United States Eventing Association

Temecula, Calif.—Aug. 29—The pressure was on during today’s final phase for the ARMA USEA Training Championship divisions at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds, but ultimately all the overnight leaders retained their top positions.

ARMA USEA Training Horse Championship

In the ARMA USEA Training Horse Championship, Santa Barbara-based Audrey Sanborn piloted her 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Parel Van Der W (Impressive VDL x Kalysha Diola V) to a strong performance, maintaining their dressage score of 23.2.

Sanborn, who only partnered with the mare earlier this year, has already guided her from Novice up to Training level. “She just seems to love it,” she shared.

The pair’s consistency across phases is a testament to their growing partnership. “She loves dressage; she’s very fancy, so that comes naturally to her. Cross-country went pretty smooth; she just eats it up. And she loves going fast and jumping stuff, so that’s probably her favorite phase,” Sanborn added.

Also finishing on their dressage score in the division was local rider Erin Kellerhouse with her 7-year-old German Sport Horse gelding Million Bitcoin (Million Dollar x La Mariacha), closing out the weekend on a 23.9.

Kellerhouse reflected on the young gelding’s progress since she purchased him a year and a half ago. “I had taken him out at Modified in the spring, and maybe it was a little bit too early. When I got him, he was just a show jumper, so he's really careful,” she explained. “So, I decided to back up and slow down a little bit, and I also sent him to James Alliston, who helped me with him a lot, and it's paid off.”

That patient approach has made a noticeable difference in the partnership. “I'm so happy I did the Training with him here, because now I was out there yesterday, and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, he's riding with them now.’ So, yeah, that's great,” Kellerhouse said.

Malibu, California’s Tommy Greengard was the third-place finisher aboard Mia Brown’s 9-year-old Hanoverian mare Casa de Prestige (Christ x Pasadena) following the trend, the pair also finished on their dressage score of 26.2.

“We've had her in the barn probably a year or so, and she's lovely,” Greengard said of the mare. “She's just gone from strength to strength; she's very elegant, she loves the job, and she's just a joy to pilot around.”

Greengard, who is at the AEC with seven horses this week and currently leading the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, is working on building up the mare’s experience. “It was just a good fun weekend for her, which is great,” he said. “She's quite young and is very, very talented, so now we'll figure out what her next move is.”

ARMA USEA Training Amateur Championship

Leah Forquer and Favorit Ask finished their AEC adventure as they began—at the top of the division. The Hollister, California, native and Michael Tobias’ 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Favorit Ask x Hauptstutbuch) added four faults for a dropped rail this afternoon but still pulled off the win with a 24.1.

The pair has accomplished a lot in their short time together. “We’ve only had him since December, and he’s only been eventing since February. He was actually imported to be a hunter. A friend of mine saw him at a hunter/jumper show and thought I’d like him. He’s weird about a lot of things, but he really likes his job!”

“Honestly, all my best horses have been weird,” said Forquer with a laugh. “It’s like all of them have been rejects in one way or another. He got into the swing of things with me pretty quickly and really started to trust me.”

Towering at 18-hands high, dressage was a struggle early on for the gelding. “He’s so big, so for him to carry himself in a different way than what he’d been doing was tough. Our last show at Woodside [California] was probably the first time everything really came together on the flat and he was able to show off his gaits.”

“This weekend was great because everything continued on nicely from the last show,” she added. “He’s also been getting braver. Water is something he tends to look at, but I was so proud of how well he did going into all the water jumps here. And in show jumping, honestly, the bigger the fences, the easier it is for him to jump.”

Clara Marks and her 8-year-old Irish Draught Sport Horse gelding Crystal Blue Persuasion (Blue Diamond x Operetta NZPH) finished as runners-up in the class on their dressage score of 25.2.

Over the past few years, the Granite Bay, California, native forged her partnership with the often-timid gelding. “When we first started, he didn’t like water, he was stopping at jumps, and just unsure of everything. Now, here we are, three years later and he just had his first double-clear on cross-country and finished on his dressage score!” she said.

“He’d had some time off, and I think it really helped him mature,” Marks added. “When he got going again, he was ready to work.”

When they found out they were qualified for the AEC this year, there was no question whether or not they’d attend. “How can we not go? It’s only nine hours away...who knows when it’ll be this close again!”

Rounding out the top three was Keara Duffy and her 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Mystique (Best Minister x Let’s Chat). “I got him when he was 8,” she said. “He raced about 10 times, and I’ve pretty much had him his whole show career. He’s my second off-the-track Thoroughbred. I just love the breed—they have so much stamina and heart, especially for eventing. They just love their job.”

