Novice Champions Shine at #AEC2025
Temecula, Calif.—Aug. 30—The four Novice divisions took center stage today at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds, wrapping up their week over Williams Robertson’s show jumping track. Read on to find out more about the day’s action—who slipped into the lead and who clung tight to their overnight positions in the competitive classes.
USEA Novice Horse Championship
Temecula-based professional Chloe Smyth and Michelle Cameron Donaldson’s SR Myconos, an 8-year-old Warmblood stallion by Con Air, were the first USEA Novice Champions to lead the victory gallop after a double-clear round early this morning.
The pair began their weekend tied at the top of the leaderboard with Ellen Sebanc and her own Orion RSF, a 6-year-old Dutch gelding (Gaudi x O Baby). Both pairs earned identical dressage scores of 24.9 and went double-clear on cross-country yesterday, but 0.8 time faults in show jumping dropped Sebanc to third.
Because of the stallion’s striking coloring—and his athletic ability—he’s garnered quite a fan club. “He has a genetic anomaly with this cool coloration,” she explained. “His parents are just bay and chestnut, and he came out like this. You watch him on the flat, and you’re like, wow, what a great dressage horse, but then you see him jump, and you’re even more impressed. And you don’t even know he’s a stallion the whole time! I told him he can be a stallion as long as he acts like a gelding.”
Since Smyth was tied with Sebanc, she needed to finish as close to the optimum time as possible on cross-country—they’d already been competing at Training level, so fitness was no issue. “He jumped really well on cross-country, and I’d wanted to keep him prepped to go Training level,” Smyth said. “I didn’t want him to ease off—we had to be close enough to break the tie. Ellen [Sebanc] was a little closer to the optimum time, so she broke the tie. All I could think was to have a good clean round today.
“He was a little on the stiff side this morning, from the humidity and a bit tired from yesterday, so I did a very easy warm-up,” she added. “He jumped really well, and we just ended up being a little closer on the time today. I know he can jump clean rounds, so it’s really nice to be sitting on a horse that can do it all. I know he’s going to be a good partner for me and take care of me.”
The pair plans to head to a few more events before aiming for the one-star back at Galway in October. As a regular competitor at the Temecula venue, Smyth noted the championship atmosphere this week. “It’s always getting better and better here,” she said. “We come over once or twice a week to school, and every time we show up, there’s something new. They’re always making thoughtful improvements. It’s really nice to have this special place in your backyard!”
North Bend, Washington’s Karen O’Neal and her own 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Pendleton GB (Franklin x Beyoncé) slipped into second after a faultless round this morning, finishing their week on their dressage score of 25.1
The pair has had a stellar season, picking up wins in their past three Novice events as well as a second place in a USEA Young Event Horse class at Spokane Sport Horse Spring Horse Trials (Spokane, Washington).
Even though they’ve had success this year, their partnership is still relatively new. O'Neal had a hip replacement after an injury last year, and her planned trip to try out horses was sidelined. A friend mentioned seeing a promising young horse last year near Bellingham, Washington, she should try instead. “So, we went and tried Pendleton, and he was really quirky,” she said. “They didn’t want just anyone to have him because he was a bit dangerous—just young and misunderstood. We made them an offer, and they really wanted us to have him.
“He’d never jumped before, so we’ve really taken our time with him,” she continued. “I joke that we call him ‘Scissor Legs’ because I swear he’s grown two inches since I got him. I was most impressed with his dressage. Sometimes he just gets in the ring and does even better than warm-up. He just likes it in the show ring—I’m kind of blown away by him.”
Third-placed Sebanc had been in ties before and knew she needed to get as close as she could to move ahead of Smyth. “I tried to come in right on the optimum time and I did—but I was cutting it a little close!” said the Kaufman, Texas-based rider. “I tried not to put too much pressure on myself and just wanted to have fun.”
Sebanc purchased the gelding as a yearling from his breeder. “He did some hunter stuff this past winter, and I’ve just been playing with him,” she said. “I’m five and a half months pregnant, so this was kind of my goal for the year. I sold all my upper-level horses, and I had some kids who wanted to come here, so I thought I’d bring him along to compete.
“I don’t know that he’ll be a five-star eventer, but I’ve just been having fun with him and building his confidence. I’m kicking myself we didn’t go two seconds faster in the show jumping! But it happens—we had a ton of fun, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.”
USEA Novice Amateur Championship
In the USEA Novice Amateur division, Nikki Lloyd of Petaluma, California, moved up from second to claim top honors with her own 7-year-old Holsteiner mare Lacey (Hunter x Dark Horse).
