Apr 15, 2024

Defender Kentucky Five-Star Entries Down to 36

By Meagan DeLisle - USEA Staff
Phillip Dutton and Denim will head to the Tryon CCI4*-L instead of Kentucky this year. USEA/Lindsay Berreth photo

The five-star field for the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event has narrowed, with 11 riders having withdrawn since entries were released on March 28. As of April 21, the following pairs have pulled their entries: Grace Taylor, Tamie Smith, Rosalind Canter, Sydney Solomon, Emily Hamel, Phillip Dutton, Jessica Phoenix, Nicolai Aldinger, James Alliston, Meghan O'Donoghue, and Boyd Martin.

Aldinger (GER) shared in a Facebook post on April 12 that his entry, Timmo, had stepped on a clip in one of his Kentucky prep runs which would unfortunately put the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Timolino x Windgold) out of his final preparations for the U.S. five-star. Timmo is owned by Cornelia and Dieter Aldinger and Jutta and Michael Spethmann.

Dutton (USA) also put out a statement on Facebook on April 12 surrounding his decision to withdraw one of his three entries, the 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Denim (Dinken x Celia II) owned by Ann Jones, Ann Lapides, Caroline Moran, and Neill Sites. In his post, Dutton shared that it was always the plan to cross-enter Denim into both the Kentucky five-star and CCI4*-L at Tryon and later make the decision as to which competition would best suit his partner. It was ultimately decided that since Denim has only run one CCI4*-L in his career, another competition at this level would be best for his career development at this time.

While Hamel (USA) has not put out an official statement regarding the withdrawal of her long-time partner, Black Flag Option, LLC’s 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding Corvett (Corrido x Tina XII), it was recently announced that the pair were named to the U.S. Equestrian Federation 2024 European Development Tour.

While Solomon (USA) and Laurie Cameron’s 15-year-old Hanoverian mare Early Review CBF (Earl x Lois Lane CBF) names are no longer on the five-star entry list, you can now find them in the CCI4*-S field at Kentucky.

World no. 2 Canter (GBR) withdrew her Pau five-star champion partner Izilot DHI (Zavall VDL x Un), the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Canter and Alex Moody, fairly early on, but the pair also have their name on the entry list at the five-star at Badminton which takes place May 8-12.

The 2024 Kentucky champion Smith (USA) withdrew her five-star first-time hopeful Elliot V (Zavall VDL x Nassau) after the Elliot V Partnership’s 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding had some trouble on cross-country in the CCI4*-S at Galway Downs (Temecula, California) earlier this spring. While Smith won’t be contesting the five-star this year, she has three entries in the CCI4*-S at Kentucky.

Taylor (USA) and Ann Taylor’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Game Changer (Cassidee x Stormchaser) are another pair who have withdrawn from Kentucky but also have their name on the entry list at Badminton.

Phoenix was cross-entered at Badminton with Wabbit, Momo Laframboise's 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Line Of Departure x No Kissing).

The morning of April 18th, Alliston's (USA) 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding Paper Jam's (Paparazzo x Reely Jamin) name fell off of the entry list. Alliston still has a second entry in Karma.

Like some of the other withdrawals up to this point, Boyd Martin (USA) has refocused the efforts of Chrstine, Thomas, and Tommy Turner's 17-year-old Trakehner gelding Tsestserleg TSF (Windfall 2 x Thabana) towards the five-star at Badminton. He still has On Cue on the entry list for the five-star at Kentucky.

Meghan O'Donoghue is also hopping across the pond to Badminton with her and Will Duhring's 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Palm Crescent (Quite American x Eddey's Village).

You can view the official entry list here.

Jan 21, 2025 Young Event Horse

First Class of YEH New Judge Education Program Graduates Added to the YEH Judges List

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is proud to announce the first class of USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Judges have completed their certifications through the YEH New Judge Education Program, which was led by YEH faculty member, Marilyn Payne.

Jan 21, 2025 News

Now On Course: Patience Pays Off for Nazila Hejazi & Her 20-Year-Old Missouri Fox Trotter

Nazila Hejazi and her 20-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter mare, Tessa, may have made for an unconventional pair at the USEA Area VI Championships, held in October at Galway Downs (Temecula, California) but they didn’t let that hold them back. It’s uncommon to see a horse in their twenties still competing in eventing, and even more rare for a gaited horse to compete in a jumping sport.

Jan 20, 2025 News

Echoing the Dream: Small Acts of Kindness in Eventing

Today, we pause to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on the powerful moment in 1963 when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and shared his vision for a better future. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech was more than just words; it was a call to action that transcended time, culture, and boundaries—a beacon of hope that continues to inspire.

Jan 19, 2025

That “Forward” State of Mind

We’ve all been there—on the horse who pokes his way around the warm-up ring, needs leg, leg, leg coming into the combination, or brings up the rear on every trail ride. None of us wants each and every ride to be a lower-body squeezefest, nor do we wish to do anything with our crop except maybe wave it at that annoying deerfly. In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley explains the essential quality of forwardness and how to prepare the horse to expect you to look for it in all that you do together.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA