United States Eventing Association

The USEA Area VIII Championships took place alongside the Kentucky Classique Horse Trials in Lexington, Kentucky, from Aug. 29-31. We caught up with some of the winners!

Intermediate Champions | Jordan Riske & MM Irish Clover | 31.9

Jordan Riske, Manchester, Michigan, was thrilled with her weekend aboard “Liam,” a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Clover Flush.

“Liam was a class act all weekend,” she said. “The dressage is our hardest phase currently because he can get quite tense very easily so finding the relaxation in the warm-up is vital for him to have a good performance in the arena. Liam warmed up nicely, when we went into the arena he was relaxed and rideable, which was a great feeling as that’s been our biggest struggle. So, I was really proud of him, and it showed off that our focus on our flatwork the past couple of months was really starting to pay off.”

On cross-country, Liam ate up the course and was very confident, and show jumping went exactly to Riske’s plan. “We went out there, and he knew it was game time,” she said. “We jumped around with the plan we had walking it, and he jumped great. I couldn’t have been happier with him and how he performed all weekend.”

Riske got Liam four years ago during a time when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was working for Robin Walker, and he’d received a call about a horse who was too much horse for his owner. Riske ended up purchasing him and admits it hasn’t been an easy path.

“When I first got him, I had to completely restart him with groundwork, and then we slowly began to build trust with one another and could begin riding him,” she said. “I’ve taken my time with him because he truly is so special. He was like a dream come true in such a hard time in my life, and I’m forever grateful to Robin for the opportunity to own such a great horse.”

Preliminary Champions | Jesslyn Woodall & Diamond Dog | 37.5

Local rider Jesslyn Woodall rode her own Diamond Dog, a 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Midnight Storm x Dietitian Michelle) to the win in the Preliminary division. They've finished no less than third in all of their starts in 2025.

Modified Champions | April Hays & Anteros HSH | 32.1

April Hays and her 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding Anteros HSH (Adagio de Talm x Celavie) moved up from a tie for third after dressage to top the Modified division.

“Our weekend went so well!” she said. “I gave a way a few points due to a lack of accuracy on my part in the dressage, but ‘Nacho’ was his usual steady and reliable self. Cross-country was a beautiful course; fun and flowing. We are planning a winter move up to Preliminary, so I wanted to make sharper turns and more accurate lines, and I was so pleased with Nacho's response. He stepped right up and ran the course like it was a Novice track!”

Hays, Lexington, Tennessee, bought Nacho as a 4-year-old and says he been very easy and fun to bring along. The pair have also spent some time in the show jumping ring, and Hays hopes to get her U.S. Dressage Federation bronze medal with Nacho.

“He truly loves the job being an event horse,” she said. “My favorite part of the weekend is a hard choice between the fantastic cross-country and the fun show jumping! Thanks so much to all the organizers, volunteers, and officials for making the weekend flow so well and making it possible for us to compete.”

Training Champions | Darci Burton & VS Correlli Surprise | 29.1

Darci Burton had a lot on her mind the week before the Area VIII Championships. Her father had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June, and she flew home to help with his radiation appointments along with her siblings.

“My dad has always been my biggest supporter—whether it was 4-H, local schooling shows, high school and college sports, and now eventing, he never misses a chance to ask how the horses are going and loves hearing about the results,” she said. “I know so much of my drive and love for competition comes from him. His last treatment was Friday, Aug. 29, and riding last weekend with him on my mind made the show feel incredibly meaningful. In a way, every ride felt like a quiet thank you for all he’s given me.”

Burton, Richmond, Kentucky, and VS Correlli Surprise moved up from second after dressage to take the win in their division. “Honestly, it went really well!” she said. “Charlie and I had done the homework, put in the rides, and were prepared to put it all together—and we did. It was a great feeling to see that preparation pay off.”

She imported “Charlie,” a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (FSS Correlli Bravo x Coevers Surprise), from Ireland three years ago. He competed through the two-star level with Megan Edwards before Burton took on the ride in 2024.

The pair won six of eight Novice starts that year, and then had some bumps in the road as they moved up to Training this year.

“We're starting to find our groove,” she said. “He's a very proper horse, and he knows his job well but he's not the type that you can just sit and look pretty on. If you don't ask correctly, he'll let you know. As humbling as that can be, it's made me a better rider and helped solidify our partnership. He's taught me so much, and I'm so appreciative of him.”

Novice Champions | Jane Musselman & Cayr Della Caccia | 21.9

Jane Musselman, Louisville, Kentucky, rode her own Cayr Della Caccia, a 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Canturo x Babelle) to the win in the Novice division.

Beginner Novice Champions | Rachel Barron & Zenith Almost Got Away | 22.8

Rachel Barron was excited to watch some of the top upper-level riders compete over the weekend when she wasn’t competing herself. She and “Rowan” put in their best dressage test to date, and she earned her personal best score.

She found the cross-country course to be friendly and inviting and had a strong round.

Rowan, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding of unrecorded breeding, is a new partner for Barron over the last year. She bought him through Maya Clarkson. “I think I was only on him for about five minutes, and I had felt enough to know that he was my kind of horse,” she remembered.

With help from her trainer Martha Lambert, Barron, Crestwood, Kentucky, started their competition journey in April.

“I still have a lot to improve on but I'm really happy with the progress we have made, especially in the past month or so,” she said. “I say very often that Rowan is the most pleasant horse I have ever had, and I really do mean it! He is so willing and tries so hard, and I am extremely grateful to be his person. We are planning to start running Novice this fall, so I'm very excited for that!”

Starter Champions | Joshlyn Hernandez & Kynymont Indelibly Irish | 28.7

Joshlyn Hernandez describes the Area VIII Championships as one of the best weekends of her entire life.

She enjoyed spending time with her barnmates and trainer, and her mount “Indie,” a 23-year-old Connemara gelding (Kynymont Dublin x Irish Rose) enjoyed competing.

“We went up to cross-country, and Indie was a little hyped up when we got there, but when we were warming up he calmed down,” she said. “We got in the start box, and ‘boom,’ we started our cross-country course.”

The next day, the Simsonville, Kentucky, rider was thrilled to have her supporters congratulating her on the way out of the show jumping ring.

“When I came out of the ring, all of my friends, my mom, and other people congratulated me on a clear round,” she said. “All the competitors went back into the ring, and they started handing out ribbons. I was waiting for my name to be called, and it was for first place. When they were done handing out ribbons I got to lead the victory gallop!”

Indie used to compete at the Intermediate level with Kelly Taylor before he had an injury, and now he enjoys packing his young rider around the lower levels. Hernandez trains at Ariatti Equestrian and has had Indie since February of this year.

“My favorite part about this weekend was when I figured out I had won my very first championship,” she said. “I went out of the ring and went to give my mom a hug because she was crying because I had won, and she was happy for me.”

For full results, click here.