Working With a Strong but Willing Mare

“The walk feels quite good so that is when I will go to the trot. If I feel that she gets a bit resistant, I will go back to the walk.

“It’s all about learning.”

“Can you see when I take the left rein? I’m not just holding it. I play a little bit with it. So taking, giving, taking, playing a little bit with it and giving.”

Listening to the Rider’s Aids

“We are looking for a shortened frame, not just a shortened neck. We want her frame a little shorter from her tail to her ears. A great way to do that is a little lengthening in the canter then bringing her back.”

“You want to hold the half-halt a little bit longer to finish the half-halt. I don’t want to do a little lengthening in canter, give one half-halt, then let go because she wouldn’t get it. You want to really finish the half-halt where you can say, ‘Right here I feel quite comfortable releasing and she stays with me and collected a few strides on her own.’”

“Within the trot, do a few transitions. Start with posting trot. Do a gentle lengthening and allow her to go. For her, you don’t need to push much. Then, sitting trot to bring her back. Even if you get a walk step that is still much better than her running through the bridle.”

“Expect lightness.”

Improving Responsiveness

“When you lengthen the canter, do just about 10-15 meters of lengthening along the rail—no longer. Then, bring her back to a collected canter. Build it up daily to go longer in the lengthening but not faster.”

“For collecting, it is a holding leg—not a pushing forward, driving leg—with support from the seat.”

“When going from trot to halt, see if you can eliminate the walk steps before she halts.”

Watch & Learn on E+

• You can watch Steffen Peters’ entire series on managing a strong mare here on EQUESTRIAN+.
• For additional videos featuring Peters’ top tips and training strategies, click here.
• From short training tips to how-to videos and insider-access to private clinics and lessons, learn more from top dressage experts on EQUESTRIAN+.

About Steffen Peters

Born in Wesel, Germany, Steffen Peters gained a solid dressage foundation in his birth country before moving to San Diego in 1985. He struck out on his own as a trainer in 1991 and become a U.S. citizen in 1992. Peters worked his way to the top level with the support of special horses and sponsors, achieving impressive results. He is a six-time Olympian who earned team silver (2021) and team bronze (1996, 2016) medals. Peters collected team silver (2018), team bronze (2006) and individual bronze (2010) at the FEI World Equestrian Games, team and individual gold at the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games and the 2009 FEI Dressage World Cup Final title. He and his wife, Shannon, run SPeters Dressage in San Diego, California.

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Watch the Horse’s Ears

“I want you to do your warm-up, thinking about exercises that you would already incorporate into your routine. But I want you to time them at the moment that her ears fixate onto something. Like a walk-trot transition or a small circle or a little extra bending or a leg-yield. I want you to do that when both of her ears lock onto something, and I want you to do it with enough intensity that both of her ears switch back to you.”

“Most of the horses who have a tendency to be a little bit looky at something will tell you way before you even realize it. You might be coming around the corner just a little on the far end and that might be the moment her ears focus on this end of the ring.”

“A mistake that I see people make is that they go right toward the scary thing. I’m all for going head on, but I really want you to think if you have her attention enough to put her in that situation and not set her up for failure.”

“The more distracted she is, the more mentally stimulating you have to be.”

Make a Change to Regain the Horse’s Attention

“For her, if the energy feels like we have to trap this anxiousness, then we might go burn off some of it. Not like we are trying to make her tired—we aren’t going to get her tired. But if we can use a little bit to where she is like “okay, I don’t feel like you are trapping this energy that I need to get out.

“Once it starts to feel soft, take that same 20-meter circle two feet toward the new object. And ask yourself if you start to lose the cadence and rhythm that you had at the far end of the ring. Don’t go any further than that point where you lose her attention.”

“Make sure that you breathe and that you encourage that too.”

Get Creative With Directing a Horse’s Movement

“This exercise tests too that if there are any sticky spots where she didn’t respond or didn’t listen.”

“She gets to have a little bit of a break over here right now, and she is willing to stand by the tarp and not be bothered by it.”

“Before when you were trying to go directly towards it and she was stuck, I simply changed it to an exercise to gain control of this shoulder and that shoulder.”

