Classic Eventing Nation

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

Meanwhile during Defender Kentucky weekend, there was one other international event running: Ireland’s Ballindenisk International 1. The feature class, the NutriScience CCI4*L, was won by British 24-year-old StormStraker with Fever Pitch. Also riding in this division was what could very well be this year’s Japanese Olympic team in Ryuzo Kitajima (who finished second), Yoshiaki Oiwa, and Kazuma Tomoto. Plus, Great Britain’s Mollie Summerland and new-to-the-level Flow 7 rounded out the podium.

You can check out the results from all the divisions here and visit the Irish Eventing Times Facebook page for lots of great photos.

Events Opening Today:Kent Horse Trials, Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. I, Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T., Full Gallop Farm June H.T., Silverwood Farm Spring H.T., Shepherd Ranch Pony Club H.T. I, Aspen Farm H.T

Events Closing Today: Hitching Post Farm H.T., Hunt Club Farms H.T., The Vista Spring YEH/NEH Qualifier, Bouckaert Equestrian H.T., Otter Creek Spring H.T., Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T., Spring Gulch H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

Eventers aren’t the only ones who obsess about footing. Not by a long shot (I know a couple footing snobs from an assortment of other disciplines, in fact) but you can add Thoroughbred horse racers to the list, too. In fact, there’s a whole lab in Kentucky called the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, a non-profit company, dedicated to keeping racetrack surfaces consistent and making them safer for horses. They’re in the process of establishing federal standards for racetrack safety. As they test surfaces they also collect a boatload of data which have helped to inform researchers about how track surfaces affect Thoroughbred bone health and longevity.

We all make a lot of joke about dressage being, ugh, the worst. But in the next breath anyone who’s worth their salt as an event rider will also sing it’s praises and knows exactly how it all plays into the fun jumping phases. That said, you don’t aways have to be practicing your twenty meter circles inside the sandbox — you should be working on your flatwork out in the field too. That’s called … you guessed it … fieldwork. Here’s a guide on fieldwork from Olympian Phyllis Dawson to get you started.

HorseHubby.com is back with a refreshed website and Mr. Horse Hubby himself, Timothy Harfield, husband of five-star eventer Elisa Wallace, has published a helpful blog post to guide future horse hubbies on how to survive their first horse show. Send this to your new beau.

Sponsor Corner: Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent tackled the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event and came out on top. Read all the details in this report sponsored by Kentucky Performance Products.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Watch This: While Doug Payne ultimately withdrew Quantum Leap from the holding box at the second horse inspection, we can still re-live their ride across country from Doug’s point of view! Check out his helmet cam recapping the big complexes on this year’s Defender Kentucky cross country course:

Catch Up on the Top Rounds of Defender Kentucky

It’s hard to believe the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event has come and gone already, but luckily there’s plenty of content to chew on as we make our respective journeys back home to nurse our horse show hangovers.

I’ve collected some of the top rounds USEF Network has posted of the winning/top rounds of the weekend. You can also find live stream replays on USEF Network or ClipMyHorse (outside of the U.S.) here.

The links below are embedded from Instagram — if you can’t see any of them, you can also view the videos on the USEF Network Facebook and Instagram pages.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent – Winners of Defender Kentucky CCI5*

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus – USEF National CCI5* Champions

Will Coleman and Diabolo – Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S Winners

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin – CCI5* Cross Country Leaders

Mia Farley and Phelps – Double Clear on Cross Country

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin – CCI5* Dressage Winners

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C – Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S Dressage

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir – CCI5* Dressage

Boyd Martin and Commando 3 – Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S Dressage

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]

Weekend Winners: New Jersey, Loudoun, Archer YEH and NEH, & University of New Hampshire

Naturally, many Eventers flocked to Kentucky this week – to compete, groom, or support. However, we saw plenty of Eventing action through New Jersey, Virginia, Wyoming, and New Hampshire this weekend as well.

Shout out to these Weekend Winners for successful outings! And an extra special shout out to the winner of our Unofficial Low Score Award, Emily Bradford and Ben-jamin’ Traveler, who won the Open Novice at New Jersey on a 22.8!

Horse Park of New Jersey Spring H.T. (Allentown, NJ) [Website][Scoring]

Open Preliminary: Alexander Conrad and Layla Q (26.4)
Open Modified: Fylicia Barr and Quantum Cooley (26.0)
Open Training: Holly Payne Caravella and Rock Me Mama (29.3)
Training Rider: Charlotte Carrajat and As Is (31.7)
Novice Rider A: Charlotte Carrajat and Late Night (Conan) (31.5)
Novice Rider B: Geneva Auckett-Stowe and Big Berry (28.9)
Open Novice: Emily Bradford and Ben-jamin’ Traveler (22.8)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Rachel Barmore and Just One More / “Travis” (31.6)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Kelly O’Brien and B.E. Never Say Never (26.6)
Open Beginner Novice: Brita Tansey and Calliope (31.9)
Starter: Lindsey Norris and Painted Arrow (32.9)

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T. (Leesburg, VA) [Website][Scoring]

Open Intermediate: Katie Lichten and Fast Company (33.0)
Open Preliminary A: Michael Pendleton and Adorrado (26.1)
Open Preliminary B: Lucia Strini and DHI Kevin G (31.6)
Open Preliminary C: Michael Pendleton and Lorian de la haute Semois (31.6)
Junior Open Training: Raina LaBonte and Quite Quality (35.0)
Open Training A: Courtney Olmstead and Macalistair (30.6)
Open Training B: Michael Pendleton and Schwarzrotgold (28.9)
Preliminary/Training: Emma Jones and Union Jack (40.1)
Training Horse: Lynn Symansky and Caramba (26.1)
Training Rider A: Nanette Schumaker and La Cosa Nostra (34.8)
Training Rider B: Mary Hope and Rule of Thumb (31.7)
Junior Open Novice: Madeline Riley and Bobbie Burns (27.2)
Novice Horse: Samantha Homeyer and SISTER ACT.COM (26.1)
Novice Rider A: Emma Whitaker and HSH Golden Boy (35.3)
Novice Rider B: Mary Ann Ghadban and Capture The Spirit (30.8)
Open Novice: Katherine DeLaney and Canto Royale (27.5)
Beginner Novice Horse: Martin Douzant and Delta Dawn PVF (28.5)
Beginner Novice Rider: Katura Harvey and Captain Regan (30.9)
Junior Open Beginner Novice A: Reagan Loker and Snappy Bullet (26.8)
Junior Open Beginner Novice B: Scarlett Knull and Frenemy (29.1)
Open Beginner Novice: Michael Pendleton and Let’s Fetz (27.4)

The Event at Archer Spring Fling YEH and NEH (Cheyenne, WY) [Website][Scoring]

Novice: Elizabeth Gillmor and Felix Felicis (24.4)
Beginner Novice: Louise Walker and Get There John (26.8)
YEH 4 Year Old: Allison Deveraux Murphy and Gemini Nuerburgring (61.050)
YEH 5 Year Old: Ryleigh Leavitt and Neverland RTL (80.250)
Starter: C’Dale Jore and A Mannhattans Lady Liberty (39.7)
NEH Starter: Ainsley Barker and Mouillage (63.950)

University of New Hampshire Spring H.T. (Durham, NH) [Website][Scoring]

Open Modified/Training: Julia Hulett and Ardeo Krafty Warren (27.3)
Open Training: Anthony Lambert and Killinick Lace (41.1)
Open Novice A: Kim Lyons and Remington (29.4)
Open Novice B: Sophia Miller and Big Platinum (33.3)
Open Beginner Novice A: Nancy Roche and Saphyra (24.4)
Open Beginner Novice B: Samantha Marcoux and Seeing Is Believing (34.3)
Open Beginner Novice C: Gabriella Johnson and Velvet Rose (32.4)
Open Starter: Faith Langley and Folk Lure (32.0)

Monday News & Notes from Futuretrack

The best part of any event is always the care the horses are shown by their riders and grooms. You know we love to celebrate the efforts of the hardworking #supergrooms here at EN, and we’ll be sharing more groom content with you in the coming days, including the winners of the Achieve Equine Supergroom Superlatives contest at Kentucky this week.

Speaking of Kentucky, if you’ve been living under a rock, we’ve had a thrilling finish to the #BestWeekendAllYear and you can catch up on all of our coverage by clicking here.

U.S. Weekend Results

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]

Horse Park of New Jersey Spring H.T. (Allentown, NJ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T. (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

The Event at Archer Spring Fling YEH and NEH (Cheyenne, WY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire Spring H.T. (Durham, NH)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Ballindenisk International (Ireland) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Timetable] [Eventing Ireland Facebook Page]

Monday Reading List

The Badminton course is now ready for previewing!

Preview the course in full on CrossCountryApp here, and stay tuned for Tilly’s more extensive preview on EN coming soon.

Exploring the ‘why’ in riding

How to manage a horse with seasonal allergies

Is EV towing right for you?

Monday Video Break:

Catch up with rising star and USEF Eventing Pathway Program athlete Cassie Sanger:

Cooley Rosalent Rises to the Top of All-British Podium with Oliver Townend for Defender Kentucky CCI5* Victory

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Tilly Berendt. Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Waking up this morning, a few scenarios ran through my head. In one, Tom McEwen or Yasmin Ingham took home the crown, each of them having somewhat of a comeback storyline when it comes to competing in Kentucky, having both come close to earning a victory here over the last few years. In another, top-ranked U.S. rider after cross country Mia Farley would climb to the top and achieve a feat no one would have ever predicted at the outset of the OTTB Phelps’ career. In a third, FEI World #1 Oliver Townend would somehow climb the board with the precocious 10-year-old Cooley Rosalent after starting Sunday in third place. To me, the first scenario was what I’d be writing about tonight.

Oliver Townend had other thoughts.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

A Win for the Superstar

We in the U.S. got our first glimpse of Diana and Paul Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent (Valent – Bellaney Jewel, by Roselier) last year at the Maryland 5 Star. She was a 9-year-old, and Oliver was quite high on her. Born to a dam who had won the Scottish Grand National, contributing a gallop and speed, and a show jumping sire who contributed scope and movement, “Rosie” had all the makings to be a star. Oliver described her when he first laid eyes on her as a four-year-old. “Is this fool’s gold?” he thought at the time. Surely a horse that could move as correctly as she did as a gangly young horse was too good to be true. Add in the Thoroughbred blood on the dam side and Oliver knew he might have something special on his hands.

At Maryland, the mare impressed, answering all the questions on Ian Stark’s cross country course to very nearly take the win in her CCI5* debut.

Oliver made a plan to bring the mare to Kentucky this year as he makes a bid for the upcoming Paris Olympics. But after scoring a 31.4 to go into 8th place after dressage, Oliver thought he might be disappointed on the plane ride home to not have been more competitive.

“I was fairly upset with myself after the dressage and looking at the last three times up until this we’ve always gone home with a win from here, so I kind of thought to myself that it’s gonna be a bit depressing going home on that plane and having not won,” Oliver said. “And then I sort of, you know, just gave myself a kick into gear and thought she’s a very good horse and I knew she was an incredible galloper both from the feel of her and from her pedigree. I had a plan in my head after Maryland last year. Again, I mucked that one up, she should have won that one and I got in her way in the show jumping. So I just had a very clear picture in my mind of what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it and if it was gonna be my week, what will be will be. Just do my job and try and look after her for the future but also try and be as competitive as possible.”

He entered a buzzing Rolex Stadium (thankfully free of any bird of prey hunting today) as the third last to go, delivering a clear round to put pressure on the top two, who had no rails in hand.

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It was then reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham‘s turn aboard Janette Chin and The Sue Davies Fund’s Banzai du Loir (Nouma D’Auzay – Gerboise du Cochet, by Livarot)., out for revenge after dropping out of contention in 2023 due to a penalty on cross country. She nearly did it, but lowered a rail at fence 8, which came just before the triple combination. This error might have given Tom a rail in hand had it not been for Oliver’s clear round, so as it stood the 2019 Pau winner entered on JL Dublin (Diarado – Zarinna by Canto), owned by James & Jo Lambert, and Mrs. Deirdre Johnston, without a cushion.

Tom was nearly home, but then it happened: the vertical at the penultimate fence, which had come down for four previous riders, rattled and clattered to the ground.

It had happened. The falling of two poles — one for Yasmin and one for Tom — would give Oliver Townend his fourth Kentucky victory and a win on the weekend his historic 100th CCI5* start.

“I was lucky that it didn’t go the other two guys ways,” Oliver joked in the press conference. “You know, they’re on very established and famously good jumping horses. The pressure was kind of off me in a way, which I quite enjoyed because normally it’s me going in there in Tom’s position and having a fence down sometimes. It swings in roundabouts.”

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Despite this success for Oliver, it’s hard not to feel for Tom and Yasmin, who once again will board a plane back to Kentucky without a trophy in hand (though a podium finish at a 5* is hardly a failure, but it’s no doubt hard to put it into this perspective with the pressure of Olympic selection looming).

“Dubs has been amazing,” Tom noted. “I really feel like this weekend we’ve really cemented our partnership. It’s just taken a bit longer. He’s such a nice, polite, kind character and Nicola has done the most extraordinarily great job with him. It’s just taken a little bit of time for me to find the path with him. And this weekend I thought he did the most incredible dressage test and I was a bit gutted with the mark that I came out with, I thought it should have been better, personally.”

“To be honest today with the show jumping,” he continued. “He’s a great jumper and it’s just one of those things. I’m sure I’ll beat myself up about it, but I’ve only got a week to do it and then back to Badminton. But for me, Dublin is the most crazy special. I mean, the dressage test sort of showed half of what he can produce. It’s been a lot better than it has been here, so that was that was a bit of a gutting shame. But yeah, I know on his day that actually he will wipe floors clean. So it’s very good and exciting coming up into an Olympic year that he’s put himself in a great position, and sort of onwards and upwards really.”

Yasmin echoed Tom’s disappointed pragmatism. “I think overall he jumped super today. We just had a really unlucky rub on an oxer. So overall, I’m delighted with him and unfortunately it wasn’t our day and these things happen for a reason and we’ll come out stronger next time. But I’m absolutely delighted with him from the beginning of the week until today, so it’s really exciting to be on a podium at five-star, the highest level in the sport. And of course, it’s a very important year so he’s feeling amazing and obviously we ‘will go away and work even harder is the next thing on the list.”

Notes and Notables

Malin Hansen Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Finishing fourth in Carlitos Quidditch K‘s (Quiwi Dream – Amsterdam, by San Patrignano Cassini) first CCI5* is Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp, who delivered the sole other double clear round today aside from Oliver’s to finish on a score of 37.9, moving from 10th place after cross country. I unfortunately did not get to catch up with Malin after her round, but will try to add some more perspective from her as she certainly experienced the weekend of a lifetime on her first trip to Kentucky.

The newly-crowned USEF National CCI5* Champion is Lauren Nicholson, who brought the cheeky Vermiculus (Serazim ox – Wake Me Gently xx by Be My Native xx), who is owned by the wonderfully supportive Ms. Jacqueline Mars, to Kentucky to contest his ninth CCI5* at the age of 17 years young. After a minor injury prompted Lauren to keep “Bug” on the sidelines for the majority of 2023, she brought him out with a very big goal looming in the back of her mind: a spot on the Olympic team for the USA.

Coming into Kentucky, Lauren kept her expectations realistic: Vermiculus hadn’t run at the level since 2022, when he was fourth at Luhmühlen. His most recent major outing was at the FEI World Championships for Eventing, where he and Lauren assisted team USA to a silver medal.

“I mean certainly we came feeling a touch rusty because he hasn’t had a proper big outing since Pratoni and especially because in his career he hasn’t actually missed a season before,” Lauren said. “So we certainly came here wanting to be competitive and he has the experience to do so.”

Lauren did lower one rail — the first element of the triple combination at 9 — but her finishing score of 39.0 was enough to secure fourth place and the National Championship ribbon.

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“I would have liked to beat this lot,” Lauren said, gesturing to her left at the podium finishers. “But he certainly, not outperformed expectations, but I was just very pleased, especially for such the fan following he has — he’s such a character anyway — that I was able to deliver what he deserved to get on the day.”

This achievement is Lauren’s third time winning the USEF National CCI5* Championship, second only to Phillip Dutton. She’s won the award twice before with her 2016 Olympic partner, Veronica, in 2014 and 2016. Vermiculus is another horse sailing toward the tail end of a lengthy career at the top levels, a testament to the program Lauren has designed under the advice of her longtime mentors David and Karen O’Connor and the team she has surrounded herself and her horses with.

With this result, and with two potential Olympic hopefuls for the U.S. dealing with minor injuries, the race for U.S. team selection seems like it’s nearly been blown wide open with a little over a month to go before team selections begin rolling in.

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“It’s not a bad feeling, but you know, I think all these guys can agree you get to a point your career that you don’t want to go just to get the completion,” Lauren said when asked for her thoughts on the Olympics. “I’m eager that the U.S. has such depth too. If I get put on [the team], I want to get put on because I’m going to contribute to bringing home a medal, not just to go there for fun. I think it’s going to be a really hard choice for selectors to make because the three person team certainly is going to be a heavy factor in that decision. So we’ve done what we can this weekend and done our job and now it’s just wait and see what’s in the cards.”

Buck Davidson and Sorocaima. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Also securing a competitive finish at Kentucky are Buck Davidson with the off-track Thoroughbred Sorocaima (Rock Hard Ten xx – Sankobasi xx, by Pulpit xx), who jumped a clear round with a few seconds’ worth of time to finish sixth on a score of 41.8.

