Marilyn Little Posts Historic Score to Lead the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™

April 22, 2022

Marilyn Little (USA) and RF Scandalous at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ held in Lexington, KY.



Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous Post Highest Venue Score Since 2009

Lexington, Kentucky – April 22, 2021 – Marilyn Little (USA) and RF Scandalous delivered a stunning performance Thursday, earning a 21.7 to lead the CCI5*-L at The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by MARS Equestrian™ (LRK3DE) in Lexington, KY.


Theirs is the best score earned at this event since 2009, when Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo scored a 19.2 and Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Brittania earned a 21.5 (scores adjusted to the modern scoring system) — a great start for Little and RF Scandalous, the 2018 Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Champions.


“It’s great to be back here in Kentucky. It’s a great gauge. The last time she was here she was on a 24.8 [after dressage]. She’s so much more mature and we’ve both learned so much,” Little said of the 16-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Jacqueline Mars and Phoebe and Michael Manders. “Riding a horse like Scandalous here is also a privilege. She’s my horse of a lifetime. I’m acutely aware of that and trying to make sure I’m enjoying every moment with her.”


Like many horses, “Kitty” was “exhilarated by the cold,” requiring Little to adjust her warm-up plan. “I got a little bit defensive and conservative in the first few movements. All of a sudden I felt her maturity and professionalism come through,” Little said. “I got braver as the test was going and she got some sparkling marks at the end.”


Oliver Townend (GBR) and Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class are attempting to defend their 2018 and 2019 Kentucky titles this week. They’re off to a good start scoring a 24.1 to sit second after the first day of dressage.


“I think that’s the best test he’s done at Kentucky. He’s on the same score as [2019] but it’s a different test which possibly doesn’t suit him quite as well,” Townend said of the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse. “He felt very relaxed. He’s probably one that does miss the crowd a little bit because he is a very laid-back character, and it does him no harm to have a bit of atmosphere.


“Of course, we miss the crowd, especially here in America because everyone is obviously so enthusiastic and it’s a very knowledgeable crowd. You can feel that you’ve done a good test without looking at the scoreboard. At the same time it’s still very much Kentucky. You’re still riding down the chute into that arena. In eventing there is no arena in the world like that and that’s why we keep coming back. We’re huge fans of the place.”


Three-time Kentucky champion William Fox-Pitt (GBR) echoed Townend’s sentiments, and he is making the most of his return to Kentucky for the first time since 2015.


“It’s very nostalgic to be back here. Driving into the Park I felt quite emotional and excited. It’s great to feel like that. It’s been two very boring years [at home]. How lucky are we to have an exciting competition to attack?” Fox-Pitt said.


Currently placed third with Oratorio on a 27.9, Fox-Pitt is hoping the 12-year-old gelding’s experience at the level will stand him in good stead given their less than ideal preparation due to COVID-19 related event cancellations.


“In Europe we’re a bit behind [America] and a little bit less prepared,” Fox-Pitt said. “I’m rather hoping his bit of experience and the fact he’s not a newbie he’ll remember what to do and to aim between those flags. I believe he’s fit and on the aids. Horses don’t forget. They’re amazing animals.”


The CCI5*-L competition will resume Friday at 12:15 pm. Visit the Virtual Experience Webpage to find all the information you need for the 2021 LRK3DE.

Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by MARS Equestrian™ (LRK3DE) hosts one of only seven annual Five Star three-day events in the world and is serving as a U.S. selection trial for this summer’s Tokyo Olympic Games. As the United States’ premier three-day event, LRK3DE serves as the Land Rover/USEF CCI-5*-L Eventing National Championship Presented by MARS Equestrian™ for U.S. athletes.


A new partnership between EEI and the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation combined with the support of US Equestrian (USEF), longstanding sponsors Land Rover, MARS Equestrian™ and Rolex and many other valued event sponsors, plus the collective efforts of the many individuals who donated, ensured that the nation’s premier equestrian event will be held with its traditional CCI5*-L in the afternoons and a new CCI4*-S in the mornings. Although the event is being held without spectators, it can be seen live online on the USEF Network, free of charge with a USEF Fan Membership, which is available at no cost using the code LRK3DE21.


The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by MARS Equestrian™ is indebted to all of its sponsors for their support, without which the event could not be possible.


About Equestrian Events, Inc.

Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park in 1978. Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event that evolved into the world-renowned Kentucky Three-Day Event which draws more than 80,000 spectators to the Kentucky Horse Park each year. EEI also produces other events and supports several local and equine charities. EEI has d­onated more than $725,000 to various charities since 2011. Further information about EEI and the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is available at www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.


About the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation

Since its inception in 1985, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation has provided over $25 million worth of improvements, helping make the Kentucky Horse Park the leading equestrian facility of its kind in the world. The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to enhancing, expanding, and improving the Kentucky Horse Park. Further information is available at www.khpfoundation.org.

The Hands that Build the Sport: Unsung Eventing Heroes, ft. Karen Yates

By Jennifer Sedlatschek • July 31, 2025
Karen Yates has never been one to follow the beaten path. A lifelong horsewoman and passionate amateur eventer, her story is one of grit, generosity, and an unwavering love for the sport. Though her introduction to eventing may not have been conventional, her contributions to the community have become nothing short of transformational. Raised on Air Force bases without the benefit of structured training, Yates’s entry into the world of eventing was entirely self-taught. “I didn’t have an instructor until I was 32,” she says—by which point she had already spent five years actively competing. Without jumping lessons or formal coaching, she would simply show up at events and learn by doing. Her survival in those early days came down to two things: the boldness she carried into the saddle and the athleticism of the horses she rode. She trained every one of them herself, driven more by determination than direction. Yates’s breakthrough came in 1993 when she competed in her first advanced-level event at the (then) Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. “I never schooled any cross-country at all,” she remembers. “My horses saw the course for the first time when I got there.” The experience was a defining moment. Though daunting, it was emblematic of her entire riding career—rooted in experience, experimentation, and an indomitable spirit. But as her ambitions grew, so did her awareness of the risks involved. She recalls the 1996 Olympic cycle, during which she competed with 45 pounds of lead on her horse—weight that ultimately contributed to a suspensory injury. That setback shifted her perspective. She began stepping back from the upper levels, prioritizing the safety and longevity of both her horses and herself. Even as she turned away from elite competition, her love for the sport never wavered. Instead, it found a new outlet. In 2017, Yates launched a unique initiative at Copper Top Farm: the “horse party.” Aimed at introducing newcomers to eventing, the horse party was her answer to what she saw as a troubling trend. “I was running into young people who had never ridden out of a ring,” she explains. “I thought, this is not a good way for this sport to grow.” Her horse parties were designed to be approachable and fun, offering small jumps and cross-country schooling in a low-pressure environment. It wasn’t just about teaching riders to jump—it was about giving them a taste of what makes eventing so thrilling. The concept took off. Riders of all ages and backgrounds began flocking to Copper Top Farm, not just to ride, but to become part of a welcoming, horse-loving community. 

Vanessa Coleman Named Chief Competition and Operating Officer of Equestrian Events, Inc.

June 19, 2025
The Board of Directors of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non-profit, charitable organization that supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level, is thrilled to announce the naming of Vanessa Coleman to the position of Chief Competition and Operating Officer.
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