United States Eventing Association

The Countdown to AEC: 10 Days to Go!

The 15^th United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is just 10 days away! The Championships kick off on Thursday, August 30 at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado and will run through Sunday, September 2.

Entries for the AEC have already closed, and this year will see around 450 starters. Every AEC division features prize money and a fabulous array of prizes, so whether an AEC competitor finishes in sixth place or comes out as the champion, they will walk away with prize money! Click here to view the accepted entries list. The full schedule of events can be viewed here.

This is also the first time in AEC history that the USEA has offered non-championship ‘festival’ divisions to provide additional eventing opportunities to those in Area IX. The addition of these festival divisions may also benefit barns who can now bring more students or a full string of horses, whether they qualified for the AEC or not. This year, there is something for everyone at the AEC!

White Fence Photography Photo.

The cross-country courses have been designed by Tremaine Cooper and will be run across the beautiful property at the Colorado Horse Park with AEC divisions at the Beginner Novice through Advanced level, and festival divisions at the Intro through Preliminary levels. The Colorado Horse Park has been hard at work with multiple water trucks on the courses for 11 hours per day for the last several weeks to ensure the best possible footing for the competitors. The Horse Park staff have also aerated the course several times and will continue this process leading up to the AEC so that competitors can expect championship-caliber cross-country footing across all levels. Click here to read more about this year's cross-country courses.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final will culminate with the Advanced show jumping competition on Saturday night during the competitors' party.

Each night at the AEC will be a party whether it’s the Thursday night welcome party, the Friday night Young Rider pizza party or Friday’s Adult Rider party sponsored by Equestrian Athlete Camps at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, or the Saturday night competitors’ party. The Saturday night competitors’ party will feature the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final show jumping for the Advanced division, and attendees may eat dinner, watch the class from a prime viewing location, and dance the rest of the night away after the awards ceremony. AEC competitors will receive one entrance ticket or wristband per AEC entry to the welcome party and the competitors’ party. Additional tickets for all the AEC parties may be purchased here. VIP tickets may be purchased here.

Sign up to volunteer at the 2018 USEA AEC! USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

The 2018 AEC is in need of more volunteers, and the USEA invites everyone to help give back to the sport, whether they’re a competitor, owner, parent, spectator, or someone that loves equestrian sport. Volunteers are truly the backbone of eventing, and it would be impossible to keep any event running smoothly without them. To volunteer, sign up here. For any questions, contact Volunteer Coordinator Vivien VanBuren at [email protected].

The USEA would like to thank AEC Presenting Sponsor Nutrena, Gold Cup Advanced Division Title Sponsor Adequan, Platinum Sponsor Devoucoux, Gold Level Sponsors Parker Equine Insurance, Charles Owen, Standlee Hay, Merck Animal Health, Silver Level Sponsors VTO Saddlery and Mountain Horse, Bronze Level Sponsors SmartPak, Dubarry, The Chronicle of the Horse, Stackhouse and Ellis Saddles, Auburn Laboratories, FITS Riding, CWD, Ovation, Acuswede, Equipparel, Contributing Level Sponsors Nunn Finer, RevitaVet, Emerald Valley Natural Health, and all of the rest of the generous AEC Sponsors!

The USEA looks forward to seeing everyone in Colorado!

About the USEA American Eventing Championships
The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) is the pinnacle of the sport for the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Beginner Novice to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of horses and riders 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. This year, the USEA American Eventing Championships will be held August 30-September 2, 2018 at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado. Click here to learn more about the USEA American Eventing Championships.