“I thought if I took the top rail off every jump, I might have a chance,” he joked after his ride. “After we jumped through the triple I thought, ‘my god, I didn’t think we had a chance at that.’ I’m just so proud of him, all three phases he just did better than he can do. Two years ago, I think I had eight [rails] down and he just keeps trying.”

Sourced originally by Jill Henneberg and sent to Buck as a training or resale horse, “Cam” has become a barn favorite amongst the Davidson clan, carving out his place as a sleeper top prospect with this result. “He’s stronger, he’s more mature, he’s been there and done that now,” Buck described. “You can’t underestimate the heart of a Thoroughbred. I mean, they just try and try and try, and he never didn’t try, he just didn’t know how to do it.”

The Stats

Oliver Townend picks up his fourth Kentucky victory. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

This year’s Steve Stephens-designed show jumping track stayed fairly on par with its statistical history, yielding only six clear rounds for a 26% clear rate and just a 9% double clear rate (Kentucky has averaged a 21% clear rate on Sunday over the past few seasons, according to EquiRatings).

Problems were scattered throughout the course with no real clear bogey fence, though the penultimate vertical came down for five riders and fence 3 also causing trouble for five riders. Time was also a factor: the time allowed of 1 minute, 20 seconds was not enough for 16 pairs.

There was one withdrawal between the trot-up this morning and show jumping: Ariel Grald made the decision not to jump with Leamore Master Plan, who had been in 31st place after cross country. “Although he passed the trot up, I ultimately decided to save him for the future,” Ariel told us. “He’s a horse of a lifetime and doesn’t owe me a thing!”

Oliver Townend now stands in line to become the third rider to capture the elusive Rolex Grand Slam (Pippa Funnell was the first rider to win in 2003, followed many years later by Michael Jung in 2016) with his win at Burghley aboard Ballaghmor Class. He’s entered at Badminton in two weeks’ with Tregilder and Ballaghmor Class — arguably his top chance to win the event and the Grand Slam.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this report said Ballaghmor Class had been withdrawn from Badminton, but we are unsure if this is true due to how Badminton is listing their entries. I’ve taken that out while we confirm the status.

The End of Another #BestWeekendAllYear

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It’s been an absolute pleasure following along with Kentucky alongside you this week. I have many stories I’d love to tell yet, so please stay tuned as I catch up on some of the conversations I missed out on this weekend.

I chatted briefly with an elated Joe Meyer, who brought the Meyer family’s and Theresa Foote’s Harbin (who reminds Joe very much of his famous former partner, Snip) to the 5* level for the first time and delivered two incredible clear jumping rounds — look for more on that later. James Alliston also enjoyed a stellar weekend with the debutant Karma, owned by Alliston Equestrian and Ric Plummer, also delivering a clear cross country and show jumping.

I’ll be telling these stories and more throughout the week upcoming in between Kentucky and Badminton, plus much more, so stay tuned and as always, Go Eventing.

EN’s coverage of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products.

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]

The Diabolo is in the Details: Will Coleman Goes Clear for the Win in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S

Will Coleman and Diabolo win the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Since the inception of the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, last year’s champions Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo have been the only pair who managed to finish on their dressage score — but now Will Coleman and Diabolo have added their names to that record. They will also boast the second-lowest finishing score in history, just 0.6 behind Karl’s score to end on a 29.9.

Only 40 horses entered the stadium this morning after a few leaderboard changes overnight — Lyndsay Traisnel withdrew her mount Bacyrouge soon after cross country, and previous leaders Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri also bowed out before the start of the day’s events this morning.

Show Jumping Hall of Fame member and USHJA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Steve Stephens presented a lovely, balanced course to the Kentucky entrants today, which saw scattered faults across the 15 total jumping efforts without too much focus on any one specific question. Stephens has designed for three Olympic Games in 1984, 2000, and 2008, as well as for hugely influential competitions, including the Washington International, National Horse Show, Royal Winter Fair, Winter Equestrian Festival, and the American Invitational.

Show jumping in this division has always been highly influential, Karl Slezak’s 2023 victory being the only time a cross country leader has gone on to win. With an optimum time of 77 seconds and a historic average clear rate of 26%, today’s course saw just one in three of our competitors without jump faults and within the time.

Safety has always been at the forefront of Stephens’ designs; the five-time Team USA Chef d’Equipe’s course today being described as very attractive while still maintaining a difficulty level worthy of Kentucky’s 4* field. “He’s a legend in course design, and the way he uses the stadium is just really unique I think from all the people that have designed here,” said Will Coleman of Stephens’ process. “I think he builds some of the best tracks that we do, and the stadium is always electric.”

As one of the top ten horses in the field, despite his and Will Coleman’s fresh partnership, Diabolo (Diarado – Roulett M, by Aljano 2) was the only horse clear within the time on Derek di Grazia’s “four-and-a-half-star” course yesterday. Another record can be added to their growing repertoire as this also made them one of only five pairs ever to finish double-clear in the CCI4*-S cross country.

The leaderboard after cross country showed incredibly tight margins, with less than a point between the top three, and only 3.6 faults separated Liz Halliday and Miks Master C from her overnight seventh-place mount, Cooley Quicksilver. In a shocking twist, a single dropped pole at the penultimate fence from post-cross-country leaders Liz and Mikki opened the door to Will and Diabolo’s first win together. Will and Liz are known to be incredibly supportive of each other, often referring to the other as most deserving of a win at any given competition, and both riders left the 2023 USEA American Eventing Championships with first place victories — Liz and Mikki in the $60,000 Adequan Advanced Final and Will with Chin Tonic HS in the Intermediate Finals, where Diabolo took second place as well.

Will was originally predicted to win the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S with a 24% win chance on Chin Tonic, but despite having made the difficult decision to withdraw the field favorite to win before the start of the competition, he is certainly leaving Kentucky having had an excellent few days at the office.

This is the first faultless finish the 12-year-old Holsteiner has seen with Will — his only other dressage-score finish attained with previous rider Gemma Tinney at the 2019 Adelaide CCI3*-L, which was coincidentally also his most recent first-place victory. “This horse came from Australia and his transition to the northern hemisphere was actually really difficult for him,” Will explained. “For most of last year to be honest, he just struggled to feel like he was his normal self. He had various issues adjusting to life in a different hemisphere — I think the season change and all that kind of stuff definitely took a toll on him — so we were just really patient.”

Will explained that he and Diabolo “laid low” for most of the 2023 season, thus explaining their multiple withdrawals from competitions, in order to focus mainly on getting to know each other and learning how to navigate their new partnership. “We bought the horse last year and I can’t thank the people enough who came together to acquire him for me,” he said of the Diabolo Group LLC. “I think we’re only just getting started and I really hope that we can just continue to bring him to his full potential.”

Will has plans for Diabolo to make his 5* debut at Luhmühlen this summer, which will also be their first competition outside the US. “Even at home, [Diabolo] was starting to give me the feeling that he was on the verge of doing something competitive at a big event, and we obviously have a lot of belief in the horse’s talent,” Will said of the horse’s potential. “We kind of have just been patiently biding our time until he was ready to sort of show it to the rest of the world. I think he still has a long way to go, but I’m really keen on him and I’m excited about his future.”

When asked about how this placement may affect his plans for his potential Olympic qualification, Will replied with a laugh, “I wouldn’t even try to answer that.” Off The Record and Chin Tonic have both been considered as highly likely candidates for Will, and likely for the selectors as well, but this win — as well as Off The Record’s third-place finish — has definitely brought another contender to light.

“I think highly of both horses, and as you know, it’s still many months away and there’s a really competitive group of horses and riders here in America competing for just three spots,” Will explained with his trademark humility. “I don’t count myself in by any stretch of the imagination, and we’re just going to keep trying to get a little better each day. If we end up at that horse show at the end of July in France, that’s one thing and we’ll be very happy, and if we don’t, there’s other things we can go and do.”

Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Boyd Martin was all smiles and big pats for his newest Olympic hopeful Commando 3 (Connor 48 – R-Adelgunde, by Amigo xx) after their second-place finish in Rolex Stadium this morning. The Yankee Creek Ranch LLC’s gelding was a pleasure to watch, achieving a clear round under optimum time in lovely, near-slow-motion form.

“I think it was a great course — the top jumpers all jumped well,” said Boyd of taking to Steve Stephen’s track with his two horses. “The time was a little bit tight; you had to sort of scoot around the corners.” Nothing, he said, quite beats the feeling of the atmosphere present at this competition. “There’s no question that American crowds are the best anywhere in the world,” he noted. “They love the sport, they cheer when things go well, and they even cheer when things go bad. It’s a wonderful atmosphere here at Kentucky — it’s almost a bit of a let down when you go to the other five-stars in Europe.”

A newcomer to the US circuit, “Connor” was previously campaigned by Louise Romieke of Sweden to much success, from taking fifth place in his first international competition at the 2019 Haras de Jardy Young Horse 2*-S — his only finish to date with double-clear rounds in both cross country and show jumping — to multiple podium finishes at the 3* level.

Since acquiring the ride at the start of last year, Boyd has piloted Connor to maintain a flawless cross-country jump record. Fast and clear in the stadium is also a usual for them, with less than a handful of scattered poles on their books. The pair added only three seconds of time to their dressage score yesterday, with their foot-perfect ride this morning putting them on the podium at a 30.1.

“I’m very blessed with the two horses that finished in the top group here, and they’re pretty hard to split actually,” Boyd mentioned of Connor and fourth-place finisher Fedarman B. “They’re about as good as each other, they’re very strong in all their phases. It’s a wonderful position to be in to have a couple of [Olympic] hopefuls. Like your children — you should never favor one more than the other,” he said jokingly.

Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Will Coleman is just as thrilled about his overall victory with Diabolo as he is of his podium finish on long-time partner Off The Record (Arkansas VDL – Drumagoland Bay by Ard Ohio). He and “Timmy” have been around the world and back together, with a myriad of successes lining their excellent record together — with this achievement marking their 21st time on the podium.

“Off The Record is a proven champion and has been one of the greatest horses I’ve ever ridden in my career,” Will said of the 15-year-old gelding. The only US Aachen winner in history was tied with Boyd Martin’s Fedarman B for the second-fastest run across the country yesterday, and finishes on a 30.9 with just 2 seconds during cross country added to his dressage score.

“We haven’t had that many great Sundays here,” Will admitted after learning of both his final placings. “I’m just so proud of both my boys, they were awesome.”

Of Chin Tonic HS, Will’s original hopeful to win the 4*, he explained that their season may look a bit different after this weekend’s events. “I couldn’t really say whether [Chin] is definitely out for Paris,” he admitted. “We’re going to need to explore the issue with this carpal sheath a little bit more, but I would think having missed this event that this was sort of the key event for him to do in terms of selection. I would say it’s low odds that he’d be available for that, but I still don’t really have the full picture on what we’re going to have to do regarding this carpal sheath issue. The horse is 100% sound and he’s really well, but we don’t want to put him at any sort of risk and do anything that could threaten the rest of his career.”

Rated as one the best show jumping pairs in the field, it was no surprise that Boyd Martin and Fedarman B (Eurocommerce Washington – Paulien B, by Fedor) managed a double-clear round today, finishing in fourth place on a 32.5.

“I think I’m in a wonderful position with both Commando 3 and Fedarman B,” Boyd said of his plans for the season — and that one season highlight everyone has on their minds. “Obviously the Olympic Games now looks like it could be real. There’s the Luhmühlen five-star — which, geez, I’d love to win that — and then there’s Aachen four-star short. I don’t think this run took much out of them, so I think those are the three events coming up in the next couple months that I’d hopefully see them at.”

The pair’s score still tied with Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake (Tolan R – Doughiska Lass, by Kannan) since yesterday’s cross country conclusion, but “Bruno” was ultimately closest to optimum time yesterday after running the second-fastest in the field, leaving 2023 Pan American Games Gold Medalists Caroline and Blake to end the day in fifth position.

“Honestly, Blake would be the top one in my string at the moment,” Caroline said enthusiastically of the young gelding’s future. “I’m kind of in a different position than these guys — the oldest horse that I have at the moment is nine years old. My other two big time four-star long horses are actually going to head over to Europe about May, because I got selected to do the European tour.” Chatsworth, Millstreet, and Aachen are all in sights for the up-and-coming US Team Member, and she certainly has enough quality horses to see some great results. “Blake is supposed to run in about fifteen days time to do Tryon’s four-long — and if that goes well, then hopefully we’ll be looking on towards the Olympics.”

All three of Liz Halliday’s mounts make up the rest of the top 10 — Cooley Quicksilver, Miks Master C, and Shanroe Cooley — along with her fellow Pan American Games team member Sydney Elliott and Carol Stephens’ QC Diamantaire in eighth position. Dani Sussman from Colorado aboard her and Carol Mavrakis’ Jos Bravio round out the leaderboard in tenth place. Click here to see the final scores for all contenders in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S.

It’s been yet another whirlwind week here at Kentucky, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Congratulations to all on an excellent weekend, and continue to watch this space for our report on the finale to this year’s Defender Kentucky CCI5*. Head over to our Instagram @goeventing for what are sure to be some beautiful moments captured by our EN team on the ground. Only 364 days until next Kentucky – but we’ll hopefully see some of these friends again soon at “that horse show at the end of July in France.”

Go Kentucky, and Go Eventing!

EN’s coverage of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products.

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]

The Kentucky Crown Awaits – Live Blog from the Conclusion of CCI5* Competition at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

Game face on and going for the win – Tom McEwen’s on track for the top spot with JL Dublin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

And so we find ourselves at the finale of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, which feels like it’s been going on for months and seconds all at once. We’ve seen some very smart dressage, masses of cross country excitement, and talent, tears, bravery, love, passion and horsemanship to spare in what’s truly shaping up to be The Best Weekend All Year.

Team EN’s been here for it all – in the Horse Park and glued to live streams at home – bringing every second to you, fellow eventing nerds. Here’s everything you need to catch up on the story so far:

🌟 Dressage Day One – [Round-up Report] [Test-by-test Live Report]
🌟 Dressage Day Two – [Round-up Report] [Test-by-test Live Report]
🌟 Cross Country – [Round-up Report] [Ride-by-ride Live Report]

In true cross country fashion, yesterday’s competition saw a real game of shoots and ladders happening on the leaderboard – with valiant climbs toward the top and unfortunate tumbles downwards – as the horses and riders took to Derek di Grazia’s course and evented the heck out of it. It’s a British 1 – 2 – 3 at this point in the competition, but the scores are tight all the way through the field and we all know just how easily those poles can roll when the pressure’s on. Here’s how things look at the top as we head into the final phase:

1️⃣ 🇬🇧 Holding onto his spot as leader of the pack – Olympic team gold and individual silver medalist – Tom McEwen and last year’s runner-up JL Dublin are looking to level up this time around. They delivered the goods for a 24.6 in the dressage, then swooped ‘round the track yesterday with just four time penalties to add, and are now sitting pretty on a score of 28.6. There’s not a single pole between him and the next two places.

2️⃣ 🇬🇧 Just 3 points behind are 2022 runners-up and reigning World Champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, who also held their position after yesterday’s cross country. They put their marker down on day one with a 26 in the dressage, then showed just how world class they are out on cross country yesterday, adding just 5.6 time penalties to sit less than a pole behind the lead on a score of 31.6. They have nothing in hand as just 0.2 penalties separate them from the next spot on the board.

3️⃣ 🇬🇧 Galloping his way from 8th after dressage into the top 3 is Tom’s Olympic gold teammate and multiple 5* winner – including three-time Kentucky champ – Oliver Townend – who’s made his 100th top-level start here this week – and the 10-year-old Maryland third place finisher Cooley Rosalent. Their 31.4 in the dressage was a tad disappointing as we’ve seen much lower scores from this lovely mare, but boy did she take to the track like a total pro yesterday, crossing the flags just one second over the time for 0.4 of a penalty. That sees them less than a pole from the top of the podium, with nothing between them and second place, on a score of 31.8. It’s tight the other way too – there’s not a pole between them and 7th on the leaderboard.

4️⃣ 🇳🇿 Another pairing making strides up the scoreboard are Kiwi combination and World Championship team bronze medalists Monica Spencer and Artist. They too scored higher than their form suggested in the first phase, landing them in 10th after the dressage on 31.9, but the Thoroughbred proved his mettle on the galloping track, adding just 0.8 of a time penalty and propelling them to within touching distance of the podium coming into today’s finale.

5️⃣ 🇺🇲 They were 5th at Maryland 5* in the spring on their debut at the level and delivered our first clear inside the time yesterday (one of only two to manage that feat), exciting young US talent Mia Farley and $1 (yes, he cost a single dollar) racing-trained Thoroughbred Phelps stormed eight places up the leaderboard from 13th after their flawless performance across the country yesterday. They remain on their 33.8 dressage score, just one pole off the lead with just a few seconds separating them from second place.

With scores this tight, and after two poles dropped them from the top spot at Maryland, Oliver and Rosie have some work to do if they want to hang onto third place, but Yas and Banzai’s Kentucky form suggest they’re on track to pull out the clear they need to secure their spot on the podium. Dubs is the highest-rated show jumper in the field according to the EquiRatings stats; he jumped clear here last year, but rolled a pole at Pau – he needs to keep them in the cups to secure the win today. History is on his side: eleven of the last thirteen cross country leaders have gone on to claim the title.

Meanwhile, the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian is running alongside the 5* competition. Here’s how things are looking for the US riders:

1️⃣ Leading the charge and best of the US at this point are Mia Farley and Phelps on 33.8.
2️⃣ Sitting in second are Lauren Nicholson and everyone’s favorite Love Bug, seventeen-year-old Vermiculus on 35. Bug sure looked ready for it at the Horse Inspection this morning!
3️⃣ Liz Halliday and 5* debutant, USEF CCI4*-L National Champion 2023 Cooley Nutcracker are in third as things stand on 37.

I’ll be bringing you round-by-round updates, right down to the final fence of the competition, so keep this page refreshed as we find out who’ll be crowed Kentucky champions 2024. If you’re catching up on this later, scroll ⬇️ and read ⬆️.

If you’re craving more Kentucky, EN’s got your back – and if you want to follow the form as we wrap up The Best Weekend All Year, you’ll find EN’s epic Form Guide right here. As if that isn’t enough, we’ve got loads of great IG content happening courtesy of our team on the ground too @goeventing.

With less than a pole between the podium places, this is sure to be edge-of-your-seat, butt squeezing stuff.
Let the clenching begin, and go eventing!

EN’s coverage of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products.

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

2:23pm ET
What. A. Weekend. What. A. Competition. What. A. Kentucky.

After all’s said and done, we have new Kentucky champions:

1️⃣ All hail Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent who’ve delivered the goods and taken the top spot with a score of 31.8.
2️⃣ 2 points behind – taking the runners-up spot for the second year in a row – are Tom McEwen and JL Dublin on 33.8.
3️⃣ And rounding out the top three we have Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir with on 35.6.

It’s a British 1 – 2 – 3 at Kentucky.

Winners of the Defender/USEF National Eventing 5*-L Championship are Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus – a well deserved victory for this special little horse.

Click here to see all the 5* results.

And there you have it. Kentucky is over, eventing hangovers beckon, and I’m off to rest my digits before we start all these shenanigans back up again for Badminton.

Keep an eye or two out for our full round-up of what’s been a truly excellent competition and for sure The Best Weekend All Year – coming soon. In the meantime, click here for all the Kentucky content you can handle.

I officially have eventing jet-lag, have eaten nothing but pizza since last Tuesday and am running on single digit hours of sleep. But I’ll do it all over again in a heartbeat. Until next time…
Over and out and go eventing!

2:20pm ET
OLIVER TOWNEND AND COOLEY ROSALENT HAVE WON KENTUCKY 5*!

He came into Kentucky as the live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam after winning Burghley last season. He’s still on track with the win here today – two legs under his belt, one to go – Badminton, and that’s in just over a week’s time!

2:18pm ET
This is it! The final horse and rider of the 5* competition take to the ring!
Team GB gold and individual silver Olympic medalist Tom McEwen and last year’s runner up JL Dublin are jumping for the win. They’ve already got a second and third place at 5* under their cinch, will they add a win here today? Let the clenching commence!
5⭐ form – 3rd Pau 2023; 2nd Kentucky 2023.
📈 They rolled a pole at Pau, but that was an unlucky blip in this horse’s otherwise incredibly clean record.

Score after dressage and XC: 28.6
Place: 1st

Phew, it’s tense to the end in Kentucky! Hold your breath. They set out and Dubs is a total star over the first fences. They have a beautiful shot over number 3 and get the distance to the double at 5 spot on. Everything’s so smooth and efficient, this is a brilliant round. They’re clear through the treble at 9 and roll back to the final line. They clear 10 and 11 but 12 goes. They clear the last but that’s 4 penalties for them and 1.2 time. Such a shame for them, and they drop into 2nd place.

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin round off their trip to the States on a score of 33.8.

2:13pm ET
Two to go!
Reigning World Champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir get their chance now. They’ve been runners-up here before and are sitting in second as they head into the ring.

5⭐ form – 2nd Kentucky 2022; 18th Kentucky 2023.
📈 They jumped clear on the final day at each of their two previous outings at the Horse Park.

Score after dressage and XC: 31.6
Place: 2nd

Yas and Banzai set off looking like the World Champions they are and are easily clear over the first few fences. Yas really is a classy rider. They wrap round to the oxer at 4 and make nothing of the double at 5. 6 and 7 are no trouble at all, but oh my! The Liverpool at 8 goes. They’re beautiful through the treble at 9 and find no problems with the rest of the fences. They’re inside the time but that fence has dropped them behind Oliver.

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir finish up with a score of 35.6.

3:11pm ET
We’re down to the podium places! Three Brits incoming…
World No. 1 and three-time winner of the 5* here at Kentucky, Oliver Townend and Maryland 3rd place finisher Cooley Rosalent are currently in third. Will they hang onto their podium place? Let’s see…

5⭐ form – 3rd Maryland 2023; 27th Luhmuhlen 2023.
📈 Two poles at Maryland dropped them from the top spot. They kept it to one at Luhmuhlen. There are plenty of clears on this mare’s record though.

Score after dressage and XC: 31.8
Place: 3rd

‘Rosie’ clear the first with room to spare, and then jumps really beautifully over the tricky fence at 3. The double at 5 is no problem at all – this round is looking very classy so far. They’re clear through the treble at 9 and then loop back round to the final line. They’re clear all the way to the last. Uh, there’s a moment for them at the final fence, but luck’s on their side. CLEAR INSIDE THE TIME and a certain podium place for them.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent bag another top level finish on a score of 31.8.

3:08pm ET
Kiwi combination Monica Spencer and Artist are heading for another 5* completion as they take to the ring.

5⭐ form – 7th Maryland 2023.
📈 They had two poles at Maryland, and three at the World Championships at Pratoni, but there are plenty of clears on their record at 4*.

Score after dressage and XC: 32.7
Place: 4th

Monica and Artist jump really carefully over the first three fences and don’t look to be touching anything in the ring. They manage the double at 5 and then make it through the treble at 9 still clear. They come back round to the final line, but oh dear, the Liverpool at 12 goes and then the last as well. There’s a shrug from Monica, that’s horses. That’s two down for them and 1.2 time.

Monica Spencer and Artist end their Kentucky on a score of 41.9.

3:05pm ET
And we’re down to the final 5!
Mia Farley and Phelps are next up. They’re sitting atop the USEF National Championship leaderboard as things stand.

5⭐ form – 5th Maryland 2023.
📈 They rolled two poles at Maryland.

Score after dressage and XC: 33.8
Place: 5th

Oh no! The first fence comes down. Ah, that’s such a shame for them. They fly over the second but unfortunately the third goes. Mia puts it behind her and does a lovely job through the double at 5. They clear 6 but 7 comes down and then the first part of the treble at 9 goes also. This is a shame for Mia, but they continue clear and complete at Kentucky. That’s 16 jumping and 0.8 time penalties for them. They drop out of the running for the USEF National Championship, which will go to Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus.

Mia Farley and Phelps get another top-level completion on their card with a finishing score of 50.6.

3:02pm ET
Germany’s Christoph Wahler and D’Accord FRH join us in the ring next.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 In their last five runs, there’s just one pole at the Nations Cup in Boekelo on their record.

Score after dressage and XC: 34
Place: 6th

D’Accord drifts slightly between the first two fences – he’s really big striding and Christoph has to make room for him. That has a knock on effect though and they have number 3 down. Christoph really manages all that power and scope so well through the double at 5, and then through the treble at 9. They wrap back around to the final line, still clear, and oh no! The last fence goes. That’s expensive for them. 8 jumping and 0.4 time.

Christoph Wahler and D’Accord FRH end their Kentucky campaign on a finishing score of 42.4.

pm ET
Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus get their show jumping round underway. They’re currently second in the USEF National Championship.

5⭐ form – 4th Luhmuhlen 2022; 16th Kentucky 2021; 12th Maryland 2021; 9th Burghley and Kentucky 2019.
📈 Their show jumping form in their last four FEI events is 4 | 8 | 12 | 0.

Score after dressage and XC: 35
Place: 7th

Bug looks to be really enjoying his time in the ring as he clears the first fences on course. They’re clear through the double at 5 and choose to take the option at 6. They’re clear through fence 8 but then the first part of the treble at 9 goes, that’s a shame as Bug’s really jumping his socks off. They clear the last few fences and just have 4 penalties to add, they’re inside the time.

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus add another 5* to their record, completing on a score of 39.

2:58pm ET
Number 3 on the USEA leaderboard, Elisabeth Halliday and USEF CCI4*-L National Champion 2023 Cooley Nutcracker are next to go. They’re currently sitting in third place in the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian, which is running alongside the 5* competition

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 From eight FEI runs since the beginning of 2023, he’s been clear in all but two of them.

Score after dressage and XC: 37
Place: 8th

They easily clear the first three fences, so much scope and ability on show here. He’s clearing the jumps by miles – there’s no sign of him touching anything. The double at 5 is easy for them and they make nothing of the treble at 9. This is a beautiful round so far. They come back round to the oxer at 11 but then, such a shame, the vertical over the Liverpool goes. They’re clear over the last. Just the one pole and 1.2 time for them.

Elisabeth Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker complete Kentucky on a score of 42.2.

2:55pm ET
Winners of the Best First-Timer award at Burghley last season where they finished 12th, next up is Jennie Brannigan with FE Lifestyle.

5⭐ form – 24th Kentucky 2021; 16th Kentucky 2022; 5th Maryland 2022; 12th Kentucky 2023; 12th Burghley 2023.
📈 They had one pole at each of their 5* runs last season, but there are plenty of clears on their record.

Score after dressage and XC: 37.3
Place: 9th

Jennie and ‘Foxy’ are confidently clear over the first three fences and find the distance at the double at 5 no problem at all. They’re clear to the treble at 9 in the center of the ring, and unfortunately they pull the rail in the middle of that – that’s an expensive pole. They put it behind them and are clear the rest of the way. Such a shame about that 4 penalties. They add 1.2 time also.

Jennie Brannigan with FE Lifestyle finish their competition on a score of 42.5.

2:51pm ET
We’re into the top 10!
Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K are next to go.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 Their show jumping form in their last five FEI events is 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0.

Score after dressage and XC: 37.9
Place: 10th
Quidditch sure looks beautiful in the Kentucky sunshine. They confidently clear the first three fences and make the toll back to the oxer at 4 really smoothly. They turn quickly after the double at 5 to loop round to 6, going the quicker route there. The treble at 9 is really neatly done. This horse is jumping out of his skin. He keeps it clear and they’re inside the time! Our first double clear! Super!

Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K end up on a score of 37.9.

2:49pm ET
Bruce Davidson Jr and OTTB Sorocaima are next into the ring.

5⭐ form – 30th Kentucky 2022; 14th Maryland 2022; 22nd Kentucky 2023; 9th Maryland 2023.
📈 They kept it to one pole here last year, but rolled three at Maryland.

Score after dressage and XC: 39
Place: 11th

They clear the first and second then get in close to the 3rd but ‘Cam’ hops over it. The tricky line to the double at 5 is no problem for them. Cam’s looking great as he clears the fences in the stadium today. They are super neat through the treble at 9. There’s a bit of an argument coming round the corner to 11 and a tiny rub but it stays. The final two stay too. A clear jumping round for them with 2.8 time.

Bruce Davidson Jr and Sorocaima complete Kentucky on a score of 41.8.

2:46pm ET
Sharon White and Claus 63 are next to go.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 They were clear last time out, but dropped four poles at the Pan-Ams in Santiago. That’s a blip on their record though, they’re generally a one or none kind of combination.

Score after dressage and XC: 42.7
Place: 13th

Sharon and Claus enter the ring to a huge cheer. They make a beautiful job of the first two fences and Sharon really makes sure that Claus gets to a good spot for 3 and they clear it easily. They’re really neat on the turns and making this course look easy up to the treble at 9 – unfortunately the final element of that goes. They put it behind them and are clear up to the last. They add a stride but it stays up. Just one fence for them and 1.2 time.

Sharon White and Claus 63 finish their competition on a score of 47.9.

2:43pm ET
No. 1 on the USEA leaderboard, Phillip Dutton brings Azure forward looking for the mare’s first 5* completion.

5⭐ form – An unlucky fall at Maryland last season means they’re looking for their first 5* completion here.
📈 This mare’s form in this phase is generally clear with the odd pole dotted through her record.

Score after dressage and XC: 44.6
Place: 14th

Oh no! The back rail of the oxer at 1 goes for Phillip and Azure. He’s a total pro though, he won’t let that distract him for the rest of the course. They clear the tricky fence at 3 and make it clear through the double at 5. Ah, the Liverpool at 8 goes. The three parts of the treble stay up and they continue on to the finish line clear. That’s two fences for them and 0.4 time.

Phillip Dutton and Azure complete their first 5* together on a score of 53.

2:41pm ET
Andrew McConnon is back with us now, this time with Wakita 54.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 Their show jumping form in their last five FEI events is 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12.

Score after dressage and XC: 49.5
Place: 15th

‘Kiki’ jumps nicely over the first three fences and rolls back to the oxer at 4 really smoothly. Ah, the second part of the double at 5 goes. They put it behind them and continue on clear until the treble combination at 9 and have the first part of that down. They look to be taking things steady. They finish up clear over the final fences. That’s 8 jumping and 0.4 time penalties for them.

Andrew McConnon and Wakita 54 wrap up their Kentucky on a score of 57.9.

2:38pm ET
Kiwi combination Joe Meyer and Harbin are next to jump.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 They come here off the back of three consecutive clear rounds.

Score after dressage and XC: 49.6
Place: 16th

Joe and Harbin get their round off to a great start, jumping clear over the first 5 fences. There’s an option at 6 and they take the quick route and clear it easily. Harbin looks quieter in the ring than she did in the cross country where she was very keen. They clip the pole over the Liverpool at 12 but it stays. The crowd goes crazy as they clear the last. No jumping penalties but 1.2 time for them.

Joe Meyer and Harbin end up on a score of 50.8.

2:36pm ET
James Alliston is next to go with Karma.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 In 8 international runs, there’s just one single show jumping pole on this mare’s record.

Score after dressage and XC: 50.1
Place: 17th

Karma looks really shiny as she absolutely flies over the first three fences, making that tricky one at 3 look easy. This mare clearly loves to jump, she’s so careful over her fences. They continue on clear and are really accurate through the treble at 9 – really good. Karma seems to cast a shoe, but it doesn’t affect her jumping – she finishes clear over the fences. But there is 0.4 of a time penalty, perhaps because of that shoe. A great 5* completion for this mare though.

James Alliston and Karma complete Kentucky on a score of 50.5.

2:33pm ET
US-based Aussie Ema Klugman brings Bronte Beach forward next.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 Their form suggests they’re likely to have at least one pole, but no more than two.

Score after dressage and XC: 55.4
Place: 18th

Ema and ‘Bronte’ look confident as they set off on their round, but unfortunately have that tricky vertical at 3 down. They put it behind them and clear the next three. Oh, the vertical at 7 has gone – the loop back to that fence isn’t easy. They continue on their way and give the Liverpool at 12 a bit of a rub – it stays though. But sadly they knock the last. Three poles and 1.2 penalties for them.

Ema Klugman and Bronte Beach complete on a score of 68.6.

2:31pm ET
Germany’s Calvin Böckmann and The Phantom of the Opera bring their Kentucky to a close next.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 Their show jumping form in their last five FEI events is 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4.

Score after dressage and XC: 58.6
Place: 19th

Calvin proved he’s a brave guy out on course yesterday. Phantom’s looking very fit and keen in the ring today too. They clear the first four but have the first part of the double at 5 down. They clear the next few and manage to keep the treble at 9 in the center of the arena up. They continue on clear and keep it to just the one pole. They’re inside the time.

Calvin Böckmann and The Phantom of the Opera complete on a score of 62.6.

2:28pm ET
We have a British combination in the ring next – Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI.

5⭐ form – 24th Pau 2019; 2nd Luhmuhlen 2022; 21st Kentucky 2023; 6th Pau 2023.
📈 They had two poles down at Pau last season, but jumped clear here in Kentucky.

Score after dressage and XC: 62.6
Place: 20th

Classic VI is racing around the first fences and that catches up with her as she comes into the double at 5 – they have the first part of that down. Kirsty collects her though and they continue on round the course clear to the last. They fly that and complete their Kentucky. That’s just one pole for them.

Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI complete their Kentucky on a score of 66.6.

2:26pm ET
Australian Rebecca Braitling brings Caravaggio II forward for his turn over the poles.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 Their show jumping form in their last five FEI events is 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4.

Score after dressage and XC: 64.5
Place: 21st

Caravaggio’s bred to show jump and really shows it as he sails over the first four fences. The distance coming into the double at 5 is very short for this big striding horse, but they make it and continue on clear. The treble at 9 is no problem for them, and the next couple, but oh, they take the pole over the Liverpool at 12 – a late penalty for them. They’re clear over the last though. That’s 4 penalties for them.

Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio II compete Kentucky on a score of 68.5.

2:23pm ET
Hoping for the luck of the Irish, Susannah Berry and Clever Trick are next up.

Horse’s first 5⭐
📈 They have a 50% clear rate in their last four FEI runs – and kept it to just one pole when they did incur penalties.

Score after dressage and XC: 81.6
Place: 22nd

Susie and Clever Trick start off looking really careful over the fences – they clear the third that’s been a problem for the competitors thus far. They’re really clever through the treble combination at 9. This is a really clean and accomplished round. They come up to the Liverpool at 12 still clear, just the last to go. They clear it! Ah, there’s 0.4 of a time penalty for them.

