United States Eventing Association

Lexington, Ky.—Aug. 26— Wednesday saw the start of an action packed week out on the cross-country courses at the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (USEA), with the Bates USEA Preliminary, Standlee USEA Modified and USEA Intermediate divisions galloping out of the start box.

Canada is dominating the Standlee USEA Modified Open Championship leaderboard after the cross-country phase. A speedy clear round inside the time by Kyle Carter on his own 8-year-old Warmblood mare Redfield Nola (Entertainer x Grazia) moved them up into pole position heading into the final show-jumping phase Thursday. Karl Slezak had the fastest time in the division, also jumping clear on his own 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse Hellboy (Sligo Candy Boy x Imperious Lux) to make it a Maple Leaf one-two.

The Standlee USEA Modified Amateur Championship top three remain unchanged from the dressage as all three leaders posted clear cross-country rounds within the time allowed. Accordingly, Charlotte Collier will be the last rider in her division to ride down the ramp into the Rolex Arena Thursday as the leader in her division. She’ll be jumping to win the championship on her own 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Loughtown Cici ZA (CC Captain Clover x Castlelawn Diamond Clover).

Olivia Jane Frye and her own Qabernet VT (Qredit x Dom Perignon), a 13-year-old U.S.-bred Oldenburg gelding, moved up one spot after to dressage to top the Standlee USEA Modified Rider Championship with a clear round inside the time cross-country.

Allie Knowles and Katherine O’Brien’s 7-year-old Tip Top Quality retained their lead in the Bates USEA Preliminary Open Championship with a clear round across country within the time.

Shelby Bradley and her own 14-year-old French-bred gelding Commando D’Osthuy (Ogano Sitte x Up Star D’Osthuy) were faultless across the country Wednesday. They’ll add nothing to their leading dressage score to maintain the top spot in the Bates USEA Preliminary Rider Championship heading into Thursday’s show-jumping in the Rolex arena.

Elle White and Lindsay White and Elizabeth Rader’s Biscotti (Benidetto x Hey Nurse) will head up the Bates USEA Preliminary Amateur Championship after the completion of their cross-country phase. White and the 14-year-old Rheinland Pfalz-Saar added nothing to their dressage score of 30.7 to move up one place.

Ariel Grald capitalized on a speedy clear cross country on Annie Eldridge’s Obalix (Ogano x Bilitis B VH Juxschot Z), an exciting 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding, to climb to the top of the USEA Intermediate Open Championship. In a stacked division in which only one combination made the time, Grald and Obalix moved up seven places from eighth after the dressage with the second fastest time of the day, adding just 1.2 time penalties to their first phase score, and will enter the Rolex Stadium Thursday for the show-jumping on 30.8.

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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.

About the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final

The $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final will take place at the 2026 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on Aug. 26-28. 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 2026, 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 Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships

The Adams Horse Supply 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 nine teams and 39 riders for the BN, N, T, and M levels, plus an additional eight members if they are at the Starter level only. 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 USEA Adult Team Championships. The USEA would like to thank ATC Title Sponsor, Adams Horse Supply, and contributing sponsors ARMA, Bates Saddles, The Chronicle of the Horse, FarmVet, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, Gallagher’s Water, Kerrits, Marshall+Sterling, Nutrena Feeds, PulseVet, Schneiders Saddlery, Sidelines Magazine, SmartPak, and Santa Cruz Animal Health for sponsoring the Adult Team Championships.