United States Eventing Association

Fast Facts: 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds

It’s our favorite week of the year—the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds will begin tomorrow morning at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Eventers from all over the U.S. have traveled to the Bluegrass State for the biggest eventing championship in the nation which will run from Aug. 27-Sept. 1 and feature competition from the Starter level all the way up to Advanced.

The Field:

• It is the biggest year yet with 26 Championship divisions taking place over six days with the addition of the inaugural Horse & Country USEA Open Starter and Horse & Country USEA Starter Junior Championship divisions.
• This year the USEA Novice level takes the cake for the largest division in terms of entries. There are 272 competitors who will be battling it out amongst the six Novice championship divisions.
• Forty-five out of 50 states will be represented as well as two Canadian provinces, Alberta and Manitoba.
• The youngest horse competing is 4 years old, and on the other end of the spectrum, the oldest horse is 29!
• Our oldest rider this year is 81-years-young, and we are loving it!
• The Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) will run alongside the AEC and feature competition at the Preliminary, Modified, Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice levels. Learn more here.
• There are 812 unique riders competing, which means 134 entrants will field multiple horses!
• Two-hundred twenty amateur riders are competing across the six Amateur championships, and 215 junior riders across the six Junior championships.

The Facts:

• The AEC is co-organized by Equestrian Events, Inc., and Mary Fike of the Kentucky Classique H.T.
• The Technical Delegates (TD) are Rick Caldwell, Jeri Mathney, Robyn Munson, and Eileen Pritchard-Bryan.
• Peter Gray is the President of the Ground Jury for the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final and the USEA Intermediate Championship with Helen Brettell assisting, and Christel Carlson is the President of the Ground Jury for all other Championship divisions.
• Julie Congleton, Janice Holmes, Lori Hoos, Wayne Quarles, Vicky Stashuk-Matisi, Beth Wheeler, and Karen Winn are the dressage judges.
• Peter Barrows is the show jumping judge.
• Jay Hambly is the cross-country course designer.
• Bobby Murphy is the show jumping course designer.
• Live streaming will be available through Horse & Country; please refer to the schedule below to see what phases will be offered each day. All live streaming will be FREE on the day of. More information on purchasing on-demand replays or individual rounds can be found here.

• Frankie Thieriot Stutes of Athletux will be offering live commentary of at least the Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions of the livestream this year.
• Erin Gilmore Photography is the official photographer and online galleries can be viewed here.
• There are 63 companies supporting the 2024 USEA AEC as sponsors, and every sponsor dollar goes back to the competitors in the division prize purses!
• All AEC vendors are sponsors of the AEC, most of them providing prizes in all AEC divisions, so be sure to visit their booths and support the companies supporting you! Access the full list and trade fair map here.
• Prize folders are offered to the top five in every AEC division, and the top three ATC teams in each of their divisions. Prizes are offered in the form of gift cards/certificates, many of which can be redeemed on-site at their vendor booths. *All prize winners MUST attend their award ceremony in order to receive their ribbons/prizes/cash prize.*
• All cross-country maps for every level will be uploaded to the CrossCountry App and can be viewed here or on your phone via the app!

Additional Activities

Tuesday

• Preliminary Cross-Country Course Walk with Jon Holling | 5:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Preliminary Start Box
• Modified Cross-Country Course Walk with Mia Farley | 5:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Modified Start Box

Wednesday

• Training Cross-Country Course Walk with Lauren Nicholson | 5:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Training Start Box
• Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's Red, White, & Blue Welcome Reception | The KHP Big Barn | 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Thursday

• Novice Cross-Country Course Walk with Marilyn Payne | 5:30 p.m. | Please meet at the Novice Start Box
  
• Owner & Sponsor Reception | Stonelea Pavillion | 5:30 p.m.
• Team Spirit Adult Rider & Eras Your Young Rider Party | Invitation Only | 6:30 p.m.
• Officials Reception | Invitation Only | 7:00 p.m.

Friday

• Starter Cross-Country Course Walk with Woodge Fulton | 9:00 a.m. | Please meet at the Starter Start Box
• Beginner Novice Cross-Country Course Walk with Chris Talley | 4:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Beginner Novice Start Box
  
• 70's Disco Competitor Party | VIP Hospitality Tent at Rolex Stadium | 6:30 p.m.
• $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Finale | Rolex Stadium | 7:30 p.m.

Helpful Links

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

Follow the USEA event coverage on social media!

#AEC2024 | 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 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 $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 28-30, 2024. 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 2024, 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 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.