United States Eventing Association

Fast Facts: 2019 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship

The fourth annual USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship kicks off tomorrow morning at the Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trials in Fairburn, Georgia. There are a total of 22 teams from 16 schools entered to compete for the 2019 Championship title. In 2016, the University of Georgia Red team took home the win. In 2017, the Clemson Tigers were crowned champions. Last year it was Auburn University Orange who walked away with the blue ribbon. Who will go home with the Championship title this year?

• Of the 296 entries at the Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trials, a record 89 starters will compete in the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship. There were 87 starters in 2018, 85 in 2017, and 37 in 2016.
• Teams have traveled from 10 different states from up and down the East Coast and as far West as Texas to compete for the title of 2019 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Team Champions.
• Riders in the Intercollegiate Eventing Championship will compete at all levels from Beginner Novice to Preliminary with 30 competing at Beginner Novice, 30 at Novice, 22 at Training, and seven at Preliminary. To account for differences in level difficulty, each rider’s score is multiplied by a coefficient appropriate for their level and the individual scores are added together to determine the team score. Only the best three individual scores will count towards the team score, so teams of four will have one “drop” score. The coefficient system that will be applied at the Championship is as follows:
• Beginner Novice: 1
• Novice: 0.99
• Training: 0.9
• Preliminary: 0.85
• Intermediate: 0.75

• University of Louisville and Florida State University will be making their championship debut.
• Auburn University and University of Kentucky have three teams apiece competing this year.
• University of Georgia, USC-Aiken, and Transylvania University each have two teams.
• All but one team will be competing with four horse-and-rider combinations, meaning they will have a “drop” score.
• All previous Championship winners are back to compete for the title once more: UGA, Clemson, and Auburn.
• All three previous Spirit Award winners are competing to show their school spirit: UGA in 2016, Texas A&M in 2017, and University of Kentucky in 2018.
• Eight riders are competing on Championship teams with two or more horses: Sallie Johnson, Aubrey Wagner, Dorothy Dreelin, Abby Blackburn, Caroline Nagrodsky, Emily Cardin, Jackie LeMastus, and Sierra Shurtz
• For the second year in a row, Auburn University is the only school with three riders each competing with two horses: Sallie Johnson, Dorothy Dreelin, and Aubrey Wagner.
• There are five riders returning to the Championship this year who have previously been members of Champion Teams: Emily Cardin (2016 UGA Red Champion), Samantha Messamer (2017 Clemson Tigers Champion), Sallie Johnson (2018 Auburn Orange Champion), Aubrey Wagner (2018 Auburn Orange Champion), and Meredith Kramer (2018 Auburn Orange Champion).
• Clemson University and Auburn University have placed in the top three every year at the Intercollegiate Championship.
• A new division was introduced in 2019 – the graduate division.
• All Intercollegiate Championship competitors will be stabled together in “College Town.” Riders stabled in College Town will have a dedicated scoreboard to keep up with the college team standings and Championship announcements. Each team is encouraged to set up gazebos and tents in College Town and decorate their stabling area with their school colors, banners, and gear to show their school pride.
• The Spirit Award is returning again to this year’s Championship with a new set of judging criteria. The award was won by University of Georgia in 2016, Texas A&M University in 2017, and the University of Kentucky in 2018. Click here for details about the new judging criteria.
• Thanks to the generous USEA Intercollegiate Championship sponsors FLAIR, FITS, RideSafe, World Equestrian Brands, and US Equestrian there are some great prizes up for grabs this year including items such as embroidered show coolers, silver plate trophies, embroidered saddle pads from U.S. Equestrian, tri-zone brushing boots and Vespucci rubber reins from World Equestrian Brands, FLAIR strips, Ride Safe Bracelets, FITS Riding gift certificates, and more!
• Click here or on the image below to meet the teams of the 2019 Intercollegiate Eventing Championship!

Competition Schedule

Saturday

• 8:00 a.m. - Dressage (All Levels)
• 10:30 a.m. - Cross-Country (All Levels)

Sunday

• 8:00 a.m. - Show Jumping (All Levels)

Helpful Links

• Chattahoochee Hills Website
• USEA Prize List
• Entry List
• Live Scores
• USEA's Coverage

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