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Friday, October 06 2023 / Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature

The American Eventing Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park

By Liz Halliday

There’s no denying the intrinsic value of the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, Kentucky, in the world of equestrian sports. For so many event riders, this venue is an iconic destination that they dream about competing at, and I strongly believe it’s the perfect venue to host the American Eventing Championships (AECs). While I’m slightly biased because it’s my home event, I really believe that this is the best location for the AECs to be held each year.

For riders at all levels, this venue offers a unique experience. It’s a reminder of the standards we all strive for and a nod to the community’s shared passion for eventing. It’s not just another location—it’s a place that echoes with stories of past pivotal moments in our sport’s history and looks ahead to future achievements.

My own experience at the AECs was fantastic, and it was great to have five of my horses out competing again after a summer break from competition. It was a busy week, with goals set for each horse based on where they were in their competition season, and I came away feeling confident that they all had an educational experience and learned a lot throughout the week.

The highlight of the event for me was competing both Miks Master C and Deniro Z in the $60,000 Adequan Advanced National Championship. I was thrilled to have my friend Deniro feeling back to his very best and to have him perform so well in all three phases. He hadn’t evented since the Land Rover Kentucky CCI5*-L, so I wasn’t pushing for time on cross-country, but he made each phase feel easy and I was so pleased to finish inside the top 10 with super, clear rounds in both cross-country and show jumping.

Miks Master C was also happy to be at the party and had his first run since his trip to Germany for the Aachen World Equestrian Festival. I went into the competition with aspirations to win, but I was also conscious that the AECs were an important step ahead of the Pan American Games in late October where Mikki and I will have the honor of representing Team USA. Mikki is such a wonderful, generous horse who absolutely loves his job, and he was so excited to be competing again. He was a true professional in every phase, and despite the pressure of leading after each day, we managed to bring home the title on Friday night under the lights in front of owners and friends who were there to support us.

To me, having the AECs at the Kentucky Horse Park feels right. It’s familiar, it’s respected and it challenges competitors in the best possible way. I believe this venue offers something special to the sport and to so many riders at every level.

When you talk eventing, the Kentucky Horse Park inevitably comes up in conversation. But it’s more than just its reputation as a host of one of the few CCI5*-L events in the world. For many event riders, it’s akin to a sacred ground where dreams meet reality. I love that at the AECs, riders of all levels get to compete on the ground of the CCI5*-L cross-country and also jump in the Rolex Stadium.

But what genuinely sets the AECs apart for me—and I believe many in our community—is its inclusive spirit. Riders of all levels—from those just starting out to seasoned pros—come together, sharing the same tracks, the same challenges and the same dreams. We all get that unique chance to ride across the hallowed grounds of the park, feel the same thrills and face the same tests.

One such iconic challenge is the renowned Head of the Lake. While I didn’t personally ride through this complex on this occasion, the lower-level riders had the opportunity to tackle it in their divisions. I know every time I approach the Head of the Lake during the CCI5*-L, there’s a mix of reverence and adrenaline. It’s not just about navigating the waters or the technicalities; it’s about the legacy of the spot. You’re riding where legends have ridden, and I know that the riders who had this opportunity during the AECs made their own mark and created memories they will cherish forever.

The AECs at the Kentucky Horse Park isn’t just another championship for event riders. It’s a culmination of our journey, our passion and our respect for the sport. Competing here is a reminder of where we come from, where we stand and the limitless horizons that await us. Thank you to all at the United States Eventing Association and EEI who worked tirelessly to give us a week to remember.

Photo:

Liz and Miks Master C at the 2023 American Eventing Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Photo by USEA

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Tagged under: liz-halliday

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Hot horseman takeover day 6️⃣!!! 🔥Jorge Va Hot horseman takeover day 6️⃣!!!

🔥Jorge Vasquez🔥
Between his polo career—from groom to coach—and a love of travel, Jorge Vasquez has been to 60 countries, all seven continents, all 50 states and seen all seven wonders of the world—some of them twice. “I’ve been to China, Egypt, India, Dominican Republic, Argentina, a lot of places to play polo,” Jorge said. “I wish travel was my full-time job!”
Jorge is originally from Santiago, Chile, where his dad was a racehorse trainer and his uncle played polo. “I was too cool for school,” Jorge joked, “So I ended up having to do polo.” But Jorge isn’t complaining. There are “a million things” he loves about polo. “Obviously the 
adrenaline, and then the horses—the horses are very special,” he said. “They’re very well trained, and there’s something really special about a polo pony that can read your body and take you wherever you want to go—most of the time without asking any questions!”
Now living in Lexington, Kentucky, Jorge coaches the University of Kentucky polo team, is the U.S. Polo Association midstates circuit governor and is the polo manager at Gainesway Farm, 
where he also recently became the official tour guide. “I stay busy when I’m at home—that’s why I travel!” Jorge laughed, a common occurrence with his easygoing personality. “I like to think I’ve lived a pretty good life, and I get rejuvenated by teaching the game and teaching 
young horses how to play polo. That’s my favorite thing about the sport—teaching horses to play.”

