It’s always been a bucket list item of mine—I’d even Googled “how do you ride on the Goodyear Blimp?” in the past, only to be disappointed to see there’s no way to buy tickets, but we’ll get to that later. 

You better believe when this opportunity came along, I jumped up and grabbed it. 

Setting “Sail” 

I met my group at Bowman Field, the smaller airport in Louisville, Ky. We watched a safety video and headed to a van that drove us across the airfield to the blimp, which was tethered to a tower for loading. We were the first group of the day to ride—me, someone from the airport board who had dreamed of riding the Goodyear Blimp for 40 years and “had to wait till he was 75” to do it, along with his friend, plus two men that worked at the airport control tower and were learning about the blimp’s flight path. 

We had two pilots—the one flying, since it is literally a “hands-on” flight at all times, no autopilot—and another pilot, Joe Erbs, who was there to answer our questions. 

“We like to be a part of the biggest events, whether it’s the biggest football games, the biggest horse races,” he explained. “We were at Coachella a couple weeks ago—the biggest music festival. We’re here to build our brand name; ultimately, we’re a flying billboard!” 

The Flight 

After takeoff, it was a steep climb (it felt like 45 degrees to me, but I was later told it was only 15 degrees) over SDF, Lousiville’s larger international airport. We could see the Ohio River and downtown Louisville in the far distance. But long before that, we reached our circling destination—Churchill Downs. Having been there many times, it was fascinating to study the barns, grandstands, infield, paddock and long chute for the one-turn races from the air. 

Since it was only 9:45 a.m. and the Kentucky Oaks has been moved back to 8:40 p.m., the stands were still completely empty. 

After some photos, videos, and conversation, it was time to head back. As we flew back over the big airport, a small jet went right underneath us. Since I had the blimp pilot and a small aircraft pilot to talk to, they said that’s a sight you don’t see everyday, and pointed out some features of the runways and planes I never would have noticed. 

How Does the Blimp Work? 

I had about a million questions for Erbs, starting with how many Goodyear Blimps are in the U.S. 

“There are three in the country; this one based in Akron, Ohio. That’s where the Goodyear corporate headquarters are as well. Another is based in L.A., and one is in Pompano Beach, Fla. This blimp’s next stop is Philadelphia, Pa., for the PGA Championship, which begins on May 11.” 

I knew the airship was lifted by helium, similar to a birthday balloon, because helium is lighter than air. But I learned a lot of new things while on board: 

• An airship or dirigible is any ship that is lighter than air that can steer and propel.  

• A blimp has no rigid frame. The Goodyear Blimp is a semi-rigid airship; without helium inflating it, it would look like a triangle. 

• A rigid airship has a stiff internal frame, like a zeppelin.  

• The small propellers that steer the Goodyear Blimp are run off engines that use regular fuel. They point up, down, or at an angle, depending on whether the blimp is ascending/descending, maintaining steady altitude, or parked and trying not to float away. 

• The day I flew on it, the Goodyear Blimp contained 97.8% helium. 

• The ship flew at a speed of around 32 knots (about 37 mph).  

• Our maximum altitude was around 10,000 feet, since the cabin is not pressurized. 

• It takes about the same amount of time to fly it from city to city as it would to drive, since there are no turns or stops. 

• The Goodyear Blimp can fly cross-country in eight rest and refueling stops, which takes about 10-12 days. It can safely fly at night. A specialized ground crew of vans and trucks accompany it from the road. 

• The ship can’t be flown in freezing temperatures. 

Can You Ride on the Goodyear Blimp? 

If, like me, your dream is to ride on the blimp one day, you may be wondering how to get on it. 

“Luck is your best friend,” says Erbs. “We don’t sell tickets. You have to be an invited guest. We do donate rides to charity; they’ll auction off a ride and invite those guests. We do a lot of rides for big tire dealerships or local suppliers or customers of Goodyear. And then we’ll invite folks from different media outlets or influencers. Then like with the tower guys, we take care of the people who take care of us.” 

There you go—I recommend making some airfield contacts if you live near one of the Goodyear Blimp bases, or start bidding on that charity auction! 

Many thanks to Goodyear for inviting me on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

This article about riding in the Goodyear Blimp over Churchill Downs is a web exclusive Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Riding in the Goodyear Blimp Over Churchill Downs  appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Another day of brilliant sun made for a lovely picture as the 23 riders remaining in the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5* division attempted to keep the poles up. The time was very doable, with eight pairs jumping double clear.  

It came down to a nail-biter indeed, with 2024’s CCI4*-winning pair, Will Coleman (USA) and 14-year-old Hosteiner gelding Diabolo adding just 0.8 time faults during their show jumping round to guarantee no worse than second on a 28.1.  

Overnight leader Monica Spencer (NZL) and the 15-year-old New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred gelding Artist were sitting on a 22.3, with one rail and some time in hand. But it was not to be their day; in the end, three very expensive rails down knocked them to seventh place, ensuring the first Kentucky 5* win for an American since Tamie Smith in 2023. (The winner receives $130,000, while seventh place receives $10,000.) 

“This is the event that every American eventing rider wants to win,” said Coleman. “It’s my favorite place to ride in the whole world. I’ve dreamed about it, but now that it’s here, it feels surreal. I’m blessed to ride this horse and have the people who made this possible for someone like me—my family, the owners, coaches. So many people have been a part of this horse’s journey.” 

Will Coleman and Diabolo clear the final jump of the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Mary Cage

Coleman became just the second rider to have won both the Cosequin Lexington CCI4* and Defender Kentucky CCI5* — the first having been Tamie Smith earlier in the day when she won the CCI4*. But having won the CCI4* with Diabolo previously, he became the first rider to win both divisions on the same horse.

