United States Eventing Association

Thoroughbreds were once again celebrated at the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds, with the top-placed eligible Thoroughbreds in each division earning recognition through The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP). From Starter through the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, these versatile athletes showcased the talent, heart, and athleticism of the Thoroughbred across every level of competition.

Meet the 2026 TIP Champions and Reserve Champions below.

$60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

Sorocaima, ridden by Bruce Davidson, Jr., took home TIP Champion honors in the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final after finishing fifth overall on a score of 54.8. The 15-year-old gelding is by Rock Hard Ten out of Sankobasi. Sorocaima started the week in 10th place following dressage on a score of 33.2 before adding 17.2 time penalties on cross-country and 4.4 penalties in show jumping to round out his weekend.

USEA Intermediate Open Championship

Diamond Dog, ridden by Jesslyn Woodall, earned TIP Champion honors in the USEA Intermediate Open Championship after finishing 21st overall on a score of 48.5. The 7-year-old gelding is by Midnight Storm out of Dietitian Michelle. Diamond Dog started the competition on a dressage score of 37.7 before adding 10.8 time penalties on cross-country and producing a double-clear show jumping round to finish the weekend on his final score of 48.5.

Bates USEA Preliminary Championships

Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur

A fourth-place finish in the Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship secured Total Access (Freedom Child x More Everything) the TIP Champion title with Nicolette Adams in the irons. The 9-year-old gelding began his week tied for seventh on a score of 33.5, but a fault-free trip across country moved him up to fourth. He added just 4.4 penalties in show jumping to complete the competition on a score of 37.9.

Just two places behind them in the overall standings was TIP Reserve Champion Wonderful Courage (Bourbon Courage x Wonderful Secret), ridden by Owen Isrow. The 8-year-old gelding also headed into cross-country on a score of 33.5 and made easy work of the course, adding nothing to his score. Two rails and 0.8 time penalties in show jumping brought his final score to 42.3 for sixth place overall.

Bates USEA Open Preliminary

Menlo Park (Bodemeister x Affectionately), ridden by Tracey Bienemann, was the top TIP-eligible horse in the Bates USEA Preliminary Open Championship, finishing 10th on a score of 34.8. The 10-year-old gelding added nothing to his dressage score of 34.4 over Jay Hambly’s cross-country course, moving from 14th into ninth. He then delivered a clear show jumping round with just 0.4 time penalties to close out his AEC weekend and secure TIP Champion honors.

Bates USEA Preliminary Rider

The Alchemist (Domestic Dispute x Star Punch) made a steady climb up the leaderboard with Meadow Carani, who co-owns the horse with Julie Carani, to earn TIP Champion honors in the Bates USEA Preliminary Rider Championship. The 14-year-old gelding was ninth after dressage on a score of 32.4 and moved into fifth after adding just 2.8 time penalties across country. A clear show jumping round with 0.4 time penalties allowed him to hold that position, finishing fifth overall on a score of 35.6.

TIP Reserve Champion Apparition (Flatter x Stay Here), ridden by Amanda Merritt, finished immediately behind him in sixth place overall. The 11-year-old gelding was 11th after dressage with a 33.9, but a double-clear cross-country round moved him all the way up to fourth heading into the final phase. One rail in show jumping brought his final score to 37.9 and secured the Reserve title.

Standlee USEA Modified Championships

Standlee USEA Modified Amateur

Finishing on her dressage score proved to be the recipe for TIP Champion Upper Charlize DS (Adios Charlie x Upper Gulch), ridden by Cindy Buchanan. The 10-year-old mare began the Standlee USEA Modified Amateur Championship in 11th place on a 30.4, then climbed the leaderboard with a double-clear cross-country round and fault-free show jumping performance to ultimately finish seventh overall.

TIP Reserve Champion Indymoodforlovin (Alaazo x Aphrodisiac) and Kelly Leihy followed a similar path through the weekend. The 14-year-old gelding also added nothing to his dressage score, jumping double-clear across country before leaving all the rails up in the final phase. Their finishing score of 32.6 earned them 10th place overall and the TIP Reserve Champion title.

