Find out who managed the three clears inside the time today at Kentucky and who crashed out.

By Nancy Jaffer

Everyone expected the five-star cross-country course for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event to be tough, but the reshuffling it provided today (24 April) made a dramatic difference in the standings. Two-time Kentucky winner Oliver Townend of Great Britain rose to first in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country results after being fifth in dressage with Ballaghmor Class, adding just 0.8 of a time-penalty to bring his total to 27.3.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky cross-country course 2021 got the best of the leader during two days of dressage, the USA’s Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. They plummeted to 32nd on 50.1 penalties, accumulating 28.4 time-penalties at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“I slowed down a bit in the middle. I thought it was the right thing to do for her, to give her a breath,” explained Marilyn, who called the route “mentally exhausting.” While much of it rode to plan, that wasn’t the case with everything, especially the combinations, and “It kept coming. There was a lot to do out there.”

Discussing her mare’s ability, Marilyn reported, “She handled it beautifully, she is a big, scopey brave horse. I’m glad I had that much scope.”

Marilyn’s compatriot, Tamie Smith, who had been second by 0.1 of a penalty on Mai Baum after the event’s first phase, accumulated 11 frangible pin penalties at the Park Question at fence 24 and six more for being over the 11-minute optimum time. She is now 18th.

Oliver knew what he was talking about on Thursday when he gave an assessment of the course’s difficulty after walking it, saying, “I think you’ll see a lot of problems Saturday.” That was prescient.

“Today was the toughest cross-country course for a long, long time at five-star level. It’s right up there with the very toughest in the world,” said Oliver. “Even from a technicality point of view, that’s as tough as they get.”

Added to that was the fact that both his horses lost shoes. Cooley Master Class dropped from third to eighth with 6.4 time-penalties. Things were even more difficult for Ballaghmor Class, who went near the end of the morning as the rain was pelting down.

“I’m still very emotional about how amazing they both are, in terms of they both have given me their hearts and souls today. Cooley Master Class didn’t have a smooth trip at all, but every time I gave him a squeeze, he put his head down and did what he could,” Oliver commented.

Losing a back shoe meant he wasn’t full of confidence, but “he did what good horses do and dug deep.”

Ballaghmor Class lost his shoe at the seventh fence coming out of the water. Oliver noted, “Just trying to keep him on his feet, he slipped a lot.”

What kept the horse going? “His tenacity and his ability and his strength and complete robustness to do the performance that he did.” Had conditions been better and if his shoe stayed on, Oliver believed, he “could have been 10 or 12 seconds within the time without any sweat.”

Three-time Kentucky winner William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, ninth after dressage, learned about the difficulties that did not let up at the end first-hand. He made it nearly to the finish line of the 28-obstacle route before falling with Oratorio at the middle element of the Mighty Moguls, 26abc.

Designer Derek di Grazia is also doing the layout for the Tokyo Olympics, so riders competing today, when there were 15 eliminations, should consider themselves forewarned. For those in the last 25% or so of the start list, the situation was complicated by rain that became heavier through the final hour of the division.

It could have been worse; the five-star originally was scheduled to run in the afternoon, when the rain got heavier, but with the forecast promising a 100% chance of rain, the US Olympic selection trial was switched to the morning. The four-star short, running concurrently with the five-star for the first time, was swapped to the afternoon.

Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country results: four inside the time

Only four riders from a field of 61 starters achieved a clear inside the time, the first of whom was Great Britain’s Harry Meade on Superstition. He promoted himself from equal 17th to fourth on 29.6 penalties.

Harry was joined by three other riders who made the trip across the Atlantic, New Zealand’s Tim Price on Xavier Faer, moving up from 11th in dressage to third with 28.2 penalties, Tim’s wife Jonelle with Classic Moet (up from 46th after dressage to 12th) and Australia’s Kevin McNab. Tied for 21st after dressage, Kevin is now tied for sixth aboard Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam with Tim’s wife, Jonelle Price, on Grovine De Reve. Their score is 30.3.

Interestingly, a review of statistics since 2010 revealed that worldwide, the percentage of horses with no jumping penalties at the highest level of the sport is 55%, but today, 66% of the field had no jumping penalties.

