The top three going into show jumping in the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L all have reason to fight extra hard for the bluegrass win today.
The division leaders, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, lost the champion title in 2023 due to just a few time penalties on cross-country.
In 2022, Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir came in second in their maiden trip to Kentucky. In 2023 they had the lead in hand, until they had an uncharacteristic stop on cross-country.
Oliver Townend is a three-time Kentucky champion, but he hasn't had a win here since 2021. This weekend marks his 100th five-star and what better way to celebrate in style than by bringing home a win?
The scores are tight going into the finale. McEwen sits on a 28.6 and with Ingham behind him on a 31.6, he does not have a rail in hand. And Townend is not far behind with a 31.8. Truly, a rail or some time could drastically change up the standings, especially the top five.
But first, the Cosequin CCI4*-S must crown their champion and the scores are even tighter in this uber competitive division than they are the five-star. Just fractions of a point separate the leaders, Liz Halliday and Miks Master C, and the second-place pair Will Coleman and Diabolo. In fact, if any of the top three were to have a rail down, we could see a whole new crew of riders take over the leaderboard.
No pressure. No pressure at all.
Both divisions will undergo horse inspections before they can move forward to the final phase of competition. The CCI4*-S horse inspection begins at 8:00 a.m. and we anticipate seeing 421horses presented. As of Sunday morning, only one withdrawals have been logged in four-star division: Canadian pair Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge and British pair Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri.
Immediately after the conclusion of the four-star inspection will be the final five-star inspection where 25 pairs are slated to jog down High Hopes Inspection Lane.
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 10:30 a.m. EST. Show jumping for the CCI5*-L will get underway at 2:15 p.m. EST with awards taking place at 3:45 p.m EST.
Here is what you need to know to follow along today:
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With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.
The USEA office will close at 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, and will reopen again on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The USEA staff will return emails and phone calls when the office re-opens on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 or at their earliest convenience.