O’Shea Can’t Be Caught At $225,000 Kentucky Invitational CSI3* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute

April 27, 2019

The luck of the Irish was in full effect as Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu flew to the win in the $225,000 Kentucky Invitational CSI3* Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, part of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN.


Eugenio Garza of Mexico and Armani SI Z finished second and Rowan Willis of Australia and Blue Movie finished third. American Ali Wolff and Casall finished fourth.


The format for the Invitational was for a first round, followed by the return of the top ten, in reverse order of score, so the fastest clean round in the first round gets to go last in the second round. Scores are cumulative over both rounds and ties are broken by time.


O’Shea was the last to go in the second round, following blazing fast performances by Willis and Garza. He needed to jump clean, and faster than Garza’s time of 42.42. The big bay Dutch Warmblood galloped steadily and left all the fences up, and when he took a long leap over the final fence he stopped the timers at 41.91 giving him the win.


“I tried to go as fast as I could and leave all the jumps up,” O’Shea said of his winning strategy. “I didn’t really (get to see the others) to be honest, so I tried to go as good as I could and ‘Machu’ was incredible. He couldn’t have jumped any better, he was just fantastic.”


Garza was circumspect about his runner-up status. “We tried, but you can never count out Paul. He’s a tremendous rider and he proved to be faster today,” Garza said. “I thought maybe I had left the door open at the double, I took a step extra that cost us there. But I couldn’t be happier with my horse, she jumped great.”


Willis was happy with the scrappy little mare, Blue Movie, even if they weren’t on top today. “I’m happy to jump clear and get on the board,” he said. “I knew there were fast riders behind me and I knew I was a little slow and had left the door ajar, but yeah, my mare was great jumping today. Could be worse!”


For the win, O’Shea takes home $56,250 of the $225,000 purse.


A standing room only crowd of 10,162 whooped and cheered every rider, and the riders were appreciative of their enthusiasm.


“The crowd is just fantastic, and yes it’s unusual for us, we’re not that used to it,” O’Shea said. “It definitely raises your game and ‘Machu’ is very experienced so it helped us, he rose to the occasion. It was very nice how the crowd was so into it.”


“We were kind of saying this is how grand prix should be,” agreed Garza. “It was an incredible crowd. My horse benefited from the crowd and the cheering. It’s a little more attention and he jumps better. It’s a great crowd and event, thanks to EEI for putting it on. It’s a pleasure to be here.”


“It’s much more interesting for us to ride and the atmosphere makes everyone happy and we all enjoy it,” said Willis. “My mare jumped fantastic in front of that crowd. It’s great for the sport.”


The festive atmosphere was visible during the prize giving ceremony, when Willis and Garza showed their “appreciation” for being beaten by spraying O’Shea with champagne.


The riders received beautiful crystals donated by L.V. Harkness. In addition to the big prizes, a few special awards were given out as well. The Ned Bonnie Highest Placed Amateur rider award went to Garza. The Equistro Oldest Horse Completing Award went to Lauren Hough’s Waterford. The East West Equine Fist Pump Award went to Hilary Scott.



Stewart Perry, the president of EEI, is thrilled with the continuing success of the show jumping as an addition to the eventing. “With EEI being a non-profit, we don’t have to make a profit. We plow all the money back into the event. As such we wanted to do something for our spectators,” he said. “Our spectators are who we do our event for. Tonight we saw them in the stands, in the rain. We do it for the people who come and buy tickets and love the sport.


“When Derek (Braun) and I first talked about this, we never envisioned 10,000 people watching in the rain, to watch these gentlemen turn in such a spectacular performance,” he finished.


“Honestly, I did expect the crowd to be here at this event,” said Braun, who manages both this competition and the successful Split Rock Jumping Tour. “Special events like this that can capitalize on an educated crowd are the best platform for show jumping. There is no better platform; this grand prix proved that. I do believe it has got the biggest atmosphere in America and we hope to continue to make it bigger in the future.”


While the riders were focused on their own performances, they all said they had enjoyed the eventing competition. Willis said he had friends competing today and enjoyed seeing them ride, and all three have plans to watch the show jumping tomorrow. When asked if he’d ever consider trying eventing, O’Shea was quick to laugh. “Oh no, I’m not nearly tough enough,” he said with a smile.

Equestrian Events, Inc. Donates $20,000 to Justin’s Place Following the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™

August 5, 2025
Lexington, Kentucky – August 5, 2025 – Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), has donated $20,000 to Justin’s Place, a therapeutic horse farm in Wilmore, KY, dedicated to helping children with disabilities and disorders and their families. Justin’s Place was previously named the Official Charity of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ . EEI is best known for producing the annual Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian, the nation’s premier eventing competition and one of only seven annual 5* three-day events (CCI5*-L) in the world, as well as the Cosequin ® Lexington CCI4*-S and Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute on the same weekend. 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. Committed to being a pillar of the equestrian community, both in Kentucky and throughout the world, EEI also works in collaboration with other events and organizations throughout the year to promote and elevate equestrian sports throughout the U.S. and internationally. Over the last 20 years, EEI has donated more than $1.1 million to the local and equestrian communities through its support of various charities. “EEI is committed to supporting charities that serve the local community and the equine industry,” said Molly Day, Executive Director of EEI. “It’s truly an honor to make this donation to Justin’s Place, which does so much to share the healing power of horses and give back to children with disabilities and disorders and their families.”

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 first competed at the upper-levels at the 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.
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