In 2019, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington will host the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L event, featuring a diverse group of horse-and-rider combinations. A total of 47 pairs will be competing for top honors, including four of the world’s top riders: Oliver Townend, Ros Canter, Boyd Martin, and Tom McEwen. These riders are among the leaders in the FEI World Rankings and are sure to bring their A-game to the competition.
While some fans may be disappointed to hear that last year’s winners Tamie Smith and Mai Baum will not be participating this year, they have opted to focus on other competitions instead. In their place, several other five-star regulars have been entered in the event. This includes Oliver Townend with Cooley Rosalent, Grace Taylor with Game Changer, Meghan O’Donoghue with Palm Crescent, Boyd Martin with Tsetserleg TSF and On Cue, Kirsty Chabert with Classic VI, Ros Canter with Izilot DHI, and Jessica Phoenix with Wabbit.
In addition to the Kentucky event, several other pairs have also been entered in the Badminton CCI5*-L competition in England from May 8th through May 12th. This includes Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent once again teaming up for another major competition. Other notable entries include Grace Taylor and Game Changer making their five-star debut at Badminton.