Photo by Shelby Allen.
Who better to tell us how fans should prepare for this year’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event than the fans themselves? In this guide, you’ll find top tips and hacks from spectators just like you.
Before the Event
What’s that saying? “Lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine?” Nothing is more true for Land Rover. To really enjoy the biggest eventing weekend of the year, prepare in advance.
After doing all the normal traveling tasks (booking your hotel, flight, etc), take some extra time to prepare for the event itself. If you want to spend the entire day shopping at the Trade Fair, you may want to spring for preferred parking. You’ll thank yourself for splurging on parking when you watch everyone else lugging their finds all the way back to the boonies of the parking area.
Speaking of shopping, take a look at the Trade Fair map before you hit the road. That way you’ll know what vendors will be there and plan the route you should take to hit your favorite vendors first.
Read up on who will be riding in the 5*. So far, we’ve got an impressive group of riders coming to Kentucky, including 2022 FEI World Champion Yasmin Ingham.
What our readers had to say:
“Reserve your stadium seats under cover. When it’s 85 degrees and sunny, you will stay cooler and not get burnt. When it’s 50 and raining, you won’t be wet and cold…The first several rows in the 200 sections are not under cover.” – Denise F.
“Follow all your favorite riders and brands on Insta/FB to keep up with when they are hosting meet and greets/signings and xc course walks!” – Sarah S.
Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
What to Bring
Make sure you bring every weather-related essential. You’ll be spending a LOT of time outside at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, particularly on cross country day. Make sure to pack all those exciting common sense items: sunscreen, a water bottle, hat, sunglasses, lip balm, etc. One thing to know about springtime weather in Kentucky is…it’s quite unpredictable. Best to pack something for just about any type of conditions — we even saw snow at Kentucky in 2021!
One piece of advice that was repeated by multiple fans was to bring the biggest backpack you can possibly carry. This will hold all your shopping steals from the Trade Fair, all your layers, sunscreen, water bottle, and other essentials. Don’t skip this step or you’ll regret it when you find yourself carrying all your layers, shopping, and essentials in a thin-handled shopping bag.
“All I know is that there was an old man with a portable folding stool last year that I definitely would have taken out at the knees to acquire said stool from him.” – EN writer, Amanda Chance
Protect the elderly. Prevent violence. Bring a portable folding stool to LRK3DE.
But in all seriousness, unless you’re young enough that your knees won’t protest sitting on the ground, you really will want to bring a folding chair or portable stool.
Bring a power bank so you can keep your phone charged all day long, and keep updating your social media with that sweet LRK3DE content. Don’t forget to tag @goeventing when you do!
What our readers had to say:
“Bring rain gear, snacks/water, comfy shoes, and a pack to carry stuff! Also sunscreen! Kentucky is notorious for multiple seasons across the weekend! Be prepped for LOTS of walking! And most importantly LIVE IN THE MOMENT!” – @irishsaints
Wonderful Will and Michael Pollard on their way to a clear round at Kentucky 2011. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld
What to Wear
If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. It’ll probably change.
LRK3DE is notorious for having all the seasons in one weekend. Your best bet to stay comfortable no matter what the weekend throws at you is to dress in layers, Michelin Man style. Rain gear and waterproof walking shoes are must-have items. If you forget waterproof boots, stop by the Trade Fair early, before they run out of your size.
What our readers had to say:
“Get a good rain coat. Bring your wellies/dublins/dubarrys and WEAR THEM.” – @megsilgni
“Pay attention to Lexington weather. Make sure you have appropriate clothing and footwear for the expected weather conditions. Most of all, be kind to all and keep your sense of humor.” – Holly Y.
“Bring clothes for all seasons! I’ve gotten sunburned and windburned. Temperatures have ranged from 40+° – almost 90°; and the rain is always a concern.” – Leslie P.
Kyle Carter entertains the group at the EN x Ride iQ course walk at Kentucky in 2022. Photo by Sally Spickard.
