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 complete the weekend on a 28.1. As the highest-placed U.S. combination, the pair also claimed the 2026 Defender/USEF CCI5*-L National Championship presented by Mars Equestrian. Fellow U.S. combination, Caroline Pamukcu (Springtown, Pa.) and HSH Blake finished in second place overall, just behind Coleman and Diabolo on a 28.6, while David Doel (GBR) and Galileo Nieuwmoed completed the week in third on a 30.9.

“It’s a surreal feeling and it’s something I think we all kind of dream about - winning a five-star, which in my opinion, is one of the hardest things to do,” said Coleman, reflecting on today’s monumental victory. “It's one of the hardest things to do in equestrian sport and I sort of feel like we all deserve to win because it's such a hard game, this sport. It takes so long to really get good enough at it to possibly contend in one of these things.”

In an impressive debut at the level as a partnership, Coleman and Diabolo, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Roulett M), owned by the Diabolo Group and cared for by Erin Jarboe, were unstoppable in their quest for their first five-star victory, building on their results after each phase. Of the pair’s consistency in performance throughout the week, Coleman noted that his relationship with Diabolo has only continued to grow and strengthen since adding him to his string in 2023.

"I always thought he would get there, but his route was unique, I would say. Katie and I, and our owners, and all the people involved, coaches; we all had a high opinion of this horse and felt like he had a high ceiling,” noted Coleman. “He struck me as a winner from the first time I laid eyes on him. Not saying it wasn't a challenging road, but this horse has a real eagerness to him that if we could channel it the right way, we always felt like he was capable of incredible things."

Starting off the week with a very competitive dressage score of 27.3 to seat them inside of the top five, the pair were one of only four combinations to finish inside of the optimum time on Derek di Grazia’s (USA) challenging cross-country track yesterday, which Coleman noted was a testament of his faith in Diabolo’s confidence and character.

"This horse has a real conscience. I always feel like he wants to do his best and I think as a rider, that gives you tremendous peace of mind knowing that your horse is going to go in there and really try for you,” he explained. “He's an amazing athlete and I felt really good about him all day. He's just a really, really special horse. He hasn't really had many opportunities, but he's made the most of the ones that he's had."

As always, Coleman’s graciousness and genuine appreciation for his horse, support team, owners, was undeniable, as today’s victory marks a career milestone in a long and arduous journey to reach the top of the podium at a CCI5*-L event. Winning a CCI5*-L is a career-defining moment for any athlete, and Coleman’s win today marks the second U.S. victory at Kentucky in the last three years, and the first time-ever the same U.S. combination has won both the CCI4*-S (2024) and CCI5*-L in their career.

“I have so much respect for the sport, the horses, and the riders that I really feel like it's almost unfair that I'm the only one that gets to take home the win, but mostly I'm overjoyed for my horse and all the people that are a part of his journey. My incredible owners, my family, my coaches, and our incredible group of staff that help us look after a large group of horses back at home. I wake up most days feeling like the luckiest guy in the world, and today I feel extremely lucky,” said Coleman.

Aboard her Paris 2024 Olympic Games partner, HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass) owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline and Deniz Pamukcu, and cared for by Chloe Tehan, the duo kept things close to the very end. Pamucku jumped a clear round on the final day to keep the pressure on and secure a guaranteed podium finish. Their finish in second place marked Pamukcu’s highest-ever finish at a CCI5*-L event, with the pair also completing the weekend on a personal best score at the level of 28.6. In HSH Blake’s debut in five-star competition last fall, the pair nearly jumped to a finish on the podium and ultimately took fourth at the 2025 Maryland Five Star CCI5*-L. With their improved result today, Pamukcu noted that “Blake” only continues to give as the pair gain more invaluable experience together.

"I'm really proud of both horses. I try every day to be the best person I can and it’s a hard sport and I have so much more to learn,” said Pamukcu. “Blake really helped me out a lot today, so truthfully all the kudos go to him. He's such a special horse. He really made up for everything that I lacked in that arena today as his rider.”

As the second highest-placed U.S. combination behind Coleman and Diabolo, Pamukcu and HSH Blake were recognized as reserve national champions in the 2026 Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship.

