MARS EQUESTRIAN New Presenting Sponsor of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event

March 21, 2019

Equestrian Events, Inc. welcomes MARS EQUESTRIAN, a division of MARS INCORPORATED, as the new Presenting Sponsor of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event — a role that will continue through the 2021 event. The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 25-28, 2019. MARS EQUESTRIAN is also the presenting sponsor of the Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN.


Now in its 41st year, the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN (LRK3DE) is a thrilling competition featuring Olympic-level riders and horses from across the nation and around the world in what can best be described as an equestrian triathlon. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” LRK3DE is a multi-day, highly competitive event in which the world’s best horses and riders vie for their share of $400,000 in prize money, as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins the LRK3DE, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton, and Land Rover Burghley Five Star Events in succession.


“Having MARS EQUESTRIAN join as the presenting sponsor of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is not only exciting for us, but for the sport overall,” said Stewart Perry, president of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), organizer of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. “MARS is stepping up for three-day eventing and we are grateful they will be a part of this event through 2021.”


“MARS EQUESTRIAN is thrilled to be the Presenting Sponsor of the LRK3DE,” said Geoffrey Galant, Vice President MARS EQUESTRIAN. “Through this partnership, we hope to honor the equestrian legacy of MARS and engage fans with our iconic brands as we work to achieve our vision for horses, pets, and the people who love them.”

“The LRK3DE is truly historic, both within the state of Kentucky and also in the sport of eventing in North America. MARS EQUESTRIAN has been an avid supporter of U.S. eventers and the LRK3DE for many years. We are thrilled to not only have their iconic name behind our Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship, but also to see them presenting this important international three-day event on home soil,” said US Equestrian CEO, Bill Moroney. “We are grateful for the support of MARS EQUESTRIAN of this important weekend; they are helping us, EEI, and the competitors of eventing to bring the joy of horse sports to the thousands of spectators that will be in attendance.”


LRK3DE recently received the new Five Star status from the FEI after having been a Four Star event since 1998. As of January 1, 2019, it is now one of only six annual Five Star three-day events in the world along with Badminton and Burghley in England; Luhmuhlen in Germany; Pau in France; and Adelaide in Australia. LRK3DE is the only annual Five Star event in the Americas and as the United States’ premier event, it also serves as the Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship for the U.S. athletes.


The second annual $225,000 Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix Presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute will take place on Saturday afternoon, April 27, after the Cross-Country portion of the LRK3DE. Stadium seating tickets for the Grand Prix are only $5 each — with $1 going to Land Rover Kentucky’s 2019 Official Charity, Bluegrass Land Conservancy. As part of the competition, there will also be a $36,000 Welcome Speed Cup Ranking Class on Friday in Rolex Stadium, after the day’s LRK3DE dressage competition. No stadium seat ticket is required for Friday’s Ranking Class. Grand Prix tickets are available here.


Tickets to LRK3DE 2019 are available here. All grounds admission tickets to the LRK3DE include general parking and admission to the Kentucky Horse Park and International Trade Fair, but do not include seats for the competition in Rolex Stadium. Reserved stadium seating is sold separately from grounds admission. Traditionally the best seats sell out, so everyone is encouraged to place orders as early as possible. For a unique world-class Kentucky experience, special Ringside Hospitality packages are also available.


About 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 more than 80,000 spectators to the Kentucky Horse Park each year. For more information, please visit www.eq-events.com.


About Land Rover

Founded in 1948, Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures its vehicles in the United Kingdom. For almost 70 years the brand has built a reputation for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world; whether driving through the heart of the city or traversing the countryside on- and off-road. Today’s Land Rover lineup includes the Discovery and Discovery Sport; Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information, visit the official Land Rover website at www.landroverusa.com.


About Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports sedan and sports car brands.


At Jaguar Land Rover, we are driven by a desire to deliver class-leading vehicles, which will provide experiences our customers will love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe. In 2017/18 Jaguar Land Rover sold 614,309 vehicles in 129 countries, with more than 80 percent of our vehicles being sold abroad.


We support around 260,000 people through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. Manufacturing is centered in the UK, with additional plants in China, Brazil, Austria and Slovakia.


Our innovation is continuous: we will spend in the region of £4 billion this year on new product creation and capital expenditure.


From 2020 all-new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be electrified, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and gasoline engines.


About MARS EQUESTRIAN

MARS EQUESTRIAN, a brand and sponsorship division within MARS INCORPORATED, is the link between our iconic brands and the equestrian community. For generations, MARS has celebrated a rich equestrian heritage, and through purposeful partnerships, MARS EQUESTRIAN is committed to the sport and building an enduring legacy. From world-class competitions across all equestrian disciplines to stewarding the power of horses on society and sustainability, MARS EQUESTRIAN is dedicated to our purpose to improve the lives of horses, pets, and the people who love them.



For more information about Mars Equestrian, please visit www.marsequestrian.com.

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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