United States Eventing Association

Over $100,000 in Prizes Available for the Taking at the 2023 AEC

Who else is anxiously counting down the days until the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships, presented by Nutrena Feeds? The 2023 USEA AEC, which also hosts the Adult Team Championships (ATC) from the Beginner Novice through Preliminary level, will take place on Aug. 29 through Sept. 3 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Continuing the longstanding partnership with Adequan, the USEA will also host the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, which will conclude Friday, Sept. 1.

In partnership with all the generous AEC sponsors, the USEA is offering more than $100,000 in prize money and a plethora of exciting gifts across all 24 AEC divisions. The USEA will be providing prize packets through fifth place in all divisions, which will contain gift certificates redeemable for prizes from many popular brands! Some gift certificates can even be redeemed on-site at sponsors’ vendor booths in the AEC Trade Fair.

Presenting Sponsor Nutrena Feeds will be divvying out over 300 bags of horse feed to the first, second, and third place winners in all AEC divisions and ATC teams. Nutrena has been a dedicated sponsor of the USEA for many years, and along with financially supporting the AEC, they also serve as the “Official Feed of the USEA.”

Adequan, “The Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA,” returns as the Title Sponsor of the Advanced Final and is offering prize money through 25^th place, as well as custom Adequan saddle pads. The Champion of the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final will go home with a supersized $30,000 check and the Reserve Champion will receive $10,000.

Platinum Sponsor, Bates Saddles, is making their mark on the 2023 AEC by providing over $17,000 in prizes for first through fifth place in every AEC division, as well as the top three teams in the ATC, ranging from certificates for saddle pads and stirrup leathers to competition bags and even a few saddles! Bates will remain as the Title Sponsor of the Preliminary divisions and the “Official Saddle of the USEA.”

Horse & Country is stepping up in a big way at the 2023 AEC by joining as a Gold Sponsor and the “Official Live Stream Provider” for the event. As part of their partnership, Horse & Country will be providing gift certificates for H&C+ annual memberships for the top five in every AEC division and the top 3 teams in all USEA Adult Team Championships.

SmartPak, “the Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA,” Gold Sponsor of the AEC and Contributing Sponsor of the ATC, will provide $50 gift certificate to all AEC Champions and Reserve Champions and $25 gift certificates for all third-place winners. They will also be generously providing gift certificates for the top three teams in the ATC.

Standlee, “The Official Forage of the USEA,” Parker Equine Insurance, “The Official Equine Insurance of the USEA,” and Capital Square, “The Official Real Estate Partner of the USEA,” will also be supporting the AEC as Gold Sponsors, helping to fund the prize purses.

Returning Silver Sponsors, Auburn Laboratories, Kerrits, and The Jockey Club, are joined by two new Silver partners, Ecogold and Rood & Riddle, this year. Auburn Laboratories will provide certificates for 12 oz. bottles of their signature APF for the top three in every AEC division. Kerrits, “The Official Competition and Training Apparel of the USEA,” will be providing gift certificates for first through fifth in all AEC divisions, as well as the top three teams in the ATC divisions. The Jockey Club will provide Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) awards to T.I.P. Champions and Reserve Champions in each AEC division, which will include show coolers, ribbons and additional prize money. Ecogold will give saddle pad gift certificates to the Champions of each AEC division. Finally, Rood & Riddle will provide on grounds veterinary support for the AEC throughout the event.

The Bronze Level Sponsorship was a popular choice of many AEC partners this year, including 70 Degrees, Athletux, Black Petticoat, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Horseware Ireland, Majyk Equipe and Ride Equisafe. 70 Degrees has generously donated gift certificates for all first through fifth place winners in the 24 AEC divisions. Black Petticoat is giving away over $2,000 in gift certificates for first through third place in every AEC divisions. "The Chronicle of the Horse" serves as a Bronze Sponsor of both the AEC and the ATC and will provide one-year magazine subscriptions to the Champions in all divisions both the AEC and the ATC, as well as embroidered coolers for the Champion ATC teams. Dubarry of Ireland is gifting two pairs of Dubarry Boots to be distributed in the Intermediate division. Horseware Ireland has created custom show coolers for the Champions of every AEC division. D.G. Stackhouse, Equestrian Team Apparel, Majyk Equipe and Ride EquiSafe will provide gift certificates for all AEC divisions. Athletux will be providing the Official Live Stream Commentary for the Upper Levels at the AEC, and Grayson-Jockey Club will serve as a sponsor of the Adult Rider Party on Thursday, August 31.

