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.
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
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.
