United States Eventing Association

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 29—The Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Divisions got their chance to gallop over the hallowed Kentucky Horse Park turf Saturday, as they tackled the cross-country course on their second day of competition.

The Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Junior Championship top three remains unchanged after the second phase, with all three combinations jumping clear within the time allowed. Accordingly, Lauren Collett and her own 12-year-old American Warmblood Cozywing (Charley Marquitas Mark x Jumped Defence) will enter the Rolex Stadium Sunday morning in the lead on their dressage score of 26.6.

Megan Correia-Bittner cruised around the course on Kimberly Ryan’s Lamborghini (Livello x Z-Carmel) clear and within the time, adding nothing to their stellar dressage score of 22.5 to hold on to their overnight lead of the Marshall and Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Horse Division.

Kendra Moss and her own Presidential Nominee HU (Pikko Del Cerro HU x Noble Destiny HU) finished the cross-country phase with zero penalties to add, maintaining their lead in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Master Amateur division. Moss and the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding will bring forward their dressage score of 27.3 to the final phase Sunday.

The Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Junior 14 & Under riders made light work of Jay Hambly’s cross-country track; the majority jumped round clear within the time, and the sharp end of the leaderboard looks exactly the same as it did after the first phase. Going into Sunday’s finale in the Rolex Arena it will be Skylar Ragsdale in the lead on her own Finnegan’s Irish Dream (Pairadox Cassanova x Gaellant Quest), a 9-year-old Irish Draught Sport Horse.

Ashley Anderson and her own Global Jedi (Carlo Bank x Luke’s Fancy) jumped clean and fast over Saturday’s cross-country course to finish on their dressage score of 25.9. Anderson and the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding will be the overnight leaders of the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Amateur Championship heading into Sunday’s final phase.

The top three after dressage in the Marshall+Sterling USEA Beginner Novice Rider division all galloped across rolling Bluegrass cross-country clear and fast to maintain their positions going into the final show jumping phase on Sunday. Madeline Bletzacker and Drummer Boy, (Don Principe x Winterzauber), an 18-year-old Hanoverian, will head into the Rolex Stadium as division leader.

Shelton Repetto did not relinquish her overnight lead in the USEA Starter Junior Championship on Saturday. She rode Susanne Repetto’s 10-year-old Hanoverian Accordingly (ES Florianus 2 x EM Conteah) fast and clear around the cross-country track to finish the second phase on her winning dressage score of 25.8.

In the USEA Starter Amateur division, Laura Wilson and 7-year-old mustang gelding One Ear Wonder, who is indeed missing his left ear, moved into the top spot from third place after a solid cross-country round.

In the USEA Starter Rider division, Nancy Rinn and her own 22-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Remington Steel moved up from fourth place to first on their dressage score of 28.6.

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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 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds will be held on Aug. 25-30 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 Sponsors: Bates Saddles, Marshall+Sterling Equine Insurance; Gold Level Sponsors: ARMA, Gallaghers Water, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, SmartPak, Standlee; Silver Level Sponsors: Auburn Labs, Kerrits, The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, Rood & Riddle; Bronze Level Sponsors: 70°, Antech Diagnostics, Athletux, The Chronicle of the Horse, Devoucoux, D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis, Dubarry of Ireland, Equestrian Team Apparel, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, John Deere, Retired Racehorse Project, Ride EquiSafe, Santa Cruz Animal Health; Contributing Level Sponsors: AnimaSol, CrossCountry App, Foxhollow Farm, Georgetown/Scott County Tourism, Kentucky Equine Research, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Lexmark, LV Harkness, Only Fools and Horses, #WeRideTogether, YETI; and Prize Level Sponsors: ARRO Helmets, The Dad Den, Dandy Products, Equiluxe Tack, Equine IMED, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, I Love My Horse Boutique, The Infused Equestrian, Love Equestrian, Majyk Equipe, Mare Modern Goods, Natalie Hummel Coaching, Neighborly Tack, Outlaw Nutrition, Parkmore Supplements, Peak Performance Equine Spa, Poseidon Animal Health, Rachel Dory Fine Art, Right Path Equestrian, Saddle Bird Boutique, Sidelines Magazine, Strides For Equality Equestrians, STRIDER, Stylish in the Saddle, VTO Saddlery, and XLR8 Equine.