And they’re off–at Land Rover Kentucky

Things are back to normal at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, with people lining up several hours before the 5-star horse inspection yesterday to be sure that they got the best view of the stars from  the U.S. and five foreign countries, while eagerly anticipating the start of today’s dressage test.

The event wasn’t held in 2020 because of Covid and last year, there were no spectators, just cardboard photos filling the seats. Covid again. But the masks are off for the most part, the gates are open, and enthusiasm is high at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Tokyo Olympic cross-country course designer Derek Di Grazia has built two separate routes for the 4-star Short (which debuted last year) and the 5-star. How will the 5-star riders deal with  EEI’s Challenge Accepted triple, the Pete’s Hollow Triple two obstacles later on their route and as always, the Head of the Lake which appears in a different configuration every year. There’s quite a talented roster of 45 starters to deal with the questions.

True, the winner of the last three editions of the Kentucky 5-star, Great Britain’s Oliver Townend, is a no-show, concentrating on next weekend’s Badminton 5-star in his country. But there are still plenty of big names on hand, including another three-time Kentucky winner, Germany’s Michael Jung with his Olympic mount fischerChipmunk FRH.

The 2021 U.S. Olympic team of Boyd Martin (Tsetserleg), Phillip Dutton (Sea of Clouds) and Doug Payne (Vandiver and Quantum Leap), is on hand along with such familiar faces as Aachen winner Will Coleman (Dondante and Corouet) as well as Buck Davidson (Carlevo and Sorocaima) and from California, Tamie Smith (Fleeceworks Royal).

The horse inspection can be one of the most unnerving moments for the riders. If their horses don’t pass, their Kentucky mission is over.

Two horses were held yesterday, Booli Selmayr’s Millfield Lancando and Alexandra MacLeod’s Newmarket Jack. Both were sent to the holding area before they were represented. Both passed and their riders’ wave of relief was visible and understandable.

Doug Payne, the highest-finishing member of the Tokyo Olympic team (he was 16th) had an uneasy moment when Quantum Leap was asked to trot again by the ground jury here, but the horse passed on the second try and Doug was set for a busy competition. He’s got two horses in both the 4-star and 5-star and one in the separate grand prix show jumping competition for a whopping total of five mounts.

How does he handle five horses at an event of this magnitude?

“The busier you are the easier it is, because it gives  you have less time to consider what potentially could happen. You just have to get on and go,” he explained.

It’s practically a vacation for him here, considering that at The Fork, he was riding nine horses.

Everything is in focus for him as he looks toward hopes of competing in the world championships this summer in Italy, and he knows important eyes will be on him.

“This is the pinnacle of competition in our sport. We’re lucky to have two five stars in our country,” said Doug, who has also ridden in the Maryland 5-star, which debuted last autumn.

Looking ahead to cross-country day this Saturday (sadly, rain is predicted), Doug observed, “Derek has done an incredible job.

“He’s changed up the track quite a bit. It’s going to require quick-reacting riding to navigate the course well. The terrain and the placement is put in a way in which it’s not going to be 100 percent predictable what’s going to happen. It should make it super exciting, but I think it’s super fair for the horses.”

Dubarry of Ireland as always gave boots to the male and female riders deemed best dressed in the trot-up. Will Coleman (Dondante and Corouet) took the men’s prize with a traditional country look topped by a wool flat cap.

Meghan O’Donoghue followed the same formula that won her the women’s prize last year with Fairfax and Favor boots from her sponsor, Hound and Hare (last year, she borrowed boots from Liz Halliday-Sharp), and a standout jacket featuring a shawl collar and patch pockets in a checkered pattern from Everard’s. It’s a favorite store of hers in Washington DC’s Georgetown section.

The award was mission accomplished for Meghan and Palm Crescent.

“I went back for a repeat and it worked out,” said Meghan. “I enjoy having a chance to dress up. I think as horse people, we don’t get out and about very often, so it’s fun to have a reason to dress yourself in a  nice outfit and show off your horse and hopefully make a good first impression,” she noted.

Follow the 5-star action from Kentucky through the weekend  right here. Come back to this website every night to find out what’s going on at the iconic event.