Photos from last week's CIC3* cross-country phase at The Fork Horse Trials.
Winners of the CIC3* - Leslie Law & Mystere du Val. Stuart Black used to ride this horse, you may remember.Leslie (and his wife Lesley!) are two of the neatest people - very honest, friendly, and bright... with lots of promising students (and young horses), too!Amy Tryon & Coal Creek pop over the house heading into the pond - they finished 7th.Galloping for home!Stephen Bradley & Brandenburg's Joshua (back after an injury put him on hiatus last year) - they were 3rd at Rolex in '06Lauren Kieffer & Snooze Alarm - check out the Blog from a few weeks ago on these guys, they have quite a story!This cool little guy's half-Arab (and really talented)Well, technically Karen O'C. & Teddy were in the CIC3*W division...But Karen had so many rides, that she had to run during the 3*Sadly, we didn't get to see them finish...the pair went off course and had to walk home... better luck next time!Many of you know Marilyn Payne (official, judge, rider, etc.) - here's her daughter Holly riding MadelineWaylon Roberts & Paleface pop off the bankMissy Ransenhousen & Critical Decision tackle the skinny brush (which was a few strides after the bank above)Ashley Adams & VauntedLynn Symansky & No It Tissant (competed at Rolex last year & are headed back again!)Nate Chambers & Rolling Stone gallop down the hill after clearing the corners - they finished 12thArgentinean rider Jose Ortelli & Jo Aquiles bounce over the shamrock cornersJessica Ruppel & the dynamic little Appy-cross Naughty by Nature tackle the corners in fine styleMike Winter & Glen Morangie over the houses (right before the corner)Sara Dierks & SomersetHuge leap for Gordonstown with Madeline Blackman aboardAmy Tryon & Leyland begin their turn up the hill to the corner complexLookin' good! These guys finished in 8th - behind her other ride, Coal CreekLeslie Law & Private Heart finished 4thWell on their way to a double-clear round!Debbie Adams & Kheops Du Quesnay - gorgeous horse...With a huge stride!I think this is Wendy Bebie & Phoenix...can't see her number. (someone correct me if I'm wrong!)Laine Ashker & Anthony PatchFinished up in 3rd with 2 double-clear jumping rounds this weekend
Today's the day! The first of the field in both the CCI4*-S and CCI5* will be putting their best foot forward in dressage to try and earn a leading spot in the first phase.
All 29 five-star entries were approved by the Ground Jury in the first formal horse inspection at the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Check out all of the images our team captured below.
Derek di Grazia been the cross-country course designer at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event since 2011, and this year, as always, he's put together a masterful track for the feature CCI5*-L division. In addition, di Grazia has designed the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S track since the division w...