“It is a surreal feeling, something I think we all dream about,” Coleman said. It’s one of the hardest things to do — certainly one of the hardest in equestrian sport. I sort of feel like we all deserve the win … Today I feel extremely lucky.”

Will Coleman and Diabolo on their victory lap. Photo by Mary Cage

Moving up from third to second was another American rider, Caroline Pamukcu, on 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Blake. They went double-clear to finish on a score of 28.6. The pair previously competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing 36th individually.  

“Blake today really helped me a lot — all the kudos goes to him,” Pamukcu said. “He’s such a special horse and really made up everywhere that I lacked.”

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake had a double-clear round. Photo by Mary Cage

British rider David Doel moved from fourth to third, also with a double-clear round, riding 15-year-old KWPN gelding Galileo Nieuwmoed (sounds like “new mood”). This horse was primed for such a performance, having finished on the podium twice in his 12 previous CCI5* events on both sides of the Atlantic.  

“It’s been absolutely magic,” Doel reflected. “I’m very lucky; I’ve got a very cool horse. As a team we came together, learned from past mistakes. He gave me a super ride all three days.”

David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed moved up into third after a double-clear round in the show jumping phase. Photo by Mary Cage

Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S 

In the final phase of the CCI4*, overnight leader Tamie Smith (USA) entered the arena aboard Lillet 3 with a rail and some time cushion in hand, but as it turned out, she didn’t need it. Smith was the only rider to make the show jumping optimum time out of 31 horses in the division, keeping a cool head under pressure—not surprising, given her history in the CCI5*. 

Speaking on the optimum time in the final phase, Smith said, “It didn’t seem achievable, but [Lillet] is so cool. She’s so fast.” 

Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 on their way to the CCI4* win. Photo by Mary Cage

This also moves Smith into the lead of the recently launched US Equestrian Open standings, which offers $1 million in prize money across a series of annual events.  

“It’s new to our country; I went into it thinking I might have a shot,” she said. “You just hope that it goes your way.” 

It’s now just a matter of waiting 361 days until the start of 2027’s “Best Weekend All Year.” We’ll see you there! 

2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Final Results

1. William Coleman (USA) and Diabolo (28.1)
2. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake (28.6)
3. David Doel (GBR) and Galileo Nieuwmoed (30.8)
4. Tim Price (NZL) and Vitali (33.0)
5. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (33.1)
6. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (34.2)
7. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (36.7)
8. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (37.7)
9. Emily Hamel (USA) and Corvett (40.9)
10. Sophia Hill (AUS) and Humble Glory (41.1)

2026 Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S Final Results

1. Tamie Smith (USA) and Lillet 3 (31.3)
2. Will Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified (37.4)
3. Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus (38.3)
4. Sharon White (USA) and Claus 63 (41.3)
5. Will Coleman (USA) and Fahrenheit Addict (43.3)
6. Isabelle Bosley (USA) and Conner (44.8)
7. Isabelle Cook (GBR) and Cymoon “F” Z (48.1)
8. Sydney Elliott (USA) and QC Diamantaire (48.7)
9. Dan Kreitl (USA) and Carmango (49.2)
10. Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Landmark’s Jungle’s Gold (50.0)

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.

The post 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Results and Recap: Will Coleman & Diabolo Win for USA appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Under idyllic sunny skies with firm ground after a cloudy morning, the 11:05 optimum time turned out to be a challenge to make over Derek di Grazia’s CCI5*-L cross-country course. On the best day of “The Best Weekend All Year,” four horses out of 29 starters made the time with double-clear rounds. 

One of those was Monica Spencer (NZL) aboard the 15-year-old New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred, Artist (aka “Max”). This horse pulls off a rare feat indeed for a Thoroughbred, combining spectacular movement and suspension that put him on top after the dressage phase with an enormous, ground-gobbling racehorse stride on the cross-country course.  

“He felt good; he has such a great gallop that allows me to take my time at the jumps,” said Spencer. When asked about her horse’s chances at winning after all is said and done in the show jumping phase tomorrow, she added, “I’m just happy to be where I am on day two—but the podium’s the dream, so we’ll try to stay there!” 

Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist went double-clear over the cross-country course to head to show jumping on their dressage score. Photo by Mary Cage

In second place going into the final phase is Will Coleman (USA) on the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding Diabolo, who had one of the other rare double-clear rounds of the day, moving them up from fifth after dressage. Diabolo is famously known as Coleman’s wife Katie’s favorite horse in the barn, where she pampers him with a pint of blueberries in his feed every day.  

“I thought [Diabolo] was just sensational. I thought he was magical today. It was his first go at this level and I was just overjoyed with him.” Coleman said. Reflecting on how the course rode, he added, “I thought it was a very challenging track when I walked it. I thought the time would be hard enough to get. Everything to me rode as I envisioned it. I thought the horses were having a hard time reading the coffin. It was very hard to get the horses to settle on the line.”

Will Coleman (USA) and Diabolo were one of the few horse-and-rider pairs to go double-clear. Photo by Mary Cage

In third after a nail-biting wait to see if a devastating penalty for hitting a flag would be taken off following the final ride of the day was Caroline Pamukcu (USA) on HSH Blake. Looking full of run, the horse notched just two time penalties. Thanks to having her flag penalty challenge vindicated, Pamukcu moved up one slot from fourth after dressage. She is such a fan of this eye-catching 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding that she named her firstborn daughter Blake after the horse! 

“Blake is, like, my best friend so it’s just great to go out again around another five star,” Pamukcu said. “He was amazing. He was perfect even when I wasn’t.”

