The Fork at Tryon took place this past weekend, September 14-17, 2023, at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. The event featured international competition at the CCI4*-S, CCI2*-L, and CCI1*-S levels, as well as national competition at the Advanced, Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified, Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice levels.
In the CCI4*-S, it was a start-to-finish win for Boyd Martin and Yankee Creek Ranch, LLC's 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding Commando (Connor 48 x R- Adelgunde). They scored 28.7 in dressage to take the lead, added just 1.2 seconds of time in show jumping to hold onto the pole position, and their cross-country round, which resulted in an 8.4 additional time penalties, secured their win with a score of 38.3.
Take a look at some images from the competition in the gallery below, courtesy of Shannon Brinkman photography.
For full results, click here.
“There’s been a lot of learning around this track so far,” said commentator Frankie Thieriot Stutes as riders contested the Cosequin CCI4*-S at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.
It's time to get down to business at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Across both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L divisions riders have echoed two of the same sentiments: this won't be a dressage competition and Derek di Grazia's courses might look easier than they ride this year.
With the Paris Olympics on the horizon this summer, riders from the top eventing nations are gunning for a coveted team spot, and British team selection is particularly tough due to a plethora of talent. Tom McEwen came to the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event to prove he’s on form with James and Joe Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin, and he’s out in front after two days of dressage.
Derek di Grazia’s name is legend at the Kentucky Horse Park as the designer of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course for over a decade, in addition to countless other influential tracks around the world. Now with the inclusion of the Cosequin CCI4*-S division, which runs alongside the famed five-star, riders at both the four- and five-star levels get to experience one of the iconic di Grazia Kentucky tracks while competing in the bluegrass. The USEA caught up with riders of both levels to get their feedback on this year’s courses.