United States Eventing Association

Temecula, Calif.—Aug. 29—It was a thrilling finish for the competitors in the Bates USEA Preliminary Championship divisions at the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds this morning. Two out of the three divisions saw new leaders at the day’s end, while one horse and rider pair held onto their placing for a wire-to-wire win.

Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship

Julia Beauchamp Crandon of Redwood City, California, and her own Dubai Du Leou, a 12-year-old Selle Français gelding or unrecorded breeding, earned the first championship title of the AEC, capturing the Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship on a score of 28.7 penalties.

The pair kept the pressure on throughout the week, sitting in second after both dressage and cross-country before clinching the win in the final phase. “I’ve only had him since February. He's been such a good horse to learn from because he's very trained, and I've ridden horses that I've had to produce, but he’s been something that I can learn from, which has been nice,” said Crandon, who's a USEA EA21 Program participant.

Reflecting on the highlight of their championship performance, Crandon added, “Being able to focus on riding him, rather than just kind of trying to make it through, I was able to put down the best [rides] I could do with him, and he was just good in all the phases.”

Finishing in the runner-up position was Hanni Sreenan of Hood River, Oregon, riding Amy Haugen’s Ebenholtz, an 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Ehrentusch x Levantine). The pair closed out their week in the Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship on a score of 35.0 penalties, dropping down from the overnight leading position.

“I've been riding 'Enzo' for about two and a half, three years. We’ve definitely had our ups and downs. He teaches me a lot, but he's also a little tricky, so he really makes me ride,” Sreenan explained. “It was really great to be out on cross-country and ride super forward and have a confident ride out there.”

Reflecting on her AEC experience, she added, “It's really nice here at [Galway Downs]. It's super fun. There's lots to do, lots of shops, good competitors.”

Hollister, California, native Leah Forquer and Ixxe Hedoniste, Michael Tobias’ 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Exxon Hedoniste x Urielle vd Middelstedde), finished in third on 43.7 faults.

It’s been an emotional week for Forquer, who has been building back confidence with the mare after a fall in June. She explained, “This is my fourth season with 'Ixi,' she's been great. We had a really bad fall in June and have been kind of getting back into the swing of things, so this has been good. It's just taking a little while to get back after our fall.”

She continued, “I was so happy. Everything kind of came together. She was great in the dressage. She's really tricky on the flat, so some days she comes to the party, and luckily it lined up with dressage for this. And it felt like we were back with our mojo on cross-country. And then she's a super show jumper, so it's really just a matter of me not getting in her way, which I didn’t today. She was great.”

Bates USEA Open Preliminary Championship

After an early cross-country round left him atop the pack in the USEA Open Intermediate division, James Alliston continued his good fortune in the Bates USEA Open Preliminary Championship, claiming the title with Made by Leontine EB (Casago x Jackpot E.R.). The San Ramon, California-based Team USA rider and the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Arnell Sporthorses led the division from start to finish, ending on their dressage score of 25.2

A string of top placings over the past several months, including a second place in the CCI2*-L at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, Montana), helped prepare them for the AEC. Alliston, who took over the ride last year was pleased with the gelding’s dressage test on Wednesday, as they scored their season’s best. “He’s very good on the flat,” Alliston noted. “He’s relaxed and he’s capable of great scores—now it’s become quite consistent.”

Looking back at their faultless cross-country round yesterday, Alliston noted, “We wanted it to be a test for him since he has some good Prelim miles now, and he’s done a two-star. I was glad it was tough and educational, and I thought he handled it really well. He’s a very careful horse when he’s jumping, and sometimes if you have a rough jump, it can back him off a bit. So, I’m always aware of being a little careful with him and making sure that I don’t give him any bad approaches to the jumps. When he’s comfortable, he has a lot of scope and a lot of talent.”

Though they’ve only been competing together for a year, Alliston is thrilled with the gelding’s performance. “He’s been a wonderful surprise,” he said. “When I took him on, he had a bit of a checkered history. When he came to me, we wanted to see what he could do, without any expectations. I think his success is a testament to the partnership we have.”

Fellow Team USA rider Tamie Smith and Jeanne Shigo’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding D’Luxe Steel (Up To Date x Nicola D) took home the reserve championship in the division, after finishing the weekend on their dressage score of 27.7.

The Murrieta, California-based rider partnered with the grey gelding in February. “He’s a super horse,” she said. “He’s very enthusiastic, and I feel like he’s grown with confidence. He’s a careful horse, and rideable and fast. I was really pleased with the dressage, and I think that was the highlight of his weekend.”

