United States Eventing Association

The Countdown Is On: 90 Days to AEC! Exciting Cash and Prizes Announced

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.

The 2017 AEC is now 90 days away, and it will be run August 30-September 3, with levels Beginner Novice through Advanced. With record starter numbers marking the 2016 AEC the largest event in United States history, the 2017 edition is set to break records again.

Thanks to the many devoted sponsors, thus far the USEA and TIEC have accrued over $100,000 in prize money to be awarded across all 18 divisions at the AEC. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of dollars in products will be distributed to first through sixth place finishers including; saddles, bridles, helmets, body protectors, boots, blankets, saddle pads, horse feed, supplements, magazines, therapeutic products, saddle pads, custom paintings, stall plaques, gift certificates and much more – all provided by our generous sponsors.

In addition to prize money - tons of prizes will be awarded including saddles to many of the division winners. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Adult Team Championships (ATC) will return to the AEC, providing cash and prizes for them in a large and exciting environment. Each of the 10 Areas may have up to eight teams of four riders from their Area at the USEA ATC, and will compete in the level they qualify. There will be no separate ATC division this year, as ATC riders must meet AEC qualifications, and then ATC teams will be comprised of riders in the Amateur and/or the Rider divisions of the Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels. All teams should be coordinated through the Area Adult Rider Coordinator(s) and mixed teams are also allowed and encouraged. To read more about the ATC qualifications, click here.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Championship will take place once again at the AEC, boasting at least a $40,000 purse for the Advanced division. Riders will have to qualify at one of the eleven designated Gold Cup competitions in order to be eligible for the Championship prize. The Advanced division is also designated as the USEF National Advanced Horse Trials Championship, in which the highest placed U.S. citizen will receive the prestigious Jack Le Goff Trophy.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup division winner will take home the lionshare of $40,000. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Other awards distributed at the AEC include the Captain Mark Phillips Pony Rider Awards, Omega Alpha Optimum Time Award, Charles Owen Technical Merit Award, Point Two Safe Rider Award, Presidents’ Trophy in Honor of Jo Whitehouse, Broadstone Trophy, Broadus Trophy, Gobi Trophy, Edward Harris Memorial Trophy, Sally O’Connor Trophy, Erin’s Shamrock Trophy, Overlook Farm Eventing Trophy, Western DeBroke Trophy, Fork Stables Trophy, Lloyd Trophy, Eastern DeBroke Trophy, Rebecca Farm Trophy, Col. Paul M. Wimert Trophy, A. Martin Simensen Trophy, Maui Jim Young Rider Trophy, The Adult Pony Rider Award in Honor of Avery Dudasch, and the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Trophy.

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.

The prizes don't stop with the AEC - the ATC teams get to take home a ton of swag too! USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

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.

Learn about the exciting enhancements at the AEC in the 100 days to AEC article.

The USEA would like to thank AEC Presenting Sponsor, Nutrena, Gold Cup Advanced divison 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.