Next week, hundreds of competitors will travel to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky to compete at the 2019 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) on August 27 – September 1. Out of those competitors, 25 are entered to compete in the toughest division with the largest amount of prize money, the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final. The Advanced division is packed with five-star veterans, Olympians, and previous Advanced Final champions.
The stakes are high, the competition is tight, and the fight to the finish starts on Thursday, August 29. The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final is scheduled to do dressage on Thursday, cross-country on Friday, and show jumping on Saturday night. The winner of the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will be awarded on Saturday night under the lights in the Rolex Stadium. The Adequan® Champion will take home a $30,000 personalized check. The other $30,000 will be distributed as purse money through at least eighth place.
There are five Advanced competitors entered who have won the Adequan® USEA Advanced Final in previous years: Phillip Dutton, Leslie Law, Jacob Fletcher, Buck Davidson, and Ryan Wood. Dutton won in 2005, Law in 2009, Davidson in both 2011 and 2014, Fletcher in 2015, and Wood in 2016. The West Coast powerhouses, Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin, are entered to compete at their first event back after their fourth-place finish at Luhmuhlen CCI5*-L. Twelve horses will return to Kentucky as they competed in the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event five months prior. Who will walk away with the $30,000 check? The competition kicks off in less than a week! Learn more with the 2019 Advanced Final Roster.
The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final would not be possible without the generous support of Adequan® .
The USEA would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the USEA American Eventing Championships: Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan®; Platinum Level Sponsors: Bates Saddles, Equistro; Gold Level Sponsors: Charles Owen, Standlee Hay, Parker Equine Insurance; Silver Level Sponsors: Mountain Horse; The Jockey Club, Park Equine; Bronze Level Sponsors: Arnall’s Naturals, State Line Tack, Black Petticoat, Devoucoux, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Horseware Ireland, LandSafe SmartPak, Dubarry, The Chronicle of the Horse, Stackhouse and Ellis Saddles, Auburn Laboratories, FITS Riding, Ovation, Lanier Sand and Soil, Event Cooling Solutions, Farm House Tack; Contributing Level Sponsors: Ariat, Meanwhile Back on the Farm, L.V. Harkness, Lexmark, GLC Direct, Georgetown Tourism, FarmVet, FLAIR Nasal Strips, Nunn Finer, RevitaVet, Resvantage Equine, CrossCountry App; Prize Level Sponsors: GumBits, Ride Heels Down, C4 Belts, I Love My Horse, Mare Modern Goods, Bluegrass Vibershield, Bluegrass Animal Products, Caracol, Active Interest Media, Astrid’s Oil, Baekgaard, On The Bit Horse Supplies, Luxe EQ, EQ AM Magazine, Jetti Spa, Great British Equinery, Foxden Equine, The Scoring Chix, Pure Form Equine; Competitor’s Party Sponsors: Jacqueline Mars, Kat and Roberto Cuca, United States Hunter Jumper Association, and United States Dressage Federation.
The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) is the pinnacle of the sport for the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Beginner Novice to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of horses and riders 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. This year, the USEA American Eventing Championships will be held August 27 – September 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.
Last month, readers met VIP Volunteer Rebecca Proetto, who volunteered at the MARS Maryland 5 Star horse inspection. This month, the focus turns to husband and wife Ed and Leanne Barnett who introduced Proetto to the art of running an efficient horse inspection at Maryland. Ed and Leanne undertake a 12-hour drive from their home in Indiana to Maryland just to volunteer at the event.
The USEA is saddened to share the passing of Sara Kozumplik’s five-star partner As You Like It at the age of 34. The gelding died in his sleep at his retirement home at Kozumplik's parents' residence.
The 2024 USEA Emerging Athletes U21 (EA21) National Camp is just a little over a month away and all over the country, young riders are preparing for their trip to Ocala, Florida, to participate in this year's prestigious week-long academy led by U.S. eventing legend David O'Connor. This year's camp takes place Dec. 31, 2024, through Jan. 4, 2025, and will feature classroom sessions, guest lecturers, and in the saddle work as a group to help strengthen the foundation of each rider selected to participate.
Bringing along a young horse is such a special process for everyone involved. The USEA is excited to dedicate an episode to celebrating some of the special young horses in the United States that have risen to the occasion. Joining USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown in this episode are Tommy Greengard, the rider and co-owner of this year's Holekamp/Turner Grant Recipient That's Me Z who represented the U.S. at Le Lion this year, and Kaylawna Smith-Cook, who piloted Bonner Carpenter's Only-Else to the highest national score in the Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse 5-Year-Old Championships.