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake moved into third after a strong run on cross-country. Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

David Doel (GBR) and Galileo Nieuwmoed showed an impressive leap from 12th to fourth place after spotting the very first double-clear round of the day.  

Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S 

In the CCI4*, 42 pairs set out on course, with a much shorter 6-minute optimum time. It must have been a big ask, however, as none of the pairs made the time, even with the perfect weather and firm footing. 

Notching the fewest time faults with just 1.6, Tamra Smith (USA) and Lillet 3 moved up from 3rd into the lead. Smith retired her mount Danito, who was in first after dressage, after some unfortunate difficulty at fence 10C. 

“[Lillet 3] went out and it was like being on a little race car. I had a great time,” Smith said. When asked about how the mare handled the course, Smith continued to praise her. “She was super and answered all the questions great. She has such an elegance about her.”

Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 came away with the lead after cross-country. Photo by Jen Emig/MacMillan Photography

Moving up from seventh to second after cross-country were Will Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified after they added a relatively small 4.4 time penalties to their score.  

Rounding out the Saturday podium, Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus leapt from 11th to third under the difficult optimum time, adding just 5.6 penalties. 

Join us tomorrow to see who can keep the poles in the cups to take home the big checks! 

2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Cross-Country

1. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (22.3)
2. Will Coleman (USA) and Diabolo (27.3)
3. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake (28.6)
4. David Doel (GBR) and Galileo Nieuwmoed (30.8)
5. Tim Price (NZL) and Vitali (31.8)
6. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (33.1)
7. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (34.2)
8. Harry Meade (GBR) and Superstition (36.2)
9. Sophia Hill (AUS) and Humble Glory (37.1)
10. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (37.7)

2026 Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S Standings After Cross-Country

1. Tamie Smith (USA) and Lillet 3 (31.3)
2. Will Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified (35.8)
3. Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus (37.9)
4. Dan Kreitl (USA) and Carmango (38.4)
5. Sharon White (USA) and Claus 63 (40.1)
6. Katie Lichten (USA) and Hickstead Musterd (40.4)
7. Will Coleman (USA) and Fahrenheit Addict (41.7)
8. Isabelle Cook (GBR) and Cymoon “F” Z (42.5)
9. Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Fluorescent Adolescent (43.5)
10. Isabelle Bosley (USA) and Conner (44.0)

For complete dressage scores and updates about the event, visit www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.

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.

The post 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Cross-Country Day appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

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%).

“The first time you do a five-star at a place like this, in this kind of atmosphere, you’re never totally sure how your horse is going to cope,” said Coleman. “He got a little excited when he got up here to the ring. Even in my final warm-ups, I didn’t feel like I totally had him, but to his credit, he went in there and really stayed with me and did his job as best he could. I can’t be anything but proud of him — I just really, really adore this horse.”

Will Coleman and Diabolo, early leaders of the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L after the first day of dressage. Photo by Mary Cage

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.

Phillip Dutton and Possante scored a 28.1 Photo by Mary Cage

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.

Tim Price and Global Quest were an early top score with a 29.8. Photo by Mary Cage

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. Tamie 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.

Tamie Smith and Danito, leaders in the CCI4*-S after the first day of dressage. Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

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.

The post 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Dressage Day One appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

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Soft-Ride Comfort Boots

For stabling on hard ground, trailering comfort to reduce vibration, or any tender, sensitive feet that need some support. Gel orthotics conform to and support the sole of the hoof and the hoof wall on shod and unshod feet, providing unparalleled comfort for your horse.

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This article about healthy hoof products appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Healthy Hoof Products appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Karen Davison, Ph.D., director of equine technical sales for Purina Animal Nutrition.

Holly Caccamise: We’re starting to really get into the colder months. Do you recommend a change to the diet, or is it better to keep it consistent all year?  

Dr. Davison: It depends a bit on how cold it gets, the ambient temperature stress, and the individual horse. A good general rule of thumb is that all animals, including horses, have what we call a lower critical temperature (LCT). Above that, they manage quite well. And for a horse that’s in good condition and has grown a winter coat, people may be surprised to know that the LCT is 15 degrees Fahrenheit—as long as it’s not wet and too windy (that changes it quite a bit). 

A horse in lower body condition where their ribs can be seen or one that doesn’t have a winter hair coat, and especially if he’s older, can begin to have more trouble with thermal regulation and more trouble managing body condition. The general rule of thumb is for every 10 degrees it is below that LCT, the horse’s energy requirements go up 10 to 20 percent. But for a horse that’s thinner, younger, or older, or doesn’t have a winter hair coat, the LCT can be 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.  

When cold weather comes in, extra hay helps horses produce a little internal furnace. The heat of digestion of hay builds heat to help them through those colder days and nights. But when horses eat more hay, they have to drink more water, so make sure that the water is clean and not frozen, and that horses can drink adequately. A tablespoon of salt [in the feed] will help encourage additional drinking.  

As far as maintaining weight, the Henneke body condition scoring system is an excellent management tool. You can Google Henneke body condition scoring, or we have it on the PurinaMills.com website. But the short version is that if you can see your horse’s ribs at all, he’s going to struggle more in the winter to maintain body temperature than horses with rib cover. Coming into winter, get those ribs covered and get your horse in a good body condition score of 5 or 6 (out of 9).  

Some of us who show through the winter want to keep those coats slick. Those horses need to have more support than a horse who’s grown winter hair.  

Some people like to feed a mash. At Purina, we have our RepleniMash®. It has Outlast® Gastric Support Supplement, electrolytes, and is very tasty. You can mix it with warm water to give them additional water.  

