United States Eventing Association

Request for Expression of Interest: AEC 2025-2028

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC) is the annual national championship for every level of the Olympic equestrian sport of eventing. The USEA is excited to announce a request for expressions of interest to host the AEC in the years 2025 through 2028, with preference being given to a western region venue in 2025. The USEA is ideally seeking two expressions of interest: one in the western United States region for 2025, and one in the eastern United States region for 2026-2028. The USEA will also entertain one bid for all four years, or a joint bid from two venues.

Host site(s) should; be attractive and presentable venues, have consistently good footing, have the ability to promote to and accommodate large numbers of spectators, and have a demonstrated record of a media plan with demonstrated ability to successfully work with local media.

The AEC has historically been conducted over five or six days and must be held at the end of the summer season, ideally across Labor Day weekend. The AEC has historically garnered large entry numbers, with the 2021 AEC currently standing as the largest eventing competition in North American history with over 1,000 entries and around 950 starters. The AEC includes seven levels of eventing competition from Beginner Novice to Advanced. Moving forward, the AEC Committee will be evaluating adding the Starter Level, to run eight levels total, and bidding venues are encouraged to add that into their plan. The USEA licenses the rights to run the AEC to a host site/organizer with a licensing fee, while retaining certain rights of control over the event.

Only organizers with an established relationship with a facility and proof of support for the expression of interest from the host site owners/operators, or the owner(s) and/or operator(s) of a prospective host site may nominate said venue for consideration. Expressions of interest should be submitted in the form of a letter and should consist of no more than 800 words.

All expressions of interest for an AEC host site located in the United States should also include the following:

1. Address of proposed site(s), in the United States;
2. Year(s) of the intended bid;
3. Indication of whether running the AEC at the site on the week preceding the Labor Day holiday is feasible (or) proposed alternative dates;
4. A list of site features relevant to eventing competitions including but not limited to;
1. The permanent and/or temporary stall capacity;
2. The number of arenas (including dimensions and footing type);
3. Existing infrastructure and acreage available for cross-country;
4. Basic utilities (water, electric, cable/internet)
5. Parking plan for competitors and spectators, and transportation plan if needed;
6. RV and camping availability;
7. Any other features of note to highlight the facility, and;
8. The ability to run dressage, cross-country, and show jumping simultaneously without negatively impacting any of the phases;
5. Contact information for the person or entity submitting the expression of interest;
6. Proposed business/management model(s), and;

All expressions of interest should be submitted by end of day Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.

The AEC has previously been hosted at the following locations:

2004 – 2006: Raeford, N.C. (Carolina Horse Park)
2007 – 2009: Wayne, Ill. (Lamplight Equestrian Center)
2010 – 2012: Fairburn, Ga. (Chattahoochee Hills – Bouckaert Farm)
2013 – 2015: Tyler, Texas (Texas Rose Horse Park)
2016 – 2017: Mill Spring, N.C. (Tryon International Equestrian Center)
2018: Parker, Colo. (Colorado Horse Park)
2019 – 2021: Lexington, Ky. (Kentucky Horse Park)
2022: Kalispell, Mont. (Rebecca Farm)
2023 – 2024: Lexington, Ky. (Kentucky Horse Park)

Please direct inquiries and expressions of interest to the following contact:

Kate Lokey, Director of Programs and Marketing
Phone: (703) 779-0440
Fax: (703) 779-0550
[email protected]