United States Eventing Association

Let's get this party started! It's one of the biggest weeks of the year for U.S. eventing—the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. This year we are back in the bluegrass at the legendary Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Competition kicks off tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 24 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 30. One of the most unique things about the AEC is that all week long we will see competitors from the Advanced level all the way down to our superstar Starter divisions.

The Field:

• There are 27 Championship divisions taking place across the six days of the AEC.
• Forty U.S. states will be represented, as well as Canada with one entry hailing from Alberta!

• The Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) will run alongside the AEC and feature competition at the Modified, Training, Novice, Beginner Novice and Starter levels.
• 68 riders are competing multiple horses this weekend
• 208 amateur riders are competing across the eight Amateur championships, and 170 junior riders across the six Junior championships.
• Fun fact: our most senior riders competing this weekend are William and Sandra Barclay, both 74 years young!

• On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have 11-year-olds who are the youngest AEC competitors this year: Beaumont Chatel, Skylar Ragsdale, and Marloe Deppa.
• Victory's Flame, a 26-year-old Thoroughbred mare, is our oldest horse competing this weekend in the ARMA USEA Training Amateur Championship with Owen Isrow.
• We have a couple of 4-year-olds joining us as well, two in Starter divisions and one in a Beginner Novice division.

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!
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• 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
• Live Scores
• Livestream
• AEC Digital Event Program
• USEA's Coverage

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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 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held on Aug. 25-30 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 Sponsors: Bates Saddles, Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Gallaghers Water, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartPak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Kerrits, The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, Rood & Riddle; Bronze Level Sponsors: 70°, Antech Diagnostics, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, John Deere, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health; Contributing Level Sponsors: AnimaSol, CrossCountry App, Foxhollow Farm, Georgetown/Scott County Tourism, Kentucky Equine Research, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Lexmark, LV Harkness, Only Fools and Horses, #WeRideTogether, YETI; and Prize Level Sponsors: ARRO Helmets, The Dad Den, Dandy Products, Equiluxe Tack, Equine IMED, Fair Hill Saddlery, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, I Love My Horse Boutique, The Infused Equestrian, Love Equestrian, Majyk Equipe, Mare Modern Goods, Natalie Hummel Coaching, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Parkmore Supplements, Peak Performance Equine Spa, Poseidon Animal Health, Rachel Dory Fine Art, Right Path Equestrian, Saddle Bird Boutique, Sidelines Magazine, Strides For Equality Equestrians, STRIDER, Stylish in the Saddle, VTO Saddlery, and XLR8 Equine.

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on Aug. 26-28. 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 2026, 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 nine teams and 39 riders for the BN, N, T, and M levels, plus an additional eight members if they are at the Starter level only. 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, Bates Saddles, The Chronicle of the Horse, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher’s Water, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, SmartPak, and Santa Cruz Animal Health for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.