Officials of the U.S. Eventing Association have announced slightly tougher qualifications for the American Eventing Championships, the second renewal of which will be held once again at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, N.C., on Sept. 15-18.

Both the horse and the rider must accomplish the complete qualifying criteria, although not necessarily together. The qualification period began last Aug. 4 and ends on Aug. 30, 2005.

At novice, training, preliminary and intermediate levels, entrants must have finished first or second in a horse trial at the appropriate level, or finished third in two horse trials at that level, or finished first through fifth in the area championship at that level. Preliminary entrants can also have finished first through fifth in a CIC* or first through sixth in a CCI*. Intermediate entrants can also have finished first through fifth in a CIC** or first through sixth in a CCI**.

At the advanced level, entrants must have finished first through sixth in an advanced horse trial or first through 10th in an area championship at advanced level. They could also finish first through eighth in a CIC***, first through 10th in a CCI***, or first through 20th in a CCI****. In addition, horse-and-rider combinations who