Grab your copy of the Chronicle’s Kentucky Preview Issue because it’s time for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. With demonstrations, a bustling trade fair and the entirety of the Kentucky Horse Park at your feet, there’s plenty to do when you’re not watching the competition.
While the CCI5*-L is the main attraction, the weekend also features the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S and a two-day show jumping competition in the form of the Kentucky Invitational CSI3* on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The Schedule
Wednesday, April 26: The first horse inspection is at 2 p.m. (Note: this is an hour earlier than usual.) This is for the five-star only.
Thursday, April 27: Dressage kicks off with the CCI4*-S test ride at 7:45 a.m., followed by four-star dressage from 8 to 11:30 a.m. After a lunch break, the five-star test ride will take place at 12:15 p.m. Competition kicks off at 12:45 p.m. and will run until 4:30 p.m.
• The five-star draw order can be found here.
• The four-star draw order can be found here.
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Friday, April 28: Dressage continues, beginning with the four-star division from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Five-star competitors will take over at 12:30 p.m. and run until 4:10 p.m.
A show-jumping competition being held in conjunction with the three-day, the $38,700 Kentucky Invitational CSI3* Welcome Speed Cup 1.45-meter class will start at 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 29: Cross-country day starts at 9 a.m. with the four-star division, which is expected to run until 11:45 a.m. During a lunch break from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., people near the Rolex Stadium can join a noon course walk for the eventing’s Kentucky Invitational CSI3*. The five-star division will begin at 1 p.m. and run until 4:15 p.m.
The $226,000 Kentucky Invitational CSI3* will begin at 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 30: The second horse inspection will take place at 7:30 a.m. for both divisions. Riders will show jump in reverse order of placing. The CCI4*-S will go first, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with an awards ceremony immediately following. The five-star will begin at 2 p.m. By about 4 p.m. there should be a winner, with a second awards ceremony to follow.
You can find a full schedule here.
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Who’s here: Currently, 40 competitors will start the five-star. You can keep up with withdrawals from the entry list here.
Eight European entries will be making the trip to Kentucky. We’ll see several British riders including world champion Yasmin Ingham (Banzai Du Loir), Kirsty Chabert (Classic VI), Tom McEwen (JL Dublin), Zara Tindall (Class Affair) and David Doel (Galileo Nieuwmoed). German rider Alina Dibowski will make her five-star debut riding Barbados 26, and her compatriot Sandra Auffarth is bringing her world championship mount Viamant Du Matz. French rider Maxime Livio brings Carouzo Bois Marotin. Canada will be represented by Jessica Phoenix (Wabbit) and Holly Bennett-Awad (Jollybo).
Along with Dibowski, Sydney Solomon (Early Review CBF) and Andrew McConnon (Ferrie’s Cello) will be making their five-star debut at Kentucky.
Want to get to know them better? Go behind the stall door with us to meet some of the horses entered:
- Woods Baughman’s C’est La Vie 135
- Hawley Bennett-Awad’s Jollybo
- Liz Halliday-Sharp’s Deniro Z
- Emily Hamel’s Corvett
- Boyd Martin’s Tsetserleg
- Doug Payne’s Quantum Leap
- Colleen Rutledge’s Covert Rights
- Jennie Saville’s Stella Artois
- Booli Selmayr’s Millfield Lancando
- Tamie Smith’s Mai Baum
Where you can watch: You can watch the livestream on USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. If you are not already a USEF member or subscriber to ClipMyHorse.TV, you can sign up for a free USEF fan membership which allows you to watch live (a subscriber membership is needed to watch on demand) or a free 30-day trial of ClipMyHorse.TV at the above link.
How to follow along: The Chronicle is on-site at the Kentucky Horse Park with reporters to bring you everything you need to know at coth.com, so you don’t have to miss a minute of the action. You can find all of our coverage from the week here. You can also follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to read our May 22 Kentucky Results issue for more in-depth coverage and analysis of the event.
