Classic Eventing Nation

What’s Happening at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Your Guide to Promotions, Contests, Course Walks & More

By on Apr 21, 2025 12:00 pm -

It can be quite the experience to take in the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, whether it’s your first time attending or your 12th. One thing that really takes the spectator experience to the next level are all of the happenings that can be found on the schedule, which is already massive in itself.

We’ve done our best to collect as many events outside of the official schedule (which you’ll want to check out here to pinpoint anything specific you don’t want to miss out on). Below, you’ll find information on special events, course walks, and more. One thing we won’t know the schedule for ahead of time are autograph signings, so you’ll want to keep an eye on your favorite rider’s social media pages or stop by the Trade Fair, The Hill, and Sponsor Village as there will be signage outside of specific booths to promote rider appearances. We’ve also included some special promotions hosted by our family of sponsors — be sure to stop by and show them some love!

This is not an official list, nor can we guarantee its completeness or finality of schedule, but we’ve done our best and will continue to keep this updated as we become aware of new things to add. You can also email us at [email protected] if you have an event you want to make sure is included.

Official Event Schedule – Check this for not only competition scheduling, but official demos, Mounted Games, breed spotlights and more.

Food & Dining

Sponsor Specials

World Equestrian Brands: Get 20% your $250+ purchase (Spend a minimum of $250 and get 20% off your purchase (storewide, except: saddles, Like New/Outlet items, and Equilibrium Therapy products)
Get 25% off Equilibrium Therapy products (excludes Like New/Outlet items). This deal is valid both in person at booth 110 in the indoor Trade Fair, or online at worldequestrianbrands.com.

Kentucky Performance Products: Stop by the Kentucky Performance Products booth (#160 at the indoor Trade Fair) to enter two contests:

• Win a $500 Shopping Spree of Kentucky Performance Products supplements.

• Snag a limited-edition pink or gray KPP baseball cap (only 100 available!) by taking a photo with the cap at the KPP booth and posting it to your social media, tagging KPP. This enters you for a drawing for a collector’s bottle of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Bourbon.

Special Events

Chase the Chinch and win Go Eventing Podcast stickers + other prizes!

In honor of our brand new Go Eventing Podcast, we’ve decided to build our mascot, Chinch the Chinchilla, a roving DJ booth. Throughout the Kentucky Three Day Event, he’s going to be roving around the Kentucky Horse Park blasting his favorite tunes and giving away a set of exclusive stickers. To receive your sticker pack and add your favorite song to his playlist, snap a photo with Chinch and share it to social media, using #ChasetheChinch and tag @goeventing.

Since the Kentucky Horse Park is a pretty big place, we’ve decided to give you a helping hand. We’ll be sharing clues to Chinch’s location on our Instagram and Facebook stories.

If you’d like to listen in to the group playlist we’ll be compiling while at Kentucky, you can find it here or by searching for Chase the Chinch on Spotify.

Once you find Chinch, we’ll give you some Go Eventing Podcast stickers and you can also enter to win one of our awesome prizes from World Equestrian Brands, Sentinel Horse Feed, Ride EquiSafe, and more!

Cross Country Course Walk with Derek di Grazia – Thursday morning, benefitting USEA Adult Riders (Information TBD)

Cross Country Course Walk with Cathy Wieschhoff – Thursday at 4 p.m. – Meet at the Head of the Lake

Cross Country Course Walk with Jon Holling and Kyle Carter (brought to you by Ride iQ and EN) – Friday at approximately 4:30 p.m. – Meet at the Corgi Fence

Sign up in advance here

Cross Country Course Walk with Boyd Martin, presented by SmartPak – Friday approximately 45 minutes after last horse in dressage – Meet at the Head of the Lake

Elite Equine Care seminars, powered by Shapley’s – Friday from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Secretariat Center

Stop by and learn from top grooms, including Emma Ford, Max Corcoran, Steph Simpson, Sidney Baughman and Alex Cain! You can drop by anytime between 6:30-8 p.m. Demos will be rotated every 15 minutes or so.

Autograph and Book Signings

Please note: this list is NOT official and is very subject to change. Be sure to check your favorite rider’s social media pages as well as look for signage in the Trade Fair, on The Hill, and in Sponsor Village, for more signings and timing. Once the event begins, it will become more difficult for us to keep up with timing, so we strongly encourage you to take note as you walk around of any upcoming signings!

Show jumping legend Margie Engle will be signing autographs at the County Saddlery booth (booth #159 in the Trade Fair) on Friday at 3:30 p.m.

Boyd Martin will be doing autograph signings at Le Mieux, Ariat, Stübben and Majyk Equipe, (times TBD, keep an eye on his social pages for exact timing), and his merch stand will also be open all weekend at booth #63.

Tik Maynard will be signing copies of his new book, Starting in the Middle, at the I Love My Horse Booth (#109 in the indoor Trade Fair) for a few hours on Saturday as well as Sunday morning.

Ema Klugman and Sharon White will be signing autographs at the Sentinel Horse Feed booth in Sponsor Village (booth #25) on Saturday following cross country.

