The entry list for this year’s Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L, which takes place April 24-28 in Lexington, has shrunk.

Boyd Martin has withdrawn Tsetserleg TSF and will instead aim “Thomas” toward Badminton Horse Trials, taking place May 8-12 in England. He also has withdrawn Miss Lulu Herself from the CCI4*-S.

“We decided to put Thomas’ focus towards Badminton as he was double entered and is withdrawing from Kentucky,” Martin posted to social media. “He will head to England the week of Kentucky to battle at MARS Badminton. I’ve also decided to withdraw Lulu to run the weekend before at Fair Hill to put her focus towards Bromont 4*L [Quebec] this June. [Commando 3, Fedarman B—both entered in the four-star—and On Cue] all look in great shape as we put the finishing touches on their training before Kentucky.”

Meghan O’Donoghue has also withdrawn Palm Crescent, who was double-entered in Badminton. O’Donoghue and “Palmer” are entered in the advanced at Fair Hill International April (Maryland), April 19-20 as their final run before shipping to England.

As of April 18

James Alliston has withdrawn Paper Jam. The chestnut gelding was slated to be his second ride in the competition, with his first ride, Karma, wearing bridle number 10. Karma is now taking Paper Jam’s bridle number of 34.

As of April 17

Canada’s Jessica Phoenix has withdrawn Wabbit, who is also entered at Badminton, which takes place two weeks after Kentucky. This leaves Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me as the sole Canadian pair in the field.

As of April 15

The European contingent on the entry list for this year’s Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L, which takes place April 24-28, will be without Germany’s Nicolai Aldinger. Aldinger, who would have been competing in his first five-star, has withdrawn Timmo as of April 12. According to an Instagram post translated from German, the gelding stepped on a clip at the Strzegom CCI4*-S (Poland) and as a result will miss too much work ahead of Kentucky. Instead they will head to Marbach (Germany), held May 9-12. 

As of April 12

Phillip Dutton has withdrawn Denim, who was scheduled to be the first down centerline. Now Sara Kozumplik and Rock Phantom will be the pathfinders. With Denim’s withdrawal, no rider has three entries in the five-star.

“Early on, we cross-entered Denim into both Kentucky and the Tryon CCI4*-L [North Carolina] with the idea that I would make a decision between the two as they got closer,” Dutton posted on Facebook. “Since Denim has only done one 4-star long so far, which was Boekelo last year, we decided on Tryon for this year. After all, both horse and rider have a long career ahead!!”

As of April 10

Emily Hamel has withdrawn Corvett, with whom she’s completed six five-stars, with their best finish occurring at last year’s Land Rover Kentucky, where they were 10th. They were named to the U.S. Eventing European Development Tour on the same day.

As of April 9

Sydney Solomon has withdrawn Early Review C and will instead compete him in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S.

As of April 8:

British rider and world No. 2 Ros Canter has withdrawn Izilot DHI, who won Pau CCI5*-L (France) last year. The pair is also entered in Badminton.

As of April 3:

Tamie Smith, who won last year with Mai Baum, will not defend her title. She has withdrawn Elliot V, who would have been contesting his first five-star, after the gelding was eliminated with three refusals on cross-country at the Galway Downs International CCI4*-S (California), March 28-31. Smith has Mai Baum, Danito and Kynan entered in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, a division many of this year’s Olympic hopeful horses have entered.

Colleen Rutledge has withdrawn Covert Rights, who has not done an event since retiring at Kentucky last April.

U.K.-based U.S. rider Grace Taylor has withdrawn Game Changer. The pair is entered at Badminton CCI5*-L (England), which is two weeks after Kentucky.

This article will be updated.

A full list of entries can be found here.