The Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

We’re beyond excited to finally have arrived at the first day of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by MARS Equestrian at the lovely Kentucky Horse Park. To prep you for the weekend ahead, we’ve compiled our traditional Ultimate Guide, which we’ll keep updated with links to each day’s posts so consider it your handy guide to keeping up with all the coverage from both the 5* and the 4*-S.

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.

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THE OFFICIALS

The Ground Jury panel for the 5* this weekend will be presided over by Robert Stevenson (CAN), joined by Xavier Le Sauce (FRA) (both Robert and Xavier are also members of the Ground Jury for the Paris Olympics) and Judy Hancock (GBR). The 4*-S will be judged by president Christian Steiner (AUT), Valerie Pride (USA), and jumping judge Charlotte Skinner-Robson (USA).

The cross country course is designed by the USA’s Derek di Grazia, assisted by fellow designer Jay Hambly and the hardworking jump building crew. The show jumping will be designed by Steve Stephens (USA).

THE ENTRIES

You can view the Form Guide for the 5* here and the 4*-S here to learn all about the competitive field in attendance this year. We’ve got strong entries in both divisions with plenty of Olympic selection potential on the table; most of the horses aiming at Paris for the U.S. are opting for the 4*-S this weekend, but that by no means indicates we should count out any of the 5* pairs.

THE IMPLICATIONS

Across both classes, there’s a coveted title on offer – especially in the feature CCI5*. But excellent performances in either class, too, will help certain riders and horses make their mark on their country’s selectors as we head swiftly towards this summer’s Paris Olympics. As far as the US race for selection goes, we’re largely seeing it play out in the jam-packed CCI4*-S class, which features heavy-hitters such as Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS, Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, and Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C, to name just three of a seriously solid list.

But the five-star isn’t devoid of Olympic battles, either – they’re just largely playing out for other nations. Yasmin Ingham and Tom McEwen are both trying to earn podium finishes, which would help to put a couple of wobbles last season behind them and thrust them into contention for the formidable British team, and our trio of high-flying Germans are also here with a point to prove.

HOW TO FOLLOW

The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event will be livestreamed on ClipMyHorse TV / USEF Network. If you don’t have a ClipMyHorse account or a USEF account, you can sign up for a FREE Fan Membership, which will give you access to the live stream at no cost. Click here to sign up. ClipMyHorse members (including those overseas) can click here to access the live stream.

Wednesday, April 24

2 p.m. – CCI5* First Horse Inspection — High Hope Inspection Lane

Thursday, April 25

7:45 a.m. – CCI4*-S Dressage Test Ride
8 – 12:30 a.m. – CCI4*-S Dressage
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – EEI Invitational Pony Club Mounted Games – Walnut Arena
1:00 p.m. — Retired Racehorse Project – Walnut Arena
1:00 p.m. – CCI5*-L Dressage Test Ride
1:30 –4:30 p.m. – CCI5*-L Dressage

Friday, April 26

8–11:30 a.m. – CCI4*-S Dressage
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Champions Live! — Booth #316 (The Hill)
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – EEI Invitational Pony Club Mounted Games – Walnut Arena
11 a.m. – Kentucky Invitational CSI4* Jog, sponsored by Hagyard Pharmacy-Claiborne Ring
12:30 – 4:10 p.m. – CCI5*-L Dressage
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Retired Racehorse Project – Walnut Arena
From 7 p.m. – Kentucky Invitational CSI4* $38,700 Welcome Speed Cup 1.45m, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute

Saturday, April 27