United States Eventing Association

The #AEC2024 Daily: Wednesday

Yesterday was a fabulous way to kick off this year's USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds, and today is going to be equally as exciting! Our Intermediate, Preliminary, and Modified competitors will be making their way out onto the beautiful fields of the bluegrass to contest Jay Hambly's cross-country tracks, while competitors in the four Training divisions and the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final get their weekend going in the dressage courts.

Our first Advanced Final competitor will be Liz Halliday and Ocala Horse Properties' 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Shanroe Cooley (Dallas x Shanroe Sapphire). We will see 44 pairs in this year's hotly contested Final. You can learn more about each pair here.

Tim Bourke and Barbara Cassani's 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Quality TNT (Tyson x Ballinteeauns Pride), who are competing in the USEA Open Modified Championship, have the honors of being the first horse and rider pair out of the start box at the the 2024 AEC at 8:00 a.m. Be sure to cheer them on at the finish!

Today's competition schedule is as follows:

Dressage

• Stonelea Ring 1
  • $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final | 8:27 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.

• Claiborne Ring 2
  • ARMA USEA Training Rider Championship | 8:24 a.m. - 3:24 p.m.

• Claiborne Ring 3
  • ARMA USEA Training Amateur Championship | 8:24 a.m. - 1:48 p.m.

• Walnut Ring 4
  • ARMA USEA Training JR Championship | 8:24 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
  • ARMA USEA Training Horse Championship | 11:42 a.m. - 4:42 p.m.

Cross-Country

• USEA Open Modified Championship | 8:00 a.m. - 9:18 a.m.
• USEA Modified Rider Championship | 9:22 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Bates USEA Preliminary Rider Championship | 11:00 a.m. - 11:42 a.m.
• Bates USEA Preliminary JR/YR Championship | 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
• Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship | 12:21 p.m. - 1:24 p.m.
• Bates USEA Preliminary Horse Championship | 1:30 p.m. - 2:42 p.m.
• USEA Intermediate Championship | 3:15 p.m. - 6:18 p.m.

Calling all Training level competitors! If you are looking for some professional advice for your cross-country course walks, be sure to join Lauren Nicholson at the Training level start box at 5:00 p.m. for a course walk.

We invite you to shop with one of our many vendors this year at the Sponsor Vendor Village which will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Who knows what amazing goods you might find!

Looking for an evening activity? The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's Red, White, & Blue Welcome Reception takes place this evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The KHP Big Barn! Each horse is allotted one ticket, and additional tickets can be purchased here.

And as always, please be sure to thank your volunteers today. They have committed their time away from their personal lives to make this week an exceptional one for each of you. We hope you share some of that wonderful eventing spirit with them all week long to show your gratitude!

*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.