United States Eventing Association

Early Leaders Shine in Bates USEA Preliminary Championships at #AEC2024

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 27— The Bates USEA Preliminary Championship divisions were one of the three levels to kick off their week at theUSEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. Four riders have risen to the top of their divisions and hope to hold onto their lead following cross-country on Wednesday.

Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship

Erin Wages rode her own 16-year-old gelding Cooley One To Many (Jack of Diamonds x Taffin) late in the division and in the scorching midday heat to clinch the first phase lead of the Bates Preliminary Amateur Champion division on 27.6. Cooley One To Many, or “Jack,” completed Badminton, Blenheim, and Bramham with New Zealand rider Dan Jocelyn, and Wages has been riding him for about a year after buying him sight unseen on her trainer Rebecca Brown’s advice and via Joe Meyer. “The opportunity came up, and I pounced on it,” Wages said with a smile. “I've had him for about a year now, and I'm absolutely in love!”

Since then, Wages relocated to Florida and now trains with Karl Slezak and Marin Foster.

Jack arrived in Florida from England last July, and they had a period of adjustment to each other. “We spent months just getting adjusted to the climate and the heat, and he has some fun quirks,” Wages recalled. “He's tough to get on, and you can't lean over while you're on him; he doesn't like any of those things. We had a lot of sessions with treats and grain and things like that. But now we're pretty comfortable with each other, and I know how to get around and do stuff on him. He’s just a consummate professional; he goes in a snaffle all phases, and he's fabulous.”

Wages works in Florida full-time as a veterinary oncologist helping to treat dogs and cats with cancer and acknowledges, “it’s a very hard job.” Although Wages has ridden at the Kentucky Horse Park many times, she hasn’t competed at the AEC before and is thrilled at the prospect of jumping in the Rolex Arena. “As an adult amateur who works full time, me actually getting to do a four-star or five-star here is probably somewhat unrealistic, so to be able to get into that Rolex stadium and compete at whatever level it is, is just a dream come true.”

Wages’ ambition is to run around an Advanced, and although she and Jack are building a solid relationship it’s been a tumultuous year for Wages personally, dealing with a diagnosis of a very rare type of cancer which saw her juggling competing and riding with chemotherapy sessions. “I had multiple surgeries, and I was on chemotherapy for four or five months,” she shared, also adding that thankfully she’s now in remission. “It definitely means more,” she reflected on how this experience has changed things for her emotionally. “Horses are my outlet so every day I could go I just did it. I think I ran a Modified on him within 24 hours of getting a 24-hour chemotherapy infusion. I was out at a horse show with my best friend, riding our first Modified, which he won. So, it's been a tough, interesting journey.”

Heather Bush rode her own warmblood Bond 007 (Emillion x Z.Adermie 10) into second place after dressage posting a score of 28.9. Texas’ Katherine Truelson is close behind in 3rd place after dressage with a 29.4 score on Elizabeth Bond’s 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding High Class (Wold Desert x Kimmie Sue Jr ).

Bates USEA Junior/Young Rider Preliminary Championship

The Bates USEA Junior/Young Rider Preliminary division was the first to complete their dressage phase on Tuesday morning at the Kentucky Horse Park, getting a head start on the heat. Katherine Maroko, an Area II young rider from Pennsylvania, heads the leaderboard going forward to Wednesday’s cross-country, scoring 28.2 on her own 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Redfield Champion (Diorado x Calinka). They were the only combination to score sub-30 in this division.

Maroko bought Redfield Champion from Caroline Pamukcu earlier this year, drawn to his “very sweet personality.” She elaborated, “He tries so hard, even if he's struggling with anything or doesn't quite understand, he wants so badly to do well by his rider, and for you to be happy with how he does. His personality and his work ethic are my favorite things about him.”

Despite having competed at the Advanced level with Pamukcu, Maroko reported that ‘Champ’ was nonetheless quite affected by the atmosphere in the Prelim rings this morning, “I think there are definitely areas that could use some improvement, just because of the amount of environment. He was a little bit nervous, so it wasn't quite the best test we've ever done, but considering how much was going on around him, I think it was the best we were able to do today.”

Maroko, 19, combines online college with working full-time as head girl for Hannah Sue Hollberg, who can’t be here this weekend as she is en route to Defender Burghley Horse Trials in England. Maroko has been to the AEC before as a groom, but this is her first time competing. “It’s pretty cool!” she admitted. “It's awesome to be able to be showing here!”

Sitting in second place overnight on a score of 30.8 is Riley Nelson, also from Pennsylvania, riding Fylicia, Shannon, and Daniel Barr’s experienced five-star mare, Galloway Sunrise (Duty Officer x Coco Chanel). Rounding out the top-3 for the day is Carlin Keefe riding Rumsey Keefe’s 11-year-old Thoroughbred Point Nemo (Songandaprayer x Wood Not) on a score of 32.8.

