United States Eventing Association

The Countdown is on: 60 Days to AEC! What You Need to Know to Plan Your AEC Vacation

Competing at the 2017 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), presented by Nutrena will give you the chance to put hoofprints at the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) facility before the world’s top riders and teams do! The AEC returns to the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, North Carolina in 2017 on Labor Day weekend. This is your last chance to compete at the AEC at TIEC in this cycle as the Championships move to the Colorado Horse Park in 2018.

A rider preparing her horse for a hack around the grounds at TIEC. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

The 2017 AEC is now 60 days away, and it will be run August 30-September 3, with levels Beginner Novice through Advanced.

Be sure to review the competition schedule here to see which days you are competing, or if you want to come spectate and cheer on your favorite horses and riders as they compete for the Championship title in their respective divisions.

Together, the USEA and TIEC are offering fun parties, activities and entertainment for competitors, grooms, volunteers, spectators and everyone in attendance.

TIEC has something for everyone with a wide selection of dining options, activities and entertainment. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

The USEA and TIEC will offer a welcome reception for everyone on Wednesday night on the porch of the Legends Club. Thursday evening will host the Adult Riders’ Party at the Silo Bar on grounds, and the Young Riders pool and pizza party at the Cleghorn Country Club, a Tryon property just down the road. Thursday will also host a welcome reception for Officials, followed by a dinner party on grounds. The competitors’ party is set to take place on Friday night of the event, with Gladiator Polo as the main entertainment.

Be sure to also make time in your schedule for Saturday night as the Advanced Division will be show jumping under the lights as riders compete for the Title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion and a $40,000 prize. Food and beverages will be made available for purchase that evening, along with VIP seating and catering services at the elite Legends Club.

The Advanced show jumping under the lights at TIEC will be one of the highlights of the weekend for spectators. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

TIEC offers family-friendly fun, including a variety of performers, a Venetian carousel, the Cleghorn Pool and Gold Course, the Cleghorn Gun Club, and a Racewood Eventing and Jumping horse simulator on-site. The simulator can walk, trot, gallop, jump and even refuse and/or fall if required. It can perform cross-country at different levels as well as show jumping, which is a fun and interactive way for equestrians and non-equestrian spectators, friends and families to give eventing their best try!

Tryon also has many other amenities including the Cleghorn Pool and Golf Course, the Gun Club at Tryon Resort, local fly fishing, mountain biking, hiking and more! TIEC will be providing shuttles to nearby services and activities, and more information will be available on-site. The Lodge at Lake Lure is a luxurious lakeside lodging option owned by the TIEC family, and also offers a lovely dining experience at their Tree Top restaurant. Asheville is a wonderful area not far from TIEC, and for more information on places to visit there, please visit: https://www.exploreasheville.c...

Roger's Diner is just one of the many restaurants that ACE attendees will have to choose from. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

With eight on-site restaurants, an on-site hotel and multiple one-to-five bedroom cabins, Tryon offers many on-site dining and lodging options. Competitors and spectators are urged to book lodging or hotels as soon as possible. Currently, the on-site lodging at the Tryon International Equestrian Center is sold out, but competitors are encouraged to keep checking back at the Tryon lodging page for any updates. USEA members may also use their membership rewards program to get a discounted stay at the Red Roof Inn in Hendersonville and save 15% on their stay. Additional hotels are near the Tryon International Equestrian Center and a longer list can be found here. Attendees are also encouraged to look up housing options on Airbnb, VRBO, or other similar lodging sites.

You won’t want to miss this year’s AEC, so go get qualified! Go to www.useventing.com/resource/ae... to learn about the qualifications. Check out the qualified rider list and the qualified horse list.

No need to leave the show grounds, TIEC has everything you need right there! USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

The opening date for entries this year is July 18th, with a closing date of August 15th.To view the omnibus listing for the Championships, go here. Horses and riders must be registered USEA members (including BN) at the time of gaining qualifications, as well as during the USEA AEC competition. Horses and riders, not necessarily as a combination, must be qualified for the level in accordance with Appendix 3 of the USEF Rules for Eventing and achieve the Qualifying Result(s) at the level to be entered. The qualification period for Beginner Novice through Intermediate is May 30, 2016 to August 21, 2017.

Learn about the exciting enhancements at the AEC in the 100 days to AEC article, and check out the amazing prizes lined up for the winners in the 90 days to AEC article.

The USEA would like to thank AEC Presenting Sponsor, Nutrena, Gold Cup Advanced division sponsor Adequan, Intermediate division sponsor Merial, Training division sponsor Professional’s Choice, Beginner Novice division sponsor Broadstone, Platinum level sponsor Devoucoux, and all of the AEC Sponsors.