The U.S. Eventing Association announced on Oct. 5 that Jennie Brannigan, the 20-year-old California rider who won two divisions at the Wellpride American Eventing Championships (Ill.) in mid-September was being relieved of her titles. Brannigan’s wins were protested by another competitor after it was learned that she’d ridden through the advanced level with another horse during the qualifying year, which is against AEC rules.

Qualification guidelines state that for all “non-horse” divisions at the AEC, including junior/young rider, amateur and open, a rider may not have competed more than one level above their championship level.

“By the very nature of the AEC being a national championship, the criteria for entry are more complicated in hopes of creating an equal playing field,” explained USEA President and Chairman of the Board Kyra Stuart. “These criteria will certainly be revisited prior to the 2008 AEC in an effort to bring more clarity to them.”

“I honestly did think that I belonged in the young rider division,” explained Brannigan, who has competed at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships and hopes to do so again in the future. “The national rules conflict with the [AEC] rules, and that’s what’s confusing.”

According to CEO Jo Whitehouse, the USEA received an anonymous phone call about a week after the competition ended, asserting that Brannigan had been ineligible to compete in the junior/young rider training and preliminary divisions.

Because an extended period of time had passed and the complaint was anonymous, Whitehouse said the decision was made to let Brannigan’s wins stand.

Under section EV117: Inquiries, Protests and Appeals, the 2007 U.S. Equestrian Federation Rulebook states that protests “against the eligibility of a horse or a competitor” may be lodged “not later than one hour before the start of the relevant competition.”

On Oct. 1, however, a written protest was lodged on behalf of Nina Ligon, who placed second in the junior/young rider training division and sixth in the junior/young rider preliminary. After deliberation, Brannigan’s official status was changed to hors concours.

Brannigan said she didn’t learn of her ineligibility until early October, when she was informed by Kevin Baumgardner and Malcolm Hook, the two Area VII members of the USEA Board of Governors, that a complaint had been lodged against her.

A press release issued by the USEA on Oct. 5 stated that, “While the competitor is always ultimately responsible for ensuring that he or she meets eligibility requirements for divisions entered, in this case the USEA attempted to verify horse and rider qualifications prior to event, and regrets that this discrepancy was not discovered and corrected before the competition.”

Ligon, a 16-year-old from Manakin-Sabot, Va., was named the new training level winner with Chai Thai, and also moved into the fifth-placed slot in the preliminary with Pacific Storm.

Olivia Upham, Mineral Wells, Texas, was named the new champion in the junior/young rider preliminary division with In Any Event.