Watch & Learn on E+

• You can watch Monique Potts’ entire series on riding a distracted horse here on EQUESTRIAN+.
• For additional videos featuring Potts’ top tips and training strategies, click here.
• From short training tips to how-to videos and insider-access to private clinics and lessons, learn more from top dressage experts on EQUESTRIAN+.

About Monique Potts

Monique Potts grew up on a small farm in Erie, Colorado, and developed a deep love of horses. She learned from numerous trainers, including Buck Brannaman, who helped her recognize the importance of communication, patience and trust. Potts turned her passion into a career as a trainer, focusing on dressage, horsemanship and cow horse events. She has earned her USDF silver and bronze medals and found much success in the dressage ring.

Unfortunately, war in Nilforushan’s home country of Iran resulted in trying times for his family and a pause on riding. Eventually, his family immigrated to San Diego, California, and Nilforushan picked up his horse habit again at age 12. “Then, it was just history, and that’s all I ever wanted to do after that,” he said. 

For Nilforushan, horses were an escape as he didn’t have many friends at school as a kid in California.

“I came from a country that was known for not good things here [in the U.S.]. I remember when I was in school at the drinking fountain and nobody would drink water after me,” he said. “But when I was around horses, it didn’t matter who I was or where I was from. So, the horses kept me in this beautiful bubble.”

From the past to present day, Nilforushan is thankful for having horses in his life. “It’s literally the greatest gift that could have ever come to me, so I never take it for granted,” he said. “I consider myself the luckiest person to have had this beautiful sport come into my life.”

From Humble Beginnings To the Olympics

After starting riding lessons, Nilforushan gravitated toward show jumping. “Once you start riding, you tend to tap into your passion,” he said. “And my passion was show jumping, so I kept going with it.” 

Over the next several years, Nilforushan honed his skills as a rider and worked his way up the show-jumping ranks to the top level of the sport. He began training with Eric Navet, French Olympic and world championship medalist, to help him achieve top international results with several mounts. 

Nilforushan considers himself fortunate to have connected with talented horses throughout his riding career. With Campione M, he became the first Iranian equestrian to compete at an Olympic Games in 2000 in Sydney, Australia. The pair qualified for the Individual Final, but when Campione M turned his back on Nilforushan in the stall before the final jog, it was a sign to withdraw from the competition.

 “It was clear that at that point he’d had enough competing for the week,” he said. “Eric Navet always taught us to be horsemen before sportsmen.”

Nilforushan also achieved a string of impressive results with Cellist 2. In 2006, the pair competed at the FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They qualified for the FEI World Equestrian Games that year, but after Cellist was diagnosed with a lung problem, Nilforushan opted not to compete at the major event to prioritize the horse’s health.

“I was lucky enough to do some very good things with him,” he said of Cellist 2. “He was a really wonderful trier.”  

Taking on the Role of Horse Show Organizer

Competing at international championships and national events allowed Nilforushan to partake in a variety of horse-show experiences. In 2017, he believed it was time to change up the horse-show model that he was experiencing, so he decided to retire from competition to pursue horse-show management. “I realized there were a lot of things I could do to change the sport because what I was seeing was not enjoyable for me anymore,” Nilforushan said.

His first foray into show organization was at the National Sunshine Series, which he purchased from the Langer Group. Shortly after, he sold the show to Tom Struzzieri, formerly of HITS Horse Shows. Nilforushan then took a hiatus before creating his ideal horse-show experience. 

“I just waited for my opportunity to do what I envisioned without having to be apologetic or worry about how long it’s going to take for it to be profitable,” Nilforushan explained.

He founded Nilforushan Equisport Events, a horse-show management company, with his wife, Francie Nilforushan. The company developed the Temecula Valley National Horse Shows at Galway Downs Equestrian in Temecula, California. The endeavor proved to be popular with competitors and grew into a successful show series led by Nilforushan.

“I always thought I could make a wonderful show experience for everybody involved,” he said. “You learn what you expect as a rider and trainer. Now to be in a position where I can make those things happen is probably one of the best parts.”

With his horse shows, Nilforushan aims to address what he believes is the hardest part of equestrian sport: lack of opportunity. He tries to cater to both competitors and spectators alike by producing USEF-rated shows with prize money classes, affordable showing options and first-class VIP experiences. Entertainment is also a factor at Nilforushan’s shows with live music, game nights and social events.

