And they're off! The first official day of competition at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) begins today and we have a schedule jam-packed with dressage for both the four- and five-star fields. Competitors in the CCI4*-S will get things underway at 8:00 a.m. EST in the Rolex Stadium with Lisa Barry (USA) and her own Irish Sport Horse mare Rosie's Adventadora (Formula One x Rajacon's Rose) leading the 58-horse field. We will only see 28 four-star pairs today, however, with the remaining 30 kicking off their competition weekend tomorrow.
Buck Davidson and the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Candyman (Sligo Candy Boy x Dashing Hill), who Davidson co-owns with Cassandra Segal, will be the final pair to contest the four-star test today before judges Andrew Bennie (NZL) and Bea di Grazia (USA) at 11:52 a.m. EST. Four-star dressage will resume on Friday and will run from 8:00 a.m. EST to 11:45 a.m. EST.
Five-star competition gets underway at 1:30 p.m. EST with New Zealand pair Tim Price and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Jarillo (Dantos x Fiorilla), owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead, and James and Rachel Good, serving as the first of 17 pairs to trot down the centerline for the 2025 five-star season. Harry Meade (GBR) and the 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding Et Hop du Matz (Nouma D'Auzay x Prima du Matz), who Meade co-owns with Mandy Gray, will be the last pair to present before judges Christian Steiner (AUT), Anne-Mette Binder (DEN), and Peter Gray (CAN) at 4:04 p.m. EST today. The remaining 18 pairs on the five-star roster will close out the dressage phase tomorrow starting at 1:00 p.m. EST.
Here is what you need to know to follow along today:
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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.
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