Standing second in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country results is the USA’s Boyd Martin with On Cue, though he seemingly spent more time on the ground than in the saddle today. Boyd had falls on two of his three mounts. The first tumble came at the Head of the Lake, where a number of entries scrambled over the brush jump that was the final obstacle in that complex. That was where Boyd came a cropper with Long Island T. As is typical for Boyd, he picked himself and rode again. With On Cue, he flew around and had only 0.8 of a time-penalty for a total of 27.8.

When you’ve had a fall, “It doesn’t give you a world of confidence getting on the next horse,” Boyd commented, but he lavished On Cue with praise, calling her, “Such a class animal. She’s a real trier, a great galloper. She’s got a heart of gold. I was just thrilled with her round.”

And then, things went south again during his last trip, made on Tsetserleg TSF, the horse with whom he finished second at Kentucky’s previous running in 2019, the 2020 event having been cancelled due to Covid. He took a hard fall at the same fence where William ran into trouble. After that, Boyd, who is still ouchy from a few past injuries, went back to his hotel room to rest, scratching from the four-star short.

Interestingly, Oliver, Boyd and Tim were the top three in 2019, though Oliver won with his 2018 victor, Cooley Master Class.

Oliver is the world’s number one-ranked eventer, while Tim is number two and Boyd number six. What do they say about the cream rising to the top?

More from Kentucky:

Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 Sunday timetable: find out when the trot-up and showjumping take place

Find out the full Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 Sunday timetable, including when the trot-up takes place and when the showjumping

How to watch Kentucky Three-Day Event live from anywhere in the world

Fence by fence: pictures of every jump on this year’s Kentucky cross-country course

Check out the Kentucky cross-country course for 2021 with our fence by fence full photo gallery

Marilyn Little leads Kentucky with ‘courageous’ mare, with British riders in second and third *H&H Plus*

A home side rider leads the pack after a spectacular test on day one of dressage at Kentucky

Tamie Smith scores best in Friday’s dressage at Kentucky; Oliver Townend ‘close enough’ with two in top five *H&H Plus*

Find out how second-placed Tamie Smith is feeling about the cross-country and why Oliver Townend was disappointed after his test

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Find out how second-placed Tamie Smith is feeling about the cross-country and why Oliver Townend was disappointed after his test on Ballaghmor Class…

By Nancy Jaffer 

American rider Tamie Smith put in a marvellous test with Mai Baum today (23 April) to sit second in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 dressage results. Tamie’s score put her within 0.1 of a penalty of tying with her compatriot, Marilyn Little, who continues to lead the five-star on RF Scandalous with her 21.7 penalty mark from the first day of competition.

Tamie, who is first in the concurrent four-star with EnVogue, gave notice from the very beginning of her five-star test that she would be a contender with Mai Baum, when 81% flashed on the scoreboard as she started the medium trot on the diagonal with the dazzling black 15-year-old German Sport Horse.

And Mai Baum, who is making his five-star debut, jumps as well as he handles dressage. Although some competitors have expressed concern about Derek di Grazia’s technical cross-country course, spread out artfully at the Kentucky Horse Park, Tamie isn’t one of them.

“He’s very well-prepared,” she said of the horse nicknamed Lexus, which fits his sleek and stylish look.

Tamie’s result pushed Oliver Townend from second place to third on Cooley Master Class, the Kentucky event’s two-time winner who was second yesterday with a 24.1-penalty test. But he brought in reinforcements by riding Ballaghmor Class to fifth place with 26.5 penalties.

Although he is well positioned with his second ride, Oliver admitted he was a little disappointed with the Irish Sport Horse he originally had pointed toward Badminton.

“He can do so much more,” he explained, citing a bit of imperfection in the halts. “The last time he did that particular test he was on 20.8. That’s life and horses. It’s a three-day event, so we’re still close enough. Hopefully, the course will cause trouble, which I think it will.”

More Brits in top 20 in Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 dressage results

William Fox-Pitt, who rode yesterday, now stands ninth with Oratorio on 27.9 penalties.

Harry Meade, who also competed today, is 17th on Superstition with a mark of 29.6. He is delighted with his first visit to Kentucky.