“When you come to our shows, there are so many different opportunities for people,” he explained. Whether it’s free entries for young horses and Thoroughbreds or different tiered levels of stable pricing.” 

New Ventures on the West Coast

Nilforushan’s horse-show management style and expertise caught the attention of Equine Network, who acquired a controlling interest in the successful enterprise in December 2024. In addition to continuing to run the Temecula Valley National Horse Shows, Nilforushan and his team are organizing The Oaks, a revamped show series held at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, California.  

“That’s an iconic venue for the West Coast,” Nilforushan said. Noting that some of the West Coast competitors head East in the summertime, he believes The Oaks is an important part of the California competition calendar. “That’s always been my dream to have something that we can rally around in the summertime and not have to leave. And I believe that we’re going be able to do that,” he added.

The Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park is undergoing numerous upgrades for The Oaks. Nilforushan explained that all arenas are getting new footing, and the Ebb & Flow Arena will have a stadium-like feel. A new kitchen is also being built for a high-quality dining experiences in the VIP areas. Additional changes are also set to give competitors and spectators a whole new experience at the venue. 

“The layout is going to be different; the vendor area is going to be different. It’s a dramatic change,” Nilforushan said. “We’re doing some arena shifting. A lot of them are the same arenas. But they’ll have a completely different feel because of what we’re doing around them.”

Even with the new opportunity with The Oaks, Nilforushan’s vision remains the same. 

“As I walk around all day at my horse shows watching, I try to put myself in other people’s shoes, and I realized that I’m in a position where I can affect their lives and improve their show experiences,” he said. “I think it’s actually beneficial that I didn’t come from a horse-show organizing background, because I always look at things as a trainer, rider or owner, and do what I think is best from that perspective.” 

For More:

• Listen to our Practical Horseman Podcast with Ali Nilforushan here.
• To learn more about Nilforushan Equisport Events, click here.
  

Editor’s note: Equine Network also owns Practical Horseman.

This week’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Equinavia, is with hunter, equitation and jumper trainer and judge Archie Cox. He spoke with us in late April as he and his students prepare for upcoming shows. They are competing on both the West and East Coasts at The Oaks Capistrano Cup 1 & 2 and the Devon Horse Show.

To give you more background on Archie, he grew up competing along the East Coast as a junior rider. He earned numerous equitation ribbons, including at the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final and ASPCA Maclay Finals. Archie went on to ride for the equestrian team at Drew University. He collected team and individual Intercollegiate Horse Show Association titles at the regional and national level.

After college, Archie moved to California in 1992 to work with top hunter/jumper trainer Karen Healey for several years. In December 2000, Archie opened his own business, Brookway Stables—named after his grandparents’ farm in Maine—at Middle Ranch in Lakeview Terrace, California. His students and horses in training have collected numerous champion titles at the country’s most prestigious shows.

In our discussion, Archie talks about what he enjoys about working with horses, one of his favorite training exercises and what he wants to see in the show ring as a judge.

About This Episode’s Sponsor, Equinavia

Spring is here—and so is the new collection at Equinavia!

From breeches to bridles, we outfit riders from head to toe, and horses from hoof to head, with everything you need to ride in comfort and confidence. 

Rooted in Scandinavian tradition, our gear blends timeless style with true functionality—so you can focus on what matters most: the ride. 

The ride begins at Equinavia.com. 

You can also follow Equinavia on Facebook and Instagram.

Kuhn talks about the special partnership she and Little Hail have developed and the unlikely story of how the two sky-rocketed to four-star status.

The Start of a Special Partnership

Wisconsin-native Kuhn aspired to compete at the upper levels of eventing, but she endured hardships on her way there. “I had a bunch of unfortunate horse deaths in my life—freak accidents—and it kind of got to the point where you’re just about done and ready to hang it up.”

While Kuhn was thinking that it might be time to give up on her dreams, eventing husband-and-wife team John and Dorothy Crowell contacted Kuhn with a horse for her to ride: Little Hail. John had competed with gelding up to the Intermediate level but wanted to take a step back from competing, and Little Hail had been spending time in the pasture at their farm in Florida. Kuhn had previously groomed for the couple, so they were well aware of her skill and drive.

