BEST WEEKEND BLOG

The Trewlany Trailblazers (Lillie Keenan/Chagrin D’Amour, Abdel Said/Max, Charlotte Jacobs/Rincoola Milsean) showed their grit and speed as they flew to the win in the $200,000 1.50m CSI5* MLSJ Team Competition, a popular new edition to the Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE). “We had a lot of fun tonight because we won,” Keenan joked as they waited for their prizes. The innovative design of the Major League Show Jumping’s team competition brings 8 teams of three riders together over a season. In the first round, all three riders jump a round, with their scores being combined. The top four teams after round one come back for round two, but this time, only two riders can compete. For the third and final round, all teams put forward their last rider (who cannot have competed in the second round) with the first-and second-placed teams’ riders jumping off for the gold and silver medals, with the 3 rd -and 4 th -placed teams’ riders jumping off for the bronze medal. In that final round, rails down add three seconds of time to their final time.

Conventional wisdom says that full Thoroughbred horses — once the mainstay of eventing — struggle with the demands of the dressage phase in the modern sport. New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and her Thoroughbred gelding Artist proved that wisdom wrong as they grabbed the top spot at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) to sit in first in the CCI5*-L on a score of 22.3. She doesn’t have much cushion though, as fellow Kiwi Tim Price sits less than a point behind in second aboard Vitali (22.6), Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality from Great Britain are hovering in third (25.1). The highest-placed American and leader of the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian is Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, her Pan Am Games winner, who sits fourth with a score of 26.6. Thursday’s dressage leaders Will Coleman and Diabolo sit 5 th (27.3). “‘Max’ was super today and gave me good energy in the test,” Spencer said of her long-time partner. “I’m really pleased with him.”

William Coleman and Diabolo are no strangers to sitting at the top of the leaderboard at the Kentucky Horse Park. In 2024 they won the CCI4*-S here, and after the first day of dressage at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) they sit in first in the CCI5*-L. Coleman and the Diabolo Group’s Holsteiner gelding had a smooth and fancy test at the horse’s first 5-star, marred only by a single error. The 2-point penalty couldn’t prevent them from taking the top spot however, where they sit on 27.3. Fellow American Phillip Dutton and Possante sit second (28.1), New Zealand’s Tim Price sits third with Global Quest (29.8) and Great Britain’s Harry Meade is a whisker behind with Superstition (30.2). “The first time you do a five-star in this kind of atmosphere, you can never sure be sure how the horse is going to cope,” he said. “Diabolo got a little excited when we got up here but to his credit he went in there and stayed with me and did his job. There are little things I would clean up, but I really, really adore this horse. “I’m happy with today and happy with this horse,” Coleman concluded. “He’s trying for me and that’s all I can ask for.”

Alexander Conrad’s path in eventing has been shaped by a steady accumulation of experience, both in and out of the saddle. Early on, he balanced academic commitments with a strong focus on riding, structuring his schedule to allow time for training and competition. Traveling back and forth to ride during that time offered an early look at the level of discipline required to pursue the sport professionally. Conrad worked with Ryan Wood, gaining valuable experience within an established high-performance program and further refining his approach to training and competition. He went on to establish Conrad Equestrian, developing a business centered on training, teaching, and producing young horses for their owners. Alongside coaching riders across a range of levels, he has continued to maintain an active competition schedule, bringing forward horses at various stages of their careers. Central to Conrad’s progression at the upper levels has been his partnership with Malibu Preacher, an OTTB who has been with him for a number of years. Together, the pair have moved through various phases of the sport, with Malibu Preacher carrying Conrad to his first FEI start, first Advanced competition, and first 4* appearance. They went on to compete at the 2025 Cosequin Lexington CCI4* , adding to their upper-level resume and four-star experience, and have since continued to contest 4* competitions, producing consistent results at the level. In addition to competition string, Conrad’s program has included a range of young and developing horses, alongside a growing training and sales operation. His work often involves producing horses through the early and intermediate stages of their careers, following a consistent, step-by-step approach from initial backing through to the upper levels. More recently, Conrad has continued to build on the momentum of his program, with his training operation continuing to thrive and evolve as his business grows and gains further recognition.