Holly: What defines a senior horse? Is it necessary to change the diet of a senior horse? 

Dr. Davison: Just like us, horses all age differently. There’s genetics, and how well they’ve been managed and taken care of over their life. They live longer and healthier lives now than they did years ago. We just tell people to start paying attention when their horse gets into his mid-teens.  

Nowadays you have 18- or 19-year-old horses completing the Kentucky Three-Day Event at the highest level of eventing. Horses in their 20s are competing at the National Finals Rodeo. So horses still competing at top levels in all disciplines are what we used to consider to be really old horses. Horses are no longer automatically considered to be “old” and retired at 18 and 19 years old anymore. Winter is a good time to pay attention, because there will be some point in time when you’ll begin to see your horse isn’t maintaining good body condition on the same diet he did OK on last year, or that his younger peers in the barn are doing fine on.  

Every year at Purina we get calls in to our 800 number in March or April where somebody says, “All of a sudden my old horse lost 300 pounds,” but they didn’t really lose 300 pounds overnight. A lot of times what happens is they put a blanket on when it got cold and then take the blanket off when it got warm again and didn’t realize that the hay that was keeping all the younger horses in good condition was not working for that older horse anymore.  

So that’s one of the biggest signs of aging—when you think their teeth are in good shape and they can still chew hay they’re OK, but the aging digestive tract begins to struggle with extracting nutrition out of hay as well as they did when they were younger.  

That’s when it’s important to use something like Purina’s original Equine Senior® horse feed in the red bag. It’s a complete feed that has hay built in, and needs to be fed in amounts recommended to replace hay when horses can’t properly chew or digest hay anymore.  

There are also senior horses who can still adequately chew and digest hay but are still facing the aging process.   

We know from research that aging horses have a reduced immune response to vaccine and an increase in systemic inflammation. The ACTH test for PPID (Cushing’s) is not recommended to be done in the fall because values tend to elevate seasonally. ActiveAge® technology, a unique yeast-derived prebiotic included in many of Purina’s senior formulations, helps aging horses maintain proper immune function as they age. Some horse owners might say, “I’m going to be proactive, and I know my horse is getting older, so I’m going to feed as much technology as I can that helps senior horses through the aging process.” That’s where the Purina Senior feeds can be helpful. You can’t make them stop aging, but you can help them age more gracefully.  

For example, as they get older, they produce less saliva, especially if they’re not chewing hay as well. (Equine saliva contains sodium bicarbonate that helps buffer stomach pH.) Then you start looking at gastric health and want something in the feed to support gastric pH, such as Purina’s Outlast Gastric Support Supplement. 

Holly: What can we do to give horses’ joints a little extra TLC in the winter when cold can mean extra stiffness and reduced mobility? 

Dr. Davison: Older performance horses start to get wear and tear on their joints, and working with your veterinarian to help preserve those joints as long as possible will help keep that horse comfortable so he can continue to perform at a high level. And your veterinarian is the best resource to advise a plan for your horse.  

From a nutritional standpoint, there are some things that we know have joint comfort benefits, such as specific omega-3 fatty acids. Purina’s ActiveAge technology has been shown to support mobility in aging horses. 

Holly: Speaking of ingredients, what makes senior formulas important for aging horses? Can you explain what and how ingredients in feed support senior horses? 

Dr. Davison: Over 30 years ago, the research was the basis for the formula of original Equine Senior. And back then, it was finding ways to replace those long-stem fibers that horses could no longer digest, and having the right types of fibers that can replace hay and function like hay in the digestive tract, but that are easier to digest and utilize.  

High-quality, highly digestible fibers are important, but you still need to have the right amount of indigestible residue to actually replace hay. On the other hand, older horses can become sensitive to hay quality and develop loose stools when hay is more mature and less digestible. 

High-quality protein is also important. One of the things you see with age is a loss of muscle mass. Being able to support that muscle for as long as you can requires a high-quality protein. This isn’t just about protein percentage, it is about the amino acid makeup of the protein. Amino acids are the building blocks for protein, and having high-quality amino acids in the diet is important to help maintain muscle mass in older horses. 

We weren’t as up to date on insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome 35 years ago when we started doing this research, but in that early data, we saw that older horses had higher blood glucose levels than younger horses. And since that time, there have been several studies to show that regardless of what the calorie source is in the diet, older horses will tend to have a higher insulin response.  

It’s important to work with your veterinarian on these health issues as these horses get older. Not all Cushing’s horses are insulin resistant. And I’ve seen some cases where people were so concerned that their horse had Cushing’s that they restricted the starch and sugar so much that they were also restricting other nutrients. And essentially, these horses aren’t getting nutritionally supported.  

I’m a big fan of diagnostics. You don’t just look at your horse and think, “That looks like a Cushing’s horse.” Get your veterinarian involved and let them do the appropriate diagnostics because it really affects how we recommend nutrition for those horses. I don’t think anybody wants to be out soaking hay in the winter if their horse isn’t insulin resistant after all.  

Aging is ultimately a medical process on some levels, and having a team that includes your veterinarian and a nutritionist can help you and your horse navigate better.  

Holly: If you and your vet or nutritionist decide it’s time for a change to your horse’s diet, how do you recommend transitioning horses onto senior feed safely and effectively? 

Dr. Davison: Always make changes slowly. Horses are creatures of habit. They thrive with consistency. Most horse owners know not to change feed overnight; do it gradually and blend new and old.  

Usually that change can be made over four or five days.     