Kuhn was also familiar with Little Hail from her time as a groom and knew from the beginning that she had her work cut out for her. “I knew he was a tough ride, and he’s opinionated and he’s small,” Kuhn noted. “He’s better than you, so I knew what I was taking on.”

Despite Little Hail’s quirky nature, the partnership turned out to be a successful match. The pair began at the Beginner Novice level in 2021 and gradually worked their way up to the CCI3*-S level in 2024, earning respectable results as they developed into a team. What started as an unexpected offer to ride Little Hail made dreams come true for Kuhn. “I’ll never find another one like him; he’s my horse of a lifetime,” she said. “And my crew is made up of the best people. My sister’s grooming for me, and she used to be a four-star eventer. And my mom and John and Dorothy and Cathy Jones-Forsberg and the sea of pink out there.” 

Aiming for Kentucky

Once Kuhn and Little Hail reached the Advanced and CCI3* level, she and her team started eyeing the CCI4* level and potentially competing at Kentucky. The state holds special meaning for the dark bay gelding. He is a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred who was foaled at a farm near the Kentucky Horse Park and owned by Patrice Wolfson, the late owner and breeder of Triple Crown winner Affirmed along with her husband Louis Wolfson.

Little Hail earned his name because he resembled Hail to Reason, a notable Thoroughbred racing sire. He only had four starts as a racehorse before switching careers to become an eventer with John and Dorothy. Before moving to Florida a few years ago, the Crowells were based in Kentucky, so Little Hail often competed at the Kentucky Horse Park. It seemed fitting that he and Kuhn would take on their first four-star in Kentucky.

Kuhn and Little Hail started the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S with a workmanlike dressage test in the impressive Rolex Stadium to earn a score of 35.9. Then, they shifted their focus to the cross-country phase.

Insights from a Past Kentucky Competitor

Having someone in your corner who has Kentucky Three-Day Event experience is beneficial to any first-timer, especially for the cross-country phase. Kuhn has been fortunate to gain insights from Dorothy, who competed at Kentucky numerous times throughout her competitive career and is also an FEI World Equestrian Games individual silver medalist. Arguably Dorothy’s most notable Kentucky appearance was being the top American at the 1998 edition of the event—the first time the event was a CCI**** (comparably to today’s CCI5*-L) with her off-the-track Thoroughbred gelding Molokai.

Dorothy walked the cross-country course once herself before walking the course with Kuhn. “We discussed all the options,” she said. “And we talked about what would probably work best for ‘Hail’ and Ali at this point in their career doing their first four-star.”

In Dorothy’s estimation, some of the fences on the four-star track seemed like four-and-a-half-star questions, so she suggested Kuhn take some of the long routes for Little Hail, such as at the downhill approach to the two brush corners. “Although I really feel he would have done it, it wasn’t fair to ask him at this point,” Dorothy said of his debut at the level.

With the cross-country plan in place, it was time for Kuhn to execute after some final advice from Dorothy on riding the diminutive but talented Little Hail. “I told Ali to remember that she’s on a pony-horse. He’s only 15.1, but he has the step of a full-sized horse so he can do it,” she said. “So get your line, get your canter, stay supportive and let him add or leave out. Don’t be committed to a stride. Have a plan but let him be the athlete he is.”

Three, Two, One…Go!

Kuhn said she felt like she let her guard down on cross country at her last Advanced event, so she was ready to focus this time out of the start box with Little Hail. “This time I came out and I was like, ‘I’m here every step. I’m here every step of the way,’ and he ate it up,” she said.

They tackled the challenging cross-country track with ease, jumping cleanly and adding 22.4 time penalties where no combinations made the optimum time. Spectators cheered on the brightly clad duo as they galloped around the course, which Kuhn said Little Hail seemed to relish in. “Every time he heard the crowd roar, he was like ‘They’re here for me?’ and I was like, ‘Yep, they are. They’re absolutely here for you,’” she lauged. “And honestly, he’s such a star and he’s such an athlete and he knows his job. That’s honestly my job to just point and shoot and stay the heck out of his way. Today I did that, and I’m so proud of me for staying out of his way. And he’s just an incredible animal. I am so blessed to ride this 15 hands of fury in bright pink.” 

