Road to the AEC: Determination and an AEC Pony Proposal Has Kimber Hanks Heading to Kentucky
My daughter Kimber Hanks is 12 years old—the same age as her Pony of the Americas, RQT Equity In Gold (RY Diamond Equity x Cels Miners Taffy), or "Honey." They were born the same year, growing up together on our cattle farm in West Tennessee. In the case of Kimber and a spicy pony named Honey, th...
Road to the AEC: Allie Nelson and Pelear Por Oro Have Overcome the Odds on Their Journey to Kentucky
I started riding at the age of 3 and grew up doing hunter/jumpers. Like so many little girls, I was living the dream. It consumed my entire life; I went to school talking about the barn until I came home and begged to go to the barn. Until one day when I fell at just barely a walk, just going on ...
Road to the AEC: Megan Sergel Has Found Her Way Back to Horses and Herself with Dutchess
Three and a half years ago, if someone had told me I would qualify for the USEA American Eventing Championships, I would have laughed. Not because I didn't love horses. I just thought my riding days were over.
Road to the AEC: Supermom Amber Shippy's Hustle Has Led Her to Kentucky with Winnie The Pooh
For me, qualifying for the AEC this year has been a true story of overcoming. Like most adult amateurs I balance training, my family, and my career. It has been a true blessing to have all these things in my life, it just means I must hustle hard.
Road to the AEC: Je T'aime Opera is Singing A New Tune on Her Way to the AEC
I got Je T’aime Opera, or "Minko," a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Je T'aime Flamenco x Foxy Cleopatra R) in 2024 as I was retiring my previous horse due to medical issues. From the first trial she felt like my heart horse, and while being fancy enough to go up the levels, she also was safe ...
Road to the AEC: Rescue Horse Haunted Blessings Has Found His Person in Lizzie Wieckowski
When people see Haunted Blessings and me competing today, they see a horse-and-rider team that qualified for the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships. What they don’t always see is the patience, trust, and hard work it took to get here.
Road to the AEC: Adilyn Cartwright is Chasing Her AEC Dreams with Chasing Gold
My name is Adilyn Cartwright, and I will be competing in the 2026 AEC on Chasing Gold, owned by Jessica Saari. "Chase" is a 14-year-old Quarter Horse who I have had the opportunity to event the past several years.
Road to the AEC: The Riddler Will Have His Swan Song at the AEC with Madison James
We found The Riddler when I had fallen out of love with riding. He was kind of my mom’s last effort to keep me in the saddle. If it didn’t work, it didn’t work, and I’d go play volleyball.
Road to the AEC: OTTB Master Rudy Defies the Odds with Sara Staley
In April 2019, I adopted a Thoroughbred gelding named Master Rudy (Fusaichi Pegasus x Sacred Sue) from Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue in West Virginia. At the time, I wasn’t searching for my next event horse. In fact, I wasn’t searching for a competition horse at all.
Road to the AEC: After a 20-Year Riding Hiatus, Dawn Swingen is Enjoying Her Eventing Journey
I have been riding since I can remember, but I grew up showing and raising American Saddlebreds. My old show mare, Desi, was 23 years old when my 9-year-old daughter, Lauren, had joined Pony Club and started eventing. Desi was the babysitter that any parent wants for their child. I didn’t know a ...
