United States Eventing Association

Meet the Thoroughbred Incentive Program Champions of the #AEC2024

Thoroughbreds were celebrated during the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds as the two top-placed Thoroughbreds in each division were recognized as the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) Champions and Reserve Champions. This year 24 horses were presented with the TIP Champion Awards across 26 divisions.

$60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

In the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, the 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Sea of Clouds (Malibu Moon x Winner’s Ticket) earned the TIP Champion title after finishing 10th in the division on a score of 48.1 with Olivia Dutton in the tack. Jan Byyny rode her own Beautiful Storm (Get Stormy x So Beautiful), the 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding bred by the University of Kentucky, to a top 15 finish and the TIP Reserve Champion title.

USEA Open Intermediate Championship

Top Shelf, a 9-year-old gelding by Sing Baby Sing and out of Perfect Meadow, was the highest-placed TIP horse in the USEA Open Intermediate Championship. Top Shelf is owned and ridden by Kate Sand and the pair finished in the top-20 of the highly competitive division. The Reserve Champion title went to the 14-year-old gelding Monty’s Tune (Concorde’s Tune x Lady Krew), owned and ridden by Rory Frangos.

Bates USEA Preliminary Championships

In the Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Division Champion honors were awarded to Total Access, a 7-year-old gelding (Freedom Child x More Everything) owned and ridden by Nicolette Adams who rode to a second-place finish overall. The reserve champion was Dinner At Malones, Laura Crowl’s 13-year-old gelding by Lawyer Ron and out of Solidplatinumgirl. Dinner At Malones and Crowl were fourth in the division.

In the Bates USEA Preliminary Horse division, Kelsey Briggs’ 8-year-old Moonster (Malibu Moon x Mema) was recognized as the TIP champion.

After finishing in fifth in the Bates USEA Preliminary Rider Division, Sean Worral’s 15-year-old Osito (Okie Valir x Indy Thunder) was also crowned the TIP champion of this division. A top-10 finish earned 12-year-old Flight School (Air Commander x Runnaway Girl), owned and ridden by Christy Niehues, the reserve champion award.

Not only did Erin Farrell and her 6-year-old Atavious (Hard Spun x Wild Silk) earn the overall reserve champion title in the Bates USEA Junior/Young Rider Preliminary Championship, but they were also crowned the TIP champions of this division with a score of 35.9. Hot on their heels were the TIP reserve champion pair of Sierra Fishell and her own Galiamo, an 8-year-old gelding by Giralomo and out of Tiz A’ Greeley. Fishelle and Galiamo finished in fifth overall on a score of 37.3.

USEA Modified Championships

Discreto’s top-10 finish in the USEA Open Modified Championship was enough to award them with the TIP champion title. Discreto is a 15-year-old gelding by Discreet Cat and out of Royal Sweep who is owned and ridden by Linden Wiesman. The TIP reserve champion award in this division went to Carlin Keefe and her mother Rumsey Keefe’s 7-year-old gelding Maybe Someday (Band Box x Desiderata).

Meanwhile, in the highly competitive USEA Modified Rider Division, Nancy Read rode her 9-year-old mare Wine Me Up (Desert Party x Sweet Dixie Strong) to a fifth-place finish overall earning them the honor of TIP champion. Crazy Choice, a 15-year-old mare (Philanthropist x Hasta Pronto) finished in eighth in the division with owner/rider Claire Allen and was named the TIP reserve champion.

ARMA USEA Training Championships

Tessa Geven and her own Ameristan conquered the ARMA USEA Training Junior Championship and led the victory gallop on their final score of 26.6. The 7-year-old gelding by Cosa Vera and out of Seeking Allie got to go home with two sets of awards as the division champion and the TIP champion. Emma Darby Hayes piloted her own 15-year-old gelding Where’d It Go (Yankee Gentleman x Pocketbook Passion) to an overall seventh-place finish and was awarded the honors of TIP reserve champion.

KiKi Osbourne’s Frijole had a fault-free weekend to finish fourth in the ARMA USEA Training Horse division on a score of 26.7. The 6-year-old gelding (Shakin It Up x Homespun Beauty) ridden by Gabby Dickerson was named the TIP champion. Hunter O’Riley (Tiz Wonderful x Oblige), owned by Mike Ryan, finished in 10th to earn the reserve TIP title with Marty Riney in the tack.

Lisa Borgia is a huge OTTB advocate and had quite a successful week in the ARMA USEA Training Amateur Championship when her 11-year-old gelding Silmarillion (Joey Franco x Lil Mo Rhythm) was the overall reserve champion and TIP champion and her 9-year-old gelding Whisperycrown (Get Stormy x Spankstress) earned third place overall and the reserve champion honors.

After concluding their week on a score of 32.9, owner/rider Emma Hilt’s 13-year-old gelding (Cosmonaut x whateverwillbewillbe) The Blues Man finished in 10th overall in the ARMA USEA Training Rider Division and galloped away as the TIP champion. Reserve champion honors went to Eleanor Winter’s 19-year-old gelding Figlio (Grand Slam x Alybgood).

USEA Novice Championships

Rebecca Speer’s Roman Express, a 13-year-old mare (Roman Ruler x Grey Chatelaine) was the reserve champion overall in the USEA Novice Rider Championship and the TIP champion in the division. Reserve TIP honors went to the 9-year-old gelding YouShouldBeDancing (Astrology x Saarley Solution), owned and ridden by Gregory Gebhart.