Kuhn could be heard talking to Little Hail and singing to herself around course. “Any time I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I sang,” she said. “When people heard it, I thought it was more in my head than it was out loud. And then I realized I was actually singing, but it worked. Then I start breathing again.”

The singing helped Kuhn handle her nerves and stay focused in the thrilling atmosphere of the cross-country day at Kentucky as a first-timer. She admitted it was tempting to look at the crowd and take it all in, but her friend and fellow eventer Meaghan Marinovich Burdick advised against it and encouraged her to stay entirely present during her ride. “I’m so glad she told me that because I had tunnel-vision the whole time,” Kuhn said. “And it paid off today.”

Dorothy had high praise for Kuhn after her cross-country round with Little Hail, despite the nerve-wracking wait for them to come through the finish flags. “It was probably the most stressful thing I’ve ever been through. It’s a lot easier when you’re riding because you’re in control. It’s like being the passenger in a car. But I trusted the driver 100%,” she said. “I knew that Ali was going to do her absolute best to take care of the horse, and the proof is in the pudding. She rode to plan, she didn’t let any of the outside stuff happening change her plan and I am very proud of her. She’s an amazing rider.”

Completing Their First Four-Star Event

Kuhn and Little Hail showcased their bright pink colors yet again for Sunday’s horse inspection ahead of the show jumping phase. So why the bright pink? Dorothy explained that the pink is a nod to the Little Hail’s racing silks—pink, black and white—for the Wolfsons’ Harbor View Farm.

Kuhn donned a pink stock tie as she and Little Hail headed into the Rolex Stadium for the final phase of the competition. She said they were both a bit impressed by the electric atmosphere upon entering the arena, resulting in rails at fence one and the triple combination at fence five. But the pair got back on track for the remainder of their round to finish on a high note. “It’s always interesting when you hear the crowd go, ‘Aw!’ And be bummed for you, but you can’t get sucked into that and you have to stay on your path and keep riding well,” Kuhn said. “I actually think I rode better after that because I was like, ‘Oh shoot! We are at four rails. I better sit up.’”

Kuhn and Little Hail finished in 29^th place of 53 starters in only their third Advanced level competition together. This was a notable achievement for their first CCI4*-S event and first time at the Kentucky Horse Park’s premier event. “It was an incredible experience. I’m official a four-star rider. I can get my fourth star now,” Kuhn said of a cluster of star tattoos on her right wrist. “I’m thrilled. [Little Hail] is awesome. I can’t wait until the next one!”

For more of our coverage on this year’s Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, click here.

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.

Which Dog Is the Cutest at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event? Poll

Vote on your pick for the cutest dog at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event! While we couldn’t capture photos of all the adorable pups, check out a selection of dogs below and scroll to the bottom to cast your vote and we’ll report back on the results.

For more on our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, click here.

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.

“I think you’d be lying if it didn’t make you think a little bit more about your time allowed or obviously you don’t want to have another rail,” Coleman said of having a rail. “It was towards the end of the course and we just kind of stick to our plan. Thankfully ‘Timmy’ left the last three up, so that was bit of good luck.”

Only nine-tenths of a point behind the winners were Phillip Dutton (USA) and Possante. They were one second over the time allowed to add four-tenths of a point to their score to finish on a score of 33.9 in second place. Jessica Phoenix (CAN) and Freedom GS had one of six double-clear rounds to finish in third place on a score of 38.0.

Coleman and Off The Record Claim Top Honors

The partnership between Coleman and Off The Record took time to develop when it first began several years ago. Coleman said it had “humble beginnings” with the 2009 Irish Sporthorse gelding having a headstrong nature. Though Coleman said that toughness is also one of the horse’s strengths. “He was a pretty hearty young horse but always displayed a real knack for the cross country,” said Coleman. “As our relationship improved and we started to find little more harmony in how we were communicating, we started to really blossom. He’s really been a joy to have.”

Despite there being a limited margin of error in the final phase and the big atmosphere of the final day, Coleman said he felt quite relaxed. He even took a nap by the warm-up before it was time for him to get on. “It was a great crowd, and I really wanted to try to enjoy the whole weekend and have fun,” he said.

Another enjoyable aspect of the final day for Coleman was Steve Stevens’s show jumping course. “It’s important that every day matters at a three-day event, and the show jumping designer has a lot to do with finishing up on a good note. I thought he set a really great test for the four-star class,” said Coleman. “I thought it was an exciting day, and I just enjoyed every minute of it.”

