It’s the second day of competition at the #AEC2023, and things are ramping up. In addition to the Intermediate, Modified, and Preliminary competitors that we saw in dressage yesterday who are now moving on to gallop across the stunning Jay Hambly designed cross-country tracks at the Kentucky Horse Park, we will also see competitors from the four Training divisions as well as those vying for top prize in the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final dance their way down the centerline for their first day of competition.
In the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, Liz Halliday and Ocala Horse Properties' 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Deniro Z (Zapetero VDL x Zonne-Trend) will be the first down centerline. There are 32 horse and rider pairs competing in this year’s Advanced Final. Want to get to know each of them a little better? Be sure to check out our Advanced Final roster here.
Gillian Matheson and her 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Imagine That will be the first horse and rider pair out of the start box at 8:00 a.m. to kick off the cross-country action at this year's AEC in the USEA Open Modified Championship.
Today's competition schedule is as follows:
Dressage
Cross-Country
There will be a course walk of the Training Championship courses with FEI event rider and Adequan/USEF Futures Team Challenge member Andrew McConnon. Meet up with McConnon at the start box at 5:00 p.m. sharp!
Don’t forget about the Red, White, and Blue Welcome Reception which takes place tonight at 6:30 p.m at the The KHP Big Barn. Each horse is allotted one ticket and additional tickets can be purchased here. We encourage everyone to join us and to support their most patriotic attire!
As always, don’t forget to give a volunteer an extra smile and high five today as a thanks for all that they do to make this event possible. See you at the finish line!
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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.