Thanks to a rail down by overnight leader Tom McEwen (GBR) on the 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin, a clean trip over the show jumps bumped Oliver Townend (GBR) to the ultimate win at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L. Jumping in reverse order of standing, Townend’s clear trip aboard the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Mare Cooley Rosalent left him in prime position as the final two to jump had rails down.

This was Townend’s fourth win at the Kentucky 5*, tying him with Michael Jung of Germany. Only Bruce Davidson, Sr., has more wins, with five between 1983 and1993.

Overnight 2^nd, reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain riding the 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Banzai Du Loir, had one rail down, dropping them to 3^rd.

Everything’s Coming Up Oli

Believe it or not, Townend figured right off the bat this was not to be their weekend.

“I was fairly upset with myself after the dressage,” he said at the final press conference. “I thought it was going to be a bit depressing going home on that plane not having won. But I gave myself a kick into gear and said, ‘She’s an incredible galloper, there’s no excuse for being too slow.’

“After that, I had a very clear picture in my mind of what I wanted to do,” he said. “I was going to do my job and try to be competitive.”

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The mare is clearly in the right sport, with personality plus.

“She’s definitely female,” he smiled. “She knows what she wants, is pretty feisty and needs managing, but she feels like she loves her job in all three phases. I don’t think there’s any weakness. She’s one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden.”

When asked what drew him to buy the green and scrawny mare as a 4-year-old, it seems her pedigree sealed the deal.

“It’s rare you see one trot and move like she did. I found out her father was jumping a meter 60,” and her dam was an accomplished steeplechase racer, boding well for the cross-country and show jumping phases of eventing.

Also, he joked, “I like gray horses.”

Second Place … Again

Although he was surely disappointed to come in 2^nd two years in a row, Tom McEwen of Great Britain always has a great attitude.

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“Dubs has been amazing this weekend. We’ve cemented our partnership; he’s a really quiet, kind character. He did the most amazing dressage, and I was gutted the mark was not as good as I thought [it would be]. He was absolutely flying on cross-country—he’s crazy special. He showed half of what he can produce in the dressage test. I know in his day he will wipe floors clean, [but I] put myself in a great position in an Olympic year.”

Close But Not Quite for Yas

After finishing 2^nd in 2022, this year young up-and-comer Yasmin Ingham (GBR) had another solid podium finish in 3^rd.

“We had an unlucky rub on an oxer. Our day will come. I’m absolutely delighted with him, from the beginning of the week until today. He feels amazing, and we’ll go work even harder.”

Top Finisher for the U.S.

After Mia Farley had four rails down with 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Phelps (she mentioned yesterday he struggles in the show jumping phase), Lauren Nicholson moved into 5^th place after one rail aboard 17-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding Vermiculus to become the highest-placed American at the Kentucky CCI5*. This is her third time earning that honor, behind only Phillip Dutton, who has done it five times.

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“We came feeling a touch rusty,” she said. “He hasn’t had a big outing since Pratoni [FEI World Eventing Championships in 2022]. He came here to be competitive, and I would’ve liked to beat this lot! He has such a fan following and is such a character anyway.”

USA goes 1-2-3 in the CCI4*-S

Winning the CCI4*-S division was William Coleman (USA) aboard the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding Diabolo; Coleman also came in 3^rd on 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Off the Record.

“I’m surprised but not shocked,” he said. “At home, [Diabolo] gave me the feeling he was on the verge of doing something big. We’ve been biding our time until he was ready to show it to the rest of the world.”

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The horse had to make the Southern-Northern Hemisphere adjustment after being imported from Australia.

“We couldn’t do a whole lot with him last year, so we laid low and got to know him. That served us well. It did feel like this spring there were some good results around the corner.”

In 2^nd place was two-time Olympian Boyd Martin (USA) with 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Commando 3, and 4^th place with 14-year-old KWPN gelding Fedarman B.

“I’m very blessed with the two horses,” he said. “They’re hard to split; both are very good in all three phases. It’s a wonderful position to be in with a couple of favorites—like your children, you shouldn’t have one more favorite than the other.”