Dutton and Possante Secure a Second-Place Finish

Dutton was pleased with his finish with Possante as well as his fourth-place finish with Denim. He credits his jumping success to his trainer, U.S. show jumper Lauren Hough. “You don’t always just have a great improvement. You have some ups and downs, and she’s been incredible,” Dutton said of Hough. “She gave me a good program to work on with these horses. It showed today, and let’s hope it keeps going.” 

While Dutton was already aiming for the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S with his horses, it was an added bonus that the event serves as a qualifier for the new US Equestrian Open of Eventing. The final will take place at the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials in Leesburg, Virginia, Oct. 9-12, 2025. “It has certainly affected where I go and what I do,” said Dutton. “I think it is an excellent thing for the sport to bring in more money for owners and riders and more spectators. I couldn’t be more pleased with it and hope everybody really endorses it and gets involved in it.”

Phoenix and Freedom GS Climb the Leaderboard to a Third-Place Finish

Phoenix went to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Freedom GS, and they have had a strong spring season with a win at TerraNova. Since the Olympics, Phoenix has been focusing on improving the 2013 Trakehner mare’s dressage with the help of U.S. dressage rider Ashley Holzer. “That has just been a real game changer for me,” said Phoenix. “She just really understands how to teach me and how to explain exactly where I need to be to help my horses the most.”

The dressage homework seemed to set Phoenix and Freedom GS up for success for the weekend. The pair was 14^th after the dressage phase then fourth after cross country before ultimately finishing in third place.

In addition to riding in the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L divisions, Phoenix rode in the 1.45-meter classes of the concurrent Kentucky International CSI5* with another horse, Virginia GS. “What an incredible opportunity to be able to do both classes of five-star eventing and show jumping,” said Phoenix.

For full results from the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, click here.

Read more about the CCI4*-S here:

Dressage Day 1 Report

Dressage Day 2 Report

Cross-Country Report

Read more about the CCI5*-L here:

First Horse Inspection

Dressage Day 1 Report

Dressage Day 2 Report

Sneak Peek: CCI5*-L Cross-Country Course

Cross-Country Report

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.

“I am very thankful and very happy,” said Jung. “I had a great day with a super ride with fischerChipmunk FRH. He is an amazing horse.”

Boyd Martin (USA) and Commando 3 were the last pair out of the start box on Saturday, delivering an excellent round. They tallied 6.8 time penalties to their dressage score to sit on second place on a score of 32.8.

Harry Meade (GBR) had a fabulous day with the only two double-clear cross-country rounds with his two mounts, Et Hop du Matz and Grafennacht. He climbed up the leaderboard from 17^th to third on a score of 34.2 with Et Hop du Matz. Meade and his newer mount Grafennacht moved up from 18^th to fourth on a score of 35.2.

A field of 33 combinations contested Saturday’s cross-country phase. Sixteen of the day’s riders rode the course with just time penalties added. Three were eliminated, four retired on course and one was withdrawn before the start of cross country. Competition for the CCI5*-L, as well as the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, concludes Sunday with the stadium jumping phase at 2:30 p.m.

Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH Continue Their Dominant Performance in Kentucky

Though fischerChipmunk FRH is calm and relaxed for the dressage phase, Jung said of the 2008 Hanoverian gelding. “It still gets better and better with him together,” Jung explained. “He’s full of energy, he’s very well galloping,” Jung said. “He has very big strides. He’s very honest, very with me and I really can trust him.”

Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH have had a long partnership together, dating back to 2019. Even though it has been six years, Jung believes he continues to learn more about the horse. “It still gets better and better with him together,” Jung explained. “[We are] still learning, but I think we are a great partnership and that’s very important for the cross country.”

While galloping around the cross-country course, Jung felt fischerChipmunk FRH tire slightly, so he was less concerned about making the time and instead having a strong finish to the course.