The forage, though, is more important. I hear a lot of times, “I have hay from the same supplier, from the same field. It’s the same hay.” But it’s not. Hay grown in the same field will be different from cutting to cutting, depending on how Mother Nature cooperated and how you harvest that hay. So changing hay is a bigger part of changing the horse’s diet. Depending on the horse, it’s somewhere between 80 and 100 percent of the diet. So when you change hay, it really should be gradual. Plan ahead. 

There was a study done back in the ‘80s at Texas A&M where they looked at risk factors for colic, and changing hay increased the risk of colic by 9 times whereas a change in feed increased the risk of colic by 2.5 times. If you’re replacing hay with Equine Senior® horse feed, you may want to take it slower, maybe a week to 10 days to gradually replace both the hay and feed. 

Holly: What types of feed does Purina offer for the senior horse?  

We have devoted research to senior horses for over 35 years. It’s not a one size fits all, so we have Equine Senior® Horse Feed for horses who can’t chew and digest hay properly. We have Equine Senior® Active Horse Feed for horses who can chew hay but need a little more help maintaining condition.  

A couple of years ago, we came out with our Enrich Plus® Senior Ration Balancing Horse Feed, which is for those really easy-keeper older horses who can stay in good condition eating hay or pasture and don’t need significant additional calories. Over the years, Equine Senior® horse feed got used incorrectly as much as any product out there. People sometimes feed only a pound or two a day, and it was not designed to be fed that way—it has the forage built in, so it needs to be fed in higher volume. So, one pound of Enrich Plus® Senior does a really nice job on those horses who can stay fat enough on hay or pasture.  

And then most recently, our newest product is Ultium® Senior Horse Feed, which is designed for that higher-performance senior horse and that harder-keeper senior horse. It’s got the highest calories of any senior feed we have, but keep in mind, Ultium® Senior is intended to be fed with hay or pasture, whereas Equine Senior® can be fed without hay or pasture since it has the fibers that can replace hay built in.  

The Purina Senior feeds with Outlast® Gastric Support Supplement and ActiveAge Prebiotic technology are designed to provide the best support we know to help horses manage through the aging process. Our website at PurinaMills.com is a good place to go—just click on Senior Horses and it shows you all the options.  

At our website, you can also search for our retailers in your area, who can help you with the choices. They can also put you in touch with your local Purina rep who can help you make some of these decisions.  

The post Winter Feeding Tips for Senior Horses  appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

During a break at the recent Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, I sat down with Jennifer Brocker, Vice President of Client Marketing, Veterinary/Pet Care, CareCredit, and Kate Hayes, Vice President Equine Expansion, CareCredit. The company recently surveyed horse owners on the expected versus actual costs of horse care, and the results were pretty surprising.  

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event winners Michael Jung & FischerChipmunk FRH maneuver the CareCredit obstacle on the cross-country course. Photo by Cindy Lee/MacMillan Photogrpahy

The study revealed that while 83 percent of horse owners believe they’re financially prepared, actual costs can be three to four times higher than expected—especially when unexpected veterinary needs arise, such as colic or orthopedic injuries that can cost up to $10,000. 

Horse Illustrated: Can you tell us what the new Equine Lifetime of Care Study means for equine vets and horse owners, and why many underestimate the long-term financial commitment of owning a horse?  

Jennifer Brocker: We originally did our Lifetime of Care Study for companion animals (dogs and cats). And then we decided we needed the same kind of information for equine veterinarians and horse owners, so they have a better understanding of how much money they spend over the lifetime of a horse. The way we saw it was, you’re helping prepare them for what’s to come. And since cost of care is one of the biggest barriers for horse ownership or pet ownership, we felt it was important knowing in advance and being educated on the ways that you can be prepared financially over the lifetime of your animal. We also thought it was important that veterinarians have a view into that as well.  

Kate Hayes: It’s such a great tool to educate and empower clinics and practices and veterinarians, but then also on the flip side, like Jen said, to educate horse owners. Because whether people rescue a horse or get into riding for the first time, they know what a riding lesson costs, but they don’t know what the full expense of owning a horse costs. This [study] is a great tool to empower and to educate practices and clinics because this gives them information to pass on to their clients. 

HI: What are some strategies equine vets are using to navigate rising costs, including tools to reduce financial friction with clients, while maintaining high-quality care?  

Brocker: The strategy a lot of equine veterinarians use is, “If you can’t pay me today, I provide the care, and you can pay me later,” which leaves the veterinarian chasing the money. So we can train the veterinarians to say, “I want to take care of your horse, but that requires financial responsibility. Here are the solutions that we have in our practice to help you be ready.” The horse owner needs to understand that the veterinarian must be paid just like their board bill or hay bill is paid.  

Hayes: We’re a partner with them and their business to help that shift. Regardless of what type of veterinarian you are, it’s cost that’s the biggest point of friction between you and your clients. If you talk about it from the beginning, that moment of friction is reduced, so the unexpected medical moment doesn’t also come with an unexpected financial crisis.  

Photo by Terri Cage/Adobe Stock

HI: How is CareCredit partnering with equine clinics nationwide to improve access to care while supporting sustainable practice growth? 

Brocker: We’re partnering up with [equine vet practices/clinics] on various levels. First, helping educate their team. How do you have a comfortable financial conversation with a horse owner? If you don’t talk about it and you’re not comfortable talking about it, that in and of itself is a barrier. So we have a lot of training and education to help the veterinary team not be afraid to bring it up, helping them with proactive confidence in that financial moment where everybody’s really emotional.  

The other thing [CareCredit is doing to help equine vet clinics] is we’ve created an all-digital financial experience, so regardless of whether you’re in the clinic or you’re out at the barn, you can apply for CareCredit, get approved, and pay—all from your phone. We’ve always been available in equine practices, but when we first went into it, our payment experience didn’t fit their model. Now they can get paid anywhere, anytime. 