The third rider to finish in the top five (with a 5^th place finish) was 2023 Pan American Games individual gold medalist Caroline Pamukcu, who rode her Pan Am mount, the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Blake.

Of her young string, she said, “He’s the oldest horse I have. My other four-star horses are heading to Europe in May for the European tour. If all goes well, hopefully we’ll be looking toward the [2024 Paris] Olympics.”

Attendance for the CCI5* and CCI4* eventing combined with the Grand Prix show jumping held two nights during the event produced a new attendance record of 101,239.

2024 Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L Final Top 10

1. Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Rosalent
2. Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin
3. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Loir
4. Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch K
5. Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Vermiculus
6. Bruce Davidson Jr. (USA) and Sorocaima
7. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist
8. Elisabeth Halliday (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker
9. Christoph Wahler (GER) and D’Accord FRH
10. Jennie Brannigan (USA) and FE Lifestyle

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In a day of heat, then rain, followed by blazing sun, the sun indeed shone brightest on the British riders as they claimed the top three spots after cross-country at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L.

Tom McEwen (GBR) and 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin had 4 time faults, but enough of a head start to maintain their overnight lead. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Banzai Du Loir had 5.6 time faults but maintained 2^nd place. Oliver Townend (GBR) and 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Cooley Rosalent moved up from 8^th into 3^rd with just 0.4 time faults.

Lauren Nicholson and Elisabeth Halliday of the USA, who were tied for third going into this phase, each had a few time faults that bumped them down to 7^th and 8^th, respectively.

Mia Farley is now the leading U.S. rider after a fast and clear round aboard her 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Phelps. She sits in 5^th place going into Sunday’s show jumping.

A Banner Performance for Brits

Having finished 2^nd here last year in the CCI5*-L, Tom McEwen also holds team gold and individual silver from the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021.

“The pressure was performing up to what I know the horse can do,” he said after his ride. “Obviously this year we’ve all come here for a place on the [2024] Olympic team. It was really a rider’s track today. It rode really well and was a great place to be.”

When asked how he feels going into the show jumping phase tomorrow, he said, “Dubs is a great jumper. He’s done it plenty of times before, it’s just down to me.”

Reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham (GBR) had a smooth round with one lucky bobble.

“He was brilliant today,” she said. “Everything pretty much went to plan—sometimes it doesn’t. He had one small moment at the Head of the Lake, where he got close to the corner. He was super honest and stayed on his line.”

Riding in his 100^th five-star and ranked the No. 1 eventer in world, Oliver Townend (GBR) made the trip to Kentucky in order to go all-out and get a highly competitive slot on the British Olympic eventing team this summer in Paris.

“I’d like to think [Cooley Rosalent] is in the mix [as a Paris horse],” he said. “She’s been to [the 5*] at Maryland and here. She’s proved she copes with the crowd and quick tracks.”

When asked why he’s prepping for Olympic selection in a 5* versus the 4* that many American riders are using as their final prep, Townend said that the talent pool in Great Britain is so vast that you want to prove yourself against the toughest competition.

“And if the selectors could listen to that, that would be great, thank you,” he joked.

Top U.S. Rider

Sitting in 5^th overall but the highest-placed American is Mia Farley, whose Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred, Phelps, is owned by Olympic gold medalist David O’Connor.

Having ridden him at two five-stars with no time faults—a feat only done 37 times out of 1,000 horses to attempt it—Farley and Phelps are clearly ones to watch.

“With Phelps and a lot of Thoroughbreds, you set a pace at the beginning of the course, and at the end you can ask them to go, and they have it.”

Going into his weakest phase, Farley hopes recent training will be just the ticket.

“He’s been working hard at show jumping.  Sunday is his weaker phase, and I hope his training at home has been working.”

USA Tops the CCI4*-S at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

Elisabeth Halliday (USA) and Miks Master C sit on top of the CCI4*-S leaderboard going into the final day.

