United States Eventing Association

Temecula, Calif.—Aug. 30— Cross-country wrapped up at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds, with the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice and USEA Starter Championships closing out the day. Riders tackled their final treks around the courses, and the competition is heating up as we head into the last day of the AEC!

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Junior Championship

Amelia Solivan Busque of Portola Valley, California, and Kendra Mitchell’s 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Russian Roulette (Count Me In x Viva Evita), delivered a confident cross-country round to hold onto their lead in the Marshall + Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Junior Championship. Sitting on their dressage score of 25.0, the pair now head into tomorrow’s show jumping phase at the top of the leaderboard.

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Horse Championship

Madeline Backus (Larkspur, Colorado) and her own 5-year-old Trakehner gelding P.S. Sir Balinor (Stiletto x P.S. Arianna) are still leading on their dressage score of 25.8 after cross-country and are currently the top-placed combination in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Horse Championship.

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Rider Championship

Laura Bentley of Phoenix, Arizona, continues to lead the field in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Rider Championship with Allison Jackson’s 7-year-old Hanoverian/American Warmblood gelding WokeUp (ES WakeUp x MS Benecia) after a fault free cross-country phase. The pair will go into tomorrow's show jumping round with a 20.2.

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Amateur Championship

Annie Desmond of Sebastopol, California, and her 13-year-old German Riding Pony, Little Elf (Cyrill WE x Donauwelle), made a move up the leaderboard in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Amateur Championship. After sitting in second place following dressage, the pair delivered a fault-free cross-country round to take over the lead with their score of 26.9. They’ll now head into tomorrow’s show jumping phase in the top position, looking to secure the championship title.

USEA Starter Amateur Championship

Patricia Cameron and her 6-year-old Azteca mare Liberty Song jumped from third to first after cross-country, and head into show jumping on their dressage score of 28.8. The pressure is on for the Citrus Heights, California-based rider for tomorrow’s final phase of the USEA Starter Amateur Championship, as less than one point separate them from second place.

USEA Starter Rider Championship

Mohamed Mostafa of San Francisco moved up one spot in the standings to claim the top position aboard Ruth Bley’s 20-year-old Selle Francais/Hanoverian gelding Rodrigue du Granit (Robin II Z x Delight Gree). After a confident, fault-free cross-country round, they ended the day on their dressage score of 25.5—with just 0.2 points separating them from second place.

USEA Starter Junior Championship

Kenley Caflisch (Amarillo, Texas) and the 13-year-old Benmore Westonhouse Boy (Westonhouse Straboe x Benmore Betty) produced a double-clear cross-country run to move from fourth after dressage into the lead going into show jumping. The pony is owned by Brittany Caflisch and the pair continued their 30.8 dressage score.

Helpful Links:

• USEA AEC Website
• Official AEC Digital Program
• AEC Schedule
• Ride Times
• Facility Map
• Equine Network Livestream/H&C Livestream
• AEC Digital Event Program
• Live Scores
• $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final Roster
• Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) Fast Facts
• AEC Fast Facts
• USEA's Coverage

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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 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held on Aug. 27-31 at Galway Downs in Temecula, California. 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, Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, Standlee; Silve Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Kerrits, The Jockey Club; Bronze Level Sponsors: Athletux, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe; Contributing Level Sponsors: CrossCountry App, Santa Cruz Animal Health, #WeRideTogether; and Prize Level Sponsors: Equilab, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher’s Water, Horses 4 Your Consideration, LeMieux, Practical Horseman, Ride iQ, Sidelines Magazine, Werkman Hoofcare USA, and Whitfield Equine Nutrition.

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at Galway Downs in Temecula, California on Aug. 27-29, 2025. Thanks to Adequan’s amazing support, the Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will bring together the country’s top riders to vie for $60,000 in prize money and the title of Adequan® Champion. To qualify for the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final at the AEC in 2025, competitors will need to complete a minimum of two events without cross-country jump penalties at any USEA recognized Advanced horse trials, CCI4*-S, CCI4*-L , CCI5*-L, World Championships, or Olympic Games. Click here to learn more about the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final.

About the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships

The Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships, which debuted in 2014, is the capstone event for the USEA Area Adult Team Challenges, providing adults the chance to compete as a team and represent their Area of the country in a friendly and fun environment. Historically, adult riders had three regional Team Challenges in which to compete with fellow adults in a team environment, with the locations changing each year. In 2013, the USEA Adult Rider Coordinators voted to move to support Adult Team Challenges taking place in all 10 Areas across the country, with the finale being the ATC at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds. Each Area can send up to eight teams from Starter Level to Modified Level to the ATC. Adult Riders know how to have a good time, and there is no doubt that they bring an increased level of excitement and camaraderie to the AEC! Click here to learn more about the USEA Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank ATC Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and contributing sponsors ARMA, The Chronicle of the Horse, Equilab, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and SmartPak for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.