Hold your horses! Things are about to get very busy here at the Kentucky Horse Park, so you won't want to miss out on the details we are summarizing in today's #AEC2024 Daily.
It is a very special day at the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds as our six divisions of Beginner Novice competitors and, for the first time in AEC history, our two divisions of Starter level competitors enter the mix. The dressage rings will be busy today, and we can't wait to see how each division plays out.
In addition, our six Novice division competitors are getting their chance to gallop across the bluegrass today while those entered in our four Training level divisions will be going for gold in show jumping in the Rolex Arena. Later tonight, things really get exciting with the culmination of our $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final.
It's been so exciting watching our Training divisions play out across the past couple of days and today's show jumping finale will no doubt be just as nail biting!
And we will also crown a new Adams Horse Supply Adult Team Championship (ATC) champion team today after the completion of the USEA Training Rider division. Which team will rise to the top?
Tonight is a night you do not want to make dinner plans because starting at 6:45 p.m. our Advanced Final comes to a head and a new horse and rider pair will etch their name in the USEA history books.
Boyd Martin and his longtime partner Tsetserleg TSF will be looking to take home the trophy, but they only have 2.8 penalties in hand over Will Coleman and Diabolo.
Today's competition schedule is as follows:
Dressage
Cross-Country
Show Jumping:
Our final cross-country course walks for Beginner Novice and Starter level competitors take place today. Woodge Fulton will be leading the Starter level course walk at 9:00 a.m., and Chris Talley will be the guide for the Beginner Novice course walk at 4:00 p.m. Meet at the start box of your level at the designated time to participate. If you are wanting to put an edge on your cross-country game, you won't want to miss out!
While you are waiting for your ride time, don't forget to visit with our vendors at the Sponsor Vendor Village will is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Looking to have a groovy good time during the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final? Join us for the 70's Disco Competitor Party at the VIP Hospitality Tent at 6:30 p.m. Each horse is allotted one ticket, and additional tickets can be purchased here.
The days have been long but the dedication of our amazing crew of AEC Volunteers has been unwavering. Please, please, please take a second out of your day to express your gratitude for their time this week. We know it means the world to them!
*Frankie Thieriot Stutes of Athletux will be offering live commentary of at least the Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions of the livestream this year.
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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 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 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held Aug. 27—Sept. 1 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, Horse & Country; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Parker Equine Insurance, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, Kerrits, The Jockey Club, Rood & Riddle; Bronze Level Sponsor: 70 Degrees, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kraft Horse Walkers, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorses Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health; Contributing Level Sponsors: Cross Country App, Georgetown – Scott County Tourism, Lexmark, L.V. Harkness, #WeRideTogether; and Prize Level Sponsors: BEMER, Big Ass Fans, Boyd Martin Fan Shop, Ecogold, EquiFit, Equilab, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, Kentucky Equine Research, LeMieux, Mare Goods, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Palmera Polo, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman / Equine Network, Rachel Dory Equine Fine Art, Remond Minerals, Secretariat Center, Shapley’s, Sidelines Magazine, 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 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 28-30, 2024. 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 2024, 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 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 Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships.
The USEA would like to thank Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and ARMA, The Chronicle of the Horse, Equilab, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Kerrits, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Ride iQ, Santa Cruz Animal Health, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and SmartPak for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.
Dressage is officially done at the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds as Beginner Novice and Starter level competitors make their way out to Jay Hambly's cross-country courses and Novice level competitors turn their attention to their final phase of the weekend.
Riders and eventing fans from every level at the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds gathered in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park this evening under the lights to watch the feature division, the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final, come to its exciting conclusion.
When the USEA announced the addition of two Starter level Championships during the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds, USEA members from around the country rejoiced. On Friday afternoon, 60 Starter level competitors made history as the first-ever Starter competitors at the AEC as they made their way down the centerline.
Competitors of the six USEA Novice Championships took over the cross-country course at the Kentucky Horse Park on Friday for the second phase of their championship weekend at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds. Find out how each division played out below.