Kentucky Three-Day Event: Ground Testing for Safety and Excellence

January 5, 2024

As we eagerly anticipate the gathering of riders and their horses, we want to shine a spotlight on what sets our event apart—the unyielding dedication to safety. Here at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, safety isn't just a box to check; it's our top priority, woven into the very fabric of our planning and execution. We want to give you a glimpse into the extraordinary efforts that make safety the cornerstone of The Best Weekend All Year! One of the ways we ensure safety during the cross-country competition is by teaming up with Mike Boekholder of Boekholder & Associates to execute grounds testing. 


Mike has been at the forefront of ensuring the safety and optimal performance of horses and riders in equestrian eventing through grounds testing for the last couple of years. Using a specialized diagnostic tool called a VST unit and a soil moisture probe, Mike meticulously assesses crucial ground conditions. This testing gathers data for aspects of the course like moisture levels, cushioning, firmness, and more. This process isn’t just a one-time deal, with the grounds ever-changing with weather and other environmental conditions, we have Mike and his team conduct this procedure 30 days before the event, seven to 10 days prior, and on the day before the cross-country competition. This is done for the entire course, every 125 meters for the first two tests, then every 250 meters the day before the cross-country competition. 

A person is riding a horse over a wooden fence.

Once all the data, referred to as the Going and Course Variability is collected, it’s then shared with our team and the venue operators, fostering a collaborative effort to address specific areas of the course as needed. This proactive approach allows for adjustments in ground conditions, ensuring consistent footing throughout the competition. We are grateful for Mike and his team’s commitment to expanding testing and consulting services. 


The Going and Course Variability ratings were developed by a team of equine health and safety experts primarily located in England over the past five years. That work, spearheaded by the Research and Consultancy in Equine Surfaces (R.A.C.E.S.) team, a cooperative effort of Nottingham Trent University, The University of Central Lancashire, and Myerscough College, along with retired equine veterinarian Mark Lucey (former vet for the British National Eventing Team) has been critical in establishing the data utilized to analyze eventing courses.



The Kentucky Three-Day Event has implemented these testing protocols, setting a standard for safety and excellence to ensure horses, riders, and patrons have The Best Weekend All Year!



Results

February 25, 2026
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.
February 19, 2026
2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™  Set to Return, April 23-26
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