Grab your copy of the Chronicle’s Kentucky Preview Issue, pack enough clothes for every season, and make sure you’ve got some space leftover in your suitcase for some trade fair goodies, because it’s time for the Defender 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—a CSI4* for the first time this year—on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The Schedule

Wednesday, April 24: The first horse inspection is at 2 p.m. This is for the five-star only.

Thursday, April 25: Dressage kicks off with the CCI4*-S test ride performed by Dan Kreitl at 7:45 a.m., followed by four-star dressage from 8 to 12:30 p.m. After a lunch break, the five-star test ride, ridden by Colleen Rutledge, will take place at 1 p.m. Competition kicks off at 1:30 p.m. and will run until 4:20 p.m.

• The five-star provisional ride times can be found here. 

• The four-star ride times can be found here.

Friday, April 26: Dressage continues, beginning with the four-star division from 8 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Five-star competitors will run from 1:00 to 4:10 p.m.

A show jumping competition being held in conjunction with the three-day, the $38,700 Kentucky Invitational CSI4* Welcome Speed Cup will start at 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 27: Cross-country day starts at 9 a.m. with the four-star division, which is expected to run until 12:20 p.m.

From 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a new show jumping class, the Kentucky Invitational $35,000 Special Two Phase, will run.

The five-star division will begin at 1:30 p.m. and run until 4:15 p.m.

A course walk for the grand prix takes place at 3 p.m. in the Rolex Stadium. The $225,000 Kentucky Invitational CSI4* will begin at 6 p.m.

Sunday, April 28: The second horse inspection will take place at 7:30 a.m. for both divisions. The four-star will jog first.

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. The top-placed riders are expected to jump at 3 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.

Who’s here: Currently, 37 competitors will start the five-star. You can keep up with withdrawals from the entry list here.

The sole five-star winning pair in the field is Boyd Martin and On Cue, who won the 2021 Maryland 5 Star.

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) and Oliver Townend (Cooley Rosalent). All four riders have competed at Kentucky previously. Townend has won Kentucky three times (2018, 2019, 2021), but this is “Rosie’s” first time competing in the bluegrass after finishing third at the 2023 Mars Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. Ingham and “Banzai” came close to the win in 2022, finishing second behind Germany’s Michael Jung fischerChipmunk FRH. McEwen and “Dubs” were last year’s runner’s up, behind Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. The latter were entered in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S until withdrawing over the weekend, when Smith announced the horse had sustained a minor injury.

Three German riders will also be making the trip across the Atlantic: Calvin Böckmann (The Phantom of the Opera), Malin Hansen-Hotopp (Carlitos Quidditch K) and Christoph Wahler (D’Accord FRH). Böckmann will be making his five-star debut.

Ireland has a single representative in Susie Berry (Clever Trick), who you can read about in the Kentucky Preview Issue.

New Zealand will have strong representation at Kentucky. Monica Spencer came to the Maryland 5 Star, where she was seventh with Artist, and since then she’s stayed in the United States, spending the winter season in Reddick, Florida. Matthew Grayling, a 60-year-old dairy farmer who rode for the team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, came to the States in February with 18-year-old Trudeau and has based with Boyd Martin in Aiken, South Carolina, and Cochranville, Pennsylvania, ahead of the gelding’s first five-star. U.S.-based Kiwi Joe Meyer will also be competing with Harbin in that horse’s first five-star.

Australia will be represented by Bec Braitling (Caravaggio II) and Ema Klugman (Bronte Beach), both of whom live in the U.S. Lisa Marie Fergusson (Honor Me) is the sole Canadian competitor.

Four riders, all representing the U.S., have two horses entered. Phillip Dutton, who won Kentucky in 2008 with Connaught, has two entries in Quasi Cool and Azure. “Quasi” is contesting his first five-star, while “Sky” is aiming for her first completion after a fall at Maryland in October. Because Dutton originally had three entries, he will be the last to leave the startbox on Sky. Jennie Brannigan (FE Lifestyle and Twilightslastgleam), Andrew McConnon (Wakita 54 and Ferrie’s Cello) and Doug Payne (Camarillo and Quantum Leap) also have two rides.

While always a stiff competition, the CCI4*-S is stacked with top competitors seeking an Olympic berth. Smith will ride Kynan and Danito, the latter of whom was second at Maryland in 2022. Will Coleman has three horses competing, including Off The Record, who won Aachen in 2021, as well as Chin Tonic HS and Diabolo. Liz Halliday also has three in the four-star: Shanroe Cooley, Cooley Quicksilver and Miks Master C, who was third in the five-star last year. Two of Halliday’s teammates from last year’s Santiago Pan American Games (Chile), individual gold medalist Caroline Pamukcu (HSH Blake, as well as King’s Especiale and She’s The One) and Sydney Elliott (QC Diamantaire) are also in the division. The final member of that team, Sharon White, is entered in the five-star with Claus 63.

Martin also has two in the four-star: Commando 3 and Fedarman B, who was eighth at Luhmühlen CCI5*-L (Germany) and Pau CCI5*-L (France).

Want to get to know them better? Go behind the stall door with us to meet some of the horses entered:

• Jennie Brannigan’s FE Lifestyle
• Lisa Marie Fergusson’s Honor Me
• Ariel Grald’s Leamore Master Plan
• Hannah Sue Hollberg’s Capitol H I M
• Liz Halliday’s Cooley Nutcracker
• Boyd Martin’s On Cue
• Lauren Nicholson’s Vermiculus
• Doug Payne’s Quantum Leap
• Sharon White’s Claus 63

Four-star competitors

• Sydney Elliott’s QC Diamantaire
• Liz Halliday’s Cooley Quicksilver
• Liz Halliday’s Miks Master C
• Boyd Martin’s Fedarman B

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 two 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 and Facebook. Be sure to read our May 20 issue for more in-depth coverage and analysis of the event.