United States Eventing Association

The #AEC2024 Daily: Tuesday

Welcome to Lexington, Kentucky, competitors of the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds! We are so thrilled to have you here with us. The barn aisles are buzzing, and the start of our six-day long competition gets underway today with the first of our divisions making their way to the dressage rings.

Our Intermediate, Preliminary, and Modified competitors will kick things off for us today. The first competitor of the #AEC2024 is Tim Bourke riding Barbara Cassani's 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Quality TNT (Tyson x Ballinteeauns Pride) in the USEA Open Modified Championship at 8:18 a.m.

Today's full competitions schedule is as follows:

Dressage

• Stonelea Ring 1
• USEA Open Intermediate Championship | 8:20 a.m. - 5:19 p.m.
  

• Claiborne Ring 2
• USEA Open Modified Championship | 8:18 a.m. - 1:48 p.m.
• USEA Modified Rider Championship | 2:00 p.m. - 5:36 p.m.

• Walnut Ring 4
  • Bates USEA Preliminary Horse Championship | 8:20 a.m. - 11:36 a.m.
  • Bates USEA Preliminary Rider Championship | 11:43 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

• Walnut Ring 5
  • Bates USEA Preliminary JR/YR Championship | 8:20 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
  • Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship | 9:37 a.m. - 1:42 p.m.

Give it up for our amazing team of dressage judges who will be scoring four long days of dressage from the Starter level all the way up to the Advanced level! These judges include Debbie Boe, Julie Congleton, Janice Holmes, Lori Hoos, Beth Wheeler, Bicky Stashuk-Matisi, and Wayne Quarles. Please be sure to thank them for all that they are doing to make the AEC possible this week after you complete your test!

Are you ready to get started preparing for your cross-country runs later in the competition? We have scheduled a course walk at every single level throughout the week with top-level professionals and we encourage you to tag along. Today Jon Holling will be walking Preliminary competitors through their course and Mia Farley will be guiding the Modified course walk. Meet up at the start box for your division at 5:00 p.m. this afternoon to participate.

Don't forget to visit one of our many vendors in the Sponsor Vendor Village which will be open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. today. Each of these vendors has also sponsored this year’s AEC, many of them donating prizes as well, and we know they would appreciate your business and gratitude!

Lastly, we know we don't need to remind you but be sure to thank as many of the 325 volunteers that you see today as possible. An event of this size would not be possible without them. High fives, hugs, snacks, and a "thank you" go a long way when it comes to recognizing our amazing volunteers.

*Frankie Thieriot Stutes of Athletux will be offering live commentary of at least the Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions of the livestream this year.

Helpful Links

• USEA AEC Website
• AEC Schedule
• Ride Times
• Facility Map
• Cross-Country Maps
• Live Scores
• Livestream
• AEC Digital Event Program

• AEC Fast Facts

• ATC Fast Facts

• $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final Roster
• Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) Team Roster
• USEA's Coverage

Follow the USEA event coverage on social media!

#AEC2024 | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok

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.