Tailgates

Come join the United States Sport Horse Breeders Association for our annual USSHBA brunch held during cross country day for Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Tailgate spot A58, across from the campground entrance. Feel free to join at any time during the day, but brunch will be available from 9am-12pm (mimosas! Breakfast sandwiches!). Look for a grey Dodge Ram 2500 truck, a white tent and potentially a USSHBA banner.

No Shortcuts, No Regrets: Arden Wildasin’s Journey to 5* with Sunday Times

By on Apr 21, 2025 9:00 am -

Arden Wildasin and Sunday Times. Photo by Sally Spickard.

When Arden Wildasin leaves the start box at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, she won’t be wearing a watch. She never does. Not because she doesn’t care about the clock—she does. But because time, for Arden, isn’t measured in minute markers. It’s measured in feel. In breath. In trust. In the way her longtime partner Sunday Times—”Mumbles” to those who know him—gallops beneath her with the kind of confidence you can only earn through time, determination, and attention to detail.

“I always want to feel what’s underneath me,” Arden says. “I don’t want to be told by a device how the round should go. I want to know how my horse feels. That’s what matters.”

That sentiment reflects everything about Arden’s journey to her first 5*. It’s not about the destination—it’s about the foundation. And hers wasn’t built quickly. It was built slowly, consciously, and honestly, with plenty of moments that tested her resolve and reshaped her identity as a rider.

Mumbles came into her life more than a decade ago, a quirky grey gelding purchased through the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale in Ireland. At first glance, he didn’t look like much—more pony than powerhouse—but Arden and her mom took a chance on him. He was bold on cross country and full of running, but riddled with questions in the jumping phases. For a while, no one was sure what he’d become.

“He’s always been the type where we say, ‘Let’s see what he wants to do,’” Arden explains. “It was never about pushing. If he wants to keep playing the game, I’m all in. If not, I’ll be the first to pull up. He doesn’t owe me anything.”

But the truth is, they’ve built something special—something stronger than a resume or record. Together, they’ve grown from the ground up. Arden brought Mumbles up the levels herself, and every step of the way, he’s kept showing her he was game for more. But it wasn’t a linear climb. And for a time, it wasn’t even a climb at all.

Arden Wildasin and Sunday Times. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Years ago, Arden stepped away from eventing completely after feeling burned out and alienated. Despite riding at a high level and earning opportunities with respected trainers, she felt like she didn’t belong. She didn’t feel seen. She didn’t feel joy. It all came to a head after a show where, despite being surrounded by peers and familiar faces, she felt utterly alone.

“I had friends in the sport, but I didn’t feel a part of them,” she says. “That’s a really strange, painful feeling. And I just didn’t want to keep throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping it would stick.”
When she returned, it wasn’t with fanfare. It was with humility. She called Heidi White—who had once coached her mom—and asked to go back to basics. Not polish, not prep. Basics.

“She took me back to being a toddler,” Arden says. “The very first lesson, she asked me to bend him to the outside and use my inside leg, and I just stared at her. I had no idea what she meant. I’d gotten through the levels by being talented, by being scrappy. But the understanding wasn’t there.”

That moment was a turning point. With Heidi’s guidance, Arden rebuilt everything—her flatwork, her balance, her confidence. They dug into her riding like it was a new language to be learned. No assumptions. No shortcuts. They reshaped Mumbles’ strength and her mindset simultaneously. And slowly, everything began to change.

“Without her, I’d still be having rails. I’d still be on the watch list,” Arden says, referencing the humbling realization that she’d once been flagged as a safety risk—without anyone ever telling her. “It was heartbreaking. But looking back, it made sense. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.”

Arden Wildasin and Sunday Times. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Now, she does. Her dressage has improved. Her show jumping is solid. And her galloping? That’s always been her favorite.

“I’m a speed demon,” she laughs, “but not in a reckless way. I’m fast because I feel what my horses can give. They’re the athletes—I just get to ride them. It’s a blessing.”

It’s also a responsibility she takes seriously. Arden is hands-on in every aspect of her program. She’s the first one at the barn each morning, the one who preps the tack, checks the feed, coordinates the therapy routines, and braids before shows. Mucking stalls is her version of meditation. Braiding is her quiet time to think.

“If something’s off in the saddle, I want to know if something on the ground contributed to it,” she says. “That’s my job—to know my horses inside and out.”

Preparing for Kentucky has required more than just daily rides and meticulous routines. Arden brought in a fitness coach to ensure Mumbles would be ready—not just to get around, but to feel great doing it. And in solidarity, she’s matched that commitment herself. She gave up refined sugar to sharpen her focus, knowing her body and mind needed to be in sync with her horse. It’s one of many lifestyle shifts she’s embraced to be at her best—not just for Kentucky, but for every ride.

“This is supposed to be a joy,” she says. “We’re supposed to make mistakes. We’re supposed to learn. And if things go wrong? We deal with it, we grow, and we try again.”

Arden Wildasin and Sunday Times. Photo by Shelby Allen.

If the weekend goes to plan, she hopes to score in the mid-40s in dressage, gallop home with a confident clear on cross country, and finish strong in show jumping—even with a rail or two, she’ll be thrilled. But if Mumbles tells her he’s not feeling it at any point, she’ll pull up without hesitation.

