Boyd Martin and Miks Master C en route to the 2025 US Equestrian Open win. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
The draw order for the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is LIVE! We now know the order in which we’ll see the 35 CCI5* combinations and the 48 Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S/US Equestrian Open qualifier in the first two phases of competition.
Starting with the CCI5*, we always see riders with the most horses bunched in this group so that they can have ample time to prepare their other rides. Four-time Olympian Boyd Martin will be the first rider to see with OHP Hammertime Partners’ Miks Master C.
Now, we do know that Boyd has also entered MARS Badminton (two weeks after Kentucky this year) with the 2025 US Equestrian Open champion, but he has not 100% confirmed his choice yet and as of publication he is still showing on both lists — though he did just post a video on his social media indicating Badminton is very much in the mix! Regardless, even if Miks Master C is withdrawn, Boyd will also ride Liz’s Nutcrackers’ Cooley Nutcracker (the horse Liz herself took to Paris for her Olympic debut) midway in the order and will close things out as the third last rider with Yankee Creek Ranch’s Commando 3.
Harry Meade and Et Hop Du Matz jump to third place at Kentucky in 2025. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
World #1 rider Harry Meade of Great Britain is, as anticipated, among the busiest riders on the list with three horses to ride in his own and Mandy Gray’s Et Hop Du Matz (the first we’ll see as the second in the order) and Superstition, as well as Amanda Gould’s Graffenacht.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Tolan King. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
U.S. Olympian Caroline Pamukcu is also busy with three horses herself in the CCI5*. The Tolan King Partnership’s HSH Tolan King will be the first horse in the order of Caroline’s, followed later by her own, Sherrie Martin’s and Andy and Mollie Hoff’s She’s the One, and as the last rider to see with her Paris horse and Pan American Games gold medal partner HSH Blake.
Buck Davidson and Sorocaima. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Buck Davidson and Tim Price (NZL) will follow as riders with two horses; Buck will first ride his own and Carl Segal’s Sorocaima, followed later by his own and Cassie Segal’s Cooley Candyman later. Tim Price brings forward Lance and Diana Morrish’s Global Quest as the first to see, followed later by stalwart partner and 2025 CHIO Aachen winner Vitali in the final group.
The first of our 5* rookie crew for this year to see will be Washington-based Karen O’Neal with Annika Asling’s Clooney 14.
[View the full CCI5* order here]
Tamie Smith and Kynan. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Looking to the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, West coast former Kentucky 5* winner Tamie Smith will be the first to see, bringing forward the Kynan Syndicate’s Kynan as the first of thre in this division. She’ll return later with Ruth Bley’s Danito, and as the penultimate rider with Carolina CCI4*-S and Rebecca Farm CCI4*-L winner Lillet 3, owned by Molly Duda (who is also competing in this division with two horses: Disco Traveler and Carlingfords Hes a Clover).
EN contributor and full-time lawyer Ema Klugman (AUS) will also be a busy one to watch with one horse – the Chiraz Syndicate’s Chiraz – in the CCI5* making his debut and then the Bronte Beach Syndicate’s Bronte Beach as well as Team Fern’s RF Redfern in the CCI4*-S. Bronte Beach will be the first of this bunch to see.
[View the full CCI4*-S order here]
EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for all the science-backed nutritional support your horse needs. Learn more about KPP here.