“I love it,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to come here. I live 10 minutes from Badminton, so obviously there’s a lot of family history there. That’s why I haven’t made the trip over before. As soon as Badminton was cancelled, the first thing I did was say, ‘Right. This is our chance. We’re off to Kentucky.’”

First impression?

“The place is the most British park you could find anywhere in the world. Lovely rolling green hills. I love the whole of Kentucky, flying in and seeing all the stud farms is amazing. You couldn’t want a more attractive setting for a three-day event. You can’t help but be inspired,” noted Harry, who also was impressed by how friendly everyone has been.

It’s the first five-star for Superstition, a 12-year-old British Hanoverian Harry owns with Mandy Gray.

“Not having a big aim last year was no bad thing for him. We developed a really good partnership,” said Harry, who arranged a “slightly unorthodox” warm-up today.

“I gave him a gallop this morning, then got into my tailcoat and gave him a little jump, changed the saddle and came straight down here,” said Harry, after leaving the dressage arena. “He’s an internalizer. He can bottle up. It was just to try to get him breathing.”

In the test, “he started to get a little keen going toward medium canter in his right half-pass. But otherwise, I was very pleased with him.”

Harry has recovered from a horrendous fall last October, when he was dragged and his helmet was destroyed.

“There’s been a lot of time and having to be patient and not doing more than you can, which for an event rider is not a normal character trait. It’s been a slow process,” he mentioned. “We got here and obviously my big aim was to come back and go to the spring five-star. That was what was motivating me and I feel like I’m nearly there in recovery.”

The other riders who came over from Britain share Harry’s feeling about being lucky to ride at Kentucky.

World Class eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood noted with all of the 2021 challenges, from Covid to Brexit and Badminton’s cancellation, “It feels like a bit of a circus. It was quite a monumental effort to get here. It was right up to the last minute when the horses and riders were on the plane. It’s fantastic that we are here. There were a lot more hoops to jump through than there normally would be. There’s very strict rules of protocol to follow.”

But it’s worth it to be in Kentucky, he believes.

“It’s a great event. When you come here, you know the field of play is going to be really good. You’re competing on surfaces for the dressage and jumping as you would be at a Games. The (cross-country) course is built by the same designer that you’ve got at the [Tokyo Olympic] Games. It’s a proper five-star track, the intensity is from beginning to end. If you’re down on the clock, I don’t know where you’d catch up. You have to be light of foot and quick of mind.”

More from Kentucky:

How to watch Kentucky Three-Day Event live from anywhere in the world

Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country times: find out when the top riders start

Check out the five-star cross-country times for the Kentucky Three-Day Event

Fence by fence: pictures of every jump on this year’s Kentucky cross-country course

Check out the Kentucky cross-country course for 2021 with our fence by fence full photo gallery

Marilyn Little leads Kentucky with ‘courageous’ mare, with British riders in second and third *H&H Plus*

A home side rider leads the pack after a spectacular test on day one of dressage at Kentucky

Eight of the best riders to watch at Kentucky Three-Day Event *H&H Plus*

The 2019 top two could repeat their results in a rematch, says H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome as she previews

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country times have been released ahead of the second phase of the competition tomorrow (Saturday, 24 April).

New Zealand rider Jonelle Price is the pathfinder for the five-star and will start at 8.30am (1.30pm British time) on Grappa Nera, the first of her three rides. Jonelle will also be on course at 10.18pm (3.18pm British time) on 2018 Badminton Horse Trials winner Classic Moet and 12.18pm (5.18pm British time) on Grovine De Reve.

The dressage leader, RF Scandalous ridden by Marilyn Little, will head out on course at 9.58pm (2.58pm British time).

Fellow US rider Tamie Smith on Mai Baum holds second overnight and takes on the track at 11.58am am (4.58pm British time).

Last year’s winners, Oliver Townend and Cooley Master Class, set off at 10.26pm (3.26pm British time) to defend their third position after dressage, while Oliver’s other ride Ballaghmor Class – currently fifth – will leave the start box at 12.26pm (5.26pm British time), according to the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 cross-country times list.

