United States Eventing Association

The 2016 Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) are less than two months away, and the schedule is being set for a wonderful week. The AEC will debut at its exciting new home, the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, North Carolina on August 31 - September 4. Not only will competitors be able to vie for the extraordinary amount of cash and prizes at this year’s AEC, they will be able to make an entire fun-filled vacation of the week long Championship. Together, the USEA and TIEC are offering fun parties, activities and entertainment for competitors, grooms, spectators and everyone in attendance.

Each evening will be a party, and fun events will be arranged all week long in the surrounding area. Wednesday night will kick off with a welcome party on the Legends Club porch, and each competitor will receive one complimentary ticket, with additional tickets available for purchase from TIEC. Thursday night will host the Young Riders party with a [golf cart] drive-in movie night in the George Morris main arena. Friday night will play host to the Adult Riders Party at the Sporting Clays at the Tryon Resort, with shuttle service provided from TIEC. The famous AEC competitors party will take place Saturday night at the Legends Club with some exciting entertainment, and each competitor will also receive a complementary ticket with additional tickets available for purchase from TIEC.

TIEC offers family-friendly fun, including a variety of performers, a Venetian carousel, a mechanical bucking bronco, as well as a Racewood Eventing and Jumping horse simulator. 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 an 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.com/

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. Tryon lodging is filling up quickly, so the USEA urges all attendees to contact TIEC to reserve your rooms as soon as possible. To book your lodging today, visit the TIEC Lodging and Dining page, call (828) 863-1015, or email [email protected].

The opening date for entries is fast approaching on July 19th, with a closing date of August 16th. Horses and riders must be registered USEA members (including Beginner Novice) at the time of gaining qualifications, as well as during the USEA AEC competition. Competitors are urged to enter early to help the USEA solidify entries and assist in finalizing the competition schedule. The general schedule of competition should be finalized by August 19, 2016. For more information, and to view the tentative schedule, click here.

You won’t want to miss this year’s AEC, so go get qualified!

Volunteer at the AEC, by visiting: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094fa4a92ea64-nutrena