Hayes: If you look at our partnerships on a bigger scale with the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners), being an educational partner for them allows us a platform. Education is the key word here. It supports the sustainability of the profession by providing resources that are specific to their workflows, because the ultimate goal is what’s best for the horse and what’s best for the horse owner. If we can help remove some of the barriers that are between a horse owner getting the treatment for their horse, then that’s what we’re here for.  

We also partner with universities. The future veterinarian is also very important to us, so by the time that they’re in practice, that financial conversation isn’t as quite as challenging. It’s tough being a veterinary student—there’s a lot of information thrown at you, so of course the business side isn’t always top of mind. By supporting the universities and organizations that support the future veterinarian, it allows us a platform to be able to educate and help them before they’re actually in practice.  

HI: What is CareCredit?  

Hayes: CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card that horse owners can use for all types of veterinary services, treatments, and diagnostics.* It’s a great fit for the equine profession because instead of invoicing after service has been completed, this gives you the opportunity to pay upfront—the veterinarian is able to capture payment in full up front, but the horse owner has 6, 12, 18 months of interest-free [time to make the payments].

*Subject to credit approval 

Brocker: I think one of the best things about CareCredit is once you have the credit card, you are financially ready for whatever happens, whether it’s wellness or unexpected or surgery. And you can use it for whatever animal you have at the veterinarian. It is truly your family credit card for life’s unexpected expenses.  

View the entire Equine Lifetime of Care Study here. 

To learn more or apply for a CareCredit card, visit www.carecredit.com.  

The post What Does a Lifetime of Horse Care Cost? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Kentucky skies were finally blessed with bright sunshine all day for the conclusion of the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L. With two rails in hand for the show jumping phase, Michael Jung (GER) and Fischerchipmunk FRH dropped only one to finish on a score of 25.0, granting Jung a record fifth Kentucky 5* win—the others came in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2022.

Always modest and soft-spoken, Jung refused to tout his obvious and spectacular talent.

“It’s definitely luck,” he said afterward. “So many things can go wrong. I believe in my horse and this place, and I always have a lot of luck here. We had a pole down very early and had a long way to go. I gave him more balance it worked very well.”

Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH on their way to winning the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Mary Cage

Asked about his 17-year-old horse’s future, Jung was very positive.

“He’s looking super strong and getting better and better. Hopefully he stays like this, ears in front when cross-country starts. He loves jumping, and you can feel the horse is motivated in what he’s doing. Hopefully a few more years!”

Finishing in second after a double-clear round on a score of 32.8 was Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3. His other two 5* mounts, Fedarman B and Luke 140, finished in sixth and seventh, respectively. As the highest-place rider for the U.S., Martin was named USEF 5* National Champion for a fourth time.

“I’m very blessed at the moment to have a group of incredible horses,”said Martin. “Michael [Jung] is an inspiration to my riding; I watch videos and try to copy him in my riding. He’ll be remembered as one of the greatest-ever eventing riders. I was just hoping for second place.”

Boyd Martin and Commando 3 complete a double-clear round. Photo by Mary Cage

For a little background on Commando 3, Martin told an interesting story of how he found him.

“I tried him when I went to a friend of [Jung’s] in Germany to try another horse and liked the other horse, who turned out to be a lemon! Six months later, [Commando] was still for sale. He hasn’t been easy—he’s spooky and sharp, but he has amazing quality and plenty of Thoroughbred and I knew right from the get-go that he was a special horse. He took a while to get there, but he’s arrived now.”

Boyd Martin accepts the award for the USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship. Photo by Mary Cage

Finishing in third and fourth was Harry Meade of Great Britain, finishing on a 34.2 with Et Hop du Matz and 39.6 on Grafennacht.

“The horses here have been brilliant,” said Mead. “It’s a wonderful feeling when they go well. It’s really about the pride you feel in the horses.”

Harry Meade and Et Hop du Matz jump double-clear. Photo by Mary Cage

He wrapped the press conference with some very kind words about Jung, calling him the greatest eventing rider that ever lived—a statement that is indeed hard to refute for someone with four Olympic gold medals (three as an individual), three World Championship gold medals, and seven European Championship gold medals.

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

In the 4* division, Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record dropped one rail but stayed in the lead, finishing on a score of 33.0. He won the 4* here last year, too.

“[The rail down] made me think a little more about the time allowed, but I stuck to my plan,” said Coleman. “He kept the last three jumps up—I got a bit lucky there. He’s always displayed a real knack for cross-country; that’s why we kept going with him. He’s not the most natural in the other two phases. He has his own style; his character is what makes him a good horse. He has a conscience about him, trying to do the right thing, especially in competition.”

Finishing in second place was Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante, who wrapped the day on a score of 33.9. Dutton also finished in fourth with Denim on a 38.8.

“We all earmark this event early in the year,” said Dutton. “It’s a relief to be sitting up here and have a good result. It’s ironic, my best jumper is Denim!”

Phillip Dutton and Possante. Photo by Sarah Miller/MacMillan Photography

Rounding out the top three was Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS, her Paris 2024 Olympic mount. The pair went double clear around the tricky show jumping course and finished on a 38.0.

“It’s been an amazing spring season,” she said. “I came away from Paris feeling I needed to get the horses stronger and get more confident with where I need to sit with my body type. [Freedom] has always been strong in the jumping phases, but I’ve had to work more with her dressage. It’s pure joy to go out with her and see the fruits of our hard work all winter.”

Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS. Photo by Sarah Miller/MacMillan Photography

Join us again next year for more coverage of “The Best Weekend All Year!”

