The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course for the 2025 event (24-27 April) has been designed again by Derek di Grazia , who has had responsibility for the track here since 2011.
There are 27 numbered fences on the five-star track and the course is 6460m long, with an optimum time of 11min 20sec.
Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course 2025 Fence 1: Woerthy Tribute
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Fence 2: Trellis and Tables
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Fence 3: Wofford Rails
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Fence 4abc: MARS Sustainability Bay
Fence 4a
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Fence 4b
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Fence 4c direct route
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Fence 4c alternative route
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Fence 5: Hillside Oxer
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Fence 6abcd: Care Credit Question
Fence 6a direct route
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Fence 6b (this ditch is used as element b on both the direct and alternative routes)
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Fence 6cd direct route
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The alternative route involves looping around and taking four jumping efforts rather than three.
Fence 6a alternative route
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Fence 6c alternative route
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Fence 6d alternative route
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Fence 7: Triple Bar
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Fence 8: Fox’s Den Gate
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Fence 9ab: Equestrian Events Corners
Fence 9a direct route
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Fence 9b direct route
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The alternative route involves turning back round against the direction of travel to take two different corners, at an easier angle.
Fence 9a alternative route
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Fence 9b alternative route
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Fence 10: Ditch Brush
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Fence 11: Angled Hedge
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Fence 12abc: Rolex Crossing
Fence 12a
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Fence 12b
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Fence 12c direct route
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Fence 12c alternative route
This arrowhead is off to the side so requires a slight diversion.
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Fence 13: Mick’s Picnic Table
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Fence 14abc: Pete’s Hollow
Fence 14a direct route
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Terrain is a big factor here – horses run down in to the hollow and up the other side to element b.
Fence 14b direct route
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Fence 14c direct route
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The long route involves looping round, taking extra time.
Fence 14a alternative route
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Fence 14b alternative route
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Fence 14c alternative route
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Fence 15abc: EEI Root Cellar
Fence 15a
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View from 15a down to the b and c elements.
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Fence 15b
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Fence 15c
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Fence 16: Over on the Knoll
Fence 16 direct route
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The alternative fence is at a 90-degree angle, so involves a slightly longer route.
Fence 16 alternative route
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Fence 17: Bourbon Barrel Table
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Fence 18abcdef: Defender Head of the Lake
Fence 18a
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Fence18bc direct route
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If riders don’t want to jump this corner in the water, they instead jump an arrowhead (alternative b) and then a corner on dry land (alternative c).
Fence 18b alternative route
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Fence 18c alternative route
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Fence 18d
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Fence 18ef direct route
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The longer route involves jumping an arrowhead (element e) and a corner (element f) on an S-bend.
Fence 18e alternative route
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Fence 18f alternative route
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Fence 19: T Bar
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Fence 20abc: Normany Bank
Fence 20a and 20b direct route
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View over fence 20b showing the angle of fence 20c on the direct route.
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Fence 20c direct route
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Riders on the alternative route take a circle around the bank.
Fence 20a alternative route
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Fence 20b alternative route
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Fence 20c alternative route
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Fence 21: Stairway Table
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Fence 22abc: Cosequin Cove
Fence 22a
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Fence 22b direct route
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Fence 22c
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There is an alternative to 22b on a less direct line.
Fence 22b alternative route
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Fence 23: Market Table
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Fence 24: Lincoln Lodge
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Fence 25ab: Mighty Moguls
Fence 25a
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View over fence 25a to fence 25b
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Fence 25b
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Fence 26: Fallen Tree
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Fence 27: Lucky Horseshoe
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