“He’s earned that right,” she says. “He’s given me everything. This is already the dream.”

Still, she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t imagining the finish line—and what comes after.

“There’s going to be ice cream,” she laughs. “Mumbles gets cookies. I get an ice cream sandwich. That’s the deal.”

EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional support products, click here.

Monday News & Notes from Futuretrack

By on Apr 21, 2025 12:01 am -

Here’s a fun Monday morning watch for you! Olympic champion Michael Jung stopped by the Behind the Barn studio to make his confessional chat with hosts Frankie Thieriot-Stutes and Lynn Symansky. You can watch his full interview below:

U.S. Weekend Results

Ocala International Festival of Eventing (FL): [Website] [Scores]

Fair Hill International April CCI & H.T. (MD): [Website] [Scores]

Meadowcreek Park Spring Social Event (TX): [Website] [Scores]

Sporting Days Farm April H.T. (SC): [Website] [Scores]

Full Moon Farm Spring Thing H.T. (MD): [Website] [Scores]

News & Reading

Confidence over corners starts at home — and top eventer Ryan Wood shares his proven four-step method to help horses and riders tackle this cross-country question with clarity and control. From building a corner in your arena to troubleshooting runouts in the field, Ryan’s step-by-step plan is all about setting your horse up for success. Check out his full guide on Practical Horseman here.

In his latest Horse & Hound column, Mark Phillips reflects on the whiplash-inducing English weather conditions organizers and riders have faced this season — from last year’s mudfest at Thoresby to this year’s near-perfect going. He also weighs in on BE calendar woes, Olympic venue speculation, and the exciting addition of a new U25 FEI Championship. Read his full thoughts here.

Here’s to the horse trials! In a new article for the USEA, STRIDER’s Natasha Sprengers-Levine explores why eventing competitions — from starter level to FEI — are the heartbeat of our sport. These events not only build skill and confidence in riders, but also strengthen the equestrian economy and foster lifelong community. Whether you’re a competitor, organizer, or sponsor, horse trials are essential to keeping the spirit of eventing alive. Read more here.

Video Break

Look back on Boyd Martin’s 5* career:

First Standalone USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships in 2026 and 2027 to be Hosted by Stable View

By on Apr 20, 2025 12:00 pm -

USEA/Lindsay Berreth photo

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is excited to announce that Stable View has been selected as the host venue for the first standalone USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships which will take place in 2026 and 2027. Now in their second year of hosting the championships alongside the Stable View Local Charities H.T. in May, the Aiken, South Carolina, venue has proven success in capturing record-setting entries for both programs with nearly 200 championship competitors each year.

“Stable View is delighted to be the proposed venue for the 2026/7 championships,” exclaimed Barry Olliff, co-owner of Stable View. “As this event builds in terms of profile and entries, having its own date will further exaggerate the growth process.”

The joining of the Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships was initiated to create a pipeline for participation in the sport throughout a student’s educational career. With the success of the inaugural event in 2024, the USEA determined that a standalone championship would be the next natural step to enhance the unique atmosphere that allows collegiate and scholastic members to compete and mingle with their peers.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Stable View for the Intercollegiate & IEL Championships in 2026 and 2027,” said USEA CEO Rob Burk. “Barry and his team have shown immense enthusiasm for these programs, and the success of last year’s inaugural combined championships clearly demonstrated their ability to host this special event. Moving forward with the first standalone championships will be an exciting progression for these programs.”

In addition to traditional activities like the spirit award contests and opening ceremonies, Stable View’s team will be looking towards the event’s long-term goals in 2025 by adding a College Fair to the schedule. The College Fair will allow current collegiate teams to promote their programs and recruit potential new members from the IEL Clubs. This is the first step of many in curating the event to support students as we look forward to 2026 and 2027.

The new standalone Championships will fall on rotating dates bi-annually to help alleviate some of the conflicts with exams and graduations during the end of the school year. In 2026, the Championships will be hosted on Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17. In 2027, the Championships be on Friday, May 7 through Sunday, May 9.

“We love hosting the student athletes and all the enthusiasm and energy they bring with them,” explained Stable View’s Event Organizer, Molly Bull. “Having their Championships on a designated weekend will help make it even more special, and I look forward to organizing it!”

The USEA will be forthcoming with information about the 2026 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships as planning progresses. Make sure to visit USEventing.com and the USEA social media accounts in the coming weeks to keep up with all the news on this year’s Championships, which will take place at Stable View on May 2-4.

Any questions about the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program, the USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL), or the 2026/2027 Championships can be directed to Kaleigh Collett at [email protected]. To learn more about Stable View, please visit svfequestrian.com or contact their team at [email protected].

Jessica Phoenix Gallops to the Win in the Ocala International CCI4*-S

By on Apr 20, 2025 10:05 am -

Jessica Phoenix and Aeronautics. Photo by Xpress Foto.

Saturday was a beautiful breezy and sunny Ocala day at Florida Horse Park for the cross country phase of the FEI divisions at Ocala International. Jay Hambly’s courses left plenty for riders to do and caused a few shake-ups to the overnight leaderboards.

The CCI4*-S completed both dressage and show jumping on Friday, wrapping up their division Saturday with cross country, where Jessica Phoenix made the biggest climbs up the rankings aboard her two Thoroughbred geldings.

The 12-year-old Aeronautics (Two Step Salsa xx x Satin and Silver xx, by Silver Ghost xx) rose from fourth place overnight to take the win, adding 11.8 time penalties to finish on a score of 52.3. Her veteran CCI5* campaigner and crowd favorite, 15-year-old Wabbit (Line of Departure xx x No Kissing xx, by Great Gladiator xx), also rose from fifth place to finish third, adding 11.2 time penalties to complete on a 53.6.

Hambly said that his courses were “tightly wheeled” and making time would be difficult without efficient turns, bold lines, and speed in between the fences. This proved to be true, with no horses finishing double clear over today’s course.

Overnight leader Sharon White, who was undecided yesterday as to whether she would try to make the time, added 18 time penalties to the score of CCI4* debutante Jaguars Duende (Jaguar Mail x Latina, by Lancaster) to finish second on 52.6, just 0.3 penalties behind Phoenix and Aeronautics.

Always a speedy rider, Phoenix was particularly happy to be aboard her particular horses for today’s challenge. “I was incredibly proud of Aeronautics and Wabbit today. It is such a joy to gallop full Thoroughbreds cross country. They were both so quick to pick up the combinations and processed each question really well! I really thought Jay designed this course well. It’s always difficult to create all of the necessary questions with a flat property but the horses really felt like they enjoyed it and learned a lot from start to finish. I also felt they did a phenomenal job with preparing the footing!”

This was the sixth CCI4* start for Aeronautics and his first FEI win. “Aeronautics is owned by Sara Irving and Bob Holman of Grandview Farms in Ontario Canada. They have both ridden to the highest levels of this sport and it’s so fun to ride this special boy for them.”

Phoenix will also add more points to her pile in the second spot on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard from this weekend’s Qualifier efforts, adding 70 points to her existing total. Her net of 145 total leaderboards sits just behind Phillip Dutton’s 175. Riders can use their six best Qualifer results toward leaderboard points; this weekend is Jessie’s fifth Qualifier.

Rebecca Brown and Fernhill Quite Frankly. Photo by Xpress Foto.

The remainder of the FEI divisions completed cross country Saturday and will move to the show jumping phase on Sunday. The CCI3*-L leaderboard saw a notable shake-up when overnight dressage leaders Caroline Pamucku and HSH Talbot’s Hill (Coolkeeran x Sisceal xx, by Dalakhani xx) picked up 20 penalties at 17C, an open corner out of the crater. This left the door wide open for Rebecca Brown and Fernhill Quite Frankly (OBOS Quality 004 x Rusheen Lux, by Lux Z), who logged a double clear round to secure their position as the division’s new leader heading into the final phase.

“The cross country rode fantastic today but it helps to be sat on a true cross country horse like Frank; he lives for it!” said Brown, “I thought they increased the difficulty from previous years and, despite the lack of rain, they worked so hard on the footing and the riders are grateful for it!”

This is the first CCI3*-L competition for this horse, having completed two CCI3*-S: one at last year’s The Event at Rebecca Farm and one last month at The Event at TerraNova. Brown has been producing the 10-year-old Irish Sporthorse gelding up the levels over the last four years. “I got Frank as a 6yo off a video. When he arrived, he could only be described as feral and between his feral tendencies and the fact that I tore my ACL within a few months of his arrival, it was slow going for the first two years. Nonetheless, I saw the promise in Frank, poured my heart and soul into him, and he’s returned the favor. He has turned into the horse I thought he could be- he LOVES eventing! A true Irish horse.”

Although show jumping has historically been the toughest phase for the pair, Brown is hopeful for a good result Sunday. “Show jumping would historically be our weakest phase as a pair but Frank wants to jump clear and we’ve been working hard at it. I absolutely love showjumping for the win so I’m cautiously optimistic! No matter how tomorrow goes, I will be incredibly proud of Frank; he tries his hardest and if tomorrow isn’t his day, his day will come!”

Brown will remain on her dressage score of 29.3 heading into the final phase, with Jessica Phoenix and Cosmo GS (Humble GS x Carmen GS by Contendro) sitting in second position on a 31.7, and Leslie Law and Must Be Cooley (Livello x Kilmarnock, by Ramiro B) in third on a 34.0.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Afterglow. Photo by Xpress Foto.

In contrast, the CCI2*-L leaderboard saw no change after cross country through the first five positions on the leaderboard. Caroline Pamucku will maintain her lead aboard HSH Afterglow (Hype x Ringwood Venus, by Osilvis) on a 25.6, with Jack Curtis holding on to second place with Cooley Topgun (Conthargos x Erlinde, by Berlin) on a 26.5, and Alexandra Knowles on MBF Starburst (Sligo Candy Boy x Monalease, by Terimon) in third on a 26.9. With no rails in hand among the first eight placings, Sunday’s show jumping promises to be a nailbiter.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Olive. Photo by Xpress Foto.

The CCI1*-L divisions also saw no shake-ups to the top three positions, with double clear rounds and no penalties added to the leader’s scores. Caroline Pamucku holds first and second place in the CCI1*-L-A with HSH Olive (Dallas VDL x Ficalien DN, by Baltic VDL) on a score of 27.0 and After Hours (Tolan R x Mystic Touch, Touchdown) on 27.5. Robin Walker maintains third place heading into show jumping aboard Rock Island (Island Commander xx x Coolcorron Gypsey, by Coolcorran Cool Diamond) with a score of 29.5.

Ava Staton added nothing to her dressage score in the CC1*-L-B division to maintain the lead on her own Lamondale Graciana (Grafenstolz x Sovereign Flag xx) on a score of 30.8. Staying in second position is Juliana Cassar on Farwest de Barbereau
(Folamour du Bois x Scala de la Triballe, by Marco du Fot) on a 31.3, and Willow Schwartz holds onto third with RH Finnegan (WakeUp x Daquan) on a 31.7.

Sunday’s show jumping could prove to be incredibly influential as we wrap up the FEI divisions here at the 2025 Ocala International! The final jogs will take place at 8:00am before riders take to the ring to jump in reverse order of placing. The CCI1*L horses will lead the way at 10:00am, followed by the CCI3*-L at 11:30, and the CCI2*-L at 1:20.

Ocala International Festival of Eventing (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

5* Rookie Shannon Lilley Won’t Accept ‘No’ for an Answer

By on Apr 20, 2025 9:00 am -

Photo by Abby Powell.

In 2011, doctors told Shannon Lilley that she would never ride again and should adjust her expectations as far as her future quality of life. In 2025, she’s proving them very, very wrong. She’ll be competing in her first CCI5* at the Kentucky Three Day Event aboard her long-time partner, Eindhoven Garette.

“I’m probably your oldest rookie. I went to the Pan American Games in 2011 and then had a fairly devastating spine injury three months later,” Shannon said. “They told me I wouldn’t ride again. They told me I’d be lucky to have any sort of quality of life. I didn’t really ride my first five years. But I’m not one to settle for mediocre. I’m not one to settle when you tell me no.”

While Shannon is not our oldest rookie (Mary Bess Davis has her beat by just one year), she may be the one who’s made the biggest comeback. The more people that told Shannon to give up, the more determined she became. “I just kept plugging away and trying to get better and get more healing back. And here we are,” she said.

Where we are is less than a week out from Shannon and “Garette” walking into the iconic Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park to contest in their first 5*. It’s a big moment for any rider, to say the least. Life-altering may even be a better description. Shannon and “Gare Bear” have been together since COVID. When she first met him, he didn’t necessarily look like your classic 5* horse.

“When he first came, he was enormous,” Shannon said, laughing. “He was so fat. He had been in a field for a little bit too long, because it had been COVID and whatever. And he came to my barn, and I said, ‘Oh my gosh. He looks like a Care Bear.’ And so we started calling him Gare Bear.”

Since then, Shannon and Gare Bear have been working their way up through the levels to this moment– a process which hasn’t always been smooth sailing. “When we first got him, he would spin around and he might put me on the dirt, but you get used to that,” Shannon said. “You train for that and he’s much better now. Each year he grows up and he gets better. He’s quite good now and he goes in the ring like he’s all business. He probably has the best work ethic I’ve ever had in a horse.”

To me, a horse that spins and puts you in the dirt sounds like an interesting choice for someone who has previously had a life-altering (and not riding-related, I might add) spine injury, but Shannon persevered. Dressage is still their weakest phase, but as any eventer knows, the Kentucky Three Day Event is not a dressage competition. Garette and Shannon will be focusing on their two strongest phases: cross country and show jumping.

Shannon Lilley and Eindhoven Garette. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“He’s developed into a very good cross country horse and he’s a good show jumper,” Shannon said. “He wants to be careful. We plug away on the flat, like always. It’s getting better. I feel like training them to this level takes a long time, and he’s definitely so much better than last year. And we’re gonna do what we can do.”

Shannon and Gare Bear entered in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4* at Kentucky last year, but did not get the opportunity to run cross country. “We had a bit of a setback, unfortunately,” Shannon said. “He went and did a dressage test, but he wasn’t 100 percent. I chose not to run him, although I think the course would have been amazing and I think he would have done really well. It’s his type of course.”

To prepare for this month’s 5*, the pair ran the Advanced at the American Eventing Championships instead. “I thought he did a good job. It asked a lot of questions. I thought it was hard, and he cruised around and he felt great on the ground there and seemed really good.”

“I think it’s really important before you go to Kentucky to know what you have as a base. He’s done the Hagyard Midsouth Three Day Event there, and some other things. He does run well at Kentucky, so I knew that part,” Shannon continued. “You always worry about the distance, and the hills, and this and that. He’s done Morven Park twice and he found the distance fine. And then he did Bromont once, and he found that distance fine, too. And both of those are our hilliest and our longest courses around.”

Garette’s workman-like nature will pay off as he gallops across the 6,000+ meter cross country course. “He really has a lot of run in him, and so I’m hoping the distance is fine for him,” Shannon said. “I don’t know how I could have prepared him better, just because those events are some of the toughest ones in the country.”

Shannon Lilley and Eindhoven Garette. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Shannon will be fulfilling a childhood dream when she trots into the dressage ring in April. “This is big for me, emotionally,” she said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I honestly didn’t know if it would ever happen. You always hope that you’re good enough on the day, but it’s been quite the climb back up to this moment. So to me, that is more rewarding. For my first 5* to be Kentucky is a lifelong dream. It has so much meaning behind it; it’s a really big deal.”

While it’s a big moment for herself, Shannon’s bigger focus is how to do right by her horse. “I’m very lucky to have the horse I have. I think he’s really special and he deserves the shot,” Shannon said. “As far as my goals, I want to finish. I’m not going to win. I want to do what’s best for my horse and I want to make sure he gets the credit he deserves. There might be things that we need to take options on, and I want to make sure I’m smart and responsible and get him home safely and listen to him.”

As she heads into the final stretch before the big event, Shannon’s keeping her mindset cuttingly realistic. “Honestly, you have to stay true to where you are in training,” she said. “I feel like I have certain strengths and weaknesses as a rider, we all do. I’m very realistic as far as being smart and hoping that the dressage is good enough, but sometimes ignorance is bliss. I have no idea what to expect.”

Shannon’s had some help on the road to Kentucky, particularly from seasoned 5* eventer Buck Davidson, who she describes as both a friend and mentor. One piece of advice from Buck has stuck in Shannon’s head, “You always know so much more on Saturday night of the five star than you did on Saturday morning.”

When Shannon gallops by on the historic blue grass of the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday, raise a glass to her. She’s living proof that the right mix of determination and perseverance can create a life-changing cocktail.

EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional support products, click here.

Sunday Links

By on Apr 20, 2025 12:01 am -

It’s time to join the Defender Kentucky Scavenger Hunt! Each year, Kentucky puts on a scavenger hunt for the ages with tons of incredible prizes up for grabs.

🎮 How to Play:
1️⃣ Download the GooseChase™ App
2️⃣ Sign up for FREE
3️⃣ Search: 2025 K3DE Official Scavenger Hunt or enter code T8QTXN
4️⃣ Join the game
5️⃣ Enter your email to get started
6️⃣ HAVE FUN! 🎯

Prizes Include:
🥇1st Prize: 4-Star Trailers ™ two-Horse Trailer
🥈2nd Place: John Deere ™ Zero-Turn Mower
🥉3rd Place: Custom Bates ™ Saddle
Plus additional prizes for 4th through 10th Places!

If you have any questions you can visit the Scavenger Hunt Booth (#313) on The Hill while you’re on site. Good luck to all!

U.S. Weekend Events

Ocala International Festival of Eventing (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Fair Hill International April CCI & H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Meadowcreek Park Spring Social Event (TX): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Sporting Days Farm April H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Full Moon Farm Spring Thing H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Links & Reading

Fancy a beach ride, but feel nervous riding in open spaces? This expert advice will help build your confidence so you can enjoy it

With Imperio Magic, Mary Bess Davis Is Chasing A Dream Deferred

Practical Horseman Podcast: Tamie Smith

Casting Call For Jumping Clinic With Beezie Madden

Why Am I So Judgy About Western Riding? Asking For A Friend …

What If Horses Could Heal the Trauma We’re Too Ashamed to Name?

Video Break

Go behind the scenes with Dr. Ashley Taylor and learn what a final vet check before a 5* looks like, featuring model Alderwood, Matt Brown’s ride for Kentucky:

An Update from Liz Halliday

By on Apr 19, 2025 3:51 pm -

Liz Halliday and her team have shared a new update today, written by Liz, who continues to get stronger and is now living in a new facility (the Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS) in Dallas, TX) to continue her recovery from a traumatic brain injury sustained in a cross country fall at AECs in Kentucky last August.

“Hi all! It’s Liz here with an update on how I’m doing and what I’ve been up to,” the post shared to Liz’s social reads. “My voice is getting stronger all the time, and until I can talk to you all in a video, I’m writing to you with help from my family and friends. In a normal week, I would be busy making final preparations with my horses to compete in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. But as you know, my new normal is now focused on my recovery from a traumatic brain injury.

“No two recoveries from a TBI look the same, and I feel grateful for the progress I’ve made so far and know I will continue to make. After spending six months at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, I have now moved to Dallas to continue my therapy at the Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS). Every day is filled with speech, occupational, and physical therapy with a focus to getting me back to doing what I love.

“I’m so grateful for all of the messages of love and support I continue to receive. Above all, I am grateful to my family and friends for their continued support, and that my dogs, Archie and Ella, were able to move to Dallas with me and are staying with friends nearby. I am living in my own apartment now at CNS with the support of a dedicated care team, and every day my life feels a bit more back to normal.

“To my fellow competitors who are gearing up to compete at Kentucky, I wish you all the best for a safe and successful competition. My heart will be with you all this week! Hug your horses and your people tight, and I look forward to seeing you all soon.”

We’re continuing to send Liz and her community all of our love and well-wishes. Make sure to show Liz some love on her socials and using #KeepFightingLiz.

See more from Liz’s road to recovery here.

Preview the Entries for the Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5*

By on Apr 19, 2025 12:00 pm -

Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture. Photo by Alex Jeffery.

Entries have just been released for the second CCI5* of the 2025 season, taking place at Adelaide’s Equestrian Festival May 1-4 in the southern parts of South Australia. This is perhaps the most unique 5* on the annual calendar, taking place literally in the heart of the city of Adelaide (the cross country even has portions that take place on roped off streets that have had footing laid down for safe passage!), and the crowds that gather to take in the spectacle are large, enthusiastic, and ready to have a good time.

This year, we’re so excited to be getting our first in-person taste of eventing Down Under, through the lens of the one and only Atalya Boytner. She’ll be trekking down to Australia straight after Kentucky (because, like all of us, she’s insane) and bringing us some visuals and reporting from this very special event.

For now, let’s take a look at the 5* field, which is a pretty strong one this year with 21 entries topping off the headlining division, as well as entries in the CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L and the Bates Saddles Young Rider Championship.

There are quite a few names most eventing fans will recognize on the list, which can be viewed in full here.

David Middleton takes Adelaide glory in 2024 aboard WEC In the Money. Photo courtesy of Adelaide Equestrian Festival.

First up is our 2025 Adelaide 5* champion, David Middleton, who took home the glory last year aboard WEC In the Money — fun fact, this came 20 years after David did his last 4*, when he finished 9th at Adelaide in 2004. This year, David’s bringing back both his winner and the horse he came in eighth with last year, WEC In the Breeze. These are both super jumping horses with extensive experience at the 4* level, not to mention the added fitness and strength from reaching that 5* pinnacle last year.

Four-time Olympian Shane Rose has two horses stepping up to the level, succeeding his great and now-retired partner Virgil as ones to watch ahead of the FEI World Championships in Aachen next year and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Remember, Australia is also getting a home turf Games in 2032, in Brisbane, so these riders will also be keenly producing horses with the broader picture in mind as well.

Shane has entered both The Bandit and Matrixx this year as their debut at the 5* level. The Bandit, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, has never finished outside of the top 10 since he moved up to the 4* level last year, and neither has Matrixx, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Both horses have some strength and development to build on the flat, averaging mid-30s marks, but they each have strong jumping records at FEI events and should be well-suited to this next step in their career trajectories.

OTTB power! Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture make their World Championship debut in 2022. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

World Championships rider (2022) and Paris Olympic substitute Shenae Lowings has also returned to her home country with her Thoroughbred gelding, Bold Venture. Since this pair has prioritized Championships over the last few seasons, this will actually be their first 5* start together, and Shenae’s debut at the level as a rider. This pair is literally traveled the world to gain experience in preparation for this step up, competing at the likes of CHIO Aachen in Germany, Millstreet in Ireland, and Arville in Belgium.

Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford. Photo by Julie Wilson.

Another World Championships (2022) competitor also features on the list in Hazel Shannon with Willingapark Clifford, who are another pair who have won here at Adelaide before, taking the 5* title in 2018. Hazel and Clifford have also competed in Europe extensively, starting but not completing both Badminton and Pau and also finishing 26th at Kentucky in 2019. They’ve got a ton of experience together at this point in their career, and with Willingapark Clifford’s prowess on the flat they could set sail on this field and never look back en route to another title.

Andrew Cooper knows this property like the back of his hand at this point as he approaches his 10th time starting the 5* at Adelaide. He’s finished quite well here just about every time, even hitting the podium a few times. He’s brought back Hey Arnold, a horse that’s finished in the top 10 twice at Adelaide’s 5* before, as well as a 5* debutant horse in Sharvalley Thunder, a 12-year-old Australian horse who’s got a hefty amount of strong placings and wins at the 4* level en route to this event.

Third at Adelaide last year was stalwart campaigner Donna Edwards-Smith and DSE Mendoza, back for another run and a shot at the top spot on the podium. U.S. fans may recognize Donna’s name as a former Kentucky competitor, coming over with her former horse Call Me Clifton in both 2004 and 2006.

Also a former podium finisher (2023) with Humble Glory, Sophia Hill is another rider who’s competed in Europe, finishing 22nd at Burghley last year.

A handful of riders are also returning to the 5* level after several years away; as it so often goes with horses, you often see riders who have that one or two special horses that bring them up to the level, then they must start over in producing the next generation. It’s a warm welcome back for Sonja Johnson (last competed at Adelaide in 2013), Yona Llyod (last competed at Adelaide in 2017), and Emma Mason (last competed at Adelaide in 2011).

Rounding out our field are a handful of 5* rookies:

  • Samuel Jeffree and Wimbourne Conjuror and Santoro
  • Joel Funell and Airbrushed
  • Gemma O’Leary and Arnage Porsche
  • Jess Somerfield and Finch Farm Carpentaria

We look forward to bringing you more content than ever about Adelaide in just a couple weeks’ time, so stay tuned for more right here on EN! In the meantime, you can secure your tickets to this special event and find out more here.

Just the Two of Us: Brooke Burchianti and Cooley Space Grey are Ready to Tackle Debut 5* at Kentucky

By on Apr 19, 2025 9:00 am -

Brooke Burchianti and Cooley Space Gray. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

When Brooke Burchianti can’t sleep, she’s usually thinking about Kentucky.