Boyd Martin has three horses in the top 12, with Long Island T (equal 11th) at 8.38pm (1.38pm British time), On Cue (seventh) at 10.30am (3.30pm British time) and Tsetserleg TSF (fourth) at 12.30pm (5.30pm British time).

The last horse on course in the five-star starts at 12.38pm (5.38pm British time) and it will be Buck Davidson’s third ride, Carlevo, who sits sixth after the first phase.

More Kentucky stories…

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

The Kentucky cross-country course 2021 has been set by Derek di Grazia. The track is 6270m long, with an optimum time of 11 minutes, and there are 28 numbered obstacles.

Kentucky is running behind closed doors this year, so there will be far fewer people on course than in normal years with only horses’ close connections at the horse park. But fans around the world will be watching the action online.

Check back for more from Kentucky on horseandhound.co.uk over the weekend.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Find out how the leading riders reacted after their dressage tests today at the Kentucky Horse Park…

By Nancy Jaffer

Britain put two riders in the top three as five-star dressage got underway on Thursday (22 April) at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, but Oliver Townend with his two-time Kentucky winner, Cooley Master Class, had to settle for second, while William Fox-Pitt was third on Oratorio as the USA’s Marilyn Little dominated the standings.

Her performance with the graceful mare RF Scandalous netted her an outstanding mark of 21.7 penalties – the best dressage score at Kentucky since 2009 – as a chilly wind blew through the Kentucky Horse Park. Even so, Marilyn was disappointed that she couldn’t match (or improve on) her amazing score of 19.4 penalties when she won the Wellington, Florida, Eventing Showcase in February 2020.

“My goal was to do a little better than that, but you have to remember that was really early in the year, she was not five-star fit and it was not freezing cold. She came up here and looked out there at cross-country and had a sense of Saturday,” Marilyn said. Then she settled into her work with style and efficiency.

Marilyn, who gave up riding jumpers to focus on eventing Scandalous, noted that the elegant bay is a diva whose barn name is Kitty, and “she has trained us all, like cats do. There is no way but Kitty’s way.”

At the same time, her mare, she observed, is “very courageous and has a lot of scope,” adding she is going to need it over the Kentucky cross-country course 2021, laid out by Olympic designer Derek di Grazia.

Oliver agreed that the route will be quite a test.

“I think it’s the toughest course I’ve seen in Kentucky ever. Technically very tough; shorter distance timewise, same amount of jumping efforts. I think you’ll see a lot of problems Saturday.”

Derek didn’t disagree, noting wet weather is forecast.

“Even without any rain, I think the time would still be difficult,” he said. While he considers the ground good right now, a lot will depend on how the horses deal with a little water on the surface, noting the riders must be careful to make sure their mounts are not slipping.

But Oliver is up for the challenge over the floor plan Derek designed for last year’s event, which was cancelled because of the pandemic.

Calling Kentucky, “one of my favourite events in the world,” Oliver explained, “it puts a lot of places to shame, how purpose-built, how immaculate and how fantastic the whole thing is. I always love to come to Kentucky. It’s been a financial challenge, but I’ve got five-star horses and they need to run at five-stars. You’re not going to get this time back, so… delighted to be here.”

He was equally pleased with his horse’s performance in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 Thursday dressage.

“That’s the best dressage test he’s done here,” Oliver said of his mount, who was composed and focused throughout the test marked at 24.1 penalties.

William was just a bit behind with a respectable total of 27.9 penalties.

“I was really pleased with him and he really did go well,” William reported. “He was quite excited to be here, he’s done nothing for quite a long time now. So to actually be in there on his own was a bit of a novelty. He was on his toes but he was on the job, he didn’t do any mistakes. I think he did a really all-round good performance.”

William called Oratorio, “a lovely horse to produce. Laura Collett started him off and he got to be quite a big dinosaur, so he came to me.

“There’s a glimmer of something about him. He’s got class, he’s got a real way about him. He’s not a fancy dressage horse, not a fancy jumper, but he kind of does the job. I hope his day will come. He’s an exciting horse, a horse for the future.”

William mused that he might be able to do the European Eventing Championships this year and perhaps be a candidate for the World Championships next year.

It has been six years since William competed at Kentucky, an event he won three times.

