United States Eventing Association

The 2023 USEA AEC is Just Around the Corner – Here’s All You Need to Know

With less than a month to go until the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds, it is time to button up plans for August 29 through September 3 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Keep reading for all of the need-to-know information to make your AEC experience the best it can be!

Qualification and Entry Reminders

Entries for the 2023 AEC are open! Divisions will be offered from Beginner Novice through Advanced, featuring the $60,000 USEA Adequan Advanced Final. Entries will close on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. All entries must be submitted electronically with credit card payment. To view the current list of entries, click here.

As a reminder, both horse and rider must be qualified for the AEC at the level they wish to compete at. Please visit the AEC qualification page, and view the lists of Qualified Riders and Qualified Horses to confirm eligibility prior to entering. The qualification period for the 2023 AEC is May 23, 2022 through August 15, 2023. For questions regarding AEC qualifications, contact Sharon Gallagher.

AEC Livestream

Horse & Country will serve as the Official Livestream of the 2023 AEC. Horse & Country provides all USEA members a 15% discount on annual memberships. Login to your online services account to access the code and sign up today! The livestream schedule is as follows:

• Aug. 29 – Intermediate Dressage and Preliminary Dressage
• Aug. 30 – Advanced Dressage, Intermediate, Preliminary and Modified Cross-Country
• Aug. 31 – Advanced, Modified, and Training Cross-Country, and Preliminary and Intermediate Show Jumping
• Sept. 1 – Advanced and Training Show Jumping, and Novice Cross-Country
• Sept. 2 – Novice Show Jumping and Beginner Novice Cross-Country
• Sept. 3 – Beginner Novice Show Jumping

The Beginner Novice and Novice divisions will be free to view live on H&C TV on September 1-3. All remaining live coverage and on-demand content provided by horseandcountry.tv will only be available to H&C+ subscribers. Competitors can also purchase individual rider clips through Get My Clip on horseandcountry.tv/get-my-clip.

Official Photographer

Erin Gilmore Photography will be the Official Photographer of the 2023 AEC. Joining forces under one umbrella, Erin Gilmore Photography has partnered with Tina Fitch Photography to bring the best of the East and the West together to cover all three phases of each special ride at the event. Gilmore and Fitch are thrilled to lead a dedicated, experienced team working seamlessly to put final, edited image galleries into the hands of riders. Riders will be able to access their photos more quickly than ever before, with the ability to view, purchase and receive their images digitally during the event at eringilmorephotos.com.

Schedule of Events & Parties

The 2023 USEA AEC omnibus page is now available. The competition will tentatively start at 8:00 a.m on Tuesday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. on Friday through Sunday. For the most up-to-date schedule of events, please click here. The USEA and EEI will also be offering evening receptions and parties on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Monday, August 28
3:00 p.m.: all cross-country courses open

Tuesday, August 29
Dressage: Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified

Wednesday, August 30
Dressage: Advanced, Training
Cross-Country: Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified

Red, White and Blue Welcome Reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Big Barn – Sport your best red, white and blue gear and come mingle with fellow competitors. One ticket per horse entered. Click here to purchase additional tickets.

Thursday, August 31
Dressage: Novice
Cross-Country: Advanced, Training
Show Jumping: Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified

Carnival Adult & Young Rider Party at 6:30 p.m. in the VIP Hospitality Ringside Tent at Rolex Stadium – Featuring the Intercollegiate and IEL Mixer! Adult Rider Party presented by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. USE Adult Rider and USEA Young Rider Program members will receive one ticket to attend the party. Come dressed in team spirit gear!

Friday, September 1
Dressage: Beginner Novice
Cross-Country: Novice
Show Jumping: Advanced, Training

Fiesta Friday Competitor Party at 6:30 p.m. in the VIP Hospitality Ringside Tent at Rolex Stadium – Cheer on your favorite combinations in the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final while enjoying a Mexican fiesta, AEC style! One ticket per horse entered. Click here to purchase additional tickets.

Saturday, September 2
Cross-Country: Beginner Novice
Show Jumping: Novice

SEE Allyship Day - Stand as an ally to all of the diverse groups of riders that participate in the sport of eventing by wearing purple for SEE Allyship Day on Saturday, September 2! Strides for Equality Equestrians invites you and your fellow eventers to show your support for diversity, equity and inclusion within our sport by painting the Kentucky Horse Park purple.

Sunday, September 3
Show Jumping: Beginner Novice

Interested in additional tickets for the Welcome Reception and the Competitor Party? Save $20 by purchasing the Party Package here, which includes one extra ticket for each event.

