United States Eventing Association

There's about to be a whole lot of team spirit running around the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park for this year's Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) which takes place alongside the USEA American Eventing Championships AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds!

This year, we have teams at the Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, and Modified levels. Get to know a bit more about this year's ATC and all the teams competing in this edition of the USEA's Fast Facts.

The Field:

• The Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) are the capstone event for the USEA Area Adult Team Challenges. The ATC provides adults with the chance to compete as a team and represent their Area in a friendly and fun environment.The Novice division takes the cake as having the most teams this year, with nine teams total.
• Across all of the five available levels for the ATC, there are 185 team members competing.
• The Novice division is the highest contested division with 14 teams total vying for top prize.
• An Adult Rider Program member will be recognized as the High Point rider in both the Preliminary Amateur and Preliminary Rider divisions.
• We are so grateful to Adams Horse Supply for once again showing their support of the ATC as Title Sponsor for the third year in a row. In addition to the competition, Adams Horse Supply is also offering ATC competitors the opportunity to win big in an additional quest during the AEC through the ATC Scavenger Hunt. Learn more here!
• While some teams are made up of riders from specific areas, there are also blended teams from different USEA areas. These blended teams not only allow for more Adult Riders to participate in the ATC but also allow Adult Riders from all over the U.S. the opportunity to meet riders they may have never had the chance to connect with in person before.
• Between the teams, the USEA Areas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VIII, IX, and X will be represented.
• The mastermind behind all of the logistics of the Adult Team Championships is USEA Adult Rider Committee Chair Amy Winnen.
• Teams can be made up of three or four team members. Teams of four are allotted one drop score. The three lowest-scoring competitors on teams of four or all three scores on teams are added up at the end of the competition and the team with the lowest finishing score will be deemed champions. In the Modified Championships, only the top two scores will count this year, as there are five riders across two teams.
• ATC competitors must be members of the Adult Rider Program and compete in either the Rider or the Amateur division of their level to take part in a team. Divisions that offer Master Amateur are also eligible.
• ATC competitors are encouraged to arrive at Thursday night's Adult Rider party in their team gear.

The Team Rosters:

The Facts:

• All AEC competitors receive a digital "welcome bag" in their email on Friday, Aug. 21, Tuesday, Aug. 25, and Friday, Aug. 28. 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 Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) and Mary Fike.
• The Technical Delegates (TD) are Jeri Matheny, Sharyn Antico, and Debbie Boeh.
• Bea di Grazia is the President of the Ground Jury for the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final and the USEA Intermediate Championship with Helen Brettel assisting. Wayne Quarles is the President of the Ground Jury for the Starter-Preliminary levels with Heather Gillette assisting.
• Lisa Anderson, Domenique Carson, Ava Chase, Julie Congleton, Ashley Johnson, Jackie Smith, and Matt Trynoski are this year's dressage judges.
• Jay Hambly is the cross-country course designer.
• Bobby Murphy is the show jumping course designer.
• 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. *All prize winners MUST attend their award ceremony in order to receive their ribbons/prizes/cash prize.*
• Amy Dragoo Photography is the official photographer, and online galleries can be viewed here.
• There are many generous companies supporting the 2026 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 EquiReel to live stream and clip video rounds from the 2026 AEC. The livestream will be available for free to all USEA members and fans, via a 7-day free trial to H&C’s streaming service, H&C+ for those who have not joined the service within the first eight months of the year. Viewers can also enjoy on-demand access to all the action through H&C+ memberships (USEA Members get a 15% discount) or pay-per-view passes, with clips available for purchase. H&C+ Gold members can enjoy unlimited clip streaming and download as part of their subscription.
• Frankie Thieriot Stutes of Athletux will be offering live commentary of at least the Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions of the livestream this year. She will be joined by Jon Holling in the booth.

Additional Activities

Daily Activities

• AEC Sponsor Trade Fair Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• All AEC competitors and attendees are invited to stop by the Kentucky Equine Research tent! Nutrition advisors will be on hand to weigh your horse, evaluate its body condition score, and offer personalized nutrition advice. Plus, take advantage of the show special, enter the daily prize drawings, and guess your horse’s weight for a chance to win the grand prize!
• Peak Performance will have their Equine SaltSpa available every day from 8:00am-5:00pm in the Mobile Vendor Row. Bring your horse to Peak Performance's cold, saltwater to experience how this natural therapy can act as a powerful, preventative therapy when implemented into your horse's day to day training regimen.

