For the first time in 15 years, an American will enter show jumping in first place at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Tamie Smith and Mai Baum are the first U.S. pair to lead the Kentucky five-star after cross country since Becky Holder and Courageous Comet in 2008. However, the bigger history they hope to make will be becoming the first American winners of the event since Phillip Dutton and Connaught overtook Holder and Courageous Comet for the 2008 title.
There was quite a shakeup in the standings on cross-country day this year. Smith and the 17-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Loredano 2 x Ramira) that she affectionately calls “The Black Stallion” moved from third to first with one of six double-clear rounds on Derek di Grazia’s five-star cross-country course. Only four of the top-10 after dressage remain in the top-10 after cross-country: Smith and Mai Baum (1st); Tom McEwen and JL Dublin (2nd); Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C (3rd); and Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz (4th). Three horses went from 20th or lower after dressage into the top-10 after cross-country: Maxime Livio and Carouzo Bois Marotin (20th to 7th); David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed (22nd to 8th); and Jennie Saville and FE Lifestyle (23rd to 10th).
The CCI4*-S horse inspection kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with an anticipated 40 horse and rider pairs coming forward if no more withdrawals happen overnight. The CCI5*-L final horse inspection will take place immediately following the four-star inspection, and if all of today's cross-country finishers come forward, 26 horses will be presented.
Show jumping for both the four-star and five-star on the courses designed by Steve Stephens will run in reverse order of placing with the CCI4*-S scheduled to take place at 10:45 a.m. Show jumping for the CCI5*-L will get underway at 2:00 p.m. with awards taking place at 4 p.m.
Here’s what you need to know to follow along today:
Helpful Links
Don't forget to follow the USEA event coverage on social media!
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
This afternoon, USEA President Louise “Lou” Leslie welcomed U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Board of Governors members, USEA staff, and USEA Annual Meeting & Convention attendees to the first of two Board meetings which will take place during this year’s Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, with the teaser that 2024 is going to be full of initiatives for more opportunities to access the eventing experience, some of which attendees might get first wind of during this year’s gathering. The 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention takes place Dec. 7-10 at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel.
Welcome to the Show Me state and to Area IV USEA members! The 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention kicks of tomorrow and features four full days of educational seminars, committee meetings, and social gatherings all with one aim—to bring the eventing community together to continue to improve upon and celebrate the sport that we all love. This year’s Convention takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand in downtown St. Louis from Dec. 7-10, and we have rounded up everything you need to know to make the most of your time in the heartland.
To accompany the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, USEA Educational Partner STRIDER has prepared Digital Resources to Maximize Education & Access for the Eventing Community. In keeping with the USEA’s mission to expand the sport of eventing, this webinar outlines ways in which digital tools can be leveraged to increase access and education across equestrian opportunities. As part of STRIDER’s popular Professional Development Webinar Series, this presentation aims to provide a quick overview of best practices and digital tools used across the equestrian industry to boost growth.
Every horse who participated this year in the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) program has a story—a background that involves a breeder who labored over bloodlines, veterinary care, initial training, and so much more. This year’s highest-placing U.S.-bred horse in the 5-year-old division at the Dutta Corp./USEA Young Event Horse Championships, Arden Augustus, is no exception. His breeder and owner, Anita Antenucci of Arden Farms in Upperville, Virginia, started her program nine years ago and said that the Warmblood gelding was a more emotionally driven breeding for her than others due to his connections with Antenucci’s long-time friend Sharon White.