“It’s quite frightening to think, where have those years gone? It was very nostalgic coming back and remembering how beautiful this place is. Then you look at the course and see the competition and realise, it’s not going to be a walk in the park and a holiday.”

He called the course “unrelenting,” noting the challenges go right to the end. Mentioning the fact that there are four water complexes, he said, “We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

William added about his mount, “I should think he’s going to have to claw his way up after tomorrow’s dressage, a lot of good horses are going tomorrow, but I don’t think it will be a dressage show.”

The horses threatening the standings who are set to go on Friday include Oliver’s Ballaghmor Class, Liz Halliday-Sharp’s Deniro Z and Tamie Smith’s Mai Baum, the latter two from the U.S.. Also on the roster is another British entry, Harry Meade with Superstition, and Germany’s Anna Siemer on FRH Butt’s Avondale.

More on Kentucky:

How to watch Kentucky Three-Day Event live from anywhere in the world

Fence by fence: pictures of every jump on this year’s Kentucky cross-country course

Check out the Kentucky cross-country course for 2021 with our fence by fence full photo gallery

What time is your favourite riding? Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 dressage times revealed

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The 2019 top two could repeat their results in a rematch, says H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome as she previews

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The 2019 top two could repeat their results in a rematch, says H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome as she previews the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event...

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (22-25 April) had a tumultuous build-up this year, with the initial decision to cancel being overturned after crowd-funding raised over $550,000 (about £400,000). Seventy-one horses from seven nations are scheduled to start – a strong starting field for the only five-star of the 2021 spring season.

So who are the key Kentucky Three-Day Event riders you need to know about?

Phillip Dutton, 57 (USA)

Phillip is the US’s most recent Kentucky winner, back in 2008 on Connaught. His top ride Z (pictured) has been fourth and seventh here, as well as 13th at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, and good recent four-star form suggests he can be in the top five again, although he wouldn’t expect to head the first phase. His second ride Fernhill Singapore makes his five-star debut and could also be in the money.

Liz Halliday-Sharp, 42 (USA)

Deniro Z’s (pictured) only previous Kentucky ended in a fall at fence three, but he’s been eighth at Luhmühlen and 15th at Burghley. He missed one of his prep runs due to an abscess, but if he can show the form that led to two CCI4*-S wins last season, he should be competitive. He finds flying changes tricky, but is otherwise smart in the first phase. Liz is also entered on Cooley Quicksilver.

Marilyn Little, 39 (USA)

Third here in 2018 and fourth at Luhmühlen the year before, Marilyn and RF Scandalous (pictured) are certainly in it to win it. They’ve triumphed 13 times internationally, helped by brilliant dressage scores. Their cross-country form is a touch uneven and they retired across country on their four-star long run last autumn, but bounced back with four-star short wins at Red Hills and Stable View this spring.

Boyd Martin, 41 (USA)

Boyd has three horses entered, but the undoubted star is Tsetserleg TSF (pictured), who was second here the last time the event ran, in 2019, and who has won Pan Am Games double gold since. He also took the four-star long at Tryon in the autumn last year. This pair are probably the US’s greatest hope for a home-side win and a good result would confirm their selection for Tokyo too.

Lauren Nicholson, 33 (USA)

Vermiculus (pictured) spearheads Lauren’s campaign, having been fifth and ninth here. Kept to relatively quiet runs since finishing ninth at Burghley in 2019, he could provide the all-round winner’s package. Lauren also brings forward Paramount Importance – a European team silver medallist for Ludwig Svennerstål – and the pair were eighth here in 2019.

Jonelle Price, 40 (NZL)

Jonelle’s only previous Kentucky start was in 2013. Her three rides this time are headed by the 2018 Badminton winner Classic Moet (pictured), while Grovine De Reve should build on 12th at Pau last year and Grappa Nera makes her five-star debut. They are all likely to be playing catch-up after dressage, but Classic Moet should rule on cross-country day and all three could be in the ribbons.

Tim Price, 42 (NZL)

Xavier Faer (pictured) can be overshadowed by flashier stablemates, but he’s been third here in 2019 and at Badminton 2017. His record isn’t flawless, but on his best form, he’s very competitive. Tim also brings forward Bango, another experienced campaigner who has been fifth and 10th at Burghley, though Tim fell from him here in 2016. Neither will lead the dressage, but don’t discount either.

