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! 

Lexington, KY – March 12, 2026 


Alongside the world-class competition, the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ will offer something for everyone to enjoy during the “Best Weekend All Year!” From the Chewy Demonstration Arena and Kentucky Kids Club sponsored by the United States Pony Club (USPC), to the new Beer Garden, Safety & Wellness Arena sponsored by HorsePal and more, the Event will host many activities in partnership with its generous sponsors. 

 

The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) is set to return to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 23-26. The Event is produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non-profit, charitable organization that supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level. EEI is dedicated to creating opportunities for riders, horses, and equine organizations while advancing the United States’ strength and competitiveness on the international stage. 

 

K3DE features one of only seven annual 5* three-day events in the world. K3DE is the largest and longest-running Five Star event in the Americas, and as the United States’ premier event, it also serves as the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian for the U.S. athletes. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the event annually attracts over 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of entertainment activities. Additionally, K3DE features the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, a U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series qualifying event, and the Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. 

 

Among the Event’s offerings is the Chewy Demonstration Arena, the hub for educational demonstrations, breed showcases and fun equestrian exhibitions taking place throughout the weekend. Typical demonstrations include horse breed presentations (for example, Connemara ponies), mounted games and riding exhibitions, horsemanship demonstrations, training clinics, mounted police demonstrations, freestyle dressage or Pony Club quadrilles, and retired racehorse and Mustang showcases. 

 

Younger spectators can also enjoy the Kentucky Kids Club, another educational hub specifically for up-and-coming equestrians. Four daily “shows” will allow young riders to learn about new disciplines, network with Pony Clubbers from around the world and dive into the helpful resources provided by USPC. There will even be surprise interactions from competitors who started their riding careers in Pony Club!  

 

Photo by Caitlin Worth

Between watching the competition and shopping for industry-leading products and supplies, adults 21 and older can stop by the new Beer Garden to enjoy locally crafted beers, ciders, bourbons and cocktails! From 12:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, the Event will also host live music at The Hound Stage sponsored by LM Communications. Designed to create an inviting gathering space that complements the competition, these two debut attractions will mark a natural gathering point in Sponsor Village for K3DE spectators. 

 

Another new feature launching in 2026 is the Safety & Wellness Arena. This arena is a premier, purpose-driven destination at the Event designed to spotlight sponsors that are committed to safety, wellness and welfare in equestrian sport. The Arena directly supports the mission of EEI as this initiative continues EEI’s commitment to providing meaningful development opportunities for riders, horses and equine organizations, while strengthening the long-term competitiveness and leadership of the United States on the international stage. Positioned as a high-traffic, high-visibility hub on the grounds, the Safety & Wellness Arena will deliver meaningful, values-based engagement through educational programming, expert-led conversations and interactive experiences—reinforcing EEI’s role as a leader in safe sport, athlete development and responsible horsemanship. 

 

Additionally, the Event is thrilled to welcome many new sponsors to the Kentucky family, including: 4Cyte, ABI Attachments, Absorbine, Chick-Fil-A, Core Specialty, Etix, HorsePal, The Hound 96.1 FM, Karina Brez Jewelry, Maizie Clarke, MDP Insurance, MyStride, Practical Horseman, Presige Italia, Under the Sun, and YETI. 

 

With this more dynamic, well-rounded guest experience created by EEI and its partners, attendees are encouraged to spend more time onsite and fully engage with everything K3DE has to offer — from competition and hospitality to shopping, dining, kids’ experiences and social spaces. The addition of this programming reinforces EEI’s goal of delivering not just world-class equestrian sport, but a vibrant and memorable spring weekend experience in Lexington.  



Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian 

The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) is a thrilling multi-day competition featuring Olympic-level riders and horses in what can best be described as an equestrian triathlon. Horse and rider pairs compete in three phases of the competition – Dressage, Cross-Country and Show Jumping – for $400,000 in prize money to those competing at the CCI5*-L level. K3DE is the largest and longest-running Five Star event in the Americas and as the United States’ premier event, it also serves as the Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS Equestrian for the U.S. athletes. Rolex is the Official Timepiece and Event Partner. 

 

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S 

Introduced in 2021, the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S runs concurrently with the CCI5*-L competition, featuring the three phases of eventing – dressage, cross country and show jumping. The Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S is a U.S. Equestrian Open Eventing Series Qualifier and offers $50,000 prize money. Tickets for viewing the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S are included when purchasing the K3DE tickets. 


Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute 

Formerly known as the Kentucky Invitational, the Kentucky International made its debut at the 2018 Kentucky Three-Day Event as a CSI3* and was held as a CSI4* for the first time in 2024. After becoming a CSI5* in 2025, the international show jumping event makes EEI the only event organizer in the world to host both a CCI5*-L and CSI5* in the same week. More information on the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute can be found at https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/the-kentucky-international-csi5. 

Sponsors, Shopping, Live Music, Local Brews and World-Class Competition at the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™

March 5, 2026
New Music Programming to Debut on Friday and Saturday in Partnership with  The Hound 96.1; Stage Located in Sponsor Village Near John Deere, the Event’s Official Equipment Provider

Athlete Spotlight: Sydney Solomon

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.
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