United States Eventing Association

Four Training Champions Crowned at #2024AEC

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 30—Four Training divisions took to the Rolex Arena on Friday to conclude their championship at the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds following exciting performances in their dressage and cross-country phrases. Meet our new champions below!

ARMA USEA Training Amateur Championship

Throughout the week, Marina Cassou has dominated the ARMA USEA Training Amateur Championship division, tying for first place in dressage and jumping double-clear in Thursday’s cross-country phase. As the first division to kick off competition in the Rolex Arena Friday morning, Cassou and the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Monsoon (Ramiro B x Declans Folly) rode away with the championship title finishing on her dressage score of 28.3 after a clear show jumping performance.

“I’m feeling very happy and overjoyed right now,” Cassou said. “I scared myself on both the second and third to last jumps, and I gave myself a heart attack because I saw a long spot but my horse saved me. He’s amazing and I’m very proud of how he rode. He has a massive stride, goes on the bit very well, and I love how he floats.”

No stranger to the winner’s circle, Cassou won the championship title last year on another horse, and she returned to defend her title on Cooley Monsoon, who is owned by Beatrice Cassou. Despite her lead going into cross-country, the competition was right on her heels with less than a rail separately the top placings.

“I try to block it all out, but there was pressure,” she continued. “I was nervous in the warm-up but he’s always been a clean show jumper so I was confident. I found my striding and distances, and he felt pumped.”

Every rider knows it takes a village to be successful in the show ring, and Marina credits both her trainer, Lillian Heard and her vet Kevin Keane (who was also competing in the division) for contributing to her win on Cooley Monsoon.

“Earlier this year we were struggling with his weight, and something didn’t feel right,” Cassou concluded. “Kevin is my vet at my homebase, and I can’t thank him enough for all his help because Cooley Monsoon wouldn’t have made it to AECs without him. He’s in great health and feeling ready for every phase. Walking around early this morning he seemed to be asking to go do cross-country again!”

Earning the reserve championship title was Lisa Borgia and her 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Silmarillion (Joey Franco x Lil Mo Rhythm). The pair were sitting in fifth place after cross-country, but their clear show jumping performance moved them up in the rankings to finish on their dressage score of 30.2.

“I’m elated [with today’s rides]. There’s nothing like it, and that’s why you have to savor it when it happens because 80% of the time you’re going home not happy with yourself,” Borgia said. “These days are the ones that you have worked for and anytime I finish on my dressage score, it’s a win!

“I actually competed Silmarillion last year in the Preliminary division, and he had been first after dressage but he was a little over-faced in the cross-country and would get scared, so we went back down to build his confidence back up,” she continued. “We are on that upward trajectory now, and he was so good this week. I’m really happy with him. Our next show we are entered at Modified which hopefully will be a friendly move up.”

In addition to the red tricolor ribbon, Borgia is also taking home third place after her clear show jumping round on Whisperycrown (Get Stormy x Spankstress). Borgia and her 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding had been tied for first following her dressage score of 28.3 but they had fallen to sixth after adding 2.4 for time in her cross-country round on Thursday

“He has beautiful gates but he’s a redhead and very reactive so I had no expectations. I don’t know how he got a double clear today!” Borgia said with a laugh.

ARMA USEA Training Horse Championship

Boyd Martin and Shmick (Luigi d'Eclipse x Winter Lady) maintained their lead after a clear show jumping round to ride away with the ARMA USEA USEA Training Horse Championship. The 6-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Anne Hennessey adds the national title to his already impressive resume which includes both the USEA 4- and 5-Year-Old Young Event Horse Championships. The pair finished on their dressage score of 24.4 with no faults added in either cross-country or the show jumping phases.

“He’s an unbelievable jumper so I knew I had a good chance but it’s a big atmosphere. He went in there and jumped like a freak! He is an extravagant animal, each of his paces can be a 10, and he jumps with wonderful technique. He’s everything you dream of in a horse,” said Martin.

“I started riding him as a 3-year-old, and we are taking our time with him. He’s been slow to mature and develop emotionally but I think whenever you’ve got a horse with great talent they seem to take a little longer to educate because they’re a bit careful and a bit spooky, but I’m honored Ann Hennessey owns him. She was actually my very first owner when I came to America as a rider at Phillip Dutton’s, and we’ve had a wonderful friendship ever since. She’s a great lover of horse sports, and I am very grateful that she’s supported me through highs and lows. It’s great to get the win for Anne!”

Despite his packed competition schedule, including a recent return from the Paris Olympic Games, the AEC are considered a must-do each year for his team.

“There are not many sports in the world where Olympic athletes can compete at the same competitions as kids,” Martin explained. “For me, I love to bring the Advanced horses here because it’s an important event in their run to the five-stars, and there is great prize money. I also love to bring my up and coming horses here to get them experience jumping in this big stadium and galloping around the Kentucky Horse Park. It’s a very educational and beneficial trip.”

Finishing in second place and earning the reserve championship title was Sharon White and her 7-year-old Hanoverian mare Quizas (Quantensprung x Seraphina). They also completed the division with zero cross-country or show jumping penalties, finishing with their dressage score of 24.9.

“I’m very proud of Quizas,” White said. “This show is such a good experience for our horses to be here and experience all the happenings here. It’s a huge environment and such a good education for them. She is hysterical, and she definitely wants to be a champion, but she doesn’t know nearly as much as she thinks she does! If she sees something she’s never seen before she has a dramatic flair, and she let’s the whole world know!