Sydney Solomon’s journey to the top levels of eventing is a story of determination, resilience, and belief in steady progress. Raised in Maryland, Sydney did not grow up in a horse family. What began as a once-a-week hobby quickly became twice a week, and before long, the barn became home. Her first horse, a green Thoroughbred x Percheron cross, presented a true learning curve from day one. During her initial time with "Bella", Sydney wasn’t even aware that eventing existed as a sport. She was riding in 4-H and local hunter shows, building her horsemanship from the ground up alongside a horse who was learning, too. Everything shifted after a visit to Fair Hill International, where she saw eventing at the international level for the first time. She returned inspired and certain that this was the path she wanted to pursue. Eager to move forward, Sydney began searching for a horse that could match her growing ambitions in the sport. That journey brought her to True Prospect Farm, owned by Phillip Dutton, where she discovered Lillian Pink, who was for sale at the time through Boyd Martin. After several successful seasons eventing with Lillian Pink, Sydney stepped into a new phase of development, training under the guidance of Lillian Heard and eventually becoming a working student for her. The experience sharpened her skills, strengthened her foundation, and propelled her confidently up the levels. The working student years were demanding and formative. They offered a clear view into what it truly takes to build a career at the highest level of the sport. After the heartbreaking loss of Lillian Pink, Sydney made a defining choice to continue pursuing her dream, leaning into the challenges rather than stepping away from them. With Heard's support, Sydney was connected with a working student position under Phillip Dutton at True Prospect Farm, immersing herself fully in a high-performance program and the daily rhythm of top-level eventing. Soon after, she was offered the ride on Early Review CBF, a Hanoverian mare who would go on to become a defining partner in her upper-level career. Together, Sydney and “Coco” have worked their way up the FEI levels one step at a time, building experience and confidence all the way to CCI5*. In 2023, they made their 5* debut at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, marking a career-defining milestone — one that stirred emotions Sydney rarely allows herself to show and underscored just how far the partnership had come. As “Early Review, accepted” echoed over the speakers during the first horse inspection, Sydney found herself tearing up, caught off guard by the magnitude of the moment. Even walking into the dressage ring, she admitted she felt the weight of it all — the years of work and the grit it takes to get there. They returned to Kentucky in 2024 to contest the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, continuing to build their résumé at the upper levels of the sport and adding another chapter to a partnership forged through resilience and experience. Today, Sydney continues to compete at the highest levels of the sport while dedicating much of her time to teaching and producing horses within her own program. Having trained within some of eventing’s most respected systems, she has drawn on that mentorship to shape a competitive and training business grounded in intention, patience, and strong fundamentals. Her journey — from learning on a green first horse to stepping onto the five-star stage — reflects a career built thoughtfully and earned step by step. With each season, she continues to add depth to her experience at the upper levels, carrying forward the resilience, perspective, and work ethic that have defined her path from the very beginning.