Tuesday

• Preliminary Cross-Country Course Walk with Shannon Lilley | 12:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Preliminary start box
• Modified Cross-Country Course Walk with Emily Mastervich | 5:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Modified start box
• Adult Rider Program Modified Course Walk with Clark Montgomery | 4:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Modified start box
• ATC Team Meetup, hosted by USEA Area I and V | 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Adams Horse Supply Adult Rider Lounge on Main Vendor Row | Snacks and beverages provided. Attendees are eligible for prizes!

Wednesday

• Training Cross-Country Course Walk with Madison Temkin | 5:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Training start box
• Adult Rider Program Training Course Walk with Skyler Voss | 5:30 p.m. | Please meet at the Training start box
• Western Welcome Reception, Sponsored by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation | The KHP Big Barn | 6:30 p.m. | Tickets required | Each horse entered will receive one complimentary ticket to the reception and additional tickets can be purchased here for $66 per person.
• ATC Team Meetup, hosted by USEA Area II and III | 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Adams Horse Supply Adult Rider Lounge on Main Vendor Row | Snacks and beverages provided. Attendees are eligible for prizes!

Thursday

• What's Your Horse's Heart Trying to Tell You? Join Dr. Amy Polkes, DACVIM, of Equine Imed at 12:30 p.m. for a journey inside the heart. Dr. Polkes will lead live demonstrations in the first temporary barn by Main Vendor Row where you will listen to a horse's heartbeat, watch a live cardiac ultrasound, see an ECG in action, learn the difference between murmurs and arrhythmias, and discover why proactive heart screening is so important for performance horses.
• Novice Cross-Country Course Walk with Kimmy Cecere | 5:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Novice start box
• Adult Rider Program Novice Course Walk with Becca Caufield | 3:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Novice start box
• Team Spirit Adult Rider Party in Stonelea/Claiborne Pavillion & Young Rider PJ Party in the Rolex Stadium Breezeway | 6:30 p.m. | All USEA Adult Rider and USEA Young Rider program members will receive one ticket to attend the party. Additional tickets will be available for purchase on-site.
• ATC Team Meetup, hosted by USEA Area VI, VII, and X | 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Adams Horse Supply Adult Rider Lounge on Main Vendor Row | Snacks and beverages provided. Attendees are eligible for prizes!

Friday

• Starter Cross-Country Course Walk with Julie Wolfert | 11:00 a.m. | Please meet at the Starter start box
• What's Your Horse's Heart Trying to Tell You? Join Dr. Amy Polkes, DACVIM, of Equine Imed at 12:30 p.m. for a journey inside the heart. Dr. Polkes will lead live demonstrations in the first temporary barn by Main Vendor Row where you will listen to a horse's heartbeat, watch a live cardiac ultrasound, see an ECG in action, learn the difference between murmurs and arrhythmias, and discover why proactive heart screening is so important for performance horses.
• Beginner Novice Cross-Country Course Walk with Martin Douzant | 5:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Beginner Novice start box
• Adult Rider Program Beginner Novice Course Walk with Ashley Trier | 4:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Beginner Novice start box
• Adult Rider Program Starter Course Walk with Savannah "Woodge" Fulton | 1:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Starter start box
• Tacky Tourist Competitor Party | VIP Hospitality Tent by the Rolex Arena | 6:30 p.m. | Tickets required | Each horse entered will receive one complimentary ticket to the reception and additional tickets can be purchased here for $66 per person.
• ATC Team Meetup, hosted by USEA Area VIII and IX | 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Adams Horse Supply Adult Rider Lounge on Main Vendor Row | Snacks and beverages provided. Attendees are eligible for prizes!

Saturday

• What's Your Horse's Heart Trying to Tell You? Join Dr. Amy Polkes, DACVIM, of Equine Imed at 12:30 p.m. for a journey inside the heart. Dr. Polkes will lead live demonstrations in the first temporary barn by Main Vendor Row where you will listen to a horse's heartbeat, watch a live cardiac ultrasound, see an ECG in action, learn the difference between murmurs and arrhythmias, and discover why proactive heart screening is so important for performance horses.
• ATC Team Meetup, hosted by USEA Area I and IV | 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Adams Horse Supply Adult Rider Lounge on Main Vendor Row | Snacks and beverages provided. Attendees are eligible for prizes!

Helpful Links

• USEA AEC Website
• AEC Schedule
• Ride Times
• Facility Map
• Cross-Country Maps
• Live Scores
• Livestream
• AEC Digital Event Program
• AEC Fast Facts
• $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final Roster
• USEA's Coverage

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