The road to the USEA American Eventing Championships looks different for every rider, and this episode celebrates two unforgettable journeys.

I had a little bit of a late start to riding compared to most. I finally convinced my parents at 12 years old and began riding at a small hunter barn after watching lessons of a close friend for about a year or so. I stayed at that barn up until about a year and a half ago in December of 2024, wh...

For me, qualifying for the AEC this year has been a true story of overcoming. Like most adult amateurs I balance training, my family, and my career. It has been a true blessing to have all these things in my life, it just means I must hustle hard.

I got Je T’aime Opera, or "Minko," a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Je T'aime Flamenco x Foxy Cleopatra R) in 2024 as I was retiring my previous horse due to medical issues. From the first trial she felt like my heart horse, and while being fancy enough to go up the levels, she also was safe ...

When people see Haunted Blessings and me competing today, they see a horse-and-rider team that qualified for the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships. What they don’t always see is the patience, trust, and hard work it took to get here.

My name is Adilyn Cartwright, and I will be competing in the 2026 AEC on Chasing Gold, owned by Jessica Saari. "Chase" is a 14-year-old Quarter Horse who I have had the opportunity to event the past several years.

We found The Riddler when I had fallen out of love with riding. He was kind of my mom’s last effort to keep me in the saddle. If it didn’t work, it didn’t work, and I’d go play volleyball.

In April 2019, I adopted a Thoroughbred gelding named Master Rudy (Fusaichi Pegasus x Sacred Sue) from Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue in West Virginia. At the time, I wasn’t searching for my next event horse. In fact, I wasn’t searching for a competition horse at all.

I have been riding since I can remember, but I grew up showing and raising American Saddlebreds. My old show mare, Desi, was 23 years old when my 9-year-old daughter, Lauren, had joined Pony Club and started eventing. Desi was the babysitter that any parent wants for their child. I didn’t know a ...

The best part of the Road to the AEC is experiencing it through my daughter’s eyes. She is so determined and enthusiastic—it makes me feel like a 13-year old myself some days! And that is a cause for joy. I can’t wait to share this experience with her in August.

The road to the USEA American Eventing Championships looks different for every rider, and this episode celebrates two unforgettable journeys.