There are riders whose stories unfold quietly over time, and then there are riders whose journeys feel woven into the rhythm of the sport itself. Elisa Wallace falls into the latter category. A 5* event rider, trainer, and educator, Wallace has built a career defined by curiosity, commitment, and a deep belief in the horses she brings along. Long before she ever cantered out of the start box herself, Wallace experienced the Kentucky Three-Day Event as a spectator. Like many young riders, she watched from the sidelines, taking in the scale of the competition and the electricity that comes with a week where the entire eventing world seems to gather in one place. After spending time in several disciplines as a junior rider, she found her way back to eventing with a focus on understanding the process as much as the outcome. Over time, that approach became central to her program, with an emphasis on developing horses thoughtfully and building confidence step by step. In 2015, Wallace and Simply Priceless, affectionately known as Johnny around the barn, stepped up to the 4* level, now known as the 5* level, for the first time at the Kentucky Three-Day Event. It was a milestone moment, not because it marked an arrival, but because it marked a beginning. The pair returned to Kentucky two additional times between 2016 and 2018, gaining experience with each start and earning a loyal following of fans drawn to their bold cross country style and clear partnership. Propelling themselves onto the international stage, the pair were named alternates for the United States Olympic Three-Day Eventing Team for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. That same year, Wallace and Johnny went on to compete at the Burghley Horse Trials, followed by the Badminton Horse Trials in 2017, with both events contested as 4* competitions at the time. From Kentucky to Burghley to Badminton, the partnership proved it belonged among the sport’s elite, showing grit, durability, and the ability to meet the demands of championship level eventing. As the years have passed, the Kentucky Three-Day has remained one of many familiar checkpoints along Wallace’s path. Returning with Renkum Corsair, Lissavorra Quality, Let It Be Lee, and Riot Gear, she has taken on the CCI4* and CCI5* levels, using the event as an opportunity to test progress and celebrate growth. Away from the competition arena, Wallace has become widely known for her work with American Mustangs and Off the Track Thoroughbreds; from championship wins to high profile retraining projects, she has helped shift perceptions around what these horses can achieve. In 2012, she earned her first Extreme Mustang Makeover win with Fledge, launching a chapter that would include multiple Mustang projects and titles. In 2018, Wallace claimed the America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred title with Reloaded at the Retired Racehorse Project, held at the Kentucky Horse Park. She has even brought fan favorite Mustangs Fledge and Rune to the Chewy Demonstration Arena at the Kentucky Three-Day, showcasing their freestyle and liberty training while offering a glimpse into the depth of partnership beyond competition. Education and storytelling remain central to her work. Through clinics, digital content, and an open look into her training program, Wallace shares the reality of producing horses over time, celebrating small wins alongside major milestones and reminding audiences that progress is rarely linear. Whether galloping across the Kentucky Horse Park or cheering on fellow competitors, Elisa Wallace embodies what makes the sport so compelling: dedication, partnership, and the understanding that the journey matters just as much as the destination.

How Stepping Outside of Your Comfort Zone Shapes Who You Become By Sydney Zaikov

With the pair's recent completion at Les Étoiles de Pau , Emily Hamel and Corvett have etched their names into 5* history, becoming only the second horse-and-rider combination to complete all six CCI5* events in the Northern Hemisphere. Having now successfully finished six of the seven CCI5* events worldwide, the milestone places them among an exceptionally small and elite group in the sport and stands as a testament to years of perseverance, trust, and an extraordinary partnership at the highest level of eventing. After years of experience under different trainers and working student positions, she established a successful lesson and training program in Kentucky, coaching riders from Starter through advanced FEI levels and producing horses to the upper tiers of the sport. A pivotal chapter came when Emily joined the program of Phillip Dutton; it was there that she met Corvett, a striking Holsteiner with immense talent, a bold jump, and plenty of personality. Their debut competing at the 5* level came right here, competing at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2021. The pair delivered a standout performance, finishing as the highest-placed 5* first-timers and thus launching a run of consistent results at the sport’s most demanding level. That debut marked the beginning of a remarkable streak, as Emily and Corvett have completed every competition at this level they have entered since. Over the following seasons, Emily and Corvett have methodically tackled the world’s most iconic 5* tracks. In addition to multiple appearances here in Kentucky - most recently finishing in 12th place this past April - the pair went on to complete the legendary Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley Horse Trials , further cementing their reputation for consistency, bravery, and reliability at the top of the sport. Their most recent 5* performance at Les Étoiles de Pau capped a historic achievement. Combining a personal-best dressage test with confident, scopey jumping across both jumping phases, Emily and Corvett climbed steadily up the leaderboard to secure a spot in the top twenty and complete their six-of-seven milestone. It was a performance that embodied everything their partnership represents: precision, grit, and trust built over time. Emily Hamel's story - with Corvett at her side - is one of long-term vision and unwavering commitment; proof that a dream sparked on a 4-H field trip can, with enough determination, lead all the way to the very top of the sport.