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Final Results

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (25.0)
2. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (32.8)
3. Harry Meade (GBR) and Et Hop du Matz (34.2)
4. Harry Meade (GBR) and Grafennacht (39.6)
5. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (40.6)
6. Boyd Martin (USA) and Fedarman B (40.6)
7. Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 (44.7)
8. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (50.9)
9. James Alliston (USA) and Karma (50.9)
9. James Alliston (USA) and Karma (50.9)
10. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and Caramia 34 (53.1)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Final Results

1. Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record (33.0)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (33.9)
3. Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS (38.0)
4. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (38.8)
5. Allison Springer (USA) and No May Moon (40.4)
6. Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus (42.9)
7. James Alliston (USA) and Nemesis (44.3)
8. Tamie Smith (USA) and Kynan (46.0)
9. Ema Klugman (AUS) and Chiraz (48.2)
9. Jan Byyny (USA) and Beautiful Storm (49.9)

Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

The post 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event Recap and Results appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

After a day of deluges on Friday, cross-country day dawned dry, gray, and very cold for late April, with a “feels like” temperature of 45 degrees that persisted all day. The ground was still holding a lot of water, which turned out to be very deep and tiring for the horses, with scads of time penalties in both the 4* and 5* divisions.

Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L

Reigning Paris Olympic Champion and four-time winner of this event, Michael Jung (GER) rode his Paris mount, FischerChipmunk FRH, to an exceptionally fast round, with just 2.4 time penalties to stay in a comfortable lead. In fact, he has now set a 5* record for biggest lead margins after dressage and cross-country.

“I had a super ride,” said Jung at the press conference after cross-country. “He’s an amazing horse in the cross-country—he’s full of energy with very big strides, very honest. I can trust him. We get better together. We’re still learning, but a great partnership is very important for the cross-country. He felt a bit tired some places. I knew I was behind the time, but he kept galloping to the end of the course. He was really fit.”

Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH continue to lead the way after cross-country. Photo by Mary Cage

Holding on to second place with 6.8 time penalties was Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3, one of his three mounts in the 5* division. Always one to provide entertainment, Martin spoke at the press conference with his baby on his lap (who didn’t want to stay in the back with Mom), and his older son briefly joined them on the stage as well.

“It was a bloody tiring day, every ride I was huffing and puffing!” said Martin. “I went quick on [Commando]—he’s young and fit and gave me a great round, but the ground was a bit tiring.”

Boyd Martin and Commando 3 make their way through the Defender Head of the Lake complex, an iconic part of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course. Photo by Mary Cage

Harry Meade of Great Britain made an eye-popping climb up the leaderboard with the day’s only two double-clear rides (no jumping or time penalties), moving from 17th to third with ET Hop du Matz and 18th to fourth with Grafennacht. Meade is ranked No. 4 in the world eventing standings.

“I was confident they were fit,” he said. “I thought I’d get out there and see how they felt. The first horse [ET Hop du Matz] I know really well, and hoped he’d be a good 5* horse. He’s very adjustable and has a long stride. The mare, Grafennacht, I don’t know as well; I had this spring to get to know her and wasn’t thinking about coming here. Then she won an event by 24 points, so it was a no-brainer to bring her here. I was disappointed with her dressage test; she got a bit tight in the atmosphere—it was her first time in [a big crowd]. I was questioning whether to run her [cross-country] at 11:30 or 12 today, then thought I’d just start out and see how she goes.” Apparently, the answer was VERY well!

Course designer Derek di Grazia was pleased with the safety of the course this year.

“You never know at the beginning the day what’s going to happen,” he said. “You hope it’s going to provide a good competition. I’m happy every horse walked home—there were only two rider falls in the 4* and one in the 5* class—beyond that, there were some great rides that were really enjoyable to watch. Their time management is so good; at the end they are right where they need to be. We had lots of little runouts here and there all over the course, but it provided a good competition.”

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Holding first place aboard Off the Record with the least time penalties in the division (7.2) was Olympic veteran and defending Kentucky 4* champion, Will Coleman (USA). Optimum time was 6 minutes and 37 seconds, compared to the 5*-L division at 11 minutes and 20 seconds.

“The roping and way the [jumps] were strung together made it tough to get the speed needed for time allowed,” he said. “It wasn’t surprising at all that nobody got close to it.”

As far as how his mount handled the course, he gives him all the credit it the world.

“When you have an older horse and they come out inspired to do it, it’s a rewarding feeling. I have nothing but admiration for that horse.”

Will Coleman and Off the Record continue to hold the lead in the 4* after cross-country. Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photograhy

Remaining in second and third with Possante (10.4 time penalties) and Denim (11.6 time penalties), respectively, was Phillip Dutton (USA).

“I feel a bit relieved,” he laughed. “It was a lot of hard work. I tried to have a crack at it. They both tried hard and will come out of it better.”

Climbing from 14th to fourth with just 8 time penalties was Canadian Olympian Jessica Phoenix.

“Freedom GS is pure class,” she said of her mount. “She’s a fun horse to ride cross-country. She looks for the flags. The way they roped it, she was fast and efficient. She was pretty green when we took her to the Olympics. The first time she did the 4* was last season, but she was unaffected by the crowds. At Paris [2024 Olympic Games] it would’ve been nice to have one more year of experience under her belt, because this year she feels so confident.”

Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS. Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s show jumping phase to see who takes tops the final standings in both prestigious divisions.