Oliver Townend, 38 (GBR)

Britain’s world number one has a strong winning chance with both Angela Hislop’s double Kentucky winner and European team silver medallist Cooley Master Class and Ballaghmor Class (pictured), who won Burghley 2017 and has been in the top five on all his five five-star runs. The younger Tregilder makes his five-star debut and could be well placed, but is unlikely to win this time.

Other Kentucky Three-Day Event riders flying in from Europe

William Fox-Pitt (GBR): The three-time Kentucky winner brings forward Oratorio II, who was 13th at Badminton 2019. Outside chances to win.

Harry Meade (GBR): A Kentucky debutant who is recovering from a serious brain injury last autumn. Superstition, who has won at four-star with Harry and previous rider Lucy Jackson, makes his five-star debut.

Richard Coney (GBR): Impressed on his five-star debut at Pau last year, where he was ninth on the good jumper Mermus R Diamonds. This pair won’t lead the dressage, but this will be great experience for the 22-year-old British rider.

Anna Siemer (GER): Not as strong in the dressage as many Germans, but Anna and FRH Butt’s Avondale were 13th at the 2019 Europeans and are strong in the jumping phases. The retirement of Julia Krajewski’s Samourai Du Thot opens up the German Olympic selection and creates particular interest around Anna’s Kentucky result.

Kevin McNab (AUS): Kevin had planned to make this trip with Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam last year. Seventh at Pau 2019 and would be bidding for a ticket to the Olympics.

Jesse Campbell (NZL): Diachello makes his five-star debut after third at Lignières CCI4*-L in decent company; an eye-catching run could give him a tilt at Tokyo.

Other Kentucky Three-Day Event riders hoping to catch the US selectors’ attention ahead of Tokyo include Hannah Sue Burnett (Harbour Pilot), Will Coleman (Off The Record), Doug Payne (Vandiver) and Tamie Smith (Mai Baum).

Kentucky will also be an important selection trial for the Canadians, with six pairs entered, including three from the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Lisa Marie Fergusson (Honor Me), Hawley Bennett-Awad (Jollybo) and Colleen Loach (Qorry Blue D’Argouges), who was also at the Rio Olympics on the

same horse.

And don’t forget Britain’s 2004 Olympic champion Leslie Law, who has lived in the US since 2005. He is unlikely to trouble the dressage leaders, but jumped a double clear here for 10th with Voltaire De Tre’ in 2019 and was recently third in a CCI4*-S.

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This exclusive preview is also available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 15 April

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US eventer Marilyn Little has offered her “sincere regret” after pictures of blood in her horse’s mouth at the Kentucky Three-Day Event sparked a social media storm.

Marilyn said RF Scandalous was checked “multiple times” by FEI vets before and at the finish of the cross-country phase on Saturday (28 April), and again at the second horse inspection the following day.

Marilyn and the 13-year-old mare finished in third place in the CCI4*, behind Oliver Townend and Michael Jung, adding only eight cross-country time-penalties to their dressage score of 24.8.

Her statement read: “First, I want to offer my sincere regret for the negative attention this has brought to the horses and sport that we all love, as well as the pressure that is being put on my personal sponsors. I could never achieve any success in this sport without my horses, my incredible support team, the people who make this sport great, and the sponsors who help me along the way.

“I tried my very best to be transparent in every possible way in Kentucky and followed our sport’s protocol in the best interest of my horse. My horse was checked multiple times by FEI officials before the start of cross-country, again at the finish, and at the second horse inspection on Sunday morning, and at all times was passed fit to continue.”

A statement released by FEI officials at Kentucky read: “At the warm-up, Marilyn and the groom went to official veterinarian Duncan Peters to have [Scandalous] checked because there had been some blood that was wiped clean. The vet noticed a small cut inside the lip away from the bit. It had stopped bleeding, which said to the vet that the horse had bitten herself. The bleeding stopped, the ground jury was informed, and there was no report of blood at the finish.”