Looking ahead, “I think he’s nearly ready for a three-star,” she added. “I’ve just been trying to get him strong in his core and topline. We’re fortunate to have all these mountains around us, so he’s out hacking all the time, doing cavaletti and flatwork, and building up strength. You can’t rush it—it just takes time.”

Hanging onto her overnight position to round out the top three was Smith’s daughter, Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Coco Chanel (Cascadello I x U-Lotti), a 7-year-old bay Holsteiner mare owned by Smith-Cook and Brianna Halliday. “She’s really special—she’s beautiful to look at and fierce at the same time. I got her last November, and she’d already done a two-star in Belgium. We actually ended up winning the first three events I did on her here.

“This weekend I felt like we were on the same page in all three phases, and our partnership is really coming together,” she continued. “Cross-country was magical. She gives me quite the confidence out there. She’s a good jumper and has an amazing gallop with rideability. She was well under the time, which is exciting, because it wasn’t easy to make.”

Reflecting on the day’s show jumping course, “[Course designer] William Robertson is one to watch out for. He’s a magician—he really keeps you and the horses thinking, and they’re not punished if they make a mistake. His courses just encourage you to ride better and better.”

Based nearby, Smith-Cook reflected on the championship vibes at the venue where she often competes. “This event is home, so there’s an element where I feel comfortable but everyone here who’s in charge of the event has gone above and beyond. It’s definitely a destination event and we’re lucky to have it next door.

Bates USEA Preliminary Rider Championship

Payton Piearcy of San Gabriel, California, and her own Geronimo, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Goldfever x Qualina), claimed the Bates USEA Preliminary Rider Championship at #AEC2025, finishing on a 38.2. The pair sat in second through the first two phases before sealing the win in the final round.

“I got Geronimo four years ago, he’s been a really cool horse to produce, he just always comes out with a super good attitude,” Piearcy shared. “He’s taught me so much, there’s no other horse I’d want to do this with. When we got him, cross-country was our most difficult phase, he makes it so easy now. I feel like I can just sit on him and he knows what to do, he’s so smart.”

Looking ahead, Piearcy is excited to continue their journey: “Now we will get ready to move up to Intermediate, and see how all that goes.”

In second place, Katherine A. Schultz of Bodega Bay, California, piloted Ruth Bley’s En Vogue, a 20-year-old Hanoverian mare (Earl x Laurena), up the leaderboard from fourth to finish as reserve champion. The pair have been together for two years, steadily building their partnership.

“When we first started, she was really excited about jumping and it took some time to have her relax and chill out with me, and since then we’ve just been building it back up, and she’s been amazing and is teaching me so much,” Schultz explained.

“It was a goal to qualify for the AEC and come here and do our best. This is my first championship, so everything is new to me," she continued. "It’s cool to see all of the work that goes into it, and I appreciate all of the volunteers. I want to thank Ruth Bley for the opportunity to ride En Vogue and to Tamie Smith for training her so nicely, and my trainer Yves Sauvignon. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Highlighting their week, Schultz added, “Cross-country was our highlight phase, she is incredible out there, there’s nothing like it.”

Rounding out the top three was Redwood City’s Anya Ostrovsky with her 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Mon Copain (Copain x HLACINI). The pair finished on 40.5 penalties to take third.

“We're a newer partnership, I got him in January of this year and the beginning of our season we spent time just getting to know one another,” Ostrovsky shared.

“I moved him up to Prelim in June and since then I feel like we are way more in tune with each other than we were in the beginning. It feels really nice to have a horse that understands me. He is a very brave horse on cross-country so as long as I ride well and set him up well, he does his job.”

Anya Ostrovsky and her own 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Copain x Hlacini) Mon Copain rounded out the top three, on a score of 40.5.

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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 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held on Aug. 27-31 at Galway Downs in Temecula, California. 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, Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartEquine, Standlee; Silve Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Kerrits, The Jockey Club; Bronze Level Sponsors: Athletux, Canter Culture Riding Apparel, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe; Contributing Level Sponsors: CrossCountry App, Santa Cruz Animal Health, #WeRideTogether; and Prize Level Sponsors: Equilab, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher’s Water, Horses 4 Your Consideration, LeMieux, Practical Horseman, Ride iQ, Sidelines Magazine, Werkman Hoofcare USA, and Whitfield Equine Nutrition.

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at Galway Downs in Temecula, California on Aug. 27-29, 2025. 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 2025, 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 Starter Level to Modified 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 USEA Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank ATC Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and contributing sponsors ARMA, The Chronicle of the Horse, Equilab, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, and SmartPak for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.