“Yesterday during cross-country I almost couldn’t get her through the finish line because she noticed the big fans cooling everyone off,” White said with a laugh. “Today, I brought her down early to stand in front of the fan by the show jumping warm-up for her to get used to it, and of course, she was like, ‘I have no problems with fans!’ She is so funny. It takes some time but I don’t mind putting in the time because she is worth it.”

Rounding out the top 3 was Mia Farley on her 8-year-old Hanoverian mare Pina Colada 28 (Periqueux x Eika). The pair have been pulling themselves up in the rankings since starting the division in seventh after their dressage score of 26.7. They improved to fifth after a double clear in cross-country, and their clear show jumping sealed the deal for a third place finish.

“I got her in March this year, and she was actually a show jumping so she just started eventing this spring,” Farley explained. “She’s very enthusiastic, and she’s been loving it. She’s very mature, and she’s really an exciting horse to ride.”

ARMA USEA Training Junior Championship

With top performances in each phase of the division, Tessa Geven and her 7-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred mare Ameristan (Cosa Vera x Seeking Allie) earned their first national championship title together as a pair, finishing on their dressage score of 26.6. Geven’s other mount, Kathelen Amos’ Caheradoo Jack (Jack’s Delight x Caheradoo Echo) finished the division in third place with an overall score of 33.3 after pulling a rail during show jumping.

“I’m really impressed with both of my horses today. They are so talented, and I am so, so lucky to be able to ride them,” Geven said. “Thank you to my parents. I would not be here without them, and thank you to Kathleen Amos for letting me ride her wonderful Caheradoo Jack. This is our last show together, and even though we had that one rail I thought it was one of our better rounds with almost every stride being rideable. I came out of the ring in tears because it’s a bittersweet moment being our last show together.

“[With Ameristan] I was nervous coming to that last fence because we’ve recently been pulling the last rail, and we had an awkward stride coming into it but she saved my butt,” she continued.

It’s been a challenging week for Geven, who made the trip from Georgia without her parents as her father, former five-star eventer Werner Geven, was recently injured. He sustained a broken pelvis, two collapsed lungs, a broken vertebrae in his back, and several cracked ribs after a riding accident while out hacking. His accident meant that Tessa's mother, dressage rider Marjoleine Geven, had to stay home to care for her husband, leaving Tessa to attend the AEC alone. However, with help from other competitors, Geven and her two horses were able to compete.

“It’s been tough without my parents here because they are not only my coaches who support me inside the ring, but they also encourage me outside of the ring,” Geven continued. “Our team has been really helpful but I’ve been calling my mom and dad a lot, and they are so excited for me. My dad was watching my cross-country in the hospital and his blood pressure was high!”

Jules Jarrell earned the reserve championship on her 16-year-old Paint gelding All Dun Up (Comedian x Buckskin Bell) by finishing on her dressage score of 29.8 after a double clear cross-country and clear show jumping round.

“I haven’t had a double clear round in over a year and a half, so I was really focused on making sure I was accurate and in charge of getting over the jumps,” Jarrell said. “It feels amazing, and I’m just so proud of my horse. At each level we’ve had some challenges we struggle with but eventually we conquer it, and then go through struggles again at a higher level. I just moved up to Training this year so we are still adjusting. It’s taught me a ton of life lessons overcoming obstacles.”

ARMA USEA Training Rider Championship

Winning the final Training division of the day was Avery Cascarino on Gloria Cascarino’s Excel Star Quidam’s Cavalier (Quidam Junior x Kilmoon). The 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding was in fourth place after their dressage score of 28.7 but their clean cross-country and show jumping rounds helped them solidify the championship title.

“We came here to try our best and have a good time, but he really pulled through for me today and I’m over the moon happy with him,” Cascarino said. “He’s such an incredible horse. We’ve been working on our jumping confidence and being smart with dressage, and every day he gets better and better. I just love this horse.”

“I was very, very nervous but I just reminded myself that I’ve practiced and prepared so much for this and I’ve done everything I can do to give myself the best shot I can,” she concluded.”

Earning the reserve championship title was Charlotte Carrajat on her 14-year-old warmblood gelding As Is. Their overall score was 29.7 with only 1.2 added to their dressage score from a cross-country time penalty.

“I’m insanely pleased!” Carrajat said. “We’ve had our rough patches but we pulled it together today. We went for a long walk around 7 a.m., then I let him have a bath and he chilled in his stall. He was falling asleep while I was tacking up so he was quite cool and calm going into our ride today.”

In third place with a score of 30.7 was Allison Icenogle on Fernhill Revelation, her 18-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. The pair was sitting in eighth place after dressage but their double clear jumping performance in cross-country and show jumping helped them jump into third overall.

“It was a lot of fun today. It was a little bit faster than I wanted to go, but my horse just loves jumping,” Icenogle said. “I’ve been to the AECs once before so I already had that first initial, big awe-moment, so I wasn’t quite as nervous as before. It was definitely exciting today!”

Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships

Eleven teams duked it out for the win in the Adams Horse Supply Training Adult Team Championship, and High Speed Hive claimed the overall team win with a total score of 103.8. April Hays, Marisa Shulman, Dayna Freeman and Jesse Kirchhoff made up the High Speed Hive team.

The second place team called the Sisterhood of the Galloping Geldings (Jennifer Boshart, Ashley Johnson, Bonnie Coulter and Lisa Edinger), had an overall score of 115.1.

Keep Calm & Gallop on (Lisa Borgia, Julie Pifer, Anna White and Jessica Goldberg) rounded out the top 3 with an overall total score of 118.8.

Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships

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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 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.