In the USEA Novice Junior Championship we saw WallE’s World, a 16-year-old gelding (Luftikus x Reluctant Bride) owned by Thomas Craft and ridden by Isabella Craft, who rode off with the TIP champion title after finishing fifth in the division on a score of 32.2. Amy Frankovich’s Ben-jamin’ Traveler (Temple City x Jilted) was the TIP reserve champion with Peyton Frankovich in the tack.

After finishing on their dressage score of 29.3 to end their week in fourth in the Novice Master Amateur division, Match Right and owner/rider Gina Teresi were awarded the TIP champion cooler and ribbon. Match Right is a 9-year-old gelding by Burning Roma and out of Salty Gal. The reserve title was given to CharlestoneA1, a 15-year-old gelding (Peaks And Valleys x Executive Mist) owned and ridden by Patricia Napier.

Maya White rode her own 9-year-old gelding Promoted (Jump Start x Smarter Sister) took home the TIP champion award in the USEA Novice Junior 15 & Under Championship on a score of 37.8.

The USEA Novice Horse Championship was highly competitive and a score of 33.1 was what helped Townsend, a 12-year-old gelding by Sligo Bay and out of Frantic City, win the TIP championship. Townsend is owned by James Schmidhammer and was ridden by Erika Adams. Kate Sand rode Vivan Pierce’s 7-year-old mare Miss Congeniality (Paddy O’Prado x Wild Flower) to the TIP Reserve champion title.

Wrapping up the Novice level TIP Championships, Mr. Barron (Shaniko x Runs Like A Benz), a 16-year-old gelding owned and ridden by Rachel Parrott, stole the title in the USEA Novice Amateur Championship on a score of 30. Just 0.7 points behind was Jane Musselman’s Hello Paradise ridden by Sierra Gibson. Hello Paradise is a 13-year-old gelding out of Seattle Fitz x Flora’s Song.

USEA Beginner Novice Championships

Beverly Britton had the opportunity to join in on the victory gallop in the USEA Beginner Novice Master Amateur Championship aboard her own 11-year-old gelding Chesterfield Dauntless (Fort Prado x La Rocca) after finishing fourth in the division and as the TIP champion. Just behind her by 0.4 points was the reserve champion pair, Martini SNS and owner Pascale Maloni. Martini SNS is a 7-year-old gelding by Palice and out of Plenty O’Toole.

FGF Actium finished fifth in the USEA Beginner Novice Junior Championship with owner/rider Alexis Ryan. Their score of 33.1 led to the 14-year-old gelding by Empire Maker and out of Sweepstake to be crowned the TIP champion of the division. The Reserve Champion title was awarded to Crimson Luck (Verrazano x H.L. Hunley), a 6-year-old mare owned by Christine Kirchhoff and ridden by Marissa Kirchhoff.

After finishing fifth in the USEA Beginner Novice Horse Championship, the 8-year-old mare Riesling CWF (Friend Or Foe x Hout Bay), owned by Morgan Sindall and ridden by Abby Blackburn, was awarded the TIP champion sash and cooler. Owner/rider Jennifer Ramsey piloted her 8-year-old gelding Docktarri (Preachinatthebar x Dances On Water) to the reserve champion title.

The Reserve Champion of the USEA Beginner Novice Amateur Championship, Codename Toby (Treasure Cove x Go Bubby Go), was also crowned TIP Champion for owner Amanda D. Tamminga. The 20-year-old gelding bred by Robert Perez was piloted to the win by Ali Martinez. The TIP Reserve Champion honors were awarded to Time Management (Lemon Dop Kid x Comme Chez Soi), the 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned and ridden by Hannah Blaszyk, who finished in 11th place in the division.

In the USEA Beginner Novice Junior 14 & Under Championship, Galivantor and Toby The Coal Man, both ridden by Pace Deppa, were the TIP Champion and Reserve Champion. Galivantor is a 25-year-old gelding by Itaka and out of Roman Prospect who is owned by Lauren New. The 18-year-old gelding Toby the Coal Man (Mineshaft x Major Melissa) is co-owned by Jennifer Stern and Sydney Mchorse.

In the USEA Beginner Novice Rider Championship, it was David Chugg's 6-year-old mare Isidora (Afleet Alex x Incompatible) ridden by Courtney LaBarbera that would take home the TIP Champion title, finishing in fourth place overall. Renee Wheeler piloted her own 9-year-old gelding Joe Frank (Daaher x Hope of Nations) to the TIP Reserve Champion win and finished in the top 8 for the division.

Horse & Country USEA Starter Championships

Marley Bridges and Melissa Carpio’s 5-year-old gelding Triple Magic (Bernardini x Triple O’Five) earned the TIP championship in the Horse & Country USEA Starter Junior Championship. Delaney Linton and her own Restitution, a 6-year-old gelding (Frankel x Restiana) earned the reserve championship.

In the Horse & Country USEA Open Starter Championship, Kelsie Hegeman and her own 7-year-old gelding Bulletproof Kitten (Kitten’s Joy x How’s The Market) earned the TIP championship, while Julianne Pangal rode her own Brooklawn, a 4-year-old gelding (Rhythm And Que’s) to the reserve championship.

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 were 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.