Standlee USEA Modified Rider

A finish on his dressage score propelled Fiddle Head (Old Fashioned x Gorgeous Me) to both second place overall and the TIP Champion title in the Standlee USEA Modified Rider Championship. Ridden by Jocelyn Hawe, the 13-year-old gelding started the competition in ninth on a 35.8 before making a significant jump up the standings with a double-clear cross-country round. Another fault-free performance in show jumping secured the pair the Reserve Championship in the AEC division and top honors among the division’s Thoroughbreds.

Zantango (Imperialism x Five Crystals), ridden by Shaena Putnam, earned TIP Reserve Champion honors after completing the weekend in 15th place overall. The 10-year-old gelding, who was bred in Canada, sat eighth after dressage on a score of 35.7. He added just 3.6 time penalties to a clear cross-country effort before two rails in show jumping resulted in a final score of 47.3.

ARMA USEA Training Championships

ARMA USEA Training Amateur

A familiar face at the upper levels of the sport topped the TIP standings in the ARMA USEA Training Amateur Championship. Sea of Clouds (Malibu Moon x Winner’s Ticket), ridden by Marina Cassou and owned by the Sea of Clouds Partnership, finished third overall on a score of 32.4. The 15-year-old gelding, a former five-star mount of Phillip Dutton and four-star mount of his daughter, Olivia Dutton, started the week in third on a 28.4 and remained there following a double-clear cross-country round. One rail in show jumping brought his final score to 32.4 and secured the TIP Champion title.

Just two-tenths of a point separated Sea of Clouds from TIP Reserve Champion Discreetly Thrifty (Super Saver x Discreet Meating). Ridden by Olivia Normandin and owned by Olivia and Laura Normandin, the 6-year-old gelding made an impressive climb from 13th after dressage, jumping double-clear across country to move into sixth. A clear show jumping round with just 0.4 time penalties moved him up another two spots to finish fourth overall on a score of 32.6.

ARMA USEA Training Horse

After beginning the week in 16th place, LH Peter Parker (RUNNINGTOTHEALTER x WITH AFFIRMATION) and Logan Harris steadily worked their way up the leaderboard to claim TIP Champion honors in the ARMA USEA Training Horse Championship. The 10-year-old gelding, owned and ridden by Harris, added just 0.8 time penalties to his dressage score of 32.7 across country, moving into 13th. One rail in show jumping resulted in a final score of 37.5 and an 11th-place finish overall.

TIP Reserve Champion Boleo (Papa Clem x Glamour Cat), ridden and owned by Rosie Napravnik, finished just one place behind in 12th. The 13-year-old gelding started the competition in 12th on a dressage score of 32.1 before a clear cross-country round with 2.4 time penalties. He added one rail in show jumping to complete his weekend on a score of 38.5.

ARMA USEA Training Junior

A double-clear performance in both jumping phases helped Allys Angel rise through the standings to take TIP Champion honors in the ARMA USEA Training Junior Championship. Ridden and owned by Violet Hosier, the 13-year-old gelding began the week tied for 20th after dressage on a score of 35.6. He climbed to ninth after making the time across country and continued his ascent with another fault-free trip in show jumping, ultimately finishing sixth overall on his dressage score.

The Wellerman (Tonalist x Mlle. Minuit) earned TIP Reserve Champion honors with Zoë Rizzuto in the irons. Owned by Cole Horn, the 9-year-old gelding was seventh following dressage on a score of 31.8. He jumped clear across country while adding 6.4 time penalties, then left all the rails in place in show jumping to finish on 38.2 and take 11th place overall.

ARMA USEA Training Rider

Zempat (Lemon Drop Kid x Sohgol) took TIP Champion honors in the ARMA USEA Training Rider Championship with Bekah Bartley in the irons. The 17-year-old gelding began the competition in 16th place on a dressage score of 34.7 before delivering a double-clear cross-country round that moved him up to fifth. One rail in show jumping brought his final score to 38.7, good enough for sixth place overall and the top spot among the division’s Thoroughbreds.

TIP Reserve Champion Papa Pablo (Papa Clem x Lookn Mighty Fine), ridden by Hannah Pizzie, started the week in ninth place after earning a 33.1 in dressage. The 12-year-old gelding encountered trouble on cross-country with 20 jumping and 6.4 time penalties, but returned for the final phase to complete the weekend with four jumping and 6.4 time penalties in show jumping. He finished 21st overall on a final score of 69.9.