What to Do
The great thing about LRK3DE is that there’s something for everyone. If you want to focus on shopping and watching some exhilarating cross country, focus your time on the Trade Fair. Just make sure you shop on the first few days of the weekend before sizes get picked over and selection thins out. But if you attend LRK3DE to learn a little something, you might want to change your tactics.
To get the most out of watching dressage, rent a headset so you can hear the commentary and analyze the rides. Plan to spend some time watching the dressage warm up and ring familiarization. You’ll get a real sense for the partnership between horse and rider and learn a lot. Plus, you’ll get to see your favorite riders schooling their horses.
For the much-anticipated cross country phase, preparation is key. Walk the course before cross country day so you can scope out the best spots to watch from and appreciate the size of the fences (and stay tuned for information on our annual course walk with Ride iQ on Friday afternoon!). Many fans also suggested watching some riders gallop out of the start box and soar over the last fence. Put your phone to good use and livestream the event so you can see the entire course digitally and hear the commentary.
Thinking of ditching show jumping? Don’t. According to EN writer Abby Powell, “There is nothing like experiencing the roar of the crowd from one of the biggest grandstands in the sport when a top ten pair jumps clear. It will give you chills.”
Multiple fans insisted that you have to stay to watch show jumping, even if it’s your least favorite phase to ride.
What our readers had to say:
“Get the dressage headsets, watch the arena familiarities and warm ups, do the xc and sj course walks (They can be long but you learn sooo much)!” – @lenamakes
“Bring clothes for every temp – plan to shop, and take advantage of the meet and greets and course walks! We ducked out of Boyd’s to join Jimmy’s ~ so memorable.” – @southernstarr
“If you need boots, shop for them day 1 so your size isn’t picked over.” – Janelle C.
You can always find a party on cross country day in the tailgating area! Photo by Leslie Wylie.
What to Eat
Horse shows mean horse show food. This is not the weekend to choose to stick to your diet, at least not when there’s bourbon chicken around.
There’s a few different places you can find food at the event. Check out the Sponsor Village, The Hill, the Food Court at the Trade Fair, the Rolex Stadium, and the Alltech Arena. We got lots of comments recommending the event’s signature bourbon chicken. For those with a sweet tooth, check out the Chocolate Moonshine Co. at the Trade Fair for gourmet fudge and chocolate. If you’re over 21, stop at the Tito’s booth on the Hill and Country Boy Brewing in the Sponsor Village.
What our readers had to say:
“Find the little kiosk that sells cream soda and root beer in silver or copper coated engraved mugs! It’s usually in the Rolex stadium, the soda is so good and the cups are cool keepsakes!” – @kupono.horsemanship
“Hot take: Bourbon Chicken is grossly over hyped. Go to Schmidt’s or Toasties or the Gyro truck instead!” -Kirsten L.
Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class, winners of the 2019 Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Where to Stay
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is located just 12 minutes from downtown Georgetown and 20 minutes away from downtown Lexington, giving you plenty of options for places to stay. There are plenty of places to book an AirBnB, hotel, or bed and breakfast in either downtown, but if you want the best convenience and don’t mind roughing it just a bit, you may want to check out the Kentucky Horse Park Campground.
The KHP Campground is right on the grounds. Sites fill quickly, so act fast. The campground features a grocery store/gift shop and two bathhouses. According to Amanda Chance of Breed. Ride. Event., it’s her favorite place to stay every year. “Rent an RV and stay on grounds in the campground. No driving back and forth, no parking, we can come back during the day for food/water and to put our shopping stuff away, there are some lit parties and cookouts, etc.”
Bonus Tip:
“Tell your husband not to mind the credit card statement after you walk through the vendors!” – Becky W.
Most importantly, bring a sense of humor and patience. We’re all horse lovers here.
Have anything we missed? Leave it in the comments!
Go Eventing!
