Will Coleman (USA) and Off the Record have a longtime partnership that seems to keep getting better with time. Though Off the Record is 16 this year, the Irish Sporthorse gelding showed that age is just a number, producing a stellar performance with Coleman in the irons. The duo laid down a personal-best dressage test of 21.8 on a rainy second day of dressage in the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S.

“[Off the Record] is sort of at the tail end of his career,” Coleman said. “But I think he is the kind of horse that thrives on progress. Even at 16, he has a remarkable work ethic. He has proven to be a very trainable horse, even at his old-dog age.”

Phillip Dutton (USA) showcased his talented string by claiming second and third place with Possante and Denim, respectively. Dutton went in the rainy conditions on Friday with Possante but managed to score 23.1, while he and Denim tallied a score of 25.6 in warm and sunny conditions on Thursday.

A total of 25 horse-and-rider combinations competed in the CCI4*-S dressage today with the exciting cross-country phase taking place Saturday. The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L and the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S runs April 24-27, 2025, in Lexington at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Coleman and Off the Record Dominate the Division

Off the Record is no stranger to Kentucky, making his fifth appearance this year competing in either the four-star or the five-star divisions. Coleman said “Timmy” seemed thrilled to be back. “You could just feel it,” said Coleman. “He was excited to get into the arena today, and I just couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Though Timmy is a solid performer, Coleman quipped that his horse doesn’t wake up thinking about dressage. Coleman credited Ian and Amy Woodhead with their dressage coaching. “[We’re] not really riding for a test outline or frame until the horse is really soft and really available and feeling good about himself,” Coleman said. “That might only be for a few minutes before going down centerline.”

Looking forward to the rest of the weekend and beyond, Coleman is using this event as a test to see where Timmy is in his training and fitness. “I think we will get a good sense of where he is after this weekend, and if it goes well and we feel good about it, then maybe a five-star at Luhmühlen or something like that,” Coleman explained. “We will just let Timmy tell us what he wants to do.”

Dutton Shines with Possante and Denim

Dutton said he is lucky to have his mount Possante, who performs well in the dressage phase. However, he was slightly surprised by the 8-year-old KWPN gelding in the warm-up. “He was a bit on edge, but in the last few minutes, he took a deep breath and held it all together,” Dutton said. “I thought he was good, and there is a ton of potential there for years to come.”

Dutton pointed out that Possante is a big horse who requires some finessing to warm up and get primed for his dressage work. “It is a little bit like steering the Titanic in the dressage ring, so it is lots of suppling and getting used to being able to handle all of the movements.”

While both Possante and Denim seasoned at the four-star level, Dutton elected to compete in the four-star rather than the five-star. “With both these horse, the endurance is going to take a little bit of time, and I just thought with this event being in April was a bit early for them and it is also quite a strong five-star,” Dutton explained.

Read more about Dutton’s third-place mount, Denim, here.

Chris Talley and FE Marco Polo Deliver in the Electric Atmosphere

Chris Talley (USA), the fourth-placed rider, had a stellar day with FE Marco Polo, earning a personal-best score of 26.8. It is only the 9-year-old Oldenburg gelding’s second four-star, but he took the major event in stride. “He can struggle with his confidence, and he can be quite emotional. I always say he is kind of like me,” said Talley. “I knew if I did my job well and coached him well, I was hoping he would reward me and he did that today.”

Talley is excited for the future with FE Marco Polo as the horse continues to develop. “Being young he has all the makings and with time it is going to keep getting better and better,” he said.

To keep FE Marco Polo engaged in his work, Talley tries to work the horse outside of the ring as much as possible. “For the past week and a half, he has been working on hills and we have a great team at home and they take him out hacking really building his strength,” Talley said. “I think it keeps him fresh in the mind because then he goes in the ring and loves to do it.”

Cross-Country Thoughts on the CCI4*-S Course

Coleman said he believes that the CCI4*-S cross-country course is going to be a challenge, even for experienced horses like Timmy. “I don’t think any horse is just going to skip around that like it is nothing. It is a really, really difficult course, especially if you are trying to get the time,” Coleman said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how we will do.”

While Dutton opted to compete in the four-star rather than the five-star, he explained that the four-star is still a tough course. “The only really difference is the length of the course,” Dutton said. “I think the four-star is pretty strong.”

Talley noted that the course will be a test for FE Marco Polo with the crowds and atmosphere. However, he is a fan of the course. “It is big and bold and you have got to be on it, but [FE Marco Polo] is generally an incredible cross-country course.”

For full dressage results from the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, click here. CCI4*-S cross-country begins tomorrow starting at 9:30 a.m. ET. Click here for ride times.

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.