The Five Star Defender Kentucky Three Day Event presented by Mars Equestrian used to be known simply as Rolex, then briefly Land Rover, but since 1978 it has always been at the Kentucky Horse Park and has grown each year since then into what’s now known on the equestrian scene as “The Best Weekend All Year”
Lexington rider Liz Halliday placed third here last year and rides again this weekend.
The Defender Kentucky 5* is one of only seven globally at this, the very highest level of the sport known as the triathlon of equestrianism. Each horse and rider competes in all three phases of the competition together in a partnership that is developed over years. To win here is a precious jewel that every rider would dearly love in their crown, but this year there will be extra pressure.
Halliday was a member of the silver medal winning US team at the Pan Am Games last year and will be vying to catch the eye of the Selectors here this weekend to try to book her ticket on the plane to France.
Halliday and the US riders will be competing against a robust international entry flying in from from Great Britain, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Oliver Townend has won here 3 times already and he’s returning for a shot at a record-breaking fourth win. Reigning World Champion Yas Ingham and Team GB Olympic gold medalist Tom McEwen have both placed second here and are bringing their horses back to try to go one better.
The First Horse Inspection takes place Wednesday, Dressage on Thursday and Friday, the cross country Saturday, and the winner will be decided during the final Show-Jumping phase on Sunday afternoon.
