It’s the first day of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian and the first time spectators have graced the grounds for the event since 2019. Following the first horse inspection on Wednesday all 45 pairs presented in the CCI5* are moving forward with competition and we will also see 48 horses give the CCI4*-S a run for the money over the course of the competition week.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and The Monster Partnership’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer x Kylmore Crystal) are the first pair to kickstart competition in Kentucky in the CCI4*-S. A total of 24 horses will compete today starting at 8:00 a.m. Missy Miller riding her own 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding Quinn (Quirado x Maleika II) will be the last of the 24 CCI4*-S pairs set to trot down the centerline on Thursday. Four-star dressage will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Friday with the remaining 24 horses led by Heather Gillette and her 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Vincent Chase (Value Plus x Her Entourage).
Kicking off the five-star competition is Will Coleman aboard Team Rebecca, LLC’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Dondante (by Pachio) at 1:00 p.m. The last of the 21 five-star pairs who will compete on Thursday is Hallie Coon riding her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Global EX (Contador x Wessely Wonderfly). The remaining 24 competitors will set out to dazzle the dressage judges on Friday at 12:30 p.m. with Jennie Brannigan leading the way aboard Nina and Timothy Gardner’s 12-year-old German Sport Horse gelding FE Lifestyle (Leo von Faelz x Berina A).
Did you miss yesterday's horse inspection? You can re-watch it here or read the report here.
Here’s what you need to know to follow along today:
Don't forget to follow the USEA event coverage on social media!
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Who is ready for another day of dressage at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (DK3DE)? Just like yesterday's schedule, we will first see the CCI4*-S field compete this morning starting at 8:00 a.m. EST, followed by the CCI5*-L field at 1:00 p.m. EST.
Great Britain’s Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir found themselves in a familiar position today at the top of the leaderboard after dressage at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, scoring a 26.0. A year ago, Ingham and “Banzai” led the field heading into cross-country after Friday’s dressage, but they drew an earlier start this year, and Ingham’s got a few more challengers to come tomorrow.
In comparison to many of his other upper-level event horses, Commando 3, or “Connor” as he is known in the barn, is still a newer ride for Boyd Martin, but that hasn’t held the pair back.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.