USEA Podcast #421: An #AEC2026 Journey Worth More Than the Win with Amanda Gantz

Every year, the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds produces stories that remind us why eventing is about so much more than the final leaderboard. This week on the USEA Podcast, AEC Starter Amateur Champion Amanda Gantz joins us to share the remarkable journey that brought her and her Connemara, Meg O'Pint, to the top of the podium at the Kentucky Horse Park. Amanda shares how her late mother helped her find Pint, why she knew almost immediately that the confident little gelding was something special, and how she produced him herself from a young horse into an AEC champion. Their championship, however, is only one chapter of Amanda’s story. A breast cancer survivor, Amanda opens up about the role horses and eventing played during some of the most difficult moments of her treatment and how Pint has helped her rediscover confidence in and out of the saddle. She also reflects on the signs that made her feel her mother was with them throughout their AEC weekend and the meaning behind the words she carries with her every time she rides: “the journey is the reward.” Stick around after Amanda’s story for a special segment with Marshall+Sterling’s VP of Equine Operations, Amy Dawm. She breaks down the ins and outs of equine insurance, discusses the coverage considerations that are especially important for event horse owners, and shares her top three tips for making informed decisions about protecting your equine partner.