington is also the city for bourbon lovers with over 15 local distilleries.
Volunteers are needed starting as early as Saturday, Aug. 17, so consider extending your stay to enjoy all that the local area has to offer. If you only have time to volunteer between rides, morning, midday, and evening slots will be available, giving even more flexibility than ever for those looking to fit in their volunteer time during a busy competition week. Check out the AEC competition schedule here to start crafting your plan.
Volunteers are needed for the two weekends prior to the event to help with cross-country decorations, as well as during event week on Monday, August 26 through Sunday, Sept. 1. Volunteers can sign up at the AEC event listing on EventingVolunteers.com, which is linked here.
Since the AEC utilizes the EventingVolunteers.com app, AEC volunteers on the platform will earn hours towards the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) for their service, which qualifies them for national and area awards.
If you have any questions regarding volunteering at the AEC, please contact the AEC Volunteer Coordinators, Lynn Davis and Bev Henson, at [email protected]. Volunteer updates will be continuously posted on the AEC Volunteer Facebook Page.
If you are planning to compete at the 2024 AEC, remember that entries open one month from today on Tuesday, July 16 and will close on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Click here to view the AEC calendar listing.
As a reminder, both horse and rider must be qualified for the AEC at the level they wish to compete in. For more information, please visit the AEC qualification page, and view the lists of Qualified Riders and Qualified Horses. For questions regarding AEC qualifications, contact Hannah Seagle
The USEA looks forward to seeing everyone in Kentucky! Stay tuned to the USEA website for more event updates and details, and don’t forget to respond “going” on the 2024 AEC Facebook event page. For general questions about the AEC, please contact Kate Lokey.
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, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, Ecogold, Kerrits, Rood & Riddle, The Jockey Club; and more!
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“Happy Horse Equals Happy Judge”: Ask An Expert with Dressage Judge Peter Gray, Brought to You by Ride iQ
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
