United States Eventing Association

Welcome to the party, Novice competitors! The 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is officially in full swing, and another action-packed day awaits at the Kentucky Horse Park. Today, competitors in the six Novice divisions will make their way down the centerline, while the Training divisions and the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final head out across the country. The excitement will build throughout the day as we prepare to crown the first champions of the 2026 AEC, with Intermediate, Preliminary, and Modified competitors wrapping up their week in the legendary Rolex Stadium.

Seven new AEC Champions will be inducted into USEA history today between the USEA Open Intermediate Championship, the Standlee USEA Open Modified Championship, the Standlee USEA Modified Amateur Championship, the Standlee USEA Modified Rider Championship, the Bates USEA Preliminary Rider Championship, the Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship, and the Bates USEA Open Preliminary Championship.

Meanwhile, over at the start box Juliana Cassar and HSH Hooligan will be the first pair to gallop across the legendary bluegrass at the Kentucky Horse Park. They are competing in the Standlee USEA Open Modified Championship and will kickstart a full day of cross-country action at 8:02 a.m.

In addition to individual champions, our Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) will come to a close for Modified teams after show jumping today. The awards ceremony will take place following the awards ceremony for the Standlee USEA Modified Rider Championship. As a reminder, in order to receive your awards, you must be present for the ceremony!

Today's competition schedule is as follows:

Dressage

• Stonelea Ring 1
  • USEA Novice Horse Championship | 9:00 a.m.

• Claiborne Ring 2
  • USEA Novice Junior Championship | 8:00 a.m.

• Claiborne Ring 3
  • USEA Novice Junior 15U Championship | 8:00 a.m.
  • USEA Novice Master Amateur Championship | 9:48 a.m.

• Walnut Ring 4
  • USEA Novice Amateur Championship | 8:00 a.m.

• Walnut Ring 5
  • USEA Novice Rider Championship | 8:00 a.m.

Cross-Country

• $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final | 10 a.m.
• ARMA USEA Training Junior | 12:06 p.m.
• ARMA USEA Training Horse | 1:04 p.m.
• ARMA USEA Training Amateur | 2:24 p.m.
• ARMA USEA Training Rider | 3:50 p.m.

Show Jumping

• Standlee USEA Open Modified | 9:00 a.m.
• Standlee USEA Modified Amateur | 9:50 a.m.
• Standlee USEA Modified Rider | 11:00 a.m.
• Bates USEA Preliminary Rider | 1:00 p.m.
• Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur | 2:15 p.m.
• Bates USEA Open Preliminary | 3:20 p.m.
• USEA Open Intermediate | 6:30 p.m.

There are a couple of course walking opportunities today that you don't want to miss out on:

• Novice Cross-Country Course Walk with Kimmy Cecere | 5:00 p.m. | Please meet at the Novice start box
• Adult Rider Program Novice Course Walk with Becca Caufield | 3 p.m. | Please meet at the Novice start box

Members of the USEA Adult Rider and Young Rider programs, this party is for you! Join the Team Spirit Adult Rider Party in Stonelea/Claiborne Pavilion & Young Rider PJ Party in the Rolex Stadium Breezeway at 6:30 p.m. tonight. All USEA Adult Rider and USEA Young Rider program members will receive one ticket to attend the party. Additional tickets will be available for purchase on-site.

All AEC competitors and attendees are invited to stop by the Kentucky Equine Research tent! Nutrition advisors will be on hand to weigh your horse, evaluate its body condition score, and offer personalized nutrition advice. Plus, take advantage of the show special, enter the daily prize drawings, and guess your horse’s weight for a chance to win the grand prize!

Interested in learning more about equine cardiology? USEA Educational Partner and AEC Contributing Partner Equine Internal Medicine and Diagnostics (Equine IMED) will host live equine cardiology demonstrations Thursday through Saturday at the AEC with internal medicine specialist Dr. Amy Polkes, DVM, DACVIM. Attendees can listen to a horse’s heartbeat, watch a live cardiac ultrasound, view an equine ECG, and learn about heart murmurs, arrhythmias, and the importance of cardiac health and screening in performance horses. AEC competitors who attend a demonstration will also be entered for a chance to win a POLAR Equine heart monitor.

Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) competitors are encouraged to join an ATC team meetup, hosted by USEA Area VI and VII, this afternoon from 4:30 to 5:30 at the Adams Horse Supply Adult Riders lounge on the main vendor row. Snacks and beverages will be provided and attendees are eligible for prizes!

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!

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.

Helpful Links

• USEA AEC Website
• AEC Schedule
• Ride Times
• Facility Map
• Cross-Country Maps
• Live Scores
• Livestream
• AEC Digital Event Program
• AEC Fast Facts
• $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final Roster
• USEA's Coverage

Follow the USEA event coverage on social media!

#AEC2026 | 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 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held on Aug. 25-30 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 Sponsors: Bates Saddles, Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Gallaghers Water, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartPak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Kerrits, The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, Rood & Riddle; Bronze Level Sponsors: 70°, Antech Diagnostics, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, John Deere, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health; Contributing Level Sponsors: AnimaSol, CrossCountry App, Foxhollow Farm, Georgetown/Scott County Tourism, Kentucky Equine Research, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Lexmark, LV Harkness, Only Fools and Horses, #WeRideTogether, YETI; and Prize Level Sponsors: ARRO Helmets, The Dad Den, Dandy Products, Equiluxe Tack, Equine IMED, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, I Love My Horse Boutique, The Infused Equestrian, Love Equestrian, Majyk Equipe, Mare Modern Goods, Natalie Hummel Coaching, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Parkmore Supplements, Peak Performance Equine Spa, Poseidon Animal Health, Rachel Dory Fine Art, Right Path Equestrian, Saddle Bird Boutique, Sidelines Magazine, Strides For Equality Equestrians, STRIDER, Stylish in the Saddle, VTO Saddlery, and XLR8 Equine.

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on Aug. 26-28. 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 2026, 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 nine teams and 39 riders for the BN, N, T, and M levels, plus an additional eight members if they are at the Starter level only. 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 USEA Adult Team Championships. The USEA would like to thank ATC Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and contributing sponsors ARMA, Bates Saddles, The Chronicle of the Horse, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher’s Water, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, SmartPak, and Santa Cruz Animal Health for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.