United States Eventing Association

It’s our favorite week of the year—the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds kicks off this week at Galway Downs in Temecula, California. Eventers from all over the U.S. have traveled to the Golden State for the biggest eventing championship in the nation which will run from Aug. 27-31 and feature competition from the Starter level all the way up to Advanced.

The Field:

• For the very first time, the AEC is headed to California! While past Western editions have taken place in Texas, Colorado, and Montana, this year’s championships will unfold at Galway Downs, an Olympic-caliber venue that sets the perfect stage for an unforgettable week of competition.
  
• Ninety-nine amateur riders are competing across the six Amateur championships, and 73 junior riders across the four Junior championships.
• This year the USEA Beginner Novice level takes the cake for the largest division in terms of entries. There are 101 competitors who will be battling it out amongst the four Beginner Novice championship divisions.
• 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.
• Over 250 volunteer shifts are being filled this year, and we couldn’t do it without these amazing people! From start to finish, they are the heartbeat of the AEC. Don’t forget to show your appreciation and thank a volunteer when you see them!
• Nearly 400 horse-and-rider combinations are set to compete at this year’s AEC.
• There are 49 Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) eligible horses that will be competing for champion and reserve titles at all levels of the championships.
• The oldest competitor this year is 79-years-young, and the youngest is 9.
• The youngest horse competing this year is 4 years old, and the oldest is 24.
• The USEA Youth Mentorship Program gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run and officiate an international event, helps Young Riders and Intercollegiate athletes experience competition from the inside, and seek new experiences within eventing. Learn more about the program, here. This year’s AEC mentorship participants are: Rhya Bowles (Area IX), Mila Jordan (Area V), Shelby Murray (Area VI), Devin Nerone (Area IX), and Avery Zupan (Area V).
• There are 15 states being represented this year: AX, CA, CO, CT, ID, KS, MI, MT, ND, NM, OR, TX, UT, VA, and WA.
  
  

The Facts:

• All AEC competitors will receive a digital "welcome bag" in their email today, Tuesday, Aug. 26, and Friday, Aug. 29. This email is full of important information on the event and special offers from the AEC Sponsors. Please be sure to check your "Junk" or "Spam" folder if you do not receive it.
• The AEC is organized by Robert Kellerhouse.
• The Technical Delegates (TD) are Wendy Wergeles and Sharyn Antico.
• Robyn Fisher is the President of the Ground Jury for the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final and the USEA Intermediate Championship. Debbie Adams is the President of the Ground Jury for the Preliminary, Modified, and Training Championships. Vicky Stashuk-Matisi is the President of the Ground Jury for the Novice, Beginner Novice, and Starter Championships.
• Creeky Routson, Tiffany Silverman, Carolyn Lindholm, and Valerie Crail are the dressage judges.
• Malcolm Hook is the show jumping judge.
• Clayton Fredricks and Alessandra Allen-Shinn are the cross-country course designers.
• William Robertson is the show jumping course designer.
• Prize folders are offered to the top 5 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. *All prize winners MUST attend their award ceremony in order to receive their ribbons/prizes/cash prize.*
• Tina Fitch Photography is the official photographer, and online galleries can be viewed 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.
• There are many generous companies supporting the 2025 USEA AEC as sponsors, and every sponsor dollar goes back to the competitors in the division prize purses!
• 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!
• Horse & Country has joined forces with Equine Network to co-live stream the 2025 AEC. Eventing fans will be able to watch the action both live and on-demand completely free on H&C’s streaming service, H&C+, as well as on EN’s platform, EQUESTRIAN+. The dressage, cross-country, and show jumping phases of the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final will be shown in full, and there will be extensive coverage from other levels including all of the cross-country and the top 10 show jumping rounds from every division. Competitors can purchase their videos here.

Additional Activities:

AEC Sponsor Trade Fair Hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 26
3:00 p.m.: Modified course walk with Rebecca Braitling
5:30 p.m.: Training course walk with Erin Kellerhouse

Wednesday, August 27
4:30 p.m.: Young Rider course walk with Hawley Bennet
5:00 p.m.: Prelim course walk with James Alliston
6:00 p.m.: Welcome Reception & Calcutta in the Ringside Tent

Thursday, August 28
4:00 p.m.: Novice course walk with Taren Hoffos
6:00 p.m.: Adult Rider Party in Ringside Tent & Young Rider Party in VIP Tent

Friday, August 29
3:00 p.m.: Beginner Novice course walk with Gina Economou
5:00 p.m.: Starter course walk with Alexis Hellfrich
6:00 p.m.: California Dreamin' Competitor Party in Ringside Tent

Saturday, August 30
5:00 p.m.: Western Competitor Party in Ringside Tent

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, Horse Illustrated, Horses 4 Your Consideration, LeMieux, Practical Horseman, Ride iQ, Sidelines Magazine, 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 SmartEquine for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.