Great Ways to Enhance the Experience of the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™!

April 22, 2024

Nine Olympians Highlight Show Jumping Entries at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™


Lexington, Kentucky – April 22, 2024 – There are several great programs for everyone to enhance the experience of the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™. Along with offering fan favorites such as EquiRatings stats and podcasts, Behind the Barn interviews, and interactive maps on the Cross-Country App, the event will also launch its own app through Engagefully. These programs are available to every fan of the event, whether they are attending in person or watching online.


Organized by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) features one of only seven annual Five Star three-day events in the world. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the event annually attracts nearly 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations. In addition to the traditional CCI5*-L, the event also features the Cosequin® Lexington 4* and Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.


K3DE has once again partnered with EquiRatings to provide its annual Stats & Stories for the CCI5* (available on the K3DE website) as well as several episodes of the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast. Posted on March 22, the first episode, “Inside Kentucky: Building the #BestWeekendAllYear,” offered a glimpse behind the scenes of Kentucky’s unique cross-country course with course designer Derek di Grazia and the course-building team of Jay Hambly, Mick Costello, Tyson Rementer and Levi Ryckewaert. With more exciting discussions to come, the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast is available free of charge across all podcast platforms.

Two phones are sitting next to each other on a white background.

Kentucky’s Behind the Barn interviews also return with an intimate video series showcasing various participants of the 2024 event. The in-depth interviews will be featured on the event’s social media channels and website. The series started on April 9 with a sit-down discussion between riders Boyd Martin and Will Faudree and was followed on April 16 by a talk with Sara Kozumplik and Sharon White. The remaining release schedule is as follows: 

  • April 22 – Will Coleman
  • April 22 – Tamie Smith and Liz Halliday
  • April 23 – Doug Payne
  • April 23 – Jennie Brannigan
  • April 24 – Kids say the darndest things
  • April 24 – Phillip Dutton
  • April 25 – Leslie Law and Buck Davidson
  • April 25 – Jessica Phoenix
  • April 26 – Caroline Martin and Hannah Sue Hollberg
  • April 26 – Yasmin Ingham and Tom McEwen



Thanks to the Cross-Country App, eventing enthusiasts can explore Derek di Grazia’s challenging courses for both the CCI5* and Cosequin® Lexington 4*. Finalized interactive maps are being launched through the Cross-Country App and K3DE website for the event. 


Returning this year, K3DE will offer an enhanced experience through its own app powered by Engagefully! For over 25 years, Engagefully has created in-person, virtual and on-demand event platforms for both iOS and Android, bringing together the exhibitors, spectators and sponsors of more than 2,000 events. Built with their user-friendly interface, the new Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event App will offer everyone a fresh way to enjoy The Best Weekend All Year, no matter where they are in the world.

“We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in April and are so excited about these great ways to enhance the K3DE experience,” said Erin Woodall, Executive Director of EEI. “From looking at horse-and-rider analytics to hearing personal stories from some of the biggest names in the sport, we aim to expand on the world-class traditions already established in Kentucky and provide offerings for our fans around the world to enjoy.”


For those unable to attend the event in person, the entire event will be livestreamed on USEF Network and ClipMyHorse.TV. More information can be found at https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/. 

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™


The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) is a thrilling multi-day competition featuring Olympic-level riders and horses in what can best be described as an equestrian triathlon. Horse and rider pairs compete in three phases of the competition – Dressage, Cross-Country and Show Jumping – for $400,000 in prize money to those competing at the CCI5*-L level. K3DE is the largest and longest-running Five Star event in the Americas and as the United States’ premier event, it also serves as the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian for the U.S. athletes. Rolex is the Official Timepiece and Event Partner.


Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S


Introduced in 2021, the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S runs concurrently with the CCI5*-L competition, featuring the three phases of eventing – dressage, cross country and show jumping. The Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S offers $50,000 prize money. Tickets for viewing the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S are included when purchasing the K3DE tickets.


Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute


The $225,000 Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute will take place on Saturday afternoon, April 27, after the cross-country portion of the K3DE. As part of the competition, there will also be a $35,000 Welcome Speed Cup Ranking Class on Friday in the Rolex Stadium, after the day’s K3DE dressage competition. In addition to the new 4* level for the 2024 Grand Prix, there will be a new $35,000 1.45m Two-Phase during the lunch hour on Saturday, April 27. No stadium seat ticket is required for Friday’s Ranking Class. For more Grand Prix information, please visit: https://kentuckythreedayevent.com/grand-prix/.


Further information about the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™, the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S, and the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is available at https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/.


About Equestrian Events, Inc.


Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event that evolved into the world-renowned Kentucky Three-Day Event, which draws nearly 90,000 spectators to the Kentucky Horse Park each year. EEI added the Kentucky CSI Invitational Grand Prix in 2018, the Lexington CCI4*-S in 2021, and also produces other events. EEI supports several local and equine charities and over the last 20 years has donated more than $1.1 million to various charities. For more information, please visit www.eq-events.com.

Coleman brings the win back to the USA at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian

April 28, 2026
Lexington, Ky., April 26, 2026 Despite it being an American event, American champions have been hard to come by over the last 18 years in the CCI5*-L at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE), with only Tamie Smith’s 2023 win standing out in a sea of foreign victories. But Will Coleman has entered his name into the record books as just the second American in nearly two decades to take home the top prize. He and Diabolo added just 0.8 time penalties in the final phase to finish on a score of 28.1 and take home the trophy. Double-clear show jumping rounds propelled Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake (28.6) and Great Britain’s David Doel on Galileo Neiuwmoed (30.8) to 2 nd and 3 rd respectively. Overnight leader, New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and Artist, dropped three rails to fall to 7 th . “I probably can’t put it into words,” he said of his victory abord the Diabolo Group’s Holsteiner gelding. “It’s a surreal feeling; it’s something we all dream about. Winning (a five-star) is the hardest thing to do in equestrian sports, and I feel like (all the riders) deserve the win. It’s such a hard game, it takes so long to get good enough at it to contend at this level. “I have so much respect for the sport, and the horses and riders, so it feels like it’s unfair that I’m the only one that gets to take home the win,” he continued. “But I’m overjoyed for the horse and all who are involved in his journey — the owners, my family, my coaches, and our staff at home. I wake up most days feeling like the luckiest guy in the world and today I feel extremely lucky.” As the highest-placed American, Coleman is also the winner of the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian for the U.S. riders.

Farrington flies to victory in the Kentucky International CSI5* $340,000 1.60m Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Eques

April 28, 2026
Lexington, Ky., April 25, 2026  Fresh off his win in the show jumping World Cup Final, world #2 Kent Farrington continued his winning ways by streaking home fastest in the jump-off with Descartes SR at the Kentucky International CSI5* $340,000 1.60m Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute part of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE), the penultimate stop on the Major League Show Jumping tour. Mclain Ward and High Star Hero put in a strong performance to stop the clock in 40.42 but couldn’t quite catch Farrington’s time of 39.92. Shane Sweetnam of Ireland and James Kann Cruz chased them both, but his time of 40.71 was only good enough for third. “I’m really excited about this horse,” Farrington said. “He’s just 9 and this is his first five-star, and we started it the right way. He has an incredible stride like a racehorse and I know he can eat up the ground.”
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