United States Eventing Association

Defender Kentucky Five-Star Entries Down to 36

The five-star field for the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event has narrowed, with 11 riders having withdrawn since entries were released on March 28.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.