Member News
Defender Kentucky Three Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™
Lexington, Kentucky
Apr 25 - Apr 28 2024
Lexington, Ky. – The show jumping phase closed out the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE). Oliver Townend (GBR) secured his fourth K3DE win with Cooley Rosalent. As the top Americans in the CCI5*-L, Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus won the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian. In the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, Will Coleman and Diabolo moved up from second place to take the win. Defender Kentucky Three-Day...
McEwen and JL Dublin Remain in First, Farley and Phelps Are Top Americans After Cross-Country at 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™
by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Apr 27, 2024, 7:30 PM EST
Lexington, Ky. – The exciting cross-country phase took place on Saturday at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE). Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin stayed in the lead in the CCI5*-L after a solid round, while Mia Farley and Phelps moved into first in the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian. In the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, Liz Halliday and Miks Master C remained atop the leaderboard. Defender Kentucky...
McEwen and JL Dublin Lead Overall, Halliday and Nicholson Tied as Top Americans After Day Two at 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™
by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Apr 26, 2024, 7:00 PM EST
Lexington, Ky. – The dressage phase concluded Friday at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE), and new combinations stepped into the lead. Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin led the CCI5*-L after an excellent test. Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker and Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus were tied as the top American combinations in the CCI5*-L field, making them the co-leaders in the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS...
Photo Gallery
Miniature Horse Alongside Miniature Cars
by Emily Girard | Apr 27, 2024, 5:59 PM
Pixie visiting the Defender Kids Drive on Friday, April 26th. (Emily Girard/US Equestrian) Lexington, Ky. - There were a lot of activities occurring outside the competition ring during the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™. One area that saw a lot of traffic was the Defender Kids Drive, which featured not only miniature Defenders for kids to drive, but for a few hours on Friday and Saturday, a miniature horse! Pixie, a 13-year-old American Miniature Horse...
Opening The Door to the Future: Volunteers Help 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event to Succeed
by Emily Girard | Apr 25, 2024, 3:04 PM
Lexington, Ky. - Much like the children who retrieve tennis balls at Wimbledon, the youth volunteers at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (K3DE) are essential to the dressage competition running smoothly. Youth volunteers at the Kentucky Three-Day Event often learn skills that benefit their own riding careers. Photo: Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian Assistant Dressage Arena Steward Emily Watson oversees the youth volunteers at the event. “The hardest...
Focusing on Kentucky and Looking Ahead to Paris 2024 Olympic Games
by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Apr 24, 2024, 3:00 PM
In addition to being a world-class event and host of a USEF National Championship, the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (K3DE) CCI5*-L serves as one of the final selection trials for the U.S. Eventing Team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Many notable combinations vying for a spot on the team are competing in either the CCI5*-L or CCI4*-S as they set their sights on the summer ahead. US Equestrian chatted with U.S. Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef...
Things to See at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ Trade Fair
by US Equestrian Communications Department | Apr 23, 2024, 9:48 AM
The 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ is almost here! In addition to the world-class competition of the CCI5*-L and CCI4*-S divisions and the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, there are numerous shopping, food, and unique experiences to make it #TheBestWeekendAllYear. Here are some of the Sponsor Village & Courtyard , The Hill , and Trade Fair highlights to add to your K3DE itinerary. Defender...