Martin and Commando 3 Hold on to Second Place

In addition to riding Commando 3, the 2013 Holsteiner gelding, to a second place on the leaderboard, Martin rode solid rounds with two other mounts: Fedarman B (seventh) and Luke 140 (ninth). Martin said Fedarman B tired on course, so he coasted home and was subsequently a bit conservative in his next round with Luke 140. However, he attacked his final ride of the day. “I went pretty quick on ‘Conner,’” Martin said of his round with Commando 3. “He’s young and a fit Holsteiner and he gave me a great round.”

Martin explained that riding multiple horses gives him insight into the cross-country course. “I was wanting to get through the fast way at the Head of the Lake, but I changed my plan for my other two horses to go the long way,” Martin said. “The ground gets a little more chopped up as the day goes on.”

He pointed out that three horses also means three unique individuals and types of rides. “They have got different lengths of stride,” said Martin. “If you are nervous on the first horse, then you get through the ride and stop being nervous and stay focused and positive as the day goes on.”

Meade in Fine Form With Et Hop du Matz and Grafennacht

It was quite a feat for Meade to have both of the double-clear rounds on Saturday, and he chocked it up to his preparation. “I was confident that they were fit, so I figured that I would get out there and see how they felt,” Meade said. “He was great, very adjustable. He has quite a long stride, but he can shorten and adjust as well.”

Meade felt his longtime partnership with Et Hop du Matz, a 2014 Selle Français gelding, served him well as they tackled the course. “I always hoped he would be good cross-country horse and a good five-star horse,” Meade said. “He was great, very adjustable. He has quite a long stride, but he can shorten and adjust as well.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Meade is still getting to know Grafennacht, a 2012 Oldenburg mare, having taken over the ride from William Fox-Pitt last year. After having a light season due to wet then too dry conditions at home in England, their Kentucky cross-country round served as another opportunity to get to know one another. “I thought I would learn just as much as I could about her on the way round,” Meade said. “One thing I knew is that she doesn’t like getting close to fences, so I had to keep her from standing off fences and getting her plenty straight, but she was really cool.”

Derek di Grazia Satisfied With Saturday’s Results

Cross-country course designer Derek di Grazia said he was pleased with how the day’s competition unfolded on Saturday. “You never know until the end of the day what is going to happen,” di Grazia said. “You put together a course and you hope it is going to provide a good competition.”

Di Grazia praised the combinations for how the navigated the course, especially the top three riders. “It is really enjoyable to watch,” he said. “For me, it was amazing to watch them go around and you don’t think they are going fast but their time management is so good on course. At the end, you look and they are right there where they need to be.”

The Mental Toughness of Eventing

Eventing, like any equestrian discipline, requires mental toughness to go through the highs and lows. The top three riders on the leaderboard agreed that enjoying what you do plays a role.

Meade noted that he is living the dream that he had as a little boy riding at the top level of the sport. “It’s about enjoying and really savoring these weeks,” Meade said of competitions and results like at Kentucky thus far. “These occasions don’t come that often, so it’s about really enjoying them.”

For Jung, the day-to-day training is what drives him. “For me, I really love riding the horses. I really every day riding the horses, training the horses, going to many, many competitions,” said Jung.

However, he knows that things can go wrong with horses, and it takes perseverance. “Try to go out and do your best, take care of your horse. If it went wrong, OK it can happen and be prepared for the next day. That’s how I try to be prepared as much as possible and then do the best as I can.”

Martin admitted that going at the end of the day when the going could be tough weighed on him the night before cross country. “You sort of make a deal with yourself that you’re going to have a crack at it because it is pretty easy to talk yourself out if it,” he said.

He even has a bit of an internal conversation before cross country at events such as Kentucky. “Leading up to the cross country, I’m always saying, ‘What the hell am I doing this for?’ And then when you finish you’re like, ‘Alright, when is the next one?’ It’s an emotional roller coaster.”

As a final thought, Martin advised that equestrians are going to run into hardships. “You’ve got to become a good loser in the sport because you you’ll lose a lot more times than you win,” he said. “We probably get into sport because we love horses.”

For complete results of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L, click here.

Read more about the CCI5*-L here:

First Horse Inspection

Dressage Day 1 Report

Dressage Day 2 Report

Sneak Peek: CCI5*-L Cross-Country Course

Read more about the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S here:

Dressage Day 1 Report

Dressage Day 2 Report

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.

