It’s our favorite time of year in Kentucky – the green grass is popping and April 24-28th marks the return of the Land Rover Kentucky 3 Day Event! As usual, Wordley Martin Equestrian is proud of our clientele who qualify and run each year at the LRK3DE, and this year we will will be rooting extra loud for all those riders who train on a WM surface; Liz Halliday Sharp (Horsepower Equestrian – Ocala. Fl.), Will Coleman Equestrian (Ocala, Fl. and Charlottesville, Va.), Lauren Kieffer and Hannah Sue Burnett (Meredyth South – Ocala, Fl. and Stonehall, The Plains, Va.) and Clayton Fredericks Equestrian (Ocala, Fl.)!
Liz will be riding Deniro Z, a 2008 KWPN gelding owned by the Deniro Z Syndicate and Ocala Horse Properties. Liz first started competing this horse in 2015 and he has sky rocketed to the top of the sport, catching the eye of the US team of selectors. This will be their first run at Kentucky, and we’re hoping for a competitive finish for Liz, Niro and all of their connections!
Will Coleman, one of first WM clients, is a veteran at the Kentucky 3 Day event. This year Will is returning on his top contender and 2018 WEG partner, Tight Lines (owned by the Conair Syndicate, and this pair will also be eying a spot on the US Olympic team. Phish is a 2007 French TB and this will be his 3rd time returning to Kentucky, where he finished in a strong 12th place last year after stellar XC and SJ rounds with no jump or time penalties!
Both Lauren Kieffer and Hannah Sue Burnett ride for Jacqueline Mars out of Meredyth South in Ocala. Lauren has a full dance card, with 3 entries this year – Vermiculus, a 2007 Anglo Arabian who finished an astonishing 5th last year at Kentucky, Landmark’s Montecarlo, who finished 18th in 2018, and Paramount Importance, who will make his debut at Kentucky after Lauren began competing him at the Prelim level in early 2018!
Hannah Sue Burnett will be competing her long time partner, Harbour Pilot, a 2003 Irish Sport Horse also owned by Jacqueline Mars. This horse has an impressive resume which includes many top international finishes at Millstreet, Luhmuhlen and Blenheim.
Last but not least is our friend Clayton Fredericks (AUS), who is coming to tackle the toughest XC track in the USA aboard FE Ophelia, a 2007 Bay Zweibrucker mare owned by the FE Ophelia Syndicate. This pair is coming in hot, after placing 2nd in the CCI4*-S Red Hills International Horse Trials!
Friday and Saturday Evening Catch The Kentucky CSI3* Grand Prix of Show Jumping
In addition to 4 thrilling days of top International Eventing, the Kentucky CSI3* Grand Prix of Show Jumping, presented by Hagyard Medical Equine, will return to the Rolex Stadium on Friday and Saturday evenings. This has been a huge spectator success since it began 2 years ago, and the $225K Grand Prix on Saturday packs the stands!! The entry list features some of the top riders in the world, and in addition to our own Sharn Wordley, who will be riding the Sky Group’s Barnetta, Schuyler Riley and Kevin Babington will join our line up of WM riders!!
More On the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky 3 Day Event
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN is the nation’s premier three-day event. Known as “the best weekend all year,” this multi-day competition features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $400,000 in prize money, as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing which is awarded to any rider who wins the Land Rover Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Five Star Events in succession. The Land Rover Kentucky is one of only six annual Five Star Three-Day Events in the world and the only Five Star event in the Americas and is the United States’ premier event.
The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will be featured again this year, awarding $20,000 in prize money.
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event will also host a $225,000 CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute on Saturday, April 27 after the completion of the cross-country phase. In addition to the $225,000 Invitational Grand Prix, there will be a $36,000 Welcome Speed Cup/Ranking Class on Friday, April 26, following the completion of the CCI’s dressage competition.
For further information: www.kentuckythreedayevent.com