Eventing

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the combinations selected to represent the Defender U.S. Eventing Team as part of the USEF Eventing European Development Tour, which will feature the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Bicton CCIO4*-NC-S, hosted in Devon, England, from May 27-31, 2026. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law. The 2026 USEF Eventing European Development Tour is supported by the USET Foundation, Karen E. Stives Endowment Grant, which aims to support...

Lexington, Ky . – US Equestrian would like to remind youth eventing athletes that the Area Declaration deadline for the 2026 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships is quickly approaching. The 2026 USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships will be held June 25–28, 2026, at The Maryland International and Horse Trials in Adamstown, Md. Athletes interested in competing must submit their USEF Area Declaration through their USEF Athlete Dashboard prior to May 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m....

Lexington, Ky. – Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Diabolo championed a historic day at the Kentucky Horse Park, topping the leaderboard of the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L presented by MARS Equestrian. Today marked the second time in just three years a U.S. combination has won the event after a previous 15-year drought of a home winner. The pair were impeccable throughout the competition, adding only time penalties in the show jumping phase to their dressage score to...

Lexington, Ky. - Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Diabolo etched their names in history today, taking top honors in the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L presented by MARS Equestrian. Coleman and Diabolo, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Roulett M), owned by the Diabolo Group and cared for by Erin Jarboe, made their debut at the CCI5*-L level this week, finishing on final score of 28.1. Coleman becomes one of only ten U.S. athletes in history to win a CCI5*-L. More news to follow.

Lexington, Ky. – The cross-country phase proved influential on Saturday at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ with both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L seeing movement across the standings after combinations tackled the expansive course set at the Kentucky Horse Park. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist maintain their overall lead in the CCI5*-L division, while Diabolo and Will Coleman retook their hold of the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship...

Lexington, Ky . – The dressage phase of the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L presented by MARS Equestrian™ concluded on Friday, April 24 with Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake finishing as the highest-placed U.S. combination to be the overnight leaders in the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship. The duo is currently in fourth place overall on a dressage score of 26.6. Tamie Smith and Danito maintain their lead in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, atop the...

Lexington, Ky . – The 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L presented by MARS Equestrian™ kicked off on a beautiful morning in the Bluegrass for the first day of dressage competition. Diabolo and Will Coleman sit as the current overnight leaders in the CCI5*-L competition on an impressive score of 27.3 penalties. The combination also currently tops the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship, as the highest placed U.S. combination. The Cosequin Lexington...

Lexington, Ky. – The 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) is set to begin following the conclusion of the first horse inspection with the first day of dressage starting tomorrow, April 23. The field of 29 horse-and-athlete combinations representing five countries will compete in this year’s CCI5*-L. The competition will play host to the 2026 Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian™ . The highest placed U.S. combination in the...

Meg Pellegrini has emerged as one of eventing’s rising talents, building a reputation of consistent results over the past several years. Her momentum was further validated earlier this year when she was named to the 2026 USEF Eventing Development 25 Program. Pellegrini now plans to compete in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, a US Equestrian Open Eventing qualifier. ©US Equestrian Raised in Oklahoma, Pellegrini was the first in her family to develop an interest in horses. “No one...

The 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day presented by MARS Equestrian™ is days away with the first draw of horses set to head down the center line on Thursday, April 23 rd . An elite field of world-class horse and athlete combinations will compete across three phases including dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. The best weekend all year is not only comprised of exciting competition but also unlimited shopping, delicious food, and so much more! Defender Defender, the title sponsor of...

When Braden Speck’s trainer, Erin Strader, received a phone call in 2019 from longtime friend, Annie Goodwin, telling her she had the perfect horse for Speck, no one could have predicted just how far the partnership would go. What began as a horse to heal Speck’s heart, has evolved into a remarkable journey of resilience and partnership, with Speck and BSF Liam now preparing to make their CCI5* debut. Speck and Liam | Photo provided by Speck BSF Liam, simply known as...

Cross country day at the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian is a highlight for spectators that travel to the Bluegrass from across the nation. More than 50 athlete-and-horse combinations will gallop through the Kentucky Horse Park, tackling imposing fences, water complexes, and technical terrain in the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L. With crowds lining the lanes to watch their favorite combination soar over the famed Ditch Brush or splash into the Head of the Lake, safety, for...