For the first time since 2019, the grounds at the Kentucky Horse Park will be packed for cross-country day during the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian. Tailgaters are setting up their tents, spectators are hiking to their favorite jump, and vendor row is soon to be buzzing as the competition gets underway.
First out of the start box this morning at 9:00 a.m. in the CCI4*-S is Liz Halliday-Sharp and The Monster Partnership’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Quicksilver (Womanizer x Kylmore Crystal) who currently sit in third on a 25.7. The overnight leaders Doug Payne and the 11-year-old KWPN mare, Starr Witness (Chello III VDL x Carmen) owned by Doug Payne, Catherine Winter, and Laurie McRee, are scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
Will Coleman aboard Team Rebecca, LLC’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Dondante
(Pacino x Muckno Clover) are the pathfinders in the CCI5* today which is kicking off at 12:50 p.m. Overnight leaders Michael Jung and Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff, and DOKR's 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding FirscherChipmunk FRH (Contendro I x Havanna) will start on course at 2:34 p.m.
Derek di Grazia designed both cross-country courses. The CCI4*-S has an optimum time of 6 minutes and 57 seconds and is 3,960 meters with 21 numbered fences and 33 jumping efforts at 570 mpm. The CCI5*-L course has an optimum time of 11 minutes and 4 seconds and is 6,308 meters with 28 numbered fences and 45 jumping efforts at 570 mpm. Take a walk around it here.
Be sure to catch up on all the dressage action before cross-country gets underway by clicking 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
If all goes according to plan in the first part of the extended weekend, we will see 36 horses galloping across Derek di Grazia's CCI5*-L cross-country course at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (DK3DE). We partnered up with the team at CrossCountry App to bring you a preview of both the five-star and CCI4*-s tracks this year.
Lights, cameras, action! The first formal horse inspection (which some might informally refer to as "the jog") at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) takes place this afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. While this part of the event is a fan-favorite historically based on the impeccable turnout of the horses and the stylish and forward fashion choices of the riders (we are looking at you Boyd Martin in hopes that you bring back the American flag suit circa 2022), it serves a very important purpose: ensuring that each horse is fit, sound, and ready to compete at the five-star level.
There are so many things to love about the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event and the opportunity to peruse the booths of so many amazing vendors is definitely one of them! Don’t forget to stop by the USEA booth, located just behind the Rolex Stadium next to the large Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event booth, to stock up on all of your favorite USEA apparel.
After the first competition at Modified was held at The Horse Park at Woodside in California in 2023, the level will be under an even bigger spotlight with the Modified Match that will be offered at the 2024 Woodside Spring Horse Trials that will take place from May 24-26.