We get to welcome six divisions of Novice competitors to the mix of the #AEC2023 as they kick off their championship weekend with their dressage tests today. In addition, the first champions of 2023 will be crowned as Intermediate, Modified, and Preliminary riders conclude their competition week with show jumping in the Rolex Arena. Meanwhile, those competing in the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final and the Training divisions will be taking to the field today for almost every eventer’s favorite phase: cross-country.
There will be seven #AEC2023 champions crowned today: one for Intermediate, two in Modified, and four in Preliminary.
Cross-country for the Advanced Final will get underway at 8:45 a.m. Currently in the lead are Liz Halliday and Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer's 11-year-old U.S.-bred Swedish Warmblood (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF) Miks Master C. The pair have a four-point lead over Phillip Dutton and Z, the 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Asca Z x Bellabouche) owned by the Z Partnership. Read more about the first phase of the Advanced Final here.
Today's competition schedule is as follows:
Dressage
Cross-Country
Show Jumping
Looking to up your grooming game? Join Katie Osborne at the USEA Trade Fair Booth at 11:30 a.m. for an educational session presented by the USEA Grooms Program over grooming tips and tricks to keep your horse in top form.
For Novice competitors looking to put an edge on their cross-country round tomorrow, be sure to join five-star rider Allison Springer at the start box at 5:00 p.m. today for a course walk of the Novice track.
Adult and Young rider competitors get a chance to mingle at this evening’s carnival themed Adult & Young Rider party at 6:30 p.m., which also features the USEA IEL and Intercollegiate mixer! This party is presented by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and USEA Adult Rider and USEA Young Rider program members will each receive one ticket to attend.
This is one of the busiest days at this year’s championships, so be sure to extend your gratitude to everyone who makes this event possible. From volunteers, to sponsors, to USEA and EEI staff, and more - your thanks goes a long way as we help make eventing dreams come true in the Bluegrass!
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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.
As Tropical Storm Ophelia brought soaking rains to the region today, the Plantation Field International continued its four days of competition with CCI3*-S and CCI4*-S show jumping and cross-country for CCI1*-S, CCII2*-S, and CCI3*-S divisions.
The USEA Area IX Championships took place during two different horse trials this summer, with the Modified Championships as part of the The Event at Archer (Cheyenne, Wymoming) in August and the Preliminary, Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice Championships taking place during The Event at Skyline (Mount Pleasant, Utah) in September. In addition, Area IX offered additional championship tests at the Starter and Tadpole levels at Skyline.
The CCI4*-S division at the 2023 Plantation Field International Horse Trials kicked off today with 39 horses headed down centerline. Local rider Boyd Martin of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, topped the leaderboard riding Luke 140, owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate, and is also tied for third (28.8) with the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B. Martin is also placed 23rd with Contessa, owned by the Turner family.
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is humbled to announce the return of long-time partner The Dutta Corporation as the “Title Sponsor of the 2023 USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Championships,” which include the East Coast Championships at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in Elkton, Maryland, on Oct. 19-20 and the West Coast Championships at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, on Oct. 27-28.