By Oliver Townend - As Told to Catherine Austen
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class at the 2021 LRK3DE. USEA/Erin Gilmore Photo
My first visit to Kentucky was in 2009 when I finished eighth on Carousel Quest - with whom I won Burghley a few months later. My initial impression was, ‘Wow!’ Disbelief that the sport of eventing had such an incredible venue. That disbelief has never weakened. If I could event full-time at the Kentucky Horse Park, I would.
Townend and Carousel Quest at Kentucky in 2009. USEA Archive Photo
Driving in, you immediately feel the history. Cigar Lane. . . a lot of special horses are remembered in the Kentucky Horse Park, and it feels almost weird that Cooley Master Class, my Kentucky winner in 2018 and 2019, might soon be one of those celebrated there.
While the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian will look very different this year with spectators not allowed under the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan, fans will still be able to tune into every minute of action via the live stream and wall-to-wall coverage on the USEA’s website and social media. The 2021 LRK3DE gets underway this afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.
Here’s what you need to know:
The CCI5 -L Field:
65 horses are set to present at the first horse inspection this afternoon – 23 more than came forward in 2019.
Eight countries are represented this year with pairs from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, and the U.S.
USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™ (LRK3DE) will not hold its famed five-star three-day event this year, previously scheduled for April 22-25. The
Kentucky CSI3 Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and other events are being explored to be held over that weekend but without spectators.
“We have been working with US Equestrian, the Kentucky Horse Park, and state and local government on several different scenarios for April,” said Mike Cooper, president of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI) which produces the world-class event. “With so many uncertainties still remaining regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, it is premature for US Equestrian to remove its restrictions on spectators. Given the importance of the health and well-being of our spectators and competitors, we feel the only option at this time is to cancel the five-star event and hopefully proceed with other events that our fans can
Connecting eventers like never before
News Highlights: Connecting eventers like never before January 22, 2021 Technology in the era of COVID-19: Connecting eventers like never before A rider and her groom at the Morven Park International Horse Trials in October 2020. USEA / Jessica Duffy Photo.
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