Lexington, Ky.—April 26—The five-star riders were dressed to their best, and their horses were braided and groomed to present before the ground jury on a beautiful Wednesday at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington ahead of the start of competition at the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event.
The 38 horses that jogged at High Hope Inspection Lane all passed. However, announcer Brian O’Connor informed the crowd that Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello (Chello III VDL x Karelza), set to make their five-star debut, withdrew from the competition.
The weather in Lexington for Wednesday’s jog was clear with temperatures in the 60s. However, rain is in the forecast for Thursday and Friday. The dressage tests for the CCI5*-L are scheduled to begin in Rolex Stadium at 1:30 p.m. EST on Thursday with the first 20 horses in the field, followed by the final 18 starting at 1 p.m. EST on Friday.
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Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.