The long-awaited start of the #AEC2023 has finally arrived! The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, is buzzing with excitement this morning as some riders are just getting settled in their stalls, while others are making their way to the dressage rings for their first day of competition.
It’s all about dressage today as competitors participating in the single Intermediate division, two Modified divisions, and four Preliminary divisions strut their way down the centerline. The Open Modified Championship division kicks off the action this morning at 8:18 a.m. in the Walnut Ring with Florida rider Gillian Matheson and her own Thoroughbred cross gelding Imagine That paving the way as the first rider to compete at #AEC2023.
Today's full competition schedule is as follows:
Dressage
The judges who will be working tirelessly to score each and every dressage test this week include Julie Congleton, Janice Holmes, Debbie Boeh, Lori Hoos, Cheryl Connell-Marsh, Lisa Anderson, Eileen Pritchard-Bryan, Susan Posner, and Wayne Quarles. We encourage you to thank them for their commitment to the AEC this year after your ride!
For competitors prepping for their cross-country rides, consider joining one of the USEA's arranged course walks throughout the week. There are two course walks taking place today at 5:00 p.m. that you won't want to miss out on. Preliminary riders can meet up with newly-named Pan American Games team member Sharon White at the start box, and Modified riders have the opportunity to course walk with former USEA President, upper-level eventer, and coach of more than 30 years Carol Kozlowski!
Speaking of thanking folks, don’t forget to extend your thanks to the 300+ volunteers who you will see scattered across the grounds all week long. Without them, an event this size would be impossible. Event volunteers run on gratitude (and the volunteer meals we provide them, of course!), so be sure to give each one you see a high five.
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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.