USEA Novice Championships

USEA Novice Amateur

Smile n Wave (Candy Ride x Island Sand) earned TIP Champion honors in the USEA Novice Amateur Championship after a weekend of steady improvement with Jillian Rose Perry. The 13-year-old gelding entered the jumping phases tied for 20th on his dressage score of 32.7, then made his move up the leaderboard with a double-clear trip across country. Another clear round inside the show jumping arena allowed him to finish on that same score, ultimately taking 10th place overall.

TIP Reserve Champion Magnificent Mireya, ridden and owned by Erin Contino, also completed the competition without adding a single penalty to her dressage score. The 5-year-old mare sat tied for 24th following dressage on a 33.5 before moving up to 20th with a double-clear cross-country performance. A fault-free show jumping round saw her make another significant jump in the standings to finish 11th overall on 33.5. Her breeding is not listed in the available information.

USEA Novice Junior

Saul Good (Chatain x Kylie’s Dream) earned TIP Champion honors in the USEA Novice Junior Championship with Catherine Goosmann. The 13-year-old gelding began the weekend tied for 16th following dressage on a score of 35.4, then made a significant climb up the leaderboard with a double-clear cross-country round to move into 13th. Another fault-free performance in show jumping allowed the pair to finish on their dressage score of 35.4 and move up to eighth place overall.

TIP Reserve Champion Hold On Tight (Hold Me Back x Salty Silver Sally), owned by Logan Harris and ridden by Lila Kelly, also finished the weekend on her dressage score. The 12-year-old mare was tied for 17th after dressage on 35.7 before producing a double-clear cross-country round to move into 14th. She added no penalties in show jumping to finish 10th overall on 35.7.

USEA Novice Junior 15 & Under

Chesterfield Dauntless (Fort Prado x La Rocca), ridden by Gabriella Britton and owned by Beverly Britton, earned TIP Champion honors while also finishing second overall in the USEA Novice Junior 15 & Under Championship. The 13-year-old gelding began the competition in third place on a dressage score of 30.2 and held that position with a double-clear trip across country. One rail in show jumping brought his final score to 34.2 and moved him into the Reserve Championship position overall.

Just one-tenth of a point behind was TIP Reserve Champion Toby The Coal Man (Mineshaft x Major Melissa) and Pace Deppa. The 20-year-old, one-eyed gelding started the week in seventh on a score of 34.3 before climbing to fifth with a double-clear cross-country round. He left every rail in place in show jumping to finish on his dressage score, moving up to third overall and securing the TIP Reserve Champion title.

USEA Novice Master Amateur

Triple Magic (Bernardini x Triple O Five) earned TIP Champion honors in the USEA Novice Master Amateur Championship with Melissa Carpio. The 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding started the weekend in seventh place on a dressage score of 32.4 before moving into sixth with a double-clear cross-country round. Another fault-free performance in show jumping secured a sixth-place finish overall, with the pair completing the weekend on their dressage score.

TIP Reserve Champion Arlo Bello (Freedom Child x Whisperjet) and Sarah Crocker also delivered a strong finish on their dressage score. The 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was tied for 11th after dressage on 34.3 before a double-clear cross-country round moved the pair into ninth. They added four faults in show jumping to finish 10th overall on a score of 38.3.

USEA Novice Rider

Figlio (Grand Slam x [dam not listed]) earned TIP Champion honors in the USEA Novice Rider Championship with Ashley Hudson. The 21-year-old Thoroughbred gelding began the competition tied for ninth after dressage on a score of 30.9. A double-clear cross-country round moved the pair into eighth, and they kept their score intact with another clear round in show jumping to finish seventh overall on their dressage score of 30.9.

TIP Reserve Champion Tonedout (Tonalist x St. Louie Slew) and Caroline Adams also finished the weekend without adding a single penalty to their dressage score. The 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding sat 12th after dressage on 31.6, moved into 10th following a double-clear cross-country round, and jumped clear on the final day to finish eighth overall on 31.6.

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Championships

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Horse

Rare Discovery earned TIP Champion honors in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Horse Championship with Lisa Taylor. The 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding began the week tied for ninth after dressage on a score of 30.2. A double-clear cross-country round moved the pair into sixth place, and they added nothing in show jumping to finish fifth overall on their dressage score of 30.2.

