Hello Novice competitors! We are excited to have you join in on the fun and competition at the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. While the six Novice divisions dance their way down the centerline today, competitors in the Training divisions and the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final will get their chance to shine across the country. Even more exciting, we will get to crown our first 2024 AEC champions today as the Intermediate, Preliminary, and Modified competitors complete their competition week with show jumping in the iconic Rolex Arena.
There will be seven new AEC champions inducted into USEA history today between the USEA Open Intermediate Championship, the Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship, the Bates USEA Preliminary Horse Championship, the Bates USEA Preliminary JR/YR Championship, the USEA Modified Rider Championship, and the USEA Open Modified Championship.
In addition to individual champions, our Adams Horse Supply Adult Team Championships (ATC) will come to a close for Modified and Preliminary teams after show jumping today. Which teams will rise to the occasion and claim the champion sashes?
If you're following along with our Advanced Final, you won't want to miss our first pair, Liz Halliday and Ocala Horse Properties' 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Shanroe Cooley (Dallas x Shanroe Sapphire), galloping out of the start box at 9:00 a.m. Currently in the lead are fan-favorites Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF.
Today's competition schedule is as follows:
Dressage
Cross-Country
Show Jumping
Our Novice cross-country course walk with Marilyn Payne takes place today, and we encourage all Novice competitors who are looking to fine-tune their plan's for tomorrow's cross-country phase to join. Meet up with Marilyn at the Novice start box at 5:30 p.m.
Adult and Young rider competitors get a chance to mingle at this evening’s Team Spirit USEA Adult & Eras Tour Young Rider party at 6:30 p.m. in the VIP Hospitality Tent!
Our Sponsor Vendor Village will be open again today from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Make sure you are setting aside some time to peruse all the amazing goods and services offered by this year's vendors.
With three phases running today, our volunteers are BUSY! Be sure to thank each one you pass for helping make this week possible. Your kind words go a long way, and we know they appreciate every "thank you" they receive.
*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, 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, 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.