United States Eventing Association

There are 21 entries in this year's $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final who will battle it out for the championship title. Competition for this division begins on Wednesday with dressage, followed by cross-country on Thursday and the exiciting show jumping finale on Friday night in the Rolex Stadium.

Read on to meet each horse and rider pair!

Fast Facts

• Eleven different breeds are represented this year, with the Irish Sport Horse having the most in the division with seven.
• Allie Knowles' Montpellier Scais, Rory Frangos' DHI Rocketman, and Isabelle Bosley's Conner, are the youngest horses at age 9. Buck Davidson's Sorocaima is the oldest horse at age 15.
• Buck Davidson has two rides (Sorocaima and Cooley Candyman), as does Allie Knowles (Montpellier Scais and Leo Santos), Boyd Martin (Shanroe Cooley and Fetiche des Rouges), and Katie Lichten (HTS Jensen R and Hickstead Musterd).
• Four horses have completed a five-star (Shanroe Cooley, Cash Point, Sorocaima, and Imperio Magic)
• There are 10 five-star riders (Arielle Aharoni, Laine Ashker, Mary Bess Davis, Buck Davidson, Savannah Fulton, Allie Knowles, Boyd Martin, Allison Springer, Chris Talley, Elisa Wallace).
• One off-the-track Thoroughbred will be competing, Buck Davidson's Sorocaima.
• Four combinations are returning after competing in the 2024 Final (Mary Bess Davis/Imperio Magic, Ava Wehde/Bonaire, Savannah Fulton/Cash Point, Allison Springer/Vandyke).
• Several horses are coming off big finishes this summer. Arielle Aharoni and Cooley Baltic Sea topped the Advanced in July at Millbrook Horse Trials, while Laine Ashker and Lovedance earned the win at the Maryland International CCI4*-S in June. Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley finished third in the Longines Luhmuhlen CCI5*-L in June. Chris Talley and FE Marco Polo won the Rebecca Farm CCI3*-S in July.
  

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, 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.