Olympic champion and World #3 Christian Kukuk (GER)
Olympic champion and World #3 Christian Kukuk (GER) tops an impressive field of show jumping athletes set to compete in the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Entered to contest the courses designed by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge is an impressive list of athletes that includes 20 Olympians, top international stars from 12 countries and the three podium finishers from 2024.
The Kentucky International CSI5* is hosted as part of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (K3DE), April 23-27 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non-profit, charitable organization that supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level, the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian features one of only seven annual 5* three-day events in the world.
Last year’s top finishers: (l-r) Nayel Nassar of Egypt, Conor Swail of Ireland, and Charlotte Jacobs of the U.S.
Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the event annually attracts nearly 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations. In addition to the traditional CCI5*-L, K3DE also features the Cosequin® Lexington 4* and Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. EEI is the only event organizer in the world to host both a CCI5*-L and CSI5* in the same week, and with Kukuk joining countryman Michael Jung, the 2024 Olympic champion in Eventing, this year’s K3DE features the reigning Olympic champions in both disciplines!
Introduced at the 2018 K3DE as a CSI3*, the Kentucky International CSI5* has annually taken place to the cheers of a packed stadium of fans. The show jumping event kicks off Wednesday morning, April 23, with the $35,000 1.45m Two-Phase. Thursday’s $75,000 1.50m Welcome Stake and Friday’s $35,000 1.45m Speed Cup will take place in the evenings after the conclusion of the K3DE’s dressage competition. The Kentucky International culminates with the featured $400,000 1.60m finale on Saturday evening after the event’s cross-country phase.
Battling Kukuk for top honors is a world-class field that includes two-time Kentucky champion and World #11 Conor Swail (IRL), who is entered with his 2024 winning mount Casturano. Among the other competitors are fellow 2024 podium finishers Nayel Nassar (EGY), who competed in the 2021 Olympic Games and took second place in 2024, and Charlotte Jacobs (USA), who finished third last year. Swail is also joined by fellow Irishmen Daniel Coyle (2024 Olympian and World #17), Shane Sweetnam (two-time Olympian and World #20) and Darragh Kenny (2021 Olympian and World #21).
2024 champions Conor Swail (IRL) and Casturano
Joining Jacobs from the star-studded U.S. contingent are two-time Olympic veteran and World #2 Kent Farrington; six-time Olympic veteran and World #10 McLain Ward; four-time Olympic veteran and World #18 Laura Kraut, who was recently inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame; World #28 Lillie Keenan, who rode on the U.S.’s World Championship team in 2022; 2000 Olympic veteran and Show Jumping Hall of Famer Margie Goldstein Engle; 2021 Olympic show jumping veteran Jessica Springsteen; and 2021 Olympic eventing veteran Doug Payne, who won the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian in 2022.
Other world-class entries include 2021 Olympians Roberto Teran Tafur of Colombia and Patricio Pasquel of Mexico; 2024 Olympians Thaisa Erwin of Australia and Luis Fernando Larrazabal of Venezuela; two-time Olympian Katie Laurie of New Zealand; and three-time Olympian Tiffany Foster and four-time Olympian Mario Deslauriers, both of Canada. Three-time Olympic veteran and World #24 Daniel Bluman (ISR) will try to reclaim the title he won in 2023, competing alongside two-time Olympic veteran Ashlee Bond (ISR) and Donatello 141.
More information on the Kentucky International CSI5* can be found here.