“I’m not at all mentally stable about this,” she laughs. “It’s all I think about—when I’m trying to fall asleep, when I’m trying to relax. I know there’s nothing I can do until we’re there, but that doesn’t stop my brain.”

It’s a refreshingly honest admission from a rider stepping up to her first 5* at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and a reminder that behind every stellar, confidence-inducing cross country round is a whole host of grit, self-doubt, and sheer perseverance.

Brooke, 26, is one of the most relatable rookies you’ll meet this year at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Based in Washington, PA—closer to Pittsburgh than to the heart of the East Coast eventing scene most associated with living in Pennsylvania—she grew up surrounded by horses thanks to her mom, Karen, who competed through what is now the 3* level, and her grandmother, Joanne, who focused on dressage.

“I was kind of just born into it,” Brooke explains. “My mom put me on her big dressage horse when I was three, and that was it. I don’t think I ever considered doing anything else.”

Her first partner in crime was Roxy, a 28-year-old Welsh pony mare who packed her around her very first unrecognized starter event at the age of eight. “She was a literal saint,” Brooke recalls. “I remember being so nervous—I thought I’d forget my course in show jumping. My mom walked me through the start box, and I was just sweating and so serious about it. But after that event, I knew—this was all I wanted to do.”

She worked her way up through the levels the way so many riders do—on hard-knocking, budget-friendly horses that taught her more than any polished schoolmaster ever could. One of those was her Thoroughbred mare Eternal Hope, who took her to Young Riders and her first FEI events. Hope wasn’t fancy—“she hated dressage,” Brooke says with a laugh—but she had heart, especially on cross country.

Brooke Burchianti and Cooley Space Grey. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“She just lived for it,” she says. “She wasn’t the easiest, but she made me fall in love with that feeling of galloping something that really wanted to do the job with you.”

After college in Virginia, Brooke returned to her hometown and began working out of her mom’s farm. It’s not exactly eventing central. “People hear Pennsylvania and think I’m down the road from Boyd or Phillip, but I’m five hours from that part of the state. It’s not a very horsey area, so I do a lot of traveling to get to shows or lessons.”

She also doesn’t have a big team or a string of horses at her disposal. In fact, Cooley Space Grey—“Astro” around the barn—is the only horse she has competing at the top levels. But he’s been the one to take her farther than she thought possible.

“I bought him in Ireland as a six-year-old,” she says. “And honestly, I got eliminated a lot at first. He was super difficult—spooky, careful, not easy to ride at all. There were times I thought, ‘What did I do?’”

She remembers falling off at their first Beginner Novice at home in Winona. “He jumped a fence huge, landed and propped, and off I went. I was like, ‘Great start.’”

But something in her gut said to keep going. And little by little, Astro began to trust her.

“I think that was the key—earning his trust. He’s not the kind of horse you can bully or convince,” she muses. “He has to believe you, and he has to know you’re not going to ask him to do something he can’t do. Once he got that, he started giving me everything.”

Brooke Burchianti and Cooley Space Grey. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Their climb up the levels has been slow, deliberate, and full of lessons. There were dressage scores that missed qualifications by a hair. There were long-format events where Brooke debated whether to even start, only to have her mom encourage her to see the big picture.

“She said, ‘Look, it’s another run, another experience. That matters more than a qualifying score sometimes.’ And she was right.”

Brooke’s 4*-L results include a clear round at Bromont, a solid effort at Morven, and a strong showing at TerraNova last fall, where they finally ticked the last box to qualify for Kentucky.

But even with the boxes ticked, Brooke is quick to temper expectations. “I just want to finish,” she says. “That’s the goal. A clean cross country round would be amazing. A clean stadium would be amazing. But finishing—getting through it—is what I want.”

That humility comes with experience—hard-won over time, with plenty of ups and downs. It also comes from the reality of producing your only upper-level horse without a built-in safety net.

“I don’t have five horses jumping 1.30 every week,” she says. “So I have to stay sharp with what I have. I’ll set a fence big in a jump school, just to keep my eye in, even if I only jump it once or twice. My other horses are going Training or Prelim. But every bit helps.”

Photo by Sally Spickard.

To stay sane in the lead-up, Brooke’s turned to physical outlets—gym sessions, hikes, swimming. Anything to quiet the noise in her head. “I know I’ve done everything I can to prepare. But still—it’s Kentucky. I’m a worrier. I just have to keep moving and try not to overthink everything.”

She’s hoping to reconnect with Emily Hamel once on site—Emily helped her during a stint in Aiken and has been a mentor, especially since their horses share a similar temperament.

“Emily’s been so helpful. Her journey with [Corvett] has been amazing to watch, and it gives me hope because he hasn’t been the easiest either. She gets it.”

In a sport that often glorifies speed and shiny results, Brooke’s story is a powerful reminder that slow and steady—coupled with belief and quiet tenacity—can still get you to the top.

“There’s no big team behind me, no perfect prep. It’s just me, my mom, my horse, and a lot of hard work,” she says. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in Kentucky, but I know I’ve done the best I can. And I’m proud of that.”

EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional support products, click here.