United States Eventing Association

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Entries Announced

Just like that, let the official countdown to the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event begin! This year's entry list for the CCI5*-L was revealed today, and the star studded list includes former Kentucky champions, six of the world's top 12 eventers, Olympians, and so much more.

In total, 42 riders from six countries are set to compete at the event, held April 23-27. Nine are cross-entered at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials which takes place May 7-11 in Gloucestershire, England.

Last year's winners, Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Rosalent, are entered at Badminton this year.

Jennie Brannigan, recent winner of the SRF Carolina International, has two horses on this year's list in FE Lifestyle and Twilightslastgleam. She also has FE Lifestyle entered in the five-star Badminton.

Boyd Martin has three entries for the U.S. with Luke 140, Commando 3, and Fedarman B. British rider Harry Meade and New Zealand rider Tim Price also have three entries.

Tom McEwen (GBR) has two entries cross-entered at Kentucky and Badminton in JL Dublin and Brookfield Quality. This would be Brookfield Quality's first run on U.S. soil, but JL Dublin is no stranger to having success stateside, having earned second place both in 2023 and 2024 at Kentucky.

Michael Jung (GER) who hasn't been back to the Kentucky Horse Park since he won the event in 2022 with fischerChipmunk FRH, is returning again with "Chip." Jung also picked up wins in Kentucky in 2017, 2016, and 2015, and was second in 2018.

Brooke Burchianti (Cooley Space Grey), Mary Bess Davis (Imperio Magic), Shannon Lilley (Eindhoven Garette), Cassie Sanger (Redfield Fyre), Arden Wildasin (Sunday Times), Lucienne Bellissimo (Dyri), and Julie Wolfert (SSH Playboy) will all be making their five-star debuts at Kentucky.

Entries for the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S have not been revealed yet.

You can view the full entry list here.