Susannah Berry and Clever Trick bring their competition to a close on a score of 82.

2:20pm ET

Another rider with two to go in the final phase Andrew McConnon brings Ferrie’s Cello forward for the gelding’s second 5* completion.

5⭐ form – 13th Maryland 2023.
📈 They had four down at Maryland, but mostly keep it to one, sometimes two.

Score after dressage and XC: 82.9
Place: 23rd

They clear the first and second but then has the rails at three – it’s a bit of a loose stride up to that one, a real tricky question. They continue on and clear the next four fences but has the oxer at 8 down. They’re clear through the triple combination at 9 in the center of the ring and carry on clear to the last. They rub the final fence but it stays up. That’s two down and 2 time penalties.
Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello get another 5* completion under their cinch, finishing on a score of 92.9.

2:16pm ET

This is it! Getting us underway, going out of order as she has two rides, Jennie Brannigan and Thoroughbred Twilightslastgleam are our first combination into the ring.

5⭐ form – 16th Maryland 2022; 17th Kentucky 2023.
📈 Their show jumping form in their last five FEI events is 4 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 4.

Score after dressage and XC: 39.9
Place: 12th

‘Comic’ leaps the oxer at one and clears the vertical at 2. Unfortunately they have 3 down – they’re jumping straight at the grandstand over that one. The second part of the double at 5 comes down too – there’s a really wide spread on that one. They run number 10 and then 11 the oxer at 11 goes. That’s 3 fences down for 12 penalties and 2.4 time.

Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam end on a score of 54.3.

EN’s coverage of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products.

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

One Withdrawn, All Others Pass Final Horse Inspection at Defender Kentucky Three-Day

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We saw a relatively tame and uneventful Final Horse Inspection this morning across both the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S and the CCI5* divisions. In the end, all horses were accepted, and one — Quantum Leap (Doug Payne’s 5* ride) — was withdrawn from the holding box. Doug posted the following on social media:

“Unfortunately Quantum lost a shoe at fence 12. Slipping and sliding around the remainder of the course ultimately took its toll. Quantum wasn’t his usual self this morning so with his health and future our first priority, we’ll fight another day!”

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The only other hold came in the CCI4*-S when Corture, the ride of Briggs Surratt, was sent to the holding box. The mare was subsequently accepted when Briggs presented her.

Briggs Surratt and Corture. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

So we now move forward with a total of 24 pairs in the CCI5* and 40 in the CCI4*-S. There were also two overnight withdrawals in the 4*-S: Lucienne Bellissimo withdrew Dyri and Lindsay Traisnel withdrew Bacyrouge.

Show jumping begins for the 4*-S at 10:30 a.m. ET, followed by the 5* at 2:00 p.m. ET. We look forward to seeing the conclusion of an exciting weekend of eventing. Live stream information can be found here. We’ll see you soon!

EN’s coverage of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products.

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]

Sunday Links from EcoVet

Lauren Nicholson and an incredulous Vermiculus ( Lauren Nicholson and an incredulous Vermiculus ("Bug") after the completion of their CCI5* test at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Kristin Leigh Richards.

I know, Bug, I’m not ready for it to be over either!

Time is the name of the game today for all our contestants, and we are so ready to be sitting in those stands (or on our couches with good snacks) to watch us crown the world’s newest 5* champion! Team EN has been on the grounds all week, so we know Sally, Veronica, Tilly, and Mr. Tilly are also looking forward to a nice consolidated area from which we’ll be watching today’s battle royale.

If you need to catch up after a whirlwind of a Saturday, skim through our 5* Cross Country Report and 4* Cross Country Report from yesterday before getting too comfy in the stands or on the sofa. As a refresher, here’s our top five going into each division on this the final day of the #BestWeekendAllYear:

🏆Defender Kentucky CCI5*🏆
1️⃣ Tom McEwen & JL Dublin (GBR) – 28.6
2️⃣ Yasmin Ingham & Banzai du Loir (GBR) – 31.6
3️⃣ Oliver Townend & Cooley Rosalent (GBR) – 31.8
4️⃣ Monica Spencer & Artist (NZL) – 32.7
5️⃣ Mia Farley & Phelps (USA) – 33.8

🏅Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S🏅
1️⃣ Liz Halliday & Miks Master C – 29.2
2️⃣ Will Coleman & Diabolo – 29.9
3️⃣ Boyd Martin & Commando 3 – 30.1
4️⃣ Will Coleman & Off The Record – 30.9
5️⃣ Caroline Pamukcu & HSH Blake [TIED] Boyd Martin & Fedarman B – 32.5

We’ll start off this morning bright and early with the second horse inspections to begin at 8:00 a.m. EST. Riders will start rolling out to Rolex Stadium at 10:30 a.m. EST sharp with the first rider in the CCI4*-S, and the first rider in the CCI5* will take to the ring at 2:15 p.m. EST. There’s $400,000 on the line, so stay tuned and follow us here and on Instagram @goeventing for live play-by-play updates, press releases, full detail reports, and more fun shenanigans on our final day at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event!

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]

U.S. Weekend Action

Horse Park of New Jersey Spring H.T. (Allentown, NJ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T. (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

The Event at Archer Spring Fling YEH and NEH (Cheyenne, WY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire Spring H.T. (Durham, NH)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Ballindenisk International (Ireland) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Timetable] [Eventing Ireland Facebook Page]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

11 of the last 13 XC leaders in the K3DE five-star have gone on to win — Will Tom McEwen join them?

Get out the tissues and watch Phillip Dutton’s dedication to daughter Olivia before her 4* challenge

It’s the weekend of OTTBs: Thoroughbred census reveals ‘invaluable information’ on life after racing

First day of 5* for these Kentucky rookies!

Are YOU a KY3DE Rookie? Don’t Miss This Horse Girl Lexington Guide

Sponsor Corner: USDF Bronze Medalist and eventer Rebecca Barber Tyler uses Ecovet! Here’s what she has to say about it: “The only fly spray that is actually worth applying. It keeps the flies and other biting insects away, while not sweating off, and not irritating the horses’ skin. Pretty impressive!” PM her for a discount code on your next order.

Morning Viewing: Watch Liz Halliday and Miks Master C tear up the bluegrass in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S yesterday. With just one second in hand, will they maintain their lead today in the Rolex Stadium? Watch this space as we anxiously await a victory!

McEwen and Ingham Retain Top Placings, Leaderboard Shuffles Beneath on CCI5* Cross Country Day at Kentucky

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Every year when I pull in to Kentucky Horse Park on cross country morning, I’m reminded of just how much I love this venue and this event. The energy and anticipation is palpable: eager fans milling about the trade stands as they make their way toward cross country, cresting a hill to one of the cross country fields and seeing nothing but seas of people as you scan the course, the tingle of both anxiety and excitement elevating my heart rate.

It’s just special here, and as is typical we were treated to a spectacle of eventing sport today across both the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S and the headlining CCI5* divisions. You can catch up on the CCI4*-S action (and boy, was there action) here. For now, let’s dive right in to unpack a very impactful day of cross country.

The Top Placers

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

I’m not sure anyone doubted Tom McEwen‘s ability to deliver an important clear round with more implications than solely a podium finish (or a win) here at Kentucky. But the pressure was on: at the outset of the day, the reigning Olympic individual silver medalist had just 1.4 penalties or 3.5 seconds of time “in hand” ahead of Yasmin Ingham.

On a day when only two pairs managed to come home inside the optimum time of 11 minutes, 15 seconds (more on that later), time was always going to exert its influence. Tom and JL Dublin (Diarado – Zarinna by Canto) generally average about 6-10 time penalties, according to EquiRatings, and they came home quicker than that with a total of four time (10 seconds). Had Yasmin Ingham not incurred time penalties of her own, Tom’s lead may have been in jeopardy, but as it stands now he will carry the lead and a 78% chance of winning into show jumping tomorrow with a two-phase score of 28.6.

“He was incredible, I was cruising for the first five and I felt more like it was an Intermediate,” Tom said of his ride today on the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by James & Jo Lambert, Mrs Deirdre Johnston, expressing that he felt he’d been faster than he was but taking the long route at a couple of combinations, including the Park Question at 23, likely added some of those time penalties. “When I tried to balance at the coffin I thought the best decision was to keep very straight, but I’m not sure I wanted to. We just popped in the long route.”

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Yasmin Ingham held on to her second place with 5.6 time penalties accumulated aboard Janette Chin’s and the Sue Davies Fund’s Banzai du Loir (Nouma D’Auzay – Gerboise du Cochet, by Livarot). Also very much in the hunt for an Olympic selection, Yasmin also had a few demons to put to rest on the Kentucky bluegrass today, having had a devastating runout on cross country in 2023 to take her out of podium contention. Put them to rest she did, and she was pleased to have done so.

