Competitions

Fence-By-Fence: The 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Cross-Country Course Preview

By Meagan DeLisle - USEA Staff | April 23, 2025
USEA/Lindsay Berreth photo

The man, the myth, the legend himself, Derek di Grazia is back in his typical fashion at this year's Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event and he has designed some beautiful tracks for both the CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S competitions this year. You can get a first look at these amazing courses as well as some insider interviews with di Grazia himself thanks to our friends at the CrossCountry App!

This year's five-star course has an optimum time of 11 minutes and 20 seconds across di Grazia's 6,460-meter track which will require riders to be galloping along at a pace of 570 mpm to make the time. Horse and rider pairs will have to tackle 48 efforts set up across the 27 obstacle course.

Meanwhile, in the CCI4*-S, competitors will tackle 37 efforts across di Grazia's 22 obstacle course, aiming to meet an optimum time of 6 minutes and 37 seconds. The track spans across 3,764 meters and will require these pairs to travel at a pace of 570 mpm to make the time.

Be sure to head on over to the CrossCountry App to access the five-star and four-star course walk with photos, videos, descriptions, and so much more!

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