Results

Tamie Smith & Lillet 3 Match U.S. Success on Final Day with Top Performance in Cosequin CCI4*-S

Another U.S. combination topped the podium in the Rolex Arena today, in the Cosequin CCI4*-S division, with Tamie Smith (Murietta, Calif.) and Lillet 3, earning victory after impressive performances in all three phases of competition. The pair were the only combination in the entire field to cross through the timers of today’s stadium track without adding jumping or time faults. Their final score of 31.3 was unbeatable, with Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Very Dignified as the closest combination, taking second with a score of 37.4. Mia Farley (Ocala, Fla.) and Invictus rounded out all U.S. top three combinations with a final total of 38.3. With the win, Smith earned another 50 points towards the US Equestrian Open Eventing Series to put her at the top of the leaderboard after eleven qualifiers so far this year and nine more to go.

"She was super. I couldn't have asked her to be better. She came up just enough to rise to the occasion and didn't get too tense or tight, and just jumped amazing,” said Smith. “She just keeps going from strength to strength. She couldn't have been better, obviously. She just was so rideable and just tried her heart out, and I don't even think she touched a rail. She jumped so well."

With today’s victory in the CCI4*-S and Coleman’s latter victory in the CCI5*-L, Smith and Coleman become the only two athletes in history to win both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L at Kentucky. Smith, who has high expectations for the future with Lillet 3, a 2016 Holsteiner mare (Livello x Princess L), owned by Molly Duda and cared for by Savannah Gwin, felt this weekend’s result further solidifies the pair’s momentum in their partnership, which continues to flourish.

“I felt like her and I had a great partnership leading into last summer and the results are just showing this season. It's really cool to just start to think for each other and think the same way,” explained Smith. “It's tricky when you're on sensitive mares because you have to figure out how much versus how little to do, and she's taught me well, so I've been listening, and it's paying off."

This week at KHP was by far Lillet 3’s biggest moment in terms of atmosphere and competitive environment, with Smith acknowledging the process with talented young horses, you need to be prepared to evaluate your plans to ensure you’re building towards the ultimate goals in a positive, progressive way for the future.

"I think when we're doing big competitions like this, because everybody considers it kind of like a five-star, our season is leading up to this kind of weekend,” she explained. “After this we kind of reevaluate with the horses, even though it is a short format to see what's next because you don't always know how they're going to react to something like this. Do they need to back down? Can they keep going? She's already done two four-star longs, so I think she's ready for a five-star, but I have to reevaluate and make sure that she's feeling great."

For Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Very Dignified, their podium finish adds to a string of impressive results for their still-building, but promising partnership. The pair utilized the competitiveness of the field and the track this week as a marker of progress for the season ahead. Getting to know Very Dignified, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse mare (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet), owned by Jerome Broussard, Gloria Callen, and Elizabeth Lendrum, has been the focus for Coleman and his team, and this weekend’s result marks another step in the right direction.

“I love this mare. She's very opinionated and she's kind of an alpha female, but she's classy,” said Coleman. “I thought she was great all weekend. I didn't maybe have quite the dressage I think she's capable of, but the rest of the weekend I thought she was pure class. She jumped great for me today. It's our first four-star run of the year. We kind of had purposely started her this year a bit slow, so I think all things considered, I'm thrilled with her.”

Aboard Invictus, a 2016 Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding (Diarado x Sunset Paradise), owned by Karen O’Connor, Mia Farley (Ocala, Fla.) earned another strong finish at the CCI4*-S level with the impressive gelding and noted the pair’s result today will build more confidence as the duo looks ahead to their summer plans.

"We made a plan and stuck to it, and it just felt good, so I'm happy with how it rode and happy with how Sammy felt,” said Farley. “Normally going into Sundays with my other experienced horse is a little bit tough, so today, I just decided I wanted to ride the best I could, and Sammy and I together, he answered everything. He jumped really well and I was impressed with him, at the same time, it’s nice to feel myself answer those questions correctly too."

Results

View more original content and updates from the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ on the USEF Content Hub.

Tune in to the action on USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV for wall-to-wall coverage of the K3DE. Watch live for free with a USEF Fan account.

Follow US Equestrian
Keep up with all the action from the 2026 K3DE on the US Equestrian website and by following USA Eventing on Facebook and Instagram and US Equestrian on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

The USEF International High-Performance Programs and the USEF High Performance Pathway Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, the philanthropic partner to USEF. High Performance Program support is also provided by the USOPC and USEF sponsors and members.