“He was very keen today,” she said after cross-country. “He’s a very good jumper and he’s very careful. Although he was strong between the fences, he jumped great.”

Will Coleman (USA) and Diabolo sit in second place currently.

“I was thrilled with him,” said Coleman. I have a lot of belief in the horse. We’re still getting to know each other. This was a step in that direction, and he enjoyed the Kentucky atmosphere and ate it up.”

Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 also held their spot, sitting in third on the leaderboard.

“We’re all on very good show jumpers,” said Martin of Sunday’s jumping test. “The goal would be to give horses a good night’s sleep, school on the flat tomorrow, and do our best.”

Defender Kentucky CCI5* Top 10 going into Show Jumping

1. Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin
2. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Loir
3. Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Rosalent
4. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist
5. Mia Farley (USA) and Phelps
6. Christoph Wahler (GER) and D’Accord FRH
7. Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Vermiculus
8. Elisabeth Halliday (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker
9. Jennie Brannigan (USA) and FE Lifestyle
10. Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch K

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Tom McEwen of Great Britain had a big day under beautiful skies at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., nailing the dressage test at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L.

McEwen rode a steady and accurate test aboard the 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin for a score of 24.6, bumping fellow countryman Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Loir’s leading score of 26.1 from yesterday down to 2nd place going into Saturday’s cross-country phase.

McEwen’s story of a 2nd-place finish at this event last year was overshadowed, as Tamra Smith was busy becoming the first American to win since 2008. But McEwen rides for the most competitive nation in the world in eventing, yet was good enough to win team gold and individual silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (held in 2021).

“I’m just lucky to be back here,” said McEwen after his ride. “Dubs has been on amazing form, and today’s test really showed that. Yes, we were hoping to do a little bit better, but if you can perform on your not-so-great days, that’s pretty good.”

When asked why he makes the journey all the way across the Atlantic to compete in Kentucky when there is a 5* at Badminton in the UK right around the corner, he had nothing but praise for the locale.

“This is one of the best venues in the world,” he said. “We’d all like to be going to the Olympics [this summer], and this has got the terrain, the ground is amazing, and it’s designed beautifully. I came here to try for the British team—at every show they’re so strong. Everyone’s got different ideas [of how best to make the team], exposing [the horses] to something like that is perfect really.”

USA in Position

Tied for 3rd place after today’s ride is the co-highest-placed U.S. rider, Elisabeth Halliday. Riding the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Nutcracker, Halliday put in one of her usual dazzling rides for a score of 30.6.

She describes the horse as quite a powerhouse throughout the three phases of eventing.

“He’s very careful and powerful; he has a big engine, and he’s very brave.”

Tied for 3rd with Halliday is Lauren Nicholson (USA), who rode long-time partner Vermiculus, a 17-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding.

“He was extremely excited to be back at the party [after missing last year],” Nicholson said after her ride. “He was the wildest I’ve ever had him. It’s been a collaborative effort keeping him happy and taking him out all the time for grass. We do a lot of groundwork with him as it works his mind without drilling under saddle.”

Asked about her exuberant mount, she laughed.

“He’s an Arab cross. You’re never going to wear him out. He felt extremely fresh in the ring, and it’s a fine line between being impressive and [performing] airs above the ground. The whole test I was just trying to keep that balance, and I was relieved we did it without any exciting moments.”

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s exciting cross-country phase. This year’s designer is once again Derek di Grazia, who is known for tough but fair challenges that allow the horses an “out” if they get into any trouble. One of the last selection trials for the 2024 U.S. Olympic eventing team, riders are sure to give it their all over the 27 obstacles on this 4+ mile course over undulating bluegrass terrain.

2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Top 10 After Dressage

1. Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin, 24.6
2. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Louir, 26.0
=3. Elisabeth Halliday (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker, 30.6
=3. Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Vermiculus, 30.6
5. Sharon White (USA) and Claus 63, 30.7
6. Kirsty Chabert (GBR) and Classic VI, 31.0
7. Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch K, 31.1
=8. Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Rosalent, 31.4
=8. Calvin Böckmann (GER) and The Phantom of the Opera, 31.4
10. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist, 31.9

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The post 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Dressage Day Two appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Dressage is halfway complete at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event CCI5*-L.