“I’m just delighted. I’m so happy,” Yasmin said following her round. “I know he has that in him. Obviously we had our blips last year. We did a lot of training over the winter with Chris Bartle and with my dressage trainer as well, and it’s showing out there today I think.”

“I’ll be totally honest,” she continued. “It’s just an incredible amount of pressure. … Obviously we make the trip because this event is just worth it a million times over, but of course that’s on my shoulders that I have to ride him and produce results. So yeah, massive amounts of pressure. I’ve had incredibly supportive owners and parents and my guys at home that are running the show once I’m over here, so it takes an army to get the horse here fit and sound and ready to compete at his best and do my best. I feel a bit of relief now.”

Yasmin goes into tomorrow on a score of 31.6, which does not give Tom a rail in hand, and an EquiRatings prediction of a 15% win possibility. Tom and JL Dublin did produce a double clear show jumping round in 2023 when they finished in second, as did Yasmin and Banzai du Loir.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Moving from eighth into third overnight following a clear cross country tantalizingly close to the optimum time are FEI world #1 Oliver Townend and Diana and Paul Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent (Valent – Bellaney Jewel, by Roselier), who added just .4 time penalties to go onto a score of 31.8. Cooley Rosalent, who is 10 this year, has certainly proven herself as a 5* horse across the country now with two fast clear rounds under her belt (the other came at Maryland in 2023).

“She’s a different world, isn’t she?” Oliver remarked. “You know, she’s only ten this time and it’s a big gamble that whatever happens from this point has paid off because the amount she’ll have learned out there is incredible and every distance that I wanted I just about got. You know, like, at the first, second pond I could’ve done five [strides] there and I said, ‘no, we’re gonna make four happen, you know one day you’re gonna be at Burghley so you’re gonna have to learn now’ and she’s just incredibly honest. I’ve had her from four years old and she’s as good as we always hoped.”

This was another pair who also opted for the long route at the influential Park Question, but they’d had enough time on the clock to still make it home close to the optimum.

“I’m still very conscious when I’m riding around although I’m trying to be competitive,” Oliver explained. “I’m also trying to half produce and half save her for hopefully, another seven years like we’ve had for Ballaghmor Class. It’s always long term in mind, and don’t get me wrong, I’m sure one day I will fling her at it and I’m sure she’ll answer the question beautifully, but I just thought that she’d pulled enough out of the bag today for me to give her a little breather.”

Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Also making some moves on the board were New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and Artist (Guillotine – Maxamore, by Satin Blush), who moved from 10th to fourth overnight on a score of 32.7 with two seconds’ worth of time added to their dressage mark. Earlier this week, Monica noted that this would probably be the biggest challenge “Max” had ever faced, even having done World Championships in 2022 (which is, of course, not set at 5* specs).

“Oh, it was five-star,” she said, also noting that Artist had lost a shoe at the second fence but was able to keep galloping and turning on the good quality ground. “I felt sick and I felt desperate and he just kept saying, ‘sure thing, mummy!’ So awesome. Maryland, when I did that course it was the hardest course I’d ever done. And I was like, ‘oh my God, oh my God.’ Now I guess it might only be because this one’s fresh in my mind, but now I’m like this this is the hardest course I’ve ever done! Next time I might say it again.”

Mia Farley and Phelps. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Let’s hear it for another double clear cross country effort from Mia Farley and David O’Connor’s Phelps (Tiznow – Boom Town Gal, by Cactus Ridge), who once again proved — despite any misgivings and nerves Mia may have had as it seems will be her habit at these 5* events! — that they absolutely belong here. Mia was the sole rider to come home inside the time in her debut at the level last fall at Maryland. Adding another would have been her goal today, but cementing it must feel incredibly validating.

“It was actually fun,” Mia said. “I told myself I was gonna have fun and I did it. And I think same with Phelps. I think he was making fun of me like the whole first four minutes. Actually, before I went out I told David [O’Connor] I have a feeling the beginning of the course isn’t gonna be too fun because he just rolls and then once you put him up a hill, then you have some rideability.”

Mia has noted the efficiency with which Phelps jumps (which has sometimes worked to his detriment on the final day, but more on that shortly), and the fact that his Thoroughbred gears allow her to set a pace early on that she can manage and stay on the minute markers — and to finish in as quick a time as 10 minutes, 52 seconds today, a whopping 23 seconds under the optimum time.

“I think with Phelps and with a lot of Thoroughbreds, we kind of set a tone at the beginning of the course and that’s what they have for the rest of it,” she elaborated. “But what I found that’s really cool is that at the end of the course, if you ask them to go they they have it. So before Phelps, I had a warmblood that I would do the four-star here on and you didn’t have very many options at the end. But with Phelps at Maryland and here, he’s here to be everything. So I think the Thoroughbred blood does help, and fitness of course.”

Germany’s Christoph Wahler was the first rider to catch the optimum with Stefan Haupt and Hendrik Von Paepcke’s D’Accord FRH (Diarado – Anette 80, by Aarkin), delivering an efficient round in a time of 11 minutes, 7 seconds. This pair will move from 15th into sixth overnight.

Equal third after dressage, both Liz Halliday with the Nutcracker Syndicate / Ocala Horse Properties’ Cooley Nutcracker and Lauren Nicholson jumped around clear with Ms. Jacqueline Mars’ Vermiculus with some time each to go into seventh and eighth, respectively.

Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Jennie Brannigan brought two very fit horses to Kentucky and delivered two clear rounds to have both FE Lifestyle (9th – 37.2) and Twilightslastgleam (12th – 39.9), both owned by Tim and Nina Gardner, in the top 15 ahead of show jumping (there’s nothing like a Thoroughbred with a big heart!). Malin Hansen-Hotop of Germany completes the cross country top 10 aboard Carlito’s Quidditch K on a score of 37.9.

Insights and Updates

Christoph Wahler and D’Accord FRH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Derek di Grazia’s course certainly showed itself to be up to snuff across both divisions. Of 32 starters, 26 completed the course for an 81.25% completion rate. There is an asterisk on that stat, though, as unfortunately Zach Brandt and Direct Advance were eliminated by the Ground Jury several hours after leaving the vet box and returning to the stables. Zach, who was also given a yellow card for riding an excessively tired horse, provided the following statement:

“I am so immensely proud of Rosco for his incredible effort today jumping a clear round around a hard track. Unfortunately, the ground jury chose to eliminate him this evening after the cross country was over, due to him being so tired coming home. While we completely respect their decision, we are ultimately gutted as Rosco recovered very well & trotted up looking absolutely amazing and sound this evening. The most important thing about this sport is the horses, so Rosco’s well-being and overall health is paramount and we are of course so happy that he looks so great. We are so proud of his effort having never lost his jump and we will be back in the fall with some very exciting plans.”

There were two horse falls on course: Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool took a scary tumble at the final fence, prompting the grounds crew to provide screens as a precaution. Quasi Cool was up and walking and is reported to be resting and uninjured. Phillip went to the hospital to be checked out after both of his rides today, bringing home Azure clear as the final ride of the day. Honor Me and Lisa Marie Fergusson also fell at the A element of the Park Question; both horse and rider were up quickly and “Tali” is reported to be uninjured by Lisa.

6.25% (or two riders in Mia and Christoph) produced clear rounds inside the optimum time. This is a significant decrease from the 16% double clear rate from 2023 and more in line with the three years preceding last, which all saw sub-10% double clear rates.

The Implications

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Looking to tomorrow’s show jumping finale, Tom McEwen certainly has the most pressure as the top-placed rider. Historically speaking, the leader after cross country has gone on to win the event 11 times out of the last 13 runnings of Kentucky. Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST were the most recent potential winners to lose out on the crown due to a pulled pole, according to EquiRatings. Despite this, Kentucky is traditionally a tough show jumping course. Designed this year by Steve Stephens, the show jumping generally produces just 1 in 5 clear rounds or a 21% clear rate over the last 13 years. By that number, that’s only five clear rounds in this year’s field of 25 starters (pending, of course, the Final Horse Inspection first thing tomorrow morning – which by the way was moved to 8 a.m., presumably because of my protest of the offensive original time of 7:30, you’re welcome).

All of this to say that even if Tom does manage the clear, we could be yet looking at a very different leaderboard than what we see this evening. It’s certainly going to be a thrilling finish to the weekend, and we hope you’ll join us for show jumping, which for the 5* begins at 2:15 pm ET with the first group and 3:00 p.m. ET for the second group. The 4*-S will be the first to see tomorrow, beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET. Before that though, we’ll have the final horse inspection for both divisions at 8 a.m.

We’ll see you bright and early tomorrow for the conclusion of the #BestWeekendAllYear. Go Eventing.

EN’s coverage of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products.

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]