ARMA USEA Training Rider Championship

Picking up top honors in the ARMA USEA Training Rider division was Isabella Rega of Salinas, California, who partnered with Adrianna and Deborah Kosmont’s 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Blurred Lines. The pair picked up 0.4 time penalties on cross-country yesterday, but a double-clear show jumping round sealed their win this afternoon.

Rega and “Bobo” did not have a rail in hand before their show jumping round, which added an additional level of pressure to the final day. “I was a little bit nervous for show jumping. It’s hard when you’ve got the championships on the line!”

Teresa Harcourt of Paso Robles, California, and her 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding Csongor (Chekandino x Vorbuch) held onto their second-place position throughout the week, finishing on their dressage score of 27.7.

“I went really fast on cross-country,” she admitted with a laugh. “I tried to cut some corners and challenge myself. And show jumping today was just great—he’s a very careful guy and doesn’t want to touch anything.”

Harcourt, who serves on the USEA Board of Governors and is the coordinator for the Area IV Young Rider program, was delighted to compete in her Area. “It’s great to see so many of our local riders in the spotlight. I’ve always loved eventing because you’re part of something bigger than yourself—the whole community. So, to get to see everyone come together here in these championships and enjoy the sport together is really fun.”

Keelari Mauzy of Spring Valley, California, and West Coast Cooley (Pointilliste x Hugginstown Imp) moved up from fourth to clinch the third-place spot in the division. After faultless jumping rounds, Mauzy and her nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished on their dressage score of 30.2

“I’ve had him for almost four years. I went over to Ireland, and he was a very green 5-year-old,” she said. “I did most of the work with him myself, but I have a great trainer—Katy Robinson—who’s made a world of difference. It feels great to have gotten the help I needed and do all his training correctly and safely.”

For the local rider, competing at her “home event” was a treat. “I board here at Galway, so I’m very familiar with area. It was such an exciting opportunity to host it, because not everyone has the chance to get out to Kentucky.”

ARMA USEA Training Junior Championship

In a nailbiting finish, Lorelei Frederickson of Port Townsend, Washington, and Kremer VD Falieberg (Up to Date x Odermus R) hung onto their overnight lead to win the division by just 0.3 points. The 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by Mia Frederickson, picked up 1.2 time penalties over William Robertson’s track.

“Historically, show jumping has been a pretty hard phase for me, but he’s really got my back,” Frederickson said. “We went in there cool, calm, and collected, all because of him.”

This fall, Frederickson plans to move up to the one-star level and hopefully contest the Preliminary Challenge at Galway Downs in October.

Reserve champions Alegria Dorigo and her 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Ballyneety Soldier (Crafty Call x Salt Lake City) had a faultless week to end on their dressage score of 28.8.

The pair have partnered together a little over a year, after the Irish-born gelding was previously campaigned by five-star eventer Kelly Prather. “We’ve had a few rough patches this season, but he’s such an amazing horse,” the Palo Alto, California-based rider said. “I honestly couldn’t ask for a better horse to show me the ropes.”

On today’s round, she said, “I’d had some rails in the past, and I really wanted to stay focused. I think the connection I’ve established with him over the past year has been so beneficial in our success here this week.”

Fiona Lempres of Atherton, California, and her own Anglo mare Hathaway Royale (Birkhof’s Royaldik x Lady Lissleton) finished in third on a 35.3. Before Lempres took over the reins in November, the 9-year-old mare competed in Europe with Izzy Taylor. “I’ve learned so much from this horse—I’m really grateful for her. I used to be awful at dressage, but she’s taught me so much, even just basic things like what a proper leg yield feels like. She’s the ultimate schoolmaster.”

“On cross-country, I didn’t time her as well as I should have,” she said, commenting on her 4 time penalties. “I moved my other horse up to Modified at this show, so I wasn’t as focused on her round as I could have been. She’s just so simple on cross-country. It’s so easy to see a distance. I missed my spot at the log on the hill, but she saved me on that one!”

Adams Horse Supply Adult Team Champions

In the Adams Horse Supply Adult Team Championships (ATC) it was the Temecula Trot-Ins (Anastasia Keyser, Lorilee Hanson, Deirdre Orcelletto, and Helen Twardowski) who took top honors. Stirrup Some Trouble (Darlene McInnes, Ron Stephens, Lauren Schiller, and Rochelle Costanza) earned the reserve championship.

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
• USEA's Coverage

Follow the USEA event coverage on social media!

#AEC2025 | #USEventing | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok

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.