Six of the world’s top 12 eventing riders, including World #1 Tom McEwen of Great Britain and World #2 Tim Price of New Zealand, head an impressive list of entries for the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™. The event will feature 11 Olympians and athletes from seven countries when it returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 24-27.
Two Australians are set to line up at this year’s event: Rebecca Braitling with 14-year-old British Sporthorse Caravaggio II (Vagnelis-S x Courtesan), owned by Bec in conjunction with Arnell Sporthorses, and Ema Klugman with 13-year-old Zangersheide mare Bronte Beach (Verdi x Dalphine), owned by the Bronte Beach Syndicate.
Both horses had strong five-star debuts at Kentucky last year, jumping clear around the cross country; Caravaggio ultimately finished 20th on 68.5 and Bronte Beach 21st on 68.6.
Last year’s Kentucky CCI5*L was Bec Braitling’s first start at the top level in 21 years, having previously competed at Adelaide five-star in 2003 with Just a Lady, a 15.3-hand Australian Stock Horse/Thoroughbred cross mare.
Prior to Bronte Beach, Ema competed at five-star level on several occasions with her quirky half-Saddlebred Bendigo – a horse that she began riding when she was just 15 years old and trained through to the elite level against the odds.
Ema and Bronte Beach had a recent start at Carolina International CCI4*S, where they jumped clear in both phases to finish fourth on 45.1.
Equestrian Life wishes Ema and Bec the very best of luck!
“The Best Weekend All Year”
Produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non-profit, charitable organisation that supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level, the Kentucky Three-Day Event features one of only seven annual CCI5* 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 CCI4* and the Kentucky International CSI5* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.
World #1 Tom McEwen
McEwen, a two-time British Olympic team gold medallist and current World #1, has his sights set on the top of the Kentucky podium after finishing second in both 2023 and 2024 with his talented mount, JL Dublin. “Dubs” will be making his return for the third consecutive year alongside McEwen’s other entry, Brookfield Quality.
Also vying for the win are international veterans Tim Price, World #2, and his wife, Jonelle Price, who were the first husband-and-wife team to represent New Zealand at the Olympics. They were teammates on three consecutive teams (2016, 2021, 2024). Jonelle also rode on the Olympic team in 2012. They are joined at Kentucky by World #7 Harry Meade of Great Britain; World #10 Boyd Martin of the USA, a four-time Olympian; World #11 Lara De Liedekerke-Meier of Belgium, a two-time Olympian; and World #12 Michael Jung of Germany, a four-time Olympian and four-time Kentucky champion. Jung is entered with his 2024 Olympic gold medal partner, fischerChipmunk FRH, who helped him secure his fourth victory in Kentucky in 2022. Jung also won at Kentucky in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Four-time Olympic veteran Boyd Martin
In addition to Martin, the star-studded U.S. contingent includes 2016 Olympian Lauren Nicholson, 2024 Olympian Caroline Pamukcu, and seven-time Olympian Phillip Dutton, whose horses are entered in the CCI4*. Dutton won the Kentucky title in 2008.
Other Olympians entered to compete include two-time Olympic veteran Clarke Johnstone of New Zealand and three-time Olympic veteran Jessica Phoenix of Canada.
The full list of CCI5*-L entries can be found here.
Source: Event press release, edited by EQ Life