An FEI spokesman added: “Marilyn Little went through all the correct channels to ensure her horse was given the all-clear to compete. The mare was checked multiple times by FEI officials: by veterinarians before the start of the cross-country, again at the finish and at the second horse inspection on Sunday morning, and at all times she was passed fit to continue.”

Blood was visible in Scandalous’s mouth when Marilyn rode her in the Fair Hill CCI3* cross-country in 2016, and has also been seen in the mouths of other horses being competed by Marilyn.

Continues below…

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Dutch dressage rider Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich’s Parzival’s elimination from the World Equestrian Games last year may not have been

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Two team riders were disqualified in today's Rio showjumping for misuse of the spurs, while Britain crashed out and one

Marilyn’s statement continued: “I believe very deeply in following the rules our sport has in place and am beyond devastated by the comments and negative perception of how my horses are cared for. I love my horses very, very much and their happiness and wellbeing mean the world to me. I want to personally thank the officials doing their jobs to keep our sport fair and safe, as well as my sponsors and those who have stood by me at this time.”

FEI rules covering the cross-country state that not all cases of blood mean elimination and that in minor cases, “such as where a horse appears to have bitten its tongue or lip, or minor bleeding”, the ground jury may allow riders to continue, following investigation and consultation with the vet.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Also inside this week’s edition, 75 years of Royal Windsor Horse Show magic, ‘big dreamer’ sets up eventing grand slam bid and investment sparks debate over grass versus surfaces.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

By Nancy Jaffer

A weekend of brilliant riding on the ever-improving Cooley Master Class won Oliver Townend not only the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, but also a shot at the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing as he heads to this week’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

The tension was high among the 21,260 fans as Kentucky’s dramatic showdown unfolded. Standing third going into showjumping at the Kentucky Horse Park, Oliver produced a clear round to remain on his dressage score of 28.7 penalties, but then had to wait before he learned his fate.

Australia’s Christopher Burton, who had been second on Nobilis 18 with 27.9, dropped two rails to plummet to ninth place. Then all that stood between Oliver and victory was the man people call the greatest eventer ever, multi-gold medalist Michael Jung of Germany and his super mare, FischerRocana FST.

Michael, who went into the jumping with a total of 27.5 penalties, had no room for error, which came at fence five. The mare knocked a pole and before it hit the ground, Oliver had won the title he sought.

Badminton final scores

“I’ve had a rough couple of years one way and another and it’s a hard grind at home, but this is an absolute long-term dream of mine,” said an emotional Oliver. “I just want to thank every single person here for sharing that dream day with me.”

He took on Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class at the age of four, and knows the 13-year-old gelding well.

“I had an awful lot of faith in him. It’s his first time at this level. He really dug deep for me. He felt to enjoy it. He had a smile on his face…and that’s really important to me,” said Oliver.

Coming to Kentucky “took a bit of arm-twisting to get the horses here because there was no funding from Great Britain,” Oliver noted. He thanked his owners, Angela and Tom Joule who owns seventh-placed MHS King Joules, for taking a gamble on his chances.

As the winner of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in September, he was determined to try for the Grand Slam. With two legs of the challenge won, if he takes the top prize at Badminton, he will collect $350,000 to become only the third person to earn the Grand Slam title. The others who have won it are Pippa Funnell and of course, Michael.

Michael, who has been the world number one, appears to have been overtaken by Oliver for that ranking. When someone advised him of that, the Kentucky winner said with a smile, “about time.”

Today’s result was a big letdown for Michael, who had hoped to win a record fourth Kentucky. But it really wasn’t his day. At the final horse inspection, his mare was put in the hold box, and Michael’s normally impassive face reflected the tension he felt until FischerRocana was accepted after being re-presented.

As for the downed rail, Michael took the blame.

“It was absolutely my mistake,” he said.

“I was too far away from this fence, but my mare tried hard and it was still a good round. It was a very nice week again here in Kentucky. I really like this event. It was really beautiful.”

The top American was Marilyn Little, who jumped a clean round to finish third on RF Scandalous with 32.8 penalties.

Article continues below…

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Full report from Kentucky in H&H next week (issue dated 3 May).

Pick up the current issue of H&H (dated 26 April) for our Badminton preview, including course walk with Mary King and form guide for every horse and rider.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now