United States Eventing Association

Every spring, the Kentucky Horse Park becomes the center of the eventing world. The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, one of just a handful of CCI5*-L competitions globally, draws the sport’s top horse-and-rider combinations to test their skill, partnership, and grit at the highest level.

With another exciting year on deck, the 2026 edition brings a fresh set of stats that capture the scope of the event—from the depth of the field to the scale of competition and everything in between. Get to know a little bit more about this year's field, officials, schedule, and more in this edition of Fast Facts.

The CCI5*-L Field:

• The CCI5*-L field features 30 horse-and-rider combinations representing five nations: the United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

• The field is heavily U.S.-led, with 16 American riders competing, making up over half of the entries.
• The most common horse ages in the field are 11 and 12, with six horses each.
• In terms of breeding, Irish Sport Horses are the most represented breed (8 total).
• Thoroughbred influence remains evident, with four pure Thoroughbreds and one Thoroughbred cross represented in the field.
• In addition to the four five-star first time pairs competing these weekend, there are five horses who are making their five-star debut: Possante, Diabolo, Pomp N Circumstance, and Chiraz.

• Several riders will pilot multiple entries, including Boyd Martin (3 horses) and Caroline Pamukcu (3 horses), while Harry Meade and Tim Price will each compete with two horses.
• This year's field includes two previous Kentucky CCI5*-L podium finishers, both ridden by Boyd Martin: Miks Master C (3rd in 2023 with Liz Halliday) and Commando 3 (2nd in 2025).
• The field also spans a wide range of experience, with rider ages ranging from 23 to 62.

The Facts:

• Alec Lochore (GBR) is the CCI5*-L technical delegate with Martyn Johnson (GBR) and Phillip Surl (GBR) assisting. Andrew Temkin, Johnson, and Surl will be the technical delegates for the CCI4*-S.
• Andrew Bennie (NZL) is the president of the ground jury of the CCI5*-L and will be assisted by Seppo Laine (FIN) and Valerie Pride (USA). In the CCI4*-S, the president of the ground jury will be Christina Klingspor (SWE). Klingspor will be assisted by Robyn Fisher (USA).
• Derek di Grazia (USA) has been the cross-country course designer since 2011 and will be assisted by Jay Hambly (CAN) and Chris Ross (NZL).
• There is a new show jumping course designer this year in Guilherme Jorge (BRA).
• The CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S are both qualifiers for the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final that will take place at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds.
• $400,000 in prize money is up for grabs in the CCI5*-L and $50,000 in the CCI4*-S.
• The USEA Adult Rider Program is hosting a course walk for members of the USEA Adult Rider Program. Walk the five-star cross-country course with course designer Derek di Grazia on Thursday, April 23, at 8:30 a.m. Meet up at the five-star start box to join!
• Don't forget to join the USEA and the USHJA on the hill at booth #314 for Champions Live on Friday, April 25, at 9:30 a.m. Featured guests will be top U.S. event rider, Emily Hamel and top U.S. show jumping rider, Lillie Keenan. We'll have an interactive Q&A so bring any questions you want to ask the pros!
  
• New this year is the USEA Lunch and Learn sessions held in the Safety & Wellness Arena (Annex 1 just outside the Trade Fair and next to the Kentucky Kids Club). These Lunch and Learn sessions will be at 12:15 each day. The schedule is as follows:
• • Thursday April 23 | Dr. Angie Yates, DVM and Rob Burk discuss equine safety
    Friday April 24 | K3DE Course Builders Tyson Rementer and Levi Ryckewaert discussion on frangible technology
    Saturday April 25 | National Safety Officer Jon Holling and Rob Burk discuss cross-country safety
    Sunday April 26 | Dr. Mark Hart discussion discusses rider safety
• Keep your eyes out for a very special meet and great with a five-star superstar at the USEA booth this week. We will update the Fast Facts accordingly and post on the USEA social media channels soon!
• For information on how to watch the livestream this year, check out this article.

Helpful Links

• K3DE Website
• USEA Prize List
• CCI5*-L Order of Go
• CCI4*-S Order of Go
• Schedule of Events
• Livestream
• Live Scores
• USEA’s Coverage
• Meet the Riders

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