Ema Klugman and Bronte Beach will contest the CCI5*L. Image: Michelle Dunn Photo.

All horses moving forward at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian

All 35 horses who presented to the ground jury at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (K3DE) will be moving on to the first phase of competition, the dressage, following the initial horse inspection on Wednesday. Under puffy clouds and blue skies, the competitors in the CCI5*-L put their best and most fashionable feet forward as they demonstrated their horses’ fitness to begin the competition.

One horse-and-rider combination, Matthew Grayling and Trudeau, withdrew before the horse inspection. Two others, Great Britain’s Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir and the USA’s Doug Payne and Quantum Leap, were held but passed upon re-inspection. Several of the horses were clearly feeling fit and ready to run as they entertained the crowd with their antics.

Ema Klugman & Rebecca Braitling flying the Aussie flag

Ema Klugman and Rebecca Braitling are both representing Australia in the CCI5*L this year.

Ema has completed the CCI5*L at Kentucky previously with horse Bendigo and this year she is preparing Bronte Beach for the mare’s first five-star.

Ema and Bronte Beach are set to ride their dressage test on Thursday at 2.10pm local time, 4.10am Friday AEST.

Bec Braitling has competed at five-star level in Adelaide in 2003, however Caravaggio is a five-star debutant; together they competed previously at Kentucky in the CCI4*S. The pair will ride their dressage test on Friday at 2.42pm local time, 4.42am Saturday AEST.

Equestrian Life wish Ema and Bec the best of luck!

Wach all the action via ClipMyHorse.TV.

Live results can be found here.

About Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian

Organized by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) features one of only seven annual Five Star three-day events in the world. 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. In addition to the traditional CCI5*-L, the event also features the Cosequin® Lexington 4* and Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.

K3DE kicks off Thursday morning with the CCI4*-S competition as the first half of the field struts their stuff in the dressage arena. Thursday afternoon, the first half of the CCI5*-L competitors take their turn in the dressage ring. Competition continues with the second half of dressage on Friday, then the heart of eventing, the cross-country test, on Saturday. Everything culminates on Sunday with another horse inspection followed by the show jumping phase to determine the winners.

Source: K3DE press release, edited by EQ Life

Published 25 April 2024. 

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