American Eventing Championships: The Place to Be

It’s been a big season with events around the country like The Fork, Rebecca Farm, and Galway Downs getting bigger and better with each go round.  But everything carries more weight this year since the World Equestrian Games will be taking this place this September and October for the first time on American soil.  And the American Eventing Championships will be no different.

This September the AEC’s will take place at Chattahoochee Hills in Fairburn, Georgia.  This new equestrian paradise offers the best of everything from stabling to cross-country to grand prix rings.  Even the vistas are incomparable.

The American Eventing Championships are special because it’s where the best competes against the best.  This is the place to show everyone what you and your horse are made of!  Which means you have to meet certain qualifications.  Here they are:

• For Beginner Novice:  Two 1st through 5th placings in any USEA recognized Beginner Novice Horse Trials OR 1st through 5th placing in any USEA Beginner Novice Area
• For Novice:  1st or 2nd in any USEA recognized Novice Horse Trials  OR 3rd in two USEA recognized Novice Horse Trials OR 1st through 5th in any USEA Novice Area Championship
• For Training:  1st or 2nd in any USEA recognized Training Horse Trials OR 3rd in two USEA recognized Training Horse Trials OR 1st through 5th in any USEA Training Area Championship
• For Preliminary: 1st or 2nd in any USEA recognized Preliminary Horse Trials OR 3rd in two USEA recognized Preliminary Horse Trials OR 1st through 5th in any USEA Preliminary Area Championship OR 1st to 5th in any CIC* OR 1st to 6th in any CCI*
• For Intermediate: USEA recognized Intermediate Horse Trials (including Area Championships) OR CIC** OR CCI**

There are some more ins and outs so make sure to check for the complete run down of qualifications. If all of that still has your head spinning as much as it does mine you can also just check on the list of qualified horses and the list of qualified riders.

If you’ve already sent in your entry form then you’re at the head of the class.  But if you’re hemming and hawing I say you take the plunge.  We want to see you compete!  You can send your entry in now online or snail mail it to:

Rick Dunkerton, Secretary
c/o AMS
P.O. Box 1647
Laurel, MS 39441-1647

The closing date of August 24th is almost upon us!

But competing against the best of the best (and winning) isn’t the only thing that makes the American Eventing Championships special.  This year they’ve got the added bonus of being the last mandatory outing for all the USEF Eventing Team members before the World Equestrian Games.  So what does that really mean?  It means that your favorite top event riders and your favorite top event horses will be at Chattahoochee Hills to have one final spin before they make the turn into the homestretch before the World Equestrian Games.

Buck Davidson and My Boy Bobby.  Photo by Josh Walker at the USEA.

Specifically that means you can look for:

1. Phillip Dutton and Kheops du Quesnay
2. Stephen Bradley and Brandenburg’s Joshua
3. Buck Davidson and BallyNoe Castle RM
4. Buck Davidson and My Boy Bobby
5. Buck Davidson and Titanium
6. Phillip Dutton and The Foreman
7. Phillip Dutton and TruLuck
8. Phillip Dutton and Connaught
9. Phillip Dutton and Woodburn
10. Will Faudree and Pawlow
11. Becky Holder and Courageous Comet
12. Holly Hudspeth and Last Monarch
13. Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos
14. Boyd Martin and Remington XXV
15. Karen O’Connor and Mandiba
16. Kim Severson and Tipperary Liadhnan
17. Allison Springer Arthur
18. Amy Tryon and Leyland

And if you still need convincing to mark your calendars for the American Eventing Championships there are a few things that will sweeten the deal.  Like the Wednesday night Wine and Cheese reception hosted by the Event Owner’s Task Force (open to all), the Competitor’s Party Benefitting the Equestrian Aid Foundation, or the Twilight Cocktail Hour on Saturday night during the showjumping for the top 25 Beginner Novice riders.

If you’d like to take your experience up a notch you might be interested in getting tickets to the Patron’s Tent for an up-close view of the Grand Prix ring (covered) that comes complete with a fully catered breakfast and lunch. If the Patron’s Tent isn’t quite your style but you’d still like to get out of the sun and the weather there’s also covered Ringside Seating available.

So, to recap, you’re competing against/ watching the best of the best in American eventing from Beginner Novice through to our American Team prepping for the WEG’s, enjoying one of the finest equestrian venues in the country, and doing it in style with wine and cheese, and a Twilight Cocktail hour.  That means that the AEC’s are the place to be this Septmeber 9-12th.  So even if you aren’t planning on riding at the AEC’s, I recommend you put them on your calendar since, like the WEG’s, this opportunity won’t be coming around again altogether too soon.

Sign me up.  I’ll see you at Chattahoochee Hills!