United States Eventing Association

The 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) Presented by Nutrena Feeds brought an incredible week of championship eventing to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, across Aug. 25-30. Hundreds of horse-and-rider combinations from across the country descended upon the iconic Kentucky Horse Park to compete for national championship titles, creating six days filled with outstanding competition, camaraderie, and celebration of horse and sport. With entries across the AEC divisions, the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, and the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC), the 2026 AEC was truly a championship to remember.

Thanks to their substantial support, the USEA was able to offer AEC competitors more than $100,000 in prize money, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in gift certificates, and in-kind contributions. Every rider that reached the top five in the AEC and the top three teams in the ATC received a variety of prizes donated by the USEA’s generous sponsors.

The USEA would like to especially thank AEC Presenting Sponsor, Nutrena Feeds, whose longstanding commitment to the USEA and the sport of eventing continues to help make the AEC possible. Nutrena’s support reaches competitors throughout the championship and plays an important role in making the AEC such a rewarding experience for USEA members. Nutrena, serving as the “Official Feed of the USEA,” generously supported the prize funds for the AEC, as well as sending the top-placing athletes in every division home with certificates for free bags of Nutrena feed.

The USEA would also like to thank Adequan, “The Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA,” as they continued their longstanding Title Sponsorship of the Adequan USEA Advanced Final. Yet again, Adequan provided an impressive $60,000 purse for this year’s final, meaning the champion went home $30,000 richer, and marking the class as one of the most highly sought-after eventing championships in North America.

Platinum Level sponsors Bates Saddles and Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance also continued their significant support of the AEC. Both companies are acorporate partners of the USEA, with Bates Saddles serving as the “Official Saddle of the USEA,” and Marshall+Sterling serving as the “Official Equine Insurance of the USEA.” They each sponsored divisions at the AEC, with Bates supporting the AEC with over $17,000 in prizes and serving as the Title Sponsor of the Preliminary divisions, and Marshall+Sterling serving as Title Sponsor of the Beginner Novice divisions, contributing to their prize purses.

The “Official Horse Boot of the USEA,” ARMA returned as a Gold Sponsor of the AEC, a Contributing Sponsor of the ATC, and the Title Sponsor of the Training level divisions, while also providing thousands of dollars in gift certificates for AEC and ATC winners. “The Official Forage of the USEA,” Standlee returned as a Gold Sponsor of the AEC as well, but this time, securing Title Sponsor of the Modified level divisions, and providing Standlee products to prize bag winners.

The “Official Shock Wave of the USEA” and Gold Level Sponsor of the AEC, PulseVet Shock Wave, generously supported all AEC prize money purses. Schneiders Saddlery, the “Official Horse Wear of the USEA,” another Gold Sponsor of the AEC, clothed every division champion in a stunning, custom-embroidered champion cooler.

The ATC Champions were adorned with custom-embroidered show scrims, too. These keepsakes will no doubt be coveted by their winners. SmartPak, the “Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA,” Gold Sponsor of the AEC, and Contributing Sponsor of the ATC, provided thousands of dollars in gift certificates for the top three finishers in all AEC and ATC divisions. Gallagher’s Water completes the Gold Level Sponsors of the AEC, as they also serve as the “Official Equine Hydration Beverage of the USEA.” They generously provided equine hydration stations at the finish lines for cross-country and show jumping, helping keep horses cool and hydrated.

Special thanks also go to the Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Kerrits, The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, Rood & Riddle;

Bronze Level Sponsors: 70°, Antech Diagnostics, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Foxhollow Farm, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, John Deere, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health;

Contributing Level Sponsors: AnimaSol, CrossCountry App, Foxhollow Farm, Georgetown/Scott County Tourism, Kentucky Equine Research, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Lexmark, LV Harkness, Only Fools and Horses, #WeRideTogether, YETI;

and Prize Level Sponsors: ARRO Helmets, The Dad Den, Dandy Products, Equiluxe Tack, Equine IMED, Fair Hill Saddlery, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, I Love My Horse Boutique, The Infused Equestrian, Love Equestrian, Majyk Equipe, Mare Modern Goods, Natalie Hummel Coaching, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Parkmore Supplements, Peak Performance Equine Spa, Poseidon Animal Health, Rachel Dory Fine Art, Right Path Equestrian, Saddle Bird Boutique, Sidelines Magazine, Strides For Equality Equestrians, STRIDER, Stylish in the Saddle, VTO Saddlery, and XLR8 Equine.

Adams Horse Supply returned as the Title Sponsor of the Adult Team Championships, providing gift certificates to the top three teams in the ATC, while also bringing the fun to the Adult Rider Party on Thursday evening, and provided an Adult Rider Lounge at their vendor tent each evening, hosting the various USEA Area Adult Rider programs. They also sponsored the ATC scavenger hunt at the AEC, which will be awarded to a winning team soon! The USEA would also like to thank ATC contributing sponsors ARMA, Bates Saddles, The Chronicle of the Horse, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher’s Water, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, SmartPak, and Santa Cruz Animal Health for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.

From championship prizes to the special touches that competitors took home with them, the generosity of these partners was felt throughout the Kentucky Horse Park all week long.

The USEA encourages all AEC and ATC competitors to personally thank and support the sponsors who helped make this year’s championships possible. Prize winners are also encouraged to redeem any certificates or vouchers received during the event promptly and to recognize the companies whose generosity helped make their championship experience memorable.

To every sponsor who invested in the 2026 AEC and ATC: thank you. Your commitment to the USEA, its members, and the sport of eventing helped make the return to the Kentucky Horse Park an extraordinary celebration of our eventing community.

Lastly, we must note that at the heart of the AEC, and everything we do at the USEA, is the horse. They are the partners who make this sport possible, and it is our privilege and responsibility to put their health, happiness, and well-being at the center of every ride, every competition, and every championship. As we celebrate another unforgettable AEC and thank the sponsors who help make it possible, we are reminded of the commitment that unites our entire eventing community: Love the Horse First.

For more information about the AEC, please click here and save the date for the AEC as it returns to The Kentucky Horse Park for the next two years. The 2027 AEC will take place Tuesday, August 31 – Sunday, Sept. 5 in Lexington, Kentucky, and the USEA hope to see you there!

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

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on Aug. 26-28. 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 2026, 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 Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships

The Adams Horse Supply 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 nine teams and 39 riders for the BN, N, T, and M levels, plus an additional eight members if they are at the Starter level only. 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 USEA Adult Team Championships.