Tears, Grit and Jubilation: Behind the Scenes at the 2025 Kentucky Three-Day Event

Check out our backstage glimpse of all the special Kentucky Three-Day Event moments you might have missed during the live action.

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PH editors Kathleen Landwehr (left) and Alana Harrison on the scene at this year’s Kentucky Three-Day Event.

It was a roller coaster of a five-day weekend at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, starting with the CCI5*-L Jog last Wednesday and culminating with Sunday’s nail-biting show-jumping competition, which saw Will Coleman (USA) claim the CCI4*-S victory aboard Off The Record and Germany’s Michael Jung clinch his fifth Kentucky CCI5*-L win and his second with fischerChipmunk FRH.

From riders preparing for the first horse inspection, scenes from the Mixed Zone (where the media interviews competitors following their rides) and the sea of pink that flooded the cross-country finish when Ali Kuhn (USA) and off-the-track Thoroughbred Little Hail completed their first CCI4*-S to shots from the cross-country vet box, surprise guests and Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 powering through a downpour to finish their CCI5*-L dressage test, this year’s competition did not disappoint.

Above all, it’s always an honor and a privilege to share the Kentucky experience with the incredible human and equine athletes the event always draws. Replete with laughter, tears, unbelievable determination and always a fervent love and devotion to the horse, here’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse of moments you might have missed while the action was going on at this year’s Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Moments From the 2025 KY3DE

Caroline Pamukcu (USA) after riding her 2024 Paris Olympics mount HSH Blake in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. ©Alana Harrison

Michael Jung (GER), who claimed his fifth CCI5*-L Kentucky win this weekend, takes questions from the media in the Mixed Zone. ©Alana Harrison

Jessica Phoenix (CAN) high fives her support team after she and Freedom GS completed the CCI4*-S cross-country course. ©Alana Harrison

Boyd Martin (USA) and Fedarman B stand in the CCI5*-L Jog queue. After the pair passed inspection, Martin told us about his fashion choice this year: “The inspiration behind my outfit is it’s pretty much the only nice piece of clothing I’ve got and I wore it to a function last Monday so I thought I’d wear it again.” ©Alana Harrison

Bec Braitling (AUS) gives Caravaggio II a pat in the CCI5*-L dressage warm-up. ©Alana Harrison

The ever-affable Tamie Smith (USA) shares her experience at this year’s CCI4*-S competition aboard Kynan with reporters in the Mixed Zone. ©Alana Harrison

Phillip Dutton (USA) following his CCI4*-S show- jumping round with Possante. ©Alana Harrison

Olivia Dutton (USA) gives Sea Of Clouds a “good-boy” pat following their dressage test on Thursday. ©Alana Harrison

Jessica Phoenix loves on her CCI5*-L mount Fluorescent Adolescent as they prepare for the first horse inspection last Wednesday. ©Alana Harrison

Clarke Johnstone (NZL) tells reporters about his dressage test in the CCI5*-L with Menlo Park. ©Alana Harrison

Boyd Martin’s Fedarman B is untacked by groom Steph Simpson in the vet box following the CCI5*-L cross country. ©Kathleen Landwehr

Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record following the CCI4*-S show jumping just before learning that he and the gelding took top honors at this year’s event. ©Alana Harrison

Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park after their CCI5*-L dressage test. ©Alana Harrison

Ali Kuhn’s (USA) support team congratulates her after she and 15-hand off-the-track Thoroughbred Little Hail completed their first CCI4*-S cross-country track. ©Alana Harrison

Savannah Fulton (USA) heads toward the Mixed Zone to talk to reporters following her and Cash Point’s CCI4*-S cross-country round. ©Alana Harrison

Emily Hamel (USA) gives Corvett a smooch before their jog for the CCI5*-L first horse inspection. ©Alana Harrison

After completing his show-jumping round with Commando 3 on Sunday, Boyd Martin and U.S. show jumper Peter Wylde watch Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH on the live-screen, as he and the number-one spot vied for top honors at this year’s CCI5*-L. ©Alana Harrison

Boyd Martin’s wife and grand-prix dressage rider, Silva Martin, carts their youngest son Koa around the warm-up ring while dad preps for show jumping. ©Alana Harrison

A spectator, sporting a Practical Horseman ball cap, catches the action on the CCI5*-L cross-country course on Saturday. ©Alana Harrison

Score collectors head to the judges’ booths to gather dressage tests for scoring tabulation. ©Alana Harrison

Ali Kuhn celebrates after her CCI4*-S dressage test with off-the-track Thoroughbred Little Hail. ©Kathleen Landwehr

This year’s CCI4*-S winners Will Coleman and Off The Record prepare for their dressage test on Friday before the rain started. ©Kathleen Landwehr

U.S. Eventing High Performance Advisor Karyn Shuter chats with Will Coleman after his dressage test in the CCI4*-S. ©Alana Harrison

Tamie Smith was all smiles after she and Kynan finished the CCI4*-S cross-country course. ©Alana Harrison

During the CCI5*-L press conference following cross country, Boyd Martin’s youngest son Koa stole the spotlight after insisting on sitting in his dad’s lap while he fielded questions from reporters. ©Alana Harrison

We spotted U.S. Dressage Team member AnnA Buffini making the rounds to support the U.S. eventers during this year’s Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. ©Alana Harrison

Tamie Smith helps Bec Braitling (AUS) prepare for her CCI5*-L dressage test with Caravaggio II. ©Alana Harrison

U.S. Eventing Chef d’Equipe and High Performance Manager Leslie Law, eventer Tamie Smith and U.S. Eventing High Performance Advisor Karyn Shuter help the CCI5*-L riders prepare for their tests. ©Alana Harrison

Tim Price (NZL) bikes across the massive Kentucky cross-country track to meet up with fellow CCI5*-L mates for a course walk. ©Alana Harrison

Hayley Frielick (NZL) and her supporters smile after her CCI4*-S dressage test with Sportsfield Lumiere. ©Kathleen Landwehr

Chris Talley (USA) and FE Marco Polo school on Tuesday to prepare for the CCI4*-S before competition began at the Kentucky Horse Park on Thursday. ©Kathleen Landwehr

Mia Farley (USA) is all smiles after completing the CCI4*-S show jumping round with Invictus. ©Alana Harrison

PH’s photographer and this year’s Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event photo manager Amy K. Dragoo, who’s been shooting the event for 25 years, snapping away during the CCI4*-S show jumping on Sunday. ©Alana Harrison

When Eventing Nation’s Sally Spickard asked AnnA Buffini how she would choreograph her personal dressage salute, the multi-talented athlete, top U.S. dressage rider and former gymnast responded with a back-hand spring. ©Alana Harrison

AnnA Buffini and eventer Kaylawna Smith-Cook, Tamie Smith’s daughter, embrace just outside the Rolex Stadium. ©Alana Harrison

Ali Kuhn’s support team works to untack and cool down off-the-track Thoroughbred Little Hail after the pair finished their first CCI4*-S cross-country course. ©Alana Harrison

U.S. Eventing Chef d’Equipe and High Performance Manager Leslie Law coaches Cassie Sanger (USA) and Redfield Fyre in the warm-up ring before their first CCI5*-L dressage test. ©Alana Harrison

Jennie Brannigan (USA) after she and Connory finished the challenging CCI4*-S track. ©Alana Harrison

Cross-country volunteers check the footing between horses at the Rolex Crossing water complex. ©Alana Harrison

Caroline Pamukcu’s support team gives her 2024 Paris Olympics mount HSH Blake a thorough cooldown after the pair completed the CCI4*-S at Kentucky. ©Alana Harrison

James Alliston’s (USA) Karma is tended to in the vet box following the CCI5*-L cross country. ©Kathleen Landwehr

Eventing Nation’s Sally Spickard checks in with James Alliston about his test with Cora in Thursday’s CCI4*-S dressage competition. ©Alana Harrison

Spectators enjoy catching the CCI5*-L cross-country action atop a massive retired log jump. ©Alana Harrison

Eventing stalwart Phillip Dutton, who competed in the CCI4*-S aboard Denim and Possante, coaches daughter Olivia on Sea Of Clouds before their CCI4*-S dressage test. ©Alana Harrison

PH editor Kathleen Landwehr interviews local Lexington equine veterinarian and CCI4*-S competitor Chris Newton (USA), who competed again at the event after 31 years. ©Alana Harrison

When the downpour hit just as Boyd Martin and “Conner” were entering the dressage arena, we took cover in the media tent and snapped this shot of the pair powering through their test on the live-screen. ©Alana Harrison

Colin Gaffney’s (USA) CCI4*-S mount Baymax heads to the vet box after completing cross country. ©Alana Harrison

Will Coleman chats with reporters in the Mixed Zone about his CCI4*-S dressage test with Very Dignified. ©Alana Harrison

Tim Price’s stunning CCI5*-L mount Jarillo before their jog for the first horse inspection last Wednesday. ©Alana Harrison

Boyd Martin walks the CCI5*-L cross-country course on Wednesday before the first horse inspection. ©Alana Harrison

Groom Cat Hill and Shannon Lilley (USA) smile through tears after her and Eindhoven Garette’s first CCI5*-L dressage test at this year’s Kentucky Three-Day. ©Alana Harrison

For more on our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, click here.

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.