Currently in first is Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain and 2011 Selle Français gelding Banzai Du Loir set the bar high with a 26.1, securing her a 5-point lead.

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“His test overall had some really nice highlights overall. We’ve been working on getting more expression in the trot… he has so much presence,” Ingham said.

She added, “His first centerline could have been a little straighter, I think. That’s something I’ll go home and work on.”

Kirsty Chabert, also from Great Britain, sits in second on a 30 riding Classic IV, a 2009 Anglo European mare.

“At 15 years old, she’s improving. Hopefully she’s a really nice bottle of red wine and just keeps maturing with age,” Chabert said of Classic IV.

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When asked about how she feels about the remainder of the weekend and her competition, she added that no matter how the final results settle, “I’ve got my own goals that I’d like to achieve.”

Only 0.1 point behind is German rider Malin Hansen-Hotopp and 2012 Holsteiner gelding Carlitos Quidditch K. A 30.1 puts her in third.

“I got him from a friend as a 5-year-old and she asked me to ride him for a young horse competition,” Hansen-Hotopp said.

After some hesitation with having other horses to ride and young kids, she agreed to give it a go. “He was really grumpy, bucking all the time… but he did a great job when he was jumping.”

With her husband’s support she bought him and since then their partnership has gone “up and up and up.”

In the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, Boyd Martin and Commando 3 sit in first on a 28.9. William Coleman holds both second and third with a 29.9 on Diabolo and a 30.1 with Off the Record.

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This article about the first day of dressage at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Dressage Day One appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Stay up to date on the action from the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Find information about the event, including a recap from each day of the competition below, and follow links to the full stories.

2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Recap

Thanks to a rail down by overnight leader Tom McEwen (GBR) on the 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin, a clean trip over the show jumps bumped Oliver Townend (GBR) to the ultimate win at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L. Jumping in reverse order of standing, Townend’s clear trip aboard the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse Mare Cooley Rosalent left him in prime position as the final two to jump had rails down. This was Townend’s fourth win at the Kentucky 5*, tying him with Michael Jung of Germany. Only Bruce Davidson, Sr., has more wins, with five between 1983 and1993. Overnight 2^nd, reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain riding the 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Banzai Du Loir, had one rail down, dropping them to 3^rd.

Read more >>

Cross-Country Day Recap

In a day of heat, then rain, followed by blazing sun, the sun indeed shone brightest on the British riders as they claimed the top three spots after cross-country at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L. Tom McEwen (GBR) and 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin had 4 time faults, but enough of a head start to maintain their overnight lead. Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Banzai Du Loir had 5.6 time faults but maintained 2nd place. Oliver Townend (GBR) and 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare Cooley Rosalent moved up from 8th into 3rd with just 0.4 time faults.

Read more >>

Dressage Day Two Recap

Tom McEwen of Great Britain had a big day under beautiful skies at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., nailing the dressage test at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L. McEwen rode a steady and accurate test aboard the 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding JL Dublin for a score of 24.6, bumping fellow countryman Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Banzai Du Loir’s leading score of 26.1 from yesterday down to 2nd place going into Saturday’s cross-country phase.

Read more >>

Dressage Day One Recap

Dressage is halfway complete at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day event CCI5*-L. Currently in first is Yasmin Ingham of Great Britain and 2011 Selle Français gelding Banzai Du Loir set the bar high with a 26.1, securing her a 5-point lead. “His test overall had some really nice highlights overall. We’ve been working on getting more expression in the trot… he has so much presence,” Ingham said.

Read more >>

2024 Kentucky Three-Day Event Preview

Three of the world’s four top-ranked riders and defending champion Tamie Smith (USA) head an impressive list of entries for the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™. Olympians and World Champions highlight the list of riders from nine countries entered to compete when the event returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 25-28. With many riders’ sights set on the Paris Olympics this summer, both the CCI5*-L and the Cosequin® Lexington 4* will be thrilling to watch.