With over 30 years in the industry, Jorge’s biggest takeaway from horses is, “The nicer you 
ask, the easier you’ll get results.” With all his experience, Jorge hopes to pass on the gifts of patience and understanding to those within his sphere of influence. “And that if you pay it forward long enough,” he added, “it will eventually pay you back.”
📸Photo by Kacy Brown
Hot horseman takeover day 5️⃣!!! 🔥Jet Rusi Hot horseman takeover day 5️⃣!!!

🔥Jet Rusidovski🔥
It wasn’t horses that took Jet Rusidovski from his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to where he lives now in Austin, Texas, in 2008. It was the weather. “I came down to visit family down here and it was negative 30 degrees in Wisconsin and it was 60 degrees here, and that was the end of it,” Jet said.

He grew up braving the cold on horseback in Wisconsin, riding and showing hunter-
jumpers from the time he was 4 all through his Junior career. “When adult life started, I had to juggle adult life and horses, and then it became my profession,” he said. Jet now works for Kelly Lorek at Southern Way Farm, training both horses and clients and traveling to shows all over the country. “Our program has been growing by leaps and bounds in the last year, and that says we’re doing something right!”

Jet hopes his experience as part of a successful program will help instill in others that everyone deserves a chance. “There were definitely times in my career I was not given a chance, and Kelly is the one who really gave me that chance,” Jet shared. “She didn’t judge me for mistakes I made in the past, she didn’t hold anything against me—she saw that I had the potential and she gave me the chance to actually show it. She gave the right coaching and the right guidance to get me where I am today, and I feel I’m in a really great place with unlimited opportunities at this point in my career.” When not traveling to shows, Jet travels to Wisconsin to visit family (weather permitting, of course) and would love to revisit childhood vacation spots in Greece and Europe, or check out the weather in Hawaii. He also prioritizes catching up with friends outside of the horse world. “If people see me around at a horse show, don’t be afraid to say hi!” he said. 
“Sometimes I’m so concentrated it looks like I want nothing to do with anyone; I’m actually just deep in thought or something. But I love to say hi to everybody.”
📸Photo by Kristie Scholten
Day 4️⃣ of our hot horseman takeover! 🔥Jo Day 4️⃣ of our hot horseman takeover! 
🔥Jonathan Cohen🔥
Most riders aren’t born into professional equestrian families; some lucky ones, like Jonathan Cohen, end up spending so much time at the barn they are practically adopted into them. 
Jonathan fell in love with horses at a friend’s birthday party while he was growing up in downtown Chicago, Illinois. At 16, he began riding with Alex Jayne—and now works for Alex’s Our Day Farm. “I’m sandwiched right between his three children in terms of age, so apart from missing their earliest years, we’ve basically grown up together,” Jonathan said. “I’m incredibly fortunate to work for a family that treats me like family.”
Jonathan’s title is barn manager. “But the job description is very loose—that’s what keeps it interesting,” he said. After he gets done riding in the morning, he starts on whatever needs to be done around the farm—which perfectly suits his love of “projects.” Outside of work and horses, Jonathan puts that passion for building into home renovation; when he’s completely renovated one home, he sells it and moves on to the next. “I love building stuff, especially when it’s something that meets a very specific need and can’t just be bought,” he said. “I’ll see things I can make better, I start working on the idea in my head, and more often than not I end up building it.”

Our Day Farm splits its time between Elgin, Illinois, and Wellington, Florida. When in Illinois, Jonathan spends much of his time building jumps. “I like to replicate some of the more interesting things we see over the course of the season, as well as anything our horses might need to practice,” he said. Clearly, Jonathan loves what he does. “I’m super lucky that when I wake up every day, I don’t have to go to work. I just go to the barn. It’s my job, and it’s definitely a lot of work most days, but really I’m just going to the barn like any other day.”
📸Photo by Melissa Fuller
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