Bates USEA Preliminary Horse Championship

Twenty-seven horses are vying to be the 2024 Bates USEA Preliminary champion, and at this early stage Stephanie Goodman has taken the lead on Deanna Briggs’ Elwenda DP (Westpoint x Wenderola), a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. Representing Area 7, Goodman hails from Idaho and posted a first phase score of 26.8. She managed to hold off a concerted challenge from both Leslie Law and Boyd Martin who are tied for second place behind her on 29.7.

Goodman took over the ride on ‘Esme’ about three years ago. “She is owned by some really good friends out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming,” she explained. “She is a mature 15 this year, and she was imported from Holland as a dressage horse, and when Deanna needed some help riding her, I asked her if I could jump her. Since then, she's just been my little partner, and she's gotten better and better every year.”

Briggs is here at the Kentucky Horse Park to support Goodman and her horse, but also in a parenting role—her daughter is competing, and they made the long, two-day drive here together from Idaho. Esme competed in the Preliminary Horse division of the 2023 AEC, and Goodman has been looking forward to returning this year, “Oh yeah, yeah, this is, like the highlight We love coming!” she said.

Esme arrived in Kentucky on Friday and enjoyed a couple of days turnout at a layover farm before moving into the Horse Park Monday, and Goodman mused that David O’Connor’s help the night before their test made all the difference. “She was not at all spooky today,” Goodman shared about her mare who she describes as her “spooky little lion. She just really was all business and was with me. I had a great lesson from David O'Connor last night, and we worked on just a few changes in her frame, and she stayed up and stayed pretty forward, even though it's this is really hot and muggy for us, so I thought she might get a little bit soggy.”

Fresh from the Paris Olympics followed immediately by his inaugural Eventing Camp, Martin has no slow gears and is the busiest rider at the AEC with eight horses entered across the divisions; his ride in the Preliminary Horse division is the Malmo Mob’s 8-year-old Swedish warmblood Kolbeinn (Comfortuna VDL x Donna Linda XX). Florida’s Leslie Law equaled Martin’s score with Fernhill Lottery (Cleaveland Dual x Faberge). Lurking just 0.1 penalty behind them both on 29.8 is Ocala neighbor Jonathan Holling with Team Rebecca’s 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Fernhill Esmerelda (Emerald Van't Ruytershof x Coralista).

Bates USEA Preliminary Rider Championship

Madison Langerak took the lead in the Bates Preliminary Rider division with her mother’s 12- year-old Hungarian gelding Normandy Kivalo (Kalaska De Semilly x Carina) on a score of 27.5. Langerak has ridden “Norman” for about seven years since he was sourced by Attila Rajnai. They found him on a family vacation in Hungary, “and we ended up bringing a horse home instead of a normal souvenir,” she said with a giggle. This is their second trip to the AEC in Kentucky, and they also competed at the Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, Montana) iteration together, “He’s been around the block at this point!” Langerak’s goal each year though is, “a healthy, happy horse, and anything on top of that is a bonus!”

Before Langerak purchased Norman he hadn’t evented before. “We went over and found him on New Year’s Day, and he had jumped a few small courses,” she said. It was his personality that sealed the deal. “He’s so in your pocket and nosey and a little annoying but so lovable, and I think that’s what drew me to him more than anything.”

Langerak is in nursing school in Idaho and is playing hooky to be here this weekend; she trains with Stephanie Goodman who currently leads the Bates Preliminary Horse division. Langerak was hoping for a good test as this is Norman’s best phase. “He’s very reliable and just a good ‘Steady Eddie’ for dressage day,” she said.

As for Wednesday’s cross-country, Langerak has only had one other run this year, a couple of months ago at Aspen Farm (Yelm, Washington), “but it was the most fun I think I’ve had on him to date so I’m hoping tomorrow will be a mirror image of that for him.”

Brooke Kahl moved into second place overnight on her own Belgian Warmblood gelding Nata Montado SCF (Baldev x Whinny II) on a score of 34.5, narrowly squeaking ahead of Joanie Morris and her own British Sport Horse Pioneer Archibald (Primmore's Pioneer x Meringe M) with a score of 34.8.

Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships

There are four teams in contention for the title of Champion of the 2024 Preliminary Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC). Following the first day of competition, it is The Chardoneighs comprised of Wages, Kahl, Ashley Greene, and Lily Barlow who sit atop the leaderboard on a team score of 94.3.

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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 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.

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 Beginner Novice through Preliminary 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 Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and ARMA, The Chronicle of the Horse, Equilab, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kerrits, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Santa Cruz Animal Health, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and SmartPak for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.