Read more >>

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Lexington, Ky. — Three of the world’s four top-ranked riders and defending champion Tamie Smith (USA) head an impressive list of entries for the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™. Olympians and World Champions highlight the list of riders from nine countries entered to compete when the event returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 25-28.

Organized by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) features one of only seven annual Five Star three-day events in the world. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the event annually attracts nearly 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations. In addition to the traditional CCI5*-L, the event also features the Cosequin® Lexington 4* and Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.

With many riders’ sights set on the Paris Olympics this summer, both the CCI5*-L and the Cosequin® Lexington 4* will be thrilling to watch. Smith won last year’s K3DE 5* with Mai Baum, her longtime partner with whom she was reserve rider on the 2021 Olympic team and helped the U.S. win team Silver at the 2022 World Championships. She has entered him in the 4* alongside Danito (with whom she finished second in the 2022 MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill) and Kynan.

Looking to dethrone Smith are several of the sport’s biggest names, including three of the world’s four highest-ranked athletes: British riders Oliver Townend (World #1 and three-time Kentucky 5* champion) and Tom McEwen (World #4 and last year’s Reserve Champion at Kentucky), and three-time U.S. Olympic veteran Boyd Martin (World #3). Townend and McEwen have one entry each in the 5*, while Martin has several horses competing at both levels.

Also riding for Great Britain are 2022 World Champion Yasmin Ingham aboard Banzai Du Loir, her Gold-medal partner from the 2022 World Championships with whom she finished second at Kentucky that same year, and Leslie Law, a two-time Olympian with three Olympic medals including individual Gold in 2004.

In addition to Smith and Martin, the star-studded U.S. contingent includes 2012 Olympian Will Coleman, who has several rides entered including his 2022 World Championship mount Off The Record; seven-time Olympian and five-time USEF CCI5*-L National Champion Phillip Dutton; Olympic veterans Lauren Nicholson and Doug Payne; and all four members of the U.S.’s Silver medal-winning team from the 2023 Pan American Games – Sydney Elliott, Liz Halliday, Sharon White, and individual Gold medalist Caroline Pamukcu.

Representing Canada are two-time Olympians Colleen Loach and Jessica Phoenix, as well as Tik Maynard and defending Cosequin® Lexington 4* champion Karl Slezak. Other international contenders include Olympic veterans Matthew Grayling and Joe Meyer of New Zealand and Germany’s Christoph Wahler, who helped Germany win team Gold at the 2022 World Championships.

The full list of CCI5*-L entries can be found here.

The Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S entries can be found here.

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™

The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) is a thrilling multi-day competition featuring Olympic-level riders and horses in what can best be described as an equestrian triathlon. Horse and rider pairs compete in three phases of the competition – Dressage, Cross-Country and Show Jumping – for $400,000 in prize money to those competing at the CCI5*-L level. K3DE is the largest and longest-running Five Star event in the Americas and as the United States’ premier event, it also serves as the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian for the U.S. athletes. Rolex is the Official Timepiece and Event Partner.

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Introduced in 2021, the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S runs concurrently with the CCI5*-L competition, featuring the three phases of eventing – dressage, cross country and show jumping. The Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S offers $50,000 prize money. Tickets for viewing the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S are included when purchasing the K3DE tickets.

Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute

The $225,000 Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute will take place on Saturday afternoon, April 27, after the cross-country portion of the K3DE. As part of the competition, there will also be a $35,000 Welcome Speed Cup Ranking Class on Friday in the Rolex Stadium, after the day’s K3DE dressage competition. In addition to the new 4* level for the 2024 Grand Prix, there will be a new $35,000 1.45m Two-Phase during the lunch hour on Saturday, April 27. No stadium seat ticket is required for Friday’s Ranking Class. For more Grand Prix information, please visit here.

Further information about the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian, the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S, and the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is available at this link.

— Edited Press Release

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