United States Eventing Association

There are only four days to go until the start of the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), presented by Nutrena Feeds! Whether you’re already on your way to the Kentucky Horse Park or you’re preparing to start your trip, this article has all of the last-minute information you need for a smooth arrival at the venue. The 2023 USEA AEC takes place from Tuesday, Aug. 29 through Sunday, Sept. 3, and features championship divisions from Beginner Novice through Advanced. The $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final is the pinnacle level of competition at the AEC, and the USEA Adult Riders will again have the opportunity to compete in the Adult Team Championships (ATC) from Beginner Novice through Preliminary.

Get a front-row seat to all the action at the Kentucky Horse Park this Aug. 29—Sept. 3 by signing up to volunteer at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships, presented by Nutrena Feeds! Volunteer positions are open to everyone, including competitors, trainers, owners, fans, friends and family that are making the trip to Lexington, Kentucky, later this month. Between the top-level sport and exciting activities throughout the week, the 2023 AEC is a must-attend event!

The sport of eventing wouldn’t be possible without the amazing volunteers that donate their time to support competitions across the country all year long. As of July 14, a total of 38,040 hours have already been recorded through EventingVolunteers.com for 2023, and there is still much of the season left ahead. The Volunteer Incentive Program, which was formed in 2015, was created to recognize the USEA’s dedicated volunteers through national and area leaderboards which award year-end awards and prizes. Here are the volunteers that are currently topping the leaderboard for 2023!

Growing up just a few miles from the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in Stamford, England, Sarah Airhart naturally gravitated toward eventing.

A member of the Burghley Pony Club, Airhart recalls riding across the Burghley Park Golf Club where her father worked, and walking through the public grounds with her mother, climbing on cross-country fences and imagining what it would be like to jump them.

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce a new membership category, the “Digital Membership,” which will be available to qualified participants of the Volunteer Incentive Program in 2023. This new membership will serve as a thank you to the loyal volunteers in our sport for their dedication to supporting events around the country throughout the year.

Lisa Pragg is a busy woman, but between her normal day job and competing her own 19-year-old Thoroughbred Impeccable she still prioritizes time to volunteer - both at horse trials and as a volunteer firefighter. Pragg understands the importance that volunteers play in the eventing community and makes sure to give whatever time she can back as a fair gesture.

The official management system of the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) is www.eventingvolunteers.com and it has recorded a total of 8,105 volunteers and 194,193 volunteer hours since December 1, 2016. With the growing popularity and increase in participation, the USEA would like to remind VIP participants of the rules, eligibility, and incentives.

The USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) launched the Volunteer Medal Program in 2020 to enhance the recognition of these resilient volunteers. The Volunteer Medal Program recognizes the volunteers who consistently volunteer year after year. Hours earned are cumulative over a lifetime of volunteer service. To earn a bronze medal, volunteers must record 500 volunteer hours; to earn a silver medal, volunteers must record 1,000 volunteer hours; and to earn a gold medal, volunteers must record 2,000 volunteer hours at eventingvolunteers.com.

When Daniel Stickney met his future wife Kathy in college, he had zero involvement in the horse world. Kathy had ridden as a teen and after marrying in graduate school, the couple was invited on a trail ride by an acquaintance who owned a boarding and lesson barn. That trail ride sparked Kathy’s fire for riding again and she began working at the barn to help offset costs of lessons and boarding for her first horse, Kismet. Suddenly Daniel found himself in the saddle as well. The two have been riding together for over 30 years now.

Golly Martin is a lifelong equestrian who got her start in the saddle as a child. Having grown up in Northern Virginia, she had easy access to ample equestrian opportunities and even had the chance to ride during the summers in England. However, when her barn closed during her high school years, she took a break from riding until the itch reignited during college.