VIP Hospitality

From Tuesday through Sunday, an exclusive Daily VIP Hospitality ringside tent at Rolex Stadium will be serving delicious food and drink for interested attendees. The Tent will be open for breakfast and lunch and will have a cash bar available. Click here to purchase tickets to the Daily VIP Hospitality ringside tent. Daily hospitality menus are listed under each daily ticket and prices are as follows:

• Single Day Ticket
• VIP Hospitality Package
  • Includes access to the VIP Hospitality ringside tent for all six days of the AEC.
• VIP Hospitality and Party Package
  • Includes access to VIP Hospitality ringside tent for all six days of the AEC, plus one extra ticket for each party (Welcome Reception and Competitor Party).

Volunteer Opportunities

Get a front-row seat at the AEC by volunteering! Every AEC volunteer will receive a goodie bag which will include exclusive AEC volunteer apparel and gifts. AEC competitors are also urged to volunteer to give back to the sport we all love. Stay an extra day, or work around your ride times and volunteer your morning or afternoon. Click here to learn more and sign up for a shift!

Accommodations

The USEA and EEI have secured discounted room rates at several local hotels that competitors are encouraged to take advantage of. For more information and to book a room at a discounted rate, click here and scroll down to the “Accommodations” section.

For those traveling with RV’s or campers, the Kentucky Horse Park has limited RV camping slots available for 2023 USEA AEC competitors. To reserve a camping slot, please call 859-259-4257, select option "2" and ask for Dawn.

For more information on things to do in Lexington, go to visitlex.com. Kentucky Tourism also has a wealth of information on tourism attractions in the area.

Travel

For those traveling to the AEC from out of town, there are several ways to get to Lexington. Three airports are within approximately one hour of the venue: Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). These airports offer nonstop service through various carriers from several major U.S. cities and have the option to utilize rental cars or public transportation on the ground. For traveling around town, visitors can easily access taxis and ride share services, like Uber or Lyft, or take advantage of public bus service in downtown Lexington provided by LexTran. For those that plan to drive to the AEC, the Kentucky Horse Park is accessible from Interstate 75 north or southbound. When utilizing GPS or phone mapping functions, be sure to use “4089 Iron Works Pike” (not “parkway”) as the street address, as these services may not accurately direct to the park otherwise. For a full list of driving directions, click here.

Media Credentials and Private Photography

Applications for 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships press credentials are now available through August 18, 2023. Click here to submit your application. In order to receive press credentials, interested applicants must be ab adult of legal age and a reporter, editor or photographer associated with or on assignment for a recognized publication, news service, newspaper, website, radio or television station.

Joining forces under one umbrella, Erin Gilmore Photography has partnered with Tina Fitch Photography as the Official Photographer of the 2023 USEA AEC. In an effort to better regulate and maintain horse and rider safety during competition, and out of respect for the partnership with the 2023 AEC Official Photographer, the USEA will be implementing new freelance photography protocols during the 2023 AEC. No private photographers will be allowed onsite during the 2023 AEC. Any private photographers found to be promoting private photography services or soliciting clients prior to or during the event will be asked to leave the competition immediately. Only credentialed media outlets will be granted photography passes for the 2023 AEC. Click here to learn more.

Additional Information

For general questions about the AEC, please contact Kate Lokey. For questions regarding AEC qualifications, contact Sharon Gallagher. To confirm qualifications, visit the AEC Qualified Riders and AEC Qualified Horses lists throughout the year.

Follow along with the AEC updates by joining the 2023 AEC Facebook page. For general questions about the AEC, please contact Kate Lokey.

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 Beginner Novice 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 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held Aug. 29—Sept. 3 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Presenting Sponsor: Nutrena Feeds; Advanced Final Title Sponsor: Adequan; Platinum Level Sponsor: Bates Saddles; Gold Level Sponsors: Capital Square, Horse & Country, Parker Equine Insurance, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Ecogold, Kerrits, The Jockey Club; Bronze Level Sponsors: 70 Degrees, Athletux, Black Petticoat, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse and Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Horseware Ireland, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe; Contributing Level Sponsor: CrossCountry App, Georgetown – Scott County Tourism, Lexmark, L.V. Harkness, Mountain Horse, Mrs. Pastures Cookies, #WeRideTogether; Prize Level Sponsors: Coach Daniel Stewart, EquiFit, Equilab, Equiluxe Tack, Equine Essentials, Equine Pulse Performance, FarmVet, Achieve Equine/FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, Hound & Hare, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, Kinetic Equine Services, LeMieux, Levade Kentucky, Mare Modern Goods, OneTouch Fly Spray, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman, Sidelines Magazine, Spy Coast Farm, Strides for Equality Equestrians, and VTO Saddlery.

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 29—Sept. 3, 2023. 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 2023, 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 USEA Adult Team Championships

The 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 eight teams from Beginner Novice through Preliminary level to the ATC. 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 Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, The Chronicle of the Horse, Achieve Equine/FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Kinetic Equine Services, Horse & Country, Equilab, Kerrits, Nutrena Feeds, Sidelines Magazine, SmartPak and #WeRideTogether for sponsoring the USEA Adult Team Championships.