Contributing Sponsor Cross Country App, which hosts the cross-country maps for all AEC divisions, will be providing gift certificates for AEC prize winners. L.V. Harkness will provide custom designed trophies for the special award winners, including the Adequan USEA $60,000 Advanced Final Champion, the USEA AEC Captain Mark Phillips Pony Rider Awards and the USEA AEC Adult Pony Rider Awards in Memory of Avery Dudasch. Mrs. Pastures is providing 350 bags of their well-loved horse cookies for AEC volunteers, plus two 5 lb. bags for sportsmanship award winners. They’ll also have some sample packs for riders at check-in. #WeRideTogether will also be supporting the AEC volunteers by providing 350 co-branded WRT AEC hats, and they will be giving WRT socks to the top three in all AEC and ATC divisions. Georgetown – Scott County, KY Tourism, Lexmark, and Mountain Horse are also Contributing Sponsors of the 2023 AEC.

Finally, the following Prize Sponsors will be providing gift certificates for the AEC divisions: Daniel Stewart -Pressure Proof Coaching Academy, EquiFit, Equiluxe Tack, Equine Essentials, Equine Pulse Performance, FarmVet, Horses 4 Your Consideration, Hound & Hare, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, LeMieux, Levade Kentucky, Mare Goods, OneTouch Fly Spray, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman, Spy Coast Farm and VTO Saddlery. Equilab will also provide 6-month subscriptions to their platform for Champions in all AEC Division and the Champion ATC teams. Achieve Equine will provide FLAIR Strips for the top three in all AEC divisions and top three teams in the Adult Team Championships. Sidelines Magazine will give one-year subscriptions to the Reserve Champions in all AEC divisions and the Reserve Champion ATC teams. Kinetic Equine Services will give gift certificates to the ATC Champion teams. Lastly, Strides For Equality Equestrians will also be on-site promoting allyship through Saturdays’ SEE Allyship Day and giving prize winners their SEE stickers.

Qualification and Entry Reminders

The 2023 AEC is currently open and accepting entries through closing day on Tuesday, August 15! Divisions will be offered from Beginner Novice through Advanced, featuring the $60,000 USEA Adequan Advanced Final. To view the current list of entries, click here.

As a reminder, both horse and rider must be qualified for the AEC at the level they wish to compete at. Please visit the AEC qualification page, and view the lists of Qualified Riders and Qualified Horses to confirm eligibility prior to entering. The qualification period for the 2023 AEC is May 23, 2022 through August 15, 2023. For questions regarding AEC qualifications, contact Sharon Gallagher.

Follow along with the AEC updates by joining the 2023 AEC Facebook page. For general questions about the AEC, please contact Kate Lokey.

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 Beginner Novice 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 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held Aug. 29—Sept. 3 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; Gold Level Sponsors: Capital Square, Horse & Country, Parker Equine Insurance, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Ecogold, Kerrits, The Jockey Club; Bronze Level Sponsors: 70 Degrees, Athletux, Black Petticoat, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse and Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Horseware Ireland, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe; Contributing Level Sponsor: CrossCountry App, Georgetown – Scott County Tourism, Lexmark, L.V. Harkness, Mountain Horse, Mrs. Pastures Cookies, #WeRideTogether; Prize Level Sponsors: Coach Daniel Stewart, EquiFit, Equilab, Equiluxe Tack, Equine Essentials, Equine Pulse Performance, FarmVet, Achieve Equine/FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, Hound & Hare, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, Kinetic Equine Services, LeMieux, Levade Kentucky, Mare Modern Goods, OneTouch Fly Spray, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman, Sidelines Magazine, Spy Coast Farm, Strides for Equality Equestrians, and VTO Saddlery.

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 29—Sept. 3, 2023. 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 2023, 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 USEA Adult Team Championships

The 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 Beginner Novice through Preliminary 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 Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, The Chronicle of the Horse, Achieve Equine/FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Kinetic Equine Services, Horse & Country, Equilab, Kerrits, Nutrena Feeds, Sidelines Magazine, SmartPak and #WeRideTogether for sponsoring the USEA Adult Team Championships.