Their AEC performance was a step up from last year, when they finished in the top 20 of the USEA Beginner Novice Master Amateur Championship. This weekend, they slowly inched up the standings after each phase, finishing on their dressage score of 25.8—just 0.2 points ahead of second place.
“She’s an amazing horse,” explained Lloyd, who bought the mare as a yearling and has brought her along herself. “She's really good in all three phases. She's bred to do this job, and she's game. She was really rude over the first fence! Sometimes she wants to be in charge. For the last year, we’ve been trying to really develop a partnership, not her just driving me around. She’s just a great horse.”
The pair had recently moved up to Training level, but Lloyd decided to shift her back down to do a bit more training with the mare. Of her future plans after winning the championship she said, “I plan on moving her back up to training, getting that solid, and then seeing how far we can go.”
Nicole LaGrange and Excel Star Clovers Chip (Chippison x Rosslaras Ban Rion Dhiamont) also moved up from third to take the reserve championship. Her 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare jumped well in both phases to wrap up their week on their 26.0 dressage score.
“I’m super excited about our results,” said the Escondido, California-based rider. “He has a really promising future. We’ve spent a lot of time laying down the basics over the past three years. We moved her up to Training at the end of last year, and unfortunately she got kicked badly in a warm-up arena, which injured her badly. She’s had the whole year off, and this is actually our first show back!”
“I certainly didn’t expect a second-place finish, since she’s only been back in full work for a few months,” she continued. “We did spend a lot of time together while she recovered. Walking cross-country on the ground, wandering around fences to help her get used to things. Like, we’d go stand next to a big Advanced table, just to help her learn to trust me.”
Based locally, having the AEC at her “home course” was a treat. “It’s been amazing. I’ve been doing every party and every additional thing they’re offering here, since you never know when you’ll be able to do it again.”
LaGrange is also competing in the 2025 Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships on the Gallop Goddesses team with three members from Area X.
Tracey Trewin of Fall City, Washington, took third with her own 7-year-old Rheinland Pfalz-Saar/Hanoverian mare Barcelona (Blue Hors Baron x Flower). The pair picked up 3.2 time faults on yesterday’s cross-country, but moved up one spot in the final standings after a clear round today.
“I actually just got her,” Trewin said. “She just got here at the end of March. Oddly enough, she’s the horse I didn’t want. She was owned by a friend of mine, and everyone said I needed to go see her, but she’s a chestnut mare. So, I tried her out... and she’s amazing!
“She’s a lovely mover and she’s an even better jumper—she really, really loves it,” she added. “She’s just super fun, and we’ve really clicked. I got on her that first time, and I knew right away.”
USEA Novice Rider Championship
Just over a point separated the top three competitors in the USEA Novice Rider division, but ultimately clear rounds prevailed and everyone finished on their overnight positions.
Dawn Scott of Atascadero, California, and her 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Shannondale Ghost (Shannondale Sarco x Riverlon Mist) led the division from start to finish, wrapping up their week on their dressage score of 25.6.
Fresh off a win in a Novice division at Shepherd Ranch Pony Club Horse Trials (Santa Ynez, California) earlier this month, the pair were primed for a good week at Galway. But with the scores so close, Scott had to perform under pressure to stay atop the leaderboard.
“She wasn’t going to let me down,” Scott said of her mare. “We were in a pretty good balance throughout the whole round, though there were a few spots where we got in a little close. But she really tried—that’s what I love about her.”
Though she’s an active volunteer in Area VI, Scott had taken a break from competing. But coach Andrea Baxter found her a new partner. “I’m really lucky that Andrea found her for me. I wouldn’t say she’s super easy, but she’s taught me exactly what I needed to improve my riding. She also turned me onto a sports psychologist, and it’s been lifechanging for me. I now know how to regulate my breathing to relax, and I did that a lot in warmup. I also write down everything we do in the stadium and the arena, and Andrea and I discuss it and modify it. Are the changes coming from behind, is Ghost supple? I think about all those details. I’m really proud of myself because I memorized everything we’d been talking about.
“I’m in my 60s now, so I do my best to stay super fit,” she continued. “It’s a little bit different these days, and I get more nervous. But Andrea helped me with her, and it was the best thing I’ve ever done—learning to build a relationship with this horse and trust her.”
Looking ahead, Scott is just happy to appreciate her mare and doesn’t have big plans. “I’d love to just keep working with Andrea and improving my riding. I know Ghost and I can both jump bigger. She has all the tools to help me learn the next steps.”
Jenna Edwards and her Hanoverian gelding RHF Peterzano (Perigueux x Hauptstutbuch Nonchalance) took home the reserve championship, completing on their dressage score of 26.0.