TIP Reserve Champion Scorecat and Carolyn Wehle started the competition in 13th place on a dressage score of 32.2. The 15-year-old Thoroughbred mare jumped clear and inside the time across country to move into 10th before adding 4 faults in show jumping. They finished the championship in 13th place on a final score of 36.2.

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Junior

Insuspense earned TIP Champion honors in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Junior Championship with Chloe Luedtke. The 14-year-old gelding started the competition tied for sixth after dressage on a score of 30.9. A double-clear cross-country round moved the pair into fifth place, and another fault-free performance in show jumping secured their fifth-place finish on their dressage score of 30.9.

TIP Reserve Champion Magic Shot and Logan Ostergard began the week in 19th place following dressage on a score of 33.9. The 7-year-old gelding made a steady climb up the leaderboard, jumping double-clear across country to move into 14th before another clear round in show jumping advanced the pair to 10th overall. They finished on their dressage score of 33.9.

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Master Amateur Championship

More Than Enough (Hard Spun x Love Mo) earned TIP Champion honors with Pam Kimmel in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Master Amateur Championship. The 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding started the week in second place after dressage on a score of 28.4 and maintained that position with a double-clear cross-country round. One rail in show jumping brought their final score to 32.4, placing the pair sixth overall.

TIP Reserve Champion Virginia Gentleman (Mizzen Mast x Evening Princess) and Blair Dunleavy began the competition in 15th place after dressage on a score of 34.2. The 11-year-old gelding jumped double-clear across country, then delivered another fault-free performance in show jumping to finish on his dressage score in 10th place overall.

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Amateur Championship

US Warrior (Majestic Warrior x Wendy’s Joy) and Jamie Hernandez earned TIP Champion honors in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Amateur Championship. The 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding began the competition in third place after dressage on a score of 27.0. A double-clear cross-country round kept the pair in third, and they added no penalties in show jumping to finish on their dressage score and move into second place overall.

TIP Reserve Champion Palace Gate (Justify x Dark Nile) and Maggie Hitron started the week in 11th place on a dressage score of 30.5. The 6-year-old gelding jumped double-clear across country to move into 10th place before another fault-free performance in show jumping moved the pair up one more spot. They finished ninth overall on their dressage score of 30.5.

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Rider Championship

Hayley Mesch and her own 18-year-old mare Constant Leigh (Cactus Creole x Favorite Miss) started and ended their weekend in second place in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Rider Championship on a score of 28.3, which gave them the TIP Championship win.

Alison O'Dwyer and her own 7-year-old gelding (American Pharoah x Ancient Goddess) finished in a tie for third in this division and in a tie for the TIP Reserve Championship on their dressage score of 28.6.

Katie Strickland's CB's Charger, a 10-year-old gelding (Three Hour Nap x Cherry Tart) also tied for third in the division and in the TIP Reserve Championshiop.

Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Junior 14 & Under

Sydney Farmer and 9-year-old gelding Risk Calculated (Congrats x WhereThere'sFire) stayed on their dressage score all weekend to finish in seventh place in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Junior 14 & Under Championship and earn the TIP Championship.

Remi Garcia rode Prince Loki to the TIP Reserve Championship in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Junior 14 & Under division. The 10-year-old gelding (Due Date x Goodbye Doeny) finished with one rail down in show jumping on a score of 37.9.

USEA Starter Junior

Liv Pospichal rode her own Donkey Hodie, a 19-year-old gelding (Devil His Due x L'Etoile Jolie) to a third-place finish in the USEA Starter Junior Championship on a score of 31.9, moving up from sixth after dressage. As a result, they took home the TIP Championship.

Aurea Dove and her own 5-year-old mare La Picasita (Munnings x Picardia) took home the TIP Reserve Championship on a score of 37.3, which left them in 14th place overall in this division.

USEA Starter Rider

Kayla Mickey earned the TIP Championship in the USEA Starter Rider division aboard her own Willy, an 18-year-old gelding (Hesabull x Missyshy). They moved up from 13th after dressage to fifth on a score of 33.6.

Audrey Fazio and her own I'm Not Famous, a 16-year-old gelding (Hardspun x Wildcat Annie) earned the TIP Reserve Championship on a score of 37.0 in 10th place.

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.

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