“[Off the Record] is sort of at the tail end of his career,” Coleman said. “But I think he is the kind of horse that thrives on progress. Even at 16, he has a remarkable work ethic. He has proven to be a very trainable horse, even at his old-dog age.”

Phillip Dutton (USA) showcased his talented string by claiming second and third place with Possante and Denim, respectively. Dutton went in the rainy conditions on Friday with Possante but managed to score 23.1, while he and Denim tallied a score of 25.6 in warm and sunny conditions on Thursday.

A total of 25 horse-and-rider combinations competed in the CCI4*-S dressage today with the exciting cross-country phase taking place Saturday. The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L and the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S runs April 24-27, 2025, in Lexington at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Coleman and Off the Record Dominate the Division

Off the Record is no stranger to Kentucky, making his fifth appearance this year competing in either the four-star or the five-star divisions. Coleman said “Timmy” seemed thrilled to be back. “You could just feel it,” said Coleman. “He was excited to get into the arena today, and I just couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Though Timmy is a solid performer, Coleman quipped that his horse doesn’t wake up thinking about dressage. Coleman credited Ian and Amy Woodhead with their dressage coaching. “[We’re] not really riding for a test outline or frame until the horse is really soft and really available and feeling good about himself,” Coleman said. “That might only be for a few minutes before going down centerline.”

Looking forward to the rest of the weekend and beyond, Coleman is using this event as a test to see where Timmy is in his training and fitness. “I think we will get a good sense of where he is after this weekend, and if it goes well and we feel good about it, then maybe a five-star at Luhmühlen or something like that,” Coleman explained. “We will just let Timmy tell us what he wants to do.”

Dutton Shines with Possante and Denim

Dutton said he is lucky to have his mount Possante, who performs well in the dressage phase. However, he was slightly surprised by the 8-year-old KWPN gelding in the warm-up. “He was a bit on edge, but in the last few minutes, he took a deep breath and held it all together,” Dutton said. “I thought he was good, and there is a ton of potential there for years to come.”

Dutton pointed out that Possante is a big horse who requires some finessing to warm up and get primed for his dressage work. “It is a little bit like steering the Titanic in the dressage ring, so it is lots of suppling and getting used to being able to handle all of the movements.”

While both Possante and Denim seasoned at the four-star level, Dutton elected to compete in the four-star rather than the five-star. “With both these horse, the endurance is going to take a little bit of time, and I just thought with this event being in April was a bit early for them and it is also quite a strong five-star,” Dutton explained.

Read more about Dutton’s third-place mount, Denim, here.

Chris Talley and FE Marco Polo Deliver in the Electric Atmosphere

Chris Talley (USA), the fourth-placed rider, had a stellar day with FE Marco Polo, earning a personal-best score of 26.8. It is only the 9-year-old Oldenburg gelding’s second four-star, but he took the major event in stride. “He can struggle with his confidence, and he can be quite emotional. I always say he is kind of like me,” said Talley. “I knew if I did my job well and coached him well, I was hoping he would reward me and he did that today.”

Talley is excited for the future with FE Marco Polo as the horse continues to develop. “Being young he has all the makings and with time it is going to keep getting better and better,” he said.

To keep FE Marco Polo engaged in his work, Talley tries to work the horse outside of the ring as much as possible. “For the past week and a half, he has been working on hills and we have a great team at home and they take him out hacking really building his strength,” Talley said. “I think it keeps him fresh in the mind because then he goes in the ring and loves to do it.”

Cross-Country Thoughts on the CCI4*-S Course

Coleman said he believes that the CCI4*-S cross-country course is going to be a challenge, even for experienced horses like Timmy. “I don’t think any horse is just going to skip around that like it is nothing. It is a really, really difficult course, especially if you are trying to get the time,” Coleman said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how we will do.”

While Dutton opted to compete in the four-star rather than the five-star, he explained that the four-star is still a tough course. “The only really difference is the length of the course,” Dutton said. “I think the four-star is pretty strong.”

Talley noted that the course will be a test for FE Marco Polo with the crowds and atmosphere. However, he is a fan of the course. “It is big and bold and you have got to be on it, but [FE Marco Polo] is generally an incredible cross-country course.”

For full dressage results from the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, click here. CCI4*-S cross-country begins tomorrow starting at 9:30 a.m. ET. Click here for ride times.

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.