“I’ve had him a year and a half,” she said of her 13-year-old gelding. “He held it together really well—he’s been on his best behavior in this championship atmosphere. Cross-country was a little hairy at first and he was a little sticky, but we got it together and finished strong. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
The Norco, California-based rider trains with Olympian Hawley Bennett-Awad—who stopped by to congratulate her after her round—and is currently planning a move up to Training level.
Rounding out the top three in the division was Lisa Peecook of Petaluma, California, and her 6-year-old Argentine Sport Horse gelding SZ Raudo (Coronet D Champs x Guaru Casstora), who also added no faults all week to their dressage score of 26.5. The pair have had an impeccable season, picking up six wins, including a recent victory in the Training Rider division at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, Montana).
USEA Novice Junior Championship
Michaela Smith and Laura Smith’s 12-year-old German Sport Horse gelding Cashmaker (Casino Royale K x Golden Princess) were foot-perfect over today’s show jumping track to hang tight to their overnight lead and take home top honors.
“I’ve him about four years now,” said the 13-year-old Redwood City, California-based rider. “We saw him at Chocolate Horse Farm and originally thought we were going to get him as a lease, but his owners wanted to sell him instead. I hadn’t even been eventing when we got him, though I had been jumping. He was very much a hunter/jumper when we got him, though he’d done one event with Tommy Greengard, so we taught him all his dressage training, and he’s turned into a great dressage pony.
“My trainer had always done eventing, so I started getting into it,” she said. “I love everything about it—probably cross-country the best. He loves running fast. I didn’t have many brakes yesterday, and I ended up right on the optimum time. Last time we were here, I went too slow, so I had it in my brain to pick up the speed a bit and hit my minute markers better. But he got a teeny bit strong—he gets really excited out there.”
The little palomino gelding’s personality shines through in all aspects of his life. "He is very social,” said the teen with a laugh. “He wants to play with every horse and every person. He’s very “lippy” and loves to play with your hand, too. And he’s a total cookie monster—we’ve actually taught him how to kiss you. If you point your finger at your mouth, he’ll 'kiss' you.
“Even though he’s really small, he’s really energetic and has the spring of a horse, and he can make most of the horse-sized strides,” she added. “Like, he had no problem with the two-stride that we had on course today.”
Two stellar jumping rounds for Samantha Ehrlich and her 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Maverick (Indoctro x Onlight) this week solidified their overnight second place position, and they finished on their dressage score of 27.1. She also took fourth in the division with Sheryl Ehrlich’s Midnight Endeavor.
Ehrlich, who’s based in Portola Valley, California, was delighted with her Maverick’s confidence-building performance throughout the week. “He’s perfect,” she said, of the gelding she’s had for two years. “He was really focused and listening to me out on cross-country. And today, he was so tuned into me on course.”
A strong season, including clinching the top two places in a Novice division at Woodside (California) this month, helped her prepare for this week. “I used to struggle with nerves, but now I feel like I’m getting really comfortable with both of them,” she said.
Lily Rhea (Sammish, Washington) moved up from fourth to third aboard her and Nicole Rhea’s 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Cooley Ever After (Maplevalley's Galoubet x Bee Direct) after adding nothing to their dressage score of 28.3.
“This week was a confidence booster,” Rhea explained. “It was a good weekend, I feel good, and confident about my ride. I had a personal best in dressage, and that’s where we struggle the most so seeing the progress on the scores is really special.”
Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC)
In the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships, it was 4 Eventers Walked In To A Bar who claimed top honors. The team consisted of Area VI combinations Lisa Peecook riding SZ Raudo, Adriana DePeppe riding Romeo’s Dream, Jeanne Carley riding Shannondale Fionn, and Cricket Wood riding Latitude42. Reserve honors went to Area VI Novice and Needy, made up of: Scott and Shannondale Ghost, Danielle McKinely and Lexicon, and Molly Johnson and Castlerea Draoi.
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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 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held on Aug. 27-31 at Galway Downs in Temecula, California. 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, Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, Standlee; Silve Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Kerrits, The Jockey Club; Bronze Level Sponsors: Athletux, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe; Contributing Level Sponsors: CrossCountry App, Santa Cruz Animal Health, #WeRideTogether; and Prize Level Sponsors: Equilab, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher’s Water, Horses 4 Your Consideration, LeMieux, Practical Horseman, Ride iQ, Sidelines Magazine, Werkman Hoofcare USA, and Whitfield Equine Nutrition.
About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final
The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at Galway Downs in Temecula, California on Aug. 27-29, 2025. 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 2025, 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 Starter Level to Modified 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 USEA Adult Team Championships.
The USEA would like to thank ATC Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and contributing sponsors ARMA, The Chronicle of the Horse, Equilab, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and SmartPak for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.
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