WELCOME TO THE

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event

APRIL 25-28, 2024

About

The Best Weekend All Year

The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is one of the world’s premier equestrian 5* events showcasing the world’s highest level of equestrian eventing. Held the last weekend in April in Lexington, Kentucky, this internationally renowned event draws the best horse and rider combinations worldwide. The weekend attracts people from around the globe to witness leading riders compete in addition to shopping, attractions, and sponsor experiences you can only find here. The Cosequin® Lexington 4* and the Kentucky 4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute are hosted over the same weekend for even more opportunities to see exceptional equestrian competitions.

2024 Event Dates are April 25 - 28, 2024.

Buy Tickets

The Disciplines

An Equestrian Triathlon

The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world. It combines dressage, cross-country, and show jumping phases, and the winner of the three-day event is the pair with the lowest combined score.

Ticket Information

Experience World-Class Equestrian Eventing

There are a variety of ways to enjoy the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, including Saturday tailgating, reserved stadium seating, and premier club experiences. The clock is ticking, buy your tickets ahead of time online now!


Event Dates April 25 - 28, 2024

Click Here to Purchase

download the cross-country app

Explore the Cross-Country Courses

If Cross-Country day is your favorite, you need the Cross Country App! From the app you can explore the interactive map of the 2023 Cross-Country course with photos and video guides. Plus, spectators can find their location on the course and turn on the Venue Guide to see food, arenas, big screens, restrooms and more. *Note, the 2024 Course will not be live until Event Week.

Download the App View the Courses

Premium Experiences

Clubs & Hospitality

Reserve your spot in one of our four private clubs with spectacular views, food and beverage service, and other benefits that can make your experience more relaxed, comfortable, and memorable. 

Explore Hospitality

Let’s be friends!

Stay Connected

Stay connected to what’s happening at the Kentucky Three-Day Event by following us on social media. If you would like more information or to be added to our email list, click here.

The Latest

News & Updates

Graphic with Behind the Barn Tamie Smith and Liz Halliday

Behind the Barn 2024: Tamie Smith + Liz Halliday

22 Apr, 2024
Tamie Smith and Liz Halliday have proven they can ride to the top of the field in the Rolex ring, but what are their pet peeves and what do they think of each other? Find out in Episode 4 of Behind The Barn.

All Rise for the Singing of the National Anthem...

22 Apr, 2024
Dr. Everett McCorvey, the founder and music director of the American Spiritual Ensemble, the director and the executive producer of the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre, amongst many more titles and accolades, will sing “The Star Spangled Banner” and “My Old Kentucky Home” at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event on Sunday, the final day of the competition.
Cell phone screens of the K3DE Engagefully App

Great Ways to Enhance the Experience of the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™!

22 Apr, 2024
Nine Olympians Highlight Show Jumping Entries at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ Lexington, Kentucky – April 22, 2024 – There are several great programs for everyone to enhance the experience of the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ . Along with offering fan favorites such as EquiRatings stats and podcasts, Behind the Barn interviews, and interactive maps on the Cross-Country App, the event will also launch its own app through Engagefully. These programs are available to every fan of the event, whether they are attending in person or watching online. Organized by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian (K3DE) features one of only seven annual Five Star 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 4* and Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. K3DE has once again partnered with EquiRatings to provide its annual Stats & Stories for the CCI5* (available on the K3DE website) as well as several episodes of the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast. Posted on March 22, the first episode, “Inside Kentucky: Building the #BestWeekendAllYear,” offered a glimpse behind the scenes of Kentucky’s unique cross-country course with course designer Derek di Grazia and the course-building team of Jay Hambly, Mick Costello, Tyson Rementer and Levi Ryckewaert. With more exciting discussions to come, the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast is available free of charge across all podcast platforms.
Share by: