It’s looking like it will be four days of warm, possibly even hot, sun this year at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian. Always a nice change from driving rain and a brief return to winter!
With half of the CCI5*-L dressage tests in the books Thursday, the current leader is William Coleman (USA) with Diabolo, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding. The pair presented a smooth and lovely test that stuck on top of today’s leaderboard with a penalty score of 27.3 (72.69%).
In second for the day is Phillip Dutton (USA) on Possante, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding, with a 28.1. Dutton is a former winner of this event and a seven-time Olympic veteran with a penchant for accurate and high-scoring dressage tests, so it’s never a surprise to see him at the top of the pack here in Kentucky.
“Dressage comes reasonably easy for the horse, so it’s more a case of keeping it in,” said Dutton after his ride.
Third overall today on a 29.8 is Tim Price of New Zealand on Global Quest, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse. Price is the World #4 ranked eventing rider and finished in second at this event in 2021 and third in 2019.
Today’s fourth place rider is World #1, Harry Meade of Great Britain, and 17-year-old BHHS gelding Superstition with a 30.2. This seasoned rider has overcome some intense injuries to shine at the top of the sport, which is always great to see.
Rounding out today’s top five on a score of 30.7 is crowd favorite and World #2 Boyd Martin (USA) with Cooley Nutcracker, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding.
In the CCI4*-S division, pairs looking for a shorter cross-country course on Saturday to perhaps prepare their horses for an eventual step up to a CCI5*-L, 22 pairs competed in the dressage ring on Thursday morning. Tamra Smith (USA), the 2023 CCI5* winner, topped the leaderboard on Danito, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding, with a 27.0 in this division after the first day of dressage.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the second half of the dressage rides in both divisions.
2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Dressage Day One
1. Will Coleman (USA) and Diabolo (27.3)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (28.1)
3. Tim Price (NZL) and Global Quest (29.8)
4. Harry Meade (GBR) and Superstition (30.2)
5. Boyd Martin (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker (30.7)
6. David Doel (GBR) and Galileo Nieuwmoed (30.8)
7. Karen O’Neal (USA) and Clooney 14 (33.1)
8. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Tolan King (33.5)
9. Mary Bess Davis (USA) and Imperio Magic (33.9)
10. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and She’s the One (35.1)
2026 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Standings After Dressage Day One
1. Tamie Smith (USA) and Danito (27.0)
2. Tommy Greengard (USA) and That’s Me Z (31.4)
3. Dan Kreitl (USA) and Carmango (32.0)
4. Tamie Smith (USA) and Kynan (33.0)
5. Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Landmark’s Jungle Gold (33.2)
6. Will Coleman (USA) and Fahrenheit Addict (33.3)
7. Katie Lichten (USA) and Hickstead Musterd (33.6)
8. Elisa Wallace (USA) and Lissavorra Quality (34.5)
9. Laine Ashker (USA) and Lovedance (34.8)
10. James Alliston (USA) and HMR Rolan (35.1)
Find all of our coverage on our 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.
Thanks to CareCredit for our 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.
