United States Eventing Association

The best part of the Road to the AEC is experiencing it through my daughter’s eyes. She is so determined and enthusiastic—it makes me feel like a 13-year old myself some days! And that is a cause for joy. I can’t wait to share this experience with her in August.

Last summer, the AEC wasn’t yet a twinkle in my eye. A lifelong eventer for the past near-decade, I had hung up my competition spurs as a single mother in lieu of foxhunting and spending time with my young daughter, Amelia Spouse.

While eventing has always been my passion, raising my daughter left little time for lessons and competing. As Amelia grew older, however, that calculus began to change. As summer 2025 came to a close, it was time to get ready for the upcoming hunting season. Needing a new hunt mount for myself, I found Leedaun Lane, or “Adare,” a darling 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Chillout x Leedaun Lane) and experienced field hunter. Perfect!

Amelia had also outgrown her foxhunting pony, and it was finally time to purchase her first proper horse. At 12 years old, Amelia had shown interest in eventing, so I found a horse that I believed could safely take her hunting and also start her lower level eventing career.

Enter, “Hanalei,” the world’s best 5-year-old Thoroughbred (Bernardini x Special Sill). Wow! Did I ever get more than I bargained for with these two mares, in the best possible way! (How often does that happen, I ask myself? Not often enough!)

Amelia began to compete Hanalei at Beginner Novice, and as I accompanied her to the events and watched her having so much fun, I thought to myself, “We need to be doing this together! Mom—it’s time to put your big girl boots back on and start competing again!”

I decided to try my mare Adare out at Starter level, and it turns out she took a shine to the sport. Feeling enthused, I brought Amelia to her first Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, and that sealed the deal. (Amelia is 13 years old, about same age as I was when I first attended what was then called Rolex back in a year I won’t name—let’s just say it was the 1990’s, and David O’Connor won on Custom Made. You do the math.)

Amelia and I decided that our goal was to come back to the Kentucky Horse Park in August to compete in the AEC together, Mom and daughter, no matter how much determination and perseverance it took!

For Amelia, the road to qualifying for the AEC was pretty straightforward. Amelia is a very brave and conscientious cross-country rider, forged from her formative years in the hunt field at Rappahannock Hunt in Virginia. Her dressage needed some work, however, and new mare Hanalei was a perfect and patient teacher. Fresh off a great finish in the 5 year-old YEH class at the MARS Maryland Five-Star with trainer Maya Clarkson in the irons, Hanalei was a star at one of her first horse trials with new owner Amelia as captain, and they captured a second-place finish at Full Moon Farm Horse Trials at Beginner Novice in November 2025 to earn their qualifying score.

For Mom, the road to the AEC was a little more difficult! I’d like to start by recognizing that there are some wonderful competitors at Starter level—WOW! So many beautiful horse and rider combinations getting their footing in the sport at this level. I’m really glad that Starter is a recognized level for the USEA and the AEC because there are so many promising pairs, and entries are typically robust, from what I can determine.

We are lucky in Area II to have so many opportunities to compete, and I needed these to achieve my goal of qualifying. Once I set my sights on the AEC with Adare, getting a qualifying score at Starter was more challenging that I initially anticipated. (Did I mention the many awesome combinations at Starter?!) Adare and I competed many weekends back-to-back with the goal—get qualified so that I can compete with my daughter in August. But something always seemed to get in the way that kept us just out of the running….if only that canter transition had been better; if only we didn’t have that rail; if only I didn’t get rung in the dressage test for an error (yep, happens to us all at some point.).

Finally, everything came together for us, and we got our qualifying score in June at Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials! I want to thank coaches Maya Clarkson so much for helping us achieve this goal and Stevie Lane for setting us on the path to success. This sport truly takes a village, and I’ve had a great support network for Amelia and myself as we continue to learn and progress.

Returning to eventing after time away, with my daughter now as a teammate, has meant so much to me and her. It’s not news to anyone that raising a teenaged daughter these days is fraught with challenges. Eventing has given us such a bond, and this sport has been a place of “grace” for both of us. I feel lucky! It’s a sport where we can meet in the middle and appreciate each other. It’s taught us both that we can make mistakes, reflect, learn, and try to do better next time. It teaches humility and hard work, and when my teenaged daughter and I can do that work together with horses that we love, it cements a lifelong relationship between us, rooted in these values.

So yes, the Starter jumps may be small, but it started me eventing again after nearly a decade away, and I am able to share this love of horses and eventing with my daughter while I enjoy watching the next generation learn the highs (and pitfalls) of the most amazing sport! Let’s Start(er) the fun!

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 August 25-30 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The AEC is a registered trademark of the USEA.

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, Gallagher’s Water, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, Standlee; and more!