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Cross-Country

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (21.0)
2. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (32.8)
3. Harry Meade (GBR) and Et Hop du Matz (34.2)
4. Harry Meade (GBR) and Grafennacht (35.2)
5. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (36.6)
6. Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo (40.0)
7. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (41.7)
8. Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 (44.7)
9. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and Caramia 34 (49.1)
10. Emily Hamel (USA) and Corvett (49.4)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Standings After Cross-Country

1. Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record (29.0)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (33.5)
3. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (37.2)
4. Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS (38.0)
5. Allison Springer (USA) and No May Moon (40.4)
6. Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus (42.9)
=7. Alexander O’Neal (USA) and Redtail Penumbra (43.4)
=7. Ema Klugman (AUS) and Chiraz (43.4)
9. James Alliston (USA) and Nemesis (44.3)
10. Dana Cooke (CAN) and FE Quatro (45.1)

For complete dressage scores and updates about the event, visit www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.

Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

The post 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: Cross-Country Day appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Under threatening skies that provided on and off downpours and even some lightning, nobody could catch Germany’s Michael Jung on the second day of dressage at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Jung has four Olympic gold medals and four Kentucky 5* titles. He continued his almost super-human roll by breaking his own record yesterday with an all-time event low score of 18.6 in the dressage aboard FischerChipmunk FRH, his individual gold medal-winning 2024 Paris Olympics mount.

It was the last rider to go, Boyd Martin (USA) on Commando 3 who bore the brunt of a downpour that had held off for the rest of the 5* riders—yet he scored the best mark of the day from the judges, a 26.0, putting them into second place going into cross-country day.

“I glanced up at the skies in the warmup, and it wasn’t looking good,” said Martin at the press conference after his ride. “It was like a Louisiana typhoon!”

Despite a torrential downpour during their test, Boyd Martin and Commando 3 scored a 26.0 to move into second. Photo by Mary Cage

Admitting weather is something eventers have no control over, he thought the rain may have actually helped the horse keep his head low, even if it was an added distraction. When asked how he felt after his ride, he said, “Relieved that I could put some dry underwear on!”

All three of Martin’s 5* mounts had excellent scores below 30 (Luke 140 with 27.9 for sixth place, and Fedarman B with 29.8 for eleventh).

“I’ve been working hard with their dressage,” he said. “To have three horses in the 20s been a huge amount of work—not just for me, but my wife [dressage rider Silva Martin], who rides them when I’m away.”

In third place after a strong ride today going into cross-country was Great Britain’s Tom McEwen, who rode Brookfield Quality to a 26.2. McEwen won Olympic team gold medals at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Tom McEwen rode Brookfield Quality to a 26.2. Photo by Mary Cage

Kentucky first-timer Libussa Lübbeke (GER) finished fourth after dressage on Caramia 34 with a score of 27.1 on Friday.

“The horse is bred by my parents,” she said. “It was wonderful to ride in that arena. She was listening and trying her best.”

Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34 had a beautiful test, scoring a 27.1. Photo by Mary Cage

Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Sitting in the lead in the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S after dressage is Will Coleman (USA) riding Off the Record, who scored a 21.8—a new Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S record.

“He’s at the tail end of his career at 16 years old,” said Coleman after the day wrapped. “He’s kind of like me—he thrives on progress and trying to get a little bit better. He still has remarkable work ethic and has proven to be a very trainable horse, even at this ‘old dog’ age.”

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Cindy Lee/MacMillan Photography

Coleman plans to see how he feels after this weekend with the possibility of targeting a 5* in the future.

In both second and third place after two days of dressage is Phillip Dutton (USA), who rode Possante today to a 23.1 and Denim yesterday to a 25.6.

“[Possante is] a pretty stunning horse to have,” said Dutton. “There’s not too much to do in the dressage; he does it all for me. I was pleased with the way he settled during the last few minutes of the warmup. He took a deep breath and held it all together. He has tons of potential for years to come.”

Phillip Dutton and Possante. Photo by Cindy Lee/MacMillan Photography

In fourth place going into cross-country is Chris Talley (USA) riding FE Marco Polo. The pair scored a 26.8, placing them above dozens of more experienced riders. Talley gives all the credit to this special horse.

“My horse is 9,” said Talley. “His owner sent him to me just over two years ago. He went from Training to 4* in just over a year. He’s incredibly special, [and also] kind of emotional like me. This is his first time at Kentucky, [although] I came in 2019. There’s a little bit of pressure with him being young. I was hoping he’d reward me, and he did. I wasn’t expecting to be sitting up here!”

Chris Talley and FE Marco Polo. Photo by Cindy Lee/MacMillan Photography

2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L Standings After Dressage

1. Michael Jung (GER) and FischerChipmunk FRH (18.6)
2. Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 (26.0)
3. Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality (26.2)
4. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and Caramia 34 (27.1)
5. Tim Price (NZL) and Falco (27.8 )
6. Boyd Martin (USA) and Luke 140 (27.9)
=7. Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Menlo Park (28.4)
=7. Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo (28.4)
9. Tim Price (NZL) and Happy Boy (29.1)
10. Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (29.3)

2025 Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S Standings After Dressage

1. Will Coleman (USA) and Off The Record (21.8)
2. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante (23.1)
3. Phillip Dutton (USA) and Denim (25.6)
4. Chris Talley (USA) and FE Marco Polo (26.8)
5. Ariel Grald (USA) and Diara (27.3)
6. Molly Duda (USA) and Disco Traveler (27.7)
7. Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake (27.9)
8. Will Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified (28.0)
9. Dana Cooke (CAN) and FE Quatro (28.3)
10. Sarah Kuhn (USA) and Mr. Cash van de Start (28.4)

For complete dressage scores and updates about the event, visit www.kentuckythreedayevent.com.

Find all of our coverage on our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event landing page.

Thanks to CareCredit for our 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

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