United States Eventing Association

Sixty-three horses were set to trot down the High Hope Inspection Lane for the first horse inspection at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. After it was announced that Jessica Phoenix (CAN) had withdrawn her 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Exponential, that number dropped to sixty-two.

Nonetheless, the field is one of the largest to be presented in the history of Lexington-based CCI****, and there seemed to be more spectatorship for the first horse inspection than in recent years. The weather - sixties and sunny - is predicted to remain lovely for the remainder of the competition.

In total, five pairs were sent to the holding box and reinspected. Kyle Carter and Madison Park, who most recently placed second in the CIC*** at Poplar Place (Hamilton, Ga.) in March, were held and accepted upon a second look.

After a tense waiting period before the rest of the held horses were presented once again, James Alliston and Parker, and Katie Frei and Houdini were passed upon reinspection. Laine Ashker unfortunately withdrew Anthony Patch, who had a stellar year of competition in 2013, winning the Advanced divisions at the Millbrook Horse Trials (Millbrook, N.Y.) and the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships (Tyler, Texas). She reported on her Facebook page that the Thoroughbred gelding is brewing an untimely abcess. Sadly, Rolex first-timers Ellen Doughty and her own Sir Oberon were not accepted upon reinspection.

Tomorrow's dressage competition begins at 10:00 a.m. with Buck Davidson as the first and last ride of the day. Park Trader, owned by Cassandra and Carl Segal, will be his morning ride, and Petite Flower, owned by his student Caroline Martin and her family, will wrap the day at 3:46 p.m. Please stay tuned to the USEA Facebook page and Twitter feed for updates throughout the day, and check back here at the end of the day for articles and photos. You can also find the entry list here.