A star-studded list of international horses and riders are entered to compete in the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*, April 25-28, 2024, at the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington. The CCI5* entries include 47 horse-and-rider combinations.
The bulk of the riders in the CCI5* come from the U.S., but other nationalities include Great Britain, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Ireland.
U.S. CCI5* Entries
U.S. riders include last year’s first U.S. winning riding in 15 years, Tamie Smith. Smith rode Mai Baum to the win last year. But this year, she’s listed to compete with Elliot V. Seven-time Olympian Phillip Dutton has three horses entered: Azure, Denim and Quasi Cool. Three-time Olympian Boyd Martin has Tsetserleg and On Cue on the list. Fellow Olympian Doug Payne has Quantum Leap and Camarillo.
Darlings of the 2023 Maryland 5-Star at Fair Hill Mia Farley and the Thoroughbred Phelps are listed. Sharon White and her 2023 Pan-American Games silver medal partner Claus 63 are slated to make an appearance. Also, 2023 The Event at Rebecca Farms winner James Alliston and Karma are on the entry list. Other U.S. favorites entered include Buck Davidson and Sorocaima, Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker, Hannah Sue Holberg and Capitol H I M, and Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus.
International CCI5* Competitors
Five riders from Great Britain look to be heading across the pond to the Kentucky CCI5* this year. These include three-time Kentucky winner Oliver Townend, this time on Cooley Rosalent. The pair placed third at the 2023 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. 2022 World Championship individual gold medalists Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir are on the entry list. Olympic team gold medalist and individual silver medalist Tom McEwen and JL Dublin are on the list, too. They finished second last year in the CCI5*.
Canada’s two-time Olympian Jessica Phoenix has entered to compete with Wabbit. Other nationalities represented include Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.
For the current entries list and orders of go for the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*, check here. The list will be updated regularly.
CCI4* Entries
In addition to the five-star, Kentucky hosts the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S. That entry list shows 66 entered to ride, including last year’s CCI5* winner Mai Baum and Smith. Smith also has Danito and Kynan entered as well.
Will Coleman and three horses, including 2021 CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S winner Off The Record. His additional entries are Chin Tonic HS and Diablo are listed. Phillip Dutton and Jewelent and daughter, Olivia Dutton, with Sea Of Clouds have entered. Halliday has three mounts entered including 2023 Pan American Games team silver medal partner Miks Master C. Her other two mounts are Cooley Quicksilver and Shanroe Cooley. Martin appears on the entry list with Miss Lulu Herself, Commando 3 and Fedarman B. 2023 Pan American individual gold medalists Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake have plans to be there. Pamukcu has also scheduled King’s Especiale and She’s The One to ride, too.
Phoenix has three entries in the CCI4*-S: Fluorescent Adolescent, Freedom GS and Watson GS. Last year’s CCI4*-S winners Canadian’s Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo have entered. Slezak also has Chevalier listed.
Check here for regular updates and for draw and assigned ride times for the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S.
Thanks to Cosequin for our coverage of the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Coverage includes rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.