United States Eventing Association

It is just two months until the start of the 2023 United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC), presented by Nutrena Feeds, and the tentative schedule is officially set! This year, the AEC returns to the iconic Kentucky Horse Park from Aug. 29 through Sept. 3, 2023 and will offer 24 divisions covering all levels from Beginner Novice to Advanced, including the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final.

Entries for the 2023 AEC will open on Tuesday, July 18. The USEA anticipates significant interest for this year’s event, so it is strongly recommended to enter on opening day. Entries will close on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. All entries must be submitted electronically with credit card payment. This year, AEC entry fees will be $670 for Advanced, $610 for Intermediate, $560 for Preliminary and Modified, and $525 for Training and below.

Both horse and rider must be qualified for the AEC at the level they wish to compete at. Please visit the AEC qualification page, and view the lists of Qualified Riders and Qualified Horses to confirm eligibility prior to entering. For questions regarding AEC qualifications, contact Sharon Gallagher.

In addition to the individual championship divisions, the USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) will also return to the AEC. ATC divisions will be offered for members of the USEA Adult Rider Program at the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Preliminary levels, and new for this year, the Modified level will be included in the ATC as well. Adult Riders interested in participating in the 2023 ATC must submit this letter of intent no later than AEC opening day on July 18, 2023. Click here to fill out the ATC letter of intent. National and Area-specific requirements for competing in the ATC can be viewed here.

The 2023 USEA AEC omnibus page is now available, which includes the tentative schedule of events listed below. The general schedule will not be finalized until Aug. 8, 2023. More information about parties hosted during the AEC will be provided soon.

2023 AEC Tentative Schedule

Monday, August 28

3:00 p.m. - All cross-country courses open.

Tuesday, August 29

Dressage: Intermediate, Preliminary & Modified

Wednesday, August 30

Dressage: Advanced & Training

Cross-Country: Intermediate, Preliminary & Modified

Welcome Reception

Thursday, August 31

Dressage: Novice

Cross-Country: Advanced & Training

Show Jumping: Intermediate, Preliminary& Modified

Friday, September 1

Dressage: Beginner Novice

Cross-Country: Novice

Show Jumping: Training & Advanced (7:30 p.m.)

Competitor Party

Saturday, September 2

Cross-Country: Beginner Novice

Show Jumping: Novice

Adult and Young Rider Parties at The Cove

Sunday, September 3

Show Jumping: Beginner Novice

Stabling

Stabling at the Kentucky Horse Park will be available for $300 per stall for use from Monday, Augu. 28 at 12:00 p.m. to Monday, Sept. 4 at 7:00 a.m. For those interested in early entry to stabling on Sunday, Aug. 27, there will be an additional $75 fee and the request must be made upon entry or to the event secretary, Cavan Allen, at aecentries@gmail.com prior to closing day on Aug. 15. Competitors will receive a link to a form to confirm their arrival and stabling needs upon entry. Due to overlapping competitions, there will be no stabling available before Sunday, Aug. 27 or after Monday morning on Sept. 4.

If you would like to pre-order shavings, feed or hay, rent stall mats, reserve paddocks, or secure a golf cart for use during the event, please order in advance through Dever, Inc. at deverrentals.com or call 1-859-233-9702.

Accommodations

The USEA and EEI have secured discounted room rates at several local hotels that competitors are encouraged to take advantage of. Hotel options include the Marriott Griffin Gate Hotel and the Clarion Hotel in Lexington and the Hilton Garden Inn in Georgetown. For instructions on how to reserve a room at the discounted rate, please click here. The Kentucky Horse Park has limited RV camping slots available as well, which can be reserved by calling 859-259-4257, selecting option "2" and asking for Dawn.

Follow along with the AEC updates by joining the 2023 AEC Facebook page. For general questions about the AEC, please contact Kate Lokey.

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 Beginner Novice 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 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held Aug. 29—Sept. 3 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. 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; Gold Level Sponsors: Capital Square, Horse & Country, Parker Equine Insurance, Smartpak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Ecogold, Kerrits, The Jockey Club; Bronze Level Sponsors: 70 Degrees, Athletux, Black Petticoat, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse and Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Horseware Ireland, Majyk Equipe, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe; Contributing Level Sponsor: CrossCountry App, Georgetown – Scott County Tourism, Lexmark, L.V. Harkness, Mountain Horse, Mrs. Pastures Cookies, #WeRideTogether; Prize Level Sponsors: Coach Daniel Stewart, EquiFit, Equilab, Equiluxe Tack, Equine Essentials, Equine Pulse Performance, FarmVet, Achieve Equine/FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Horses 4 Your Consideration, Hound & Hare, I Love My Horse Eventing Boutique, Jack’s Favorites, Jane Heart Jewelry, Kinetic Equine Services, LeMieux, Levade Kentucky, Mare Modern Goods, OneTouch Fly Spray, Parkmore Supplements, Practical Horseman, Sidelines Magazine, Spy Coast Farm, Strides for Equality Equestrians, and VTO Saddlery.

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 29—Sept. 3, 2023. 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 2023, 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 USEA Adult Team Championships

The 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 Beginner Novice through Preliminary 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 Adult Team Championships.

The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, The Chronicle of the Horse, Achieve Equine/FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Kinetic Equine Services, Horse & Country, Equilab, Kerrits, Nutrena Feeds, Sidelines Magazine, SmartPak and #WeRideTogether for sponsoring the USEA Adult Team Championships.