The 2026 K3DE Daily: Cross-Country Day

It's cross-country day at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event! Easily the busiest day the Kentucky Horse Park sees each year, make sure to get there early, grab your coffee, and go ensure you get the viewing spot you want for both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L divisions today.
As of Friday afternoon, there are 44 four-star pairs set to gallop out of the start box starting at 9:30 a.m. EST, and 29 five-star pairs will get things underway at 1:30 p.m. EST.
Tamie Smith (USA) and the Kynan Syndicate's Kynan, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Envoy x Danieta), will be our first pair to gallop across the bluegrass in the CCI4*-S this morning. The final pair, Jan Byyny (USA) and her own 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Beautiful Storm (Get Stormy x So Beautiful) will exit the start box at 11:39 a.m. EST.
The CCI4*-S course features 37 efforts across di Grazia's 23-obstacle course, aiming to meet an optimum time of 6 minutes and 37 seconds. The track spans across 3,770 meters and will require these pairs to travel at a pace of 570 mpm to make the time.
After a short break, the five-star will get underway at 1:30 p.m. EST with Caroline Pamukcu (USA) who will start and end the five-star competition today with the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Tolan King (Tolan R x Kilmolash Clover Rhodes), owned by Kelley Hutchinson and the Tolan King Partnership, and the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Blake (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass), owned by Pamukcu, Sherrie Martin, and Mollie Hoff.
Pamukcu and HSH Blake leave the start box at 3:50 p.m. EST.
The five-star course has an optimum time of 11 minutes and 5 seconds across di Grazia's 6,312-meter track which will require riders to be galloping along at a pace of 570 mpm to make the time. Horse and rider pairs will have to tackle 49 efforts set up across the 28 obstacle course.
Here is what you need to know to follow along today:
- Access details regarding the livestream for both the four-star and five-star here.
- Follow along with the live scores for both the CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S here.
- Cross-country ride times for the CCI5*-L can be found here.
- Cross-country ride times for the CCI4*-S can be found here.
- The USEA will be posting updates throughout the day on Instagram. Follow @useventing to keep up with the action.
- Don’t forget to stop by the USEA booth on the hill behind the Rolex Stadium to shop our exclusive new USEA apparel!
- Want more facts? Read through the USEA’s Fast Facts of the K3DE!
- Want to get eyes on the cross-country course? Check out the course walk here!
There are a couple of really cool activities taking place today as well:
- New this year is the USEA Lunch and Learn sessions held in the Safety & Wellness Arena (Annex 1 just outside the Trade Fair and next to the Kentucky Kids Club). These Lunch and Learn sessions will be at 12:15 each day.
- The Kentucky International CSI5* $32,000 Power & Speed class will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Claiborne Arena.
- The Kentucky International CSI5* $340,000 1.60-meter grand prix will be held in the Rolex Stadium at 7 p.m.
Helpful Links
- K3DE Website
- USEA Prize List
- CCI5*-L Order of Go
- CCI4*-S Order of Go
- Schedule of Events
- Livestream
- Live Scores
- USEA’s Coverage
- Meet the Five-Star Field
Follow the USEA event coverage on social media!














