Yesterday 20 CCI4*-S pairs and 30 CCI5*-L pairs had their turn in front of the judges at the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian, and today the remaining groups will canter down centerline in the Rolex Stadium.
Zachary Brandt and the Syndicate-owned Direct Advance are the first pair up at 7:45 a.m. in the CCI4*-S and that division will continue through until 11:03 a.m. when yesterday's lead-off rider Jessica Phoenix will also close out the competition this time aboard her veteran Pavarotti.
The CCI5*-L will then pick up at 12:15 p.m. with Boyd Martin the first up on the Turner Family's On Cue. Martin will also ride his 2019 National Champion, Tsetserleg TSF in the final group of riders. Buck Davidson and Katherine O'Brien's Carlevo are the last in at 5:27 p.m.
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
Miss the CCI5*-L coverage from yesterday? Here's a quick recap!
The snow may have melted, but the atmosphere was still brisk. As a result of yesterday’s chilly, windy weather, we witnessed very spirited horses, and some riders were challenged to get their horses to settle in the Rolex arena, despite there being no spectators this year.
The overnight leaders are Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous, on a record-breaking 21.7. This is the best dressage score in the last decade at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, according to our partners EquiRatings, and the best five-star dressage score from a U.S. rider on record. The 16-year-old Oldenburg mare, owned by Jacqueline Mars, Phoebe and Michael Manders, holds a 2.4 lead over reigning champions, Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class, the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse owned by Angela Hislop. Both of their scores stand in the top 10 for record-breaking scores at the Kentucky CCI5*-L since 2010, but there are still some heavy hitters to come today, who will be looking to put the pressure on the leaders.
The USEA caught up with several of the riders after their dressage tests yesterday, so listen in for some not-to-miss quotes before you sink in for another day of dressage.
Thirty-five five-star horses presented today under sunny skies at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.
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.