November means shaggy horses, pumpkin spiced everything and holiday shopping

November 11, 2019

by Kate S. Spencer, Kentucky Three-Day Event “Super Fan”


Fall snuck up on us in Lexington, Kentucky. Almost overnight the hot, dry days morphed into icy rain, and temperatures plummeted 20 degrees. The horses in their pastures are sporting some seriously shaggy winter coats, and their humans are frantically searching through trunks and closets for those turnout sheets we are fairly certain we had cleaned, so where the heck are they? Hay is piled high in the barn lofts, and riders bundled in quilted jackets and fleece breeches are arriving at their barns with steaming mugs of coffee and multiple pairs of gloves. The horses love these cooler temperatures, so they run and prance and roll and play and we watch, sipping our coffee and silently begging them to be careful.


Fall is my favorite time of year in Lexington, not only for the colorful palette that graces the farms and countryside, but Land Rover Kentucky Three Day tickets are finally on sale! LRK3DE 2020 will take place again April 23-26 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Right now, 2020 tickets are the least expensive that they will ever be (prices will increase on December 6th) so now is the very best time to buy your tickets. And, there is NO BETTER GIFT than LRK3DE tickets for the holidays! My husband’s annual gift to me is a 4-day grounds admission ticket (he knows I like to choose my stadium seats myself), and there is no gift I appreciate or look forward to using more than this. If you have a birthday in December, like I do, ask for a reserved parking pass, too! You deserve it!


Though the eventing season is definitely winding down, there are still several competitions and schooling shows happening in areas that are unlikely to get snow this month, so if it seems like a loooooooooong time until LRK3DE, check out the events happening near you (the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, California, Texas, Tennessee). This is a great time to see some of our favorite teams in top form, and to meet some of the up-and-coming horses showing promise for next season. Most horses not heading to Aiken or Ocala are at home, refining their skills, before they take a few wintry months off. They will be back to work by February, starting with dressage and jumping shows before moving on to eventing competitions in the Spring.


At a time of year when our thoughts turn to all of the good things and people in our lives for which we are thankful, I am truly thankful for all of the volunteers, planners, organizers, sponsors, fans, riders, and (especially) the horses that make the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event the BEST WEEKEND ALL YEAR! As a Super Fan, I appreciate all the work that goes into this event, and I am amazed that, every year, this event gets better and better.


So bundle up, put another log on the fire, cue up the Man From Snowy River, and enjoy pumpkin and peppermint season. See you in Lexington in April!

Athlete Spotlight: Alexander Conrad

March 20, 2026
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.

There's Something for Everyone at the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian

March 13, 2026
Family-Friendly Activities Include Chewy Demonstration Arena, Kentucky Kids Club, Beer Garden, New Safety & Wellness Arena and More!
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