Kentucky 2025

[c0608524]

@ClassyJumper

There was a few riders that had breeches with a bit of glitter on the thigh, does anyone know what brand they are? I am a sucker for a little sparkle

Struck breeches have a couple glitter logos. My black ones are sharp looking, black breech with a black glitter logo. Have held up really well when washing

[initiate1987]

@Texarkana

That was my question also. From the article, I think it’s more akin to “one yellow card for two reasons” but it is not explicitly clear to me.

Yeah, I just looked at the yellow card list and only one is recorded, which I’m glad for because she seems like the type of person who will take it seriously and learn going forward.

Looking over the yellow card list though, almost every 5* in the last year has at least one instance of pressing a tired horse. I know we say this a lot here, but the GJ should be given more power to pull tired horses off the course. I feel like often it doesn’t show up until the last few jumps of the course (like Ema) and the thought is “well, they’re only a few jumps from home. They’ll make it.” One of these days, someone isn’t going to make it.

[MHM]

Tickets for next year are already on sale!

https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/2026-pre-sale?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ-AX9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnXEscEdm5L2VkhNPgOnQ7f94JJZ_gbVpy5iCRFCjenSgQQJCQH1KzeIz2Cz_aem_IyMycQLAGfgey14133ki1w

[Aussie_2020]

Does this mean Ema Klugman is suspended for two months?

Edit - oops, it’s already been answered, I should have read on for a bit.

[MHM]

Looking again at the Chronicle article that was linked above on the subject, it sounds like she got one card for the combination of the two things, although only one of them was listed on the FEI database.

The Chronicle article also said this afternoon that it was updated within the last 30 minutes, so I wonder if the phrasing might have been a little different earlier in the day.

“Two athletes competing at the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L have been sanctioned for their actions on cross-country day.

Ema Klugman received a yellow card warning for abuse of horse. While the FEI database lists her yellow card as “abuse of horse—continued pressing of a tired horse,” an FEI spokesperson said she was also yellow-carded for “excessive use of whip/spurs.” Klugman, who lives in the U.S. but represents Australia, completed cross-country on Bronte Beach with 29.2 time penalties but withdrew before the second horse inspection, posting to social media that the mare sustained a heel grab on course.

Klugman declined to comment on the yellow card.”

[Djones]

I learned today that he had major hip surgery in December and didn’t ride until almost March, maybe? Sounds like a hip replacement.

Equiratings Inside KY podcast was the source.

[MHM]

Yes, when I saw him at a clinic in December, he was really hobbling around the ring.

I don’t think he mentioned a hip replacement, but I think he had a couple of other things done. I won’t swear to it, though.

Honestly, I think everybody at the clinic was amazed that he showed up in that condition. Lol.

I know he posted a video from an outing with a couple of horses to do some jumper classes at WEC Ocala not too long ago. And at that point, he was riding, but it looked like he had to be a bit careful as he was getting on and off the horses.

I’m pretty sure he did the event at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, which I think was at the very beginning of March.

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

So I haven’t paid much attention to this forum recently, but I saw the headline about Ema and I had to come back. This is not the first or second time she has failed to condition a horse appropriately for the 5* level. I saw her ride Bendigo in Kentucky and Maryland in 2021, and I thought she would know better by now. Conditioning is one of the most challenging parts of eventing, and riding an unfit horse about as dangerous as anything Calvin Bockmann was doing. And yet she is barely being criticized here? I am surprised as it has been a known issue for a while.

[DogWithBigEars]

Watching Ema press a very tired Bendigo around Maryland 5* a few years ago was disappointing. He eventually just stopped jumping and retired himself. Sad.

[wanderlust]

@JenJ

it is also great for the US that if/when Boyd (and Philip and Buck) retires from upper level competition in 10 years or so, you have Tamra, Will, Ariel and others to lead the way to competitive results worldwide, WEG, Olympics, etc.

I’m a few day late responding to this, but Tamie is older than Boyd by 5 years. Will is not much younger than Boyd and I believe James Alliston is also late 30s/early 40s.

[charger75]

Thanks for that explanation. It certainly was confusing. I don’t think the camera ever went back to Happy Boy, and then eventually he was given a finishing time. It was great to see that he was clear in SJ the next day, since Tim’s other two horses were both withdrawn. Jarillo’s Instagram posted that he had an overreach, but I don’t know what happened with Falco at the jog. He was initially held, then withdrawn. No explanation was ever given that I know of.

[Texarkana]

@wanderlust

@JenJ

it is also great for the US that if/when Boyd (and Philip and Buck) retires from upper level competition in 10 years or so, you have Tamra, Will, Ariel and others to lead the way to competitive results worldwide, WEG, Olympics, etc.

I’m a few day late responding to this, but Tamie is older than Boyd by 5 years. Will is not much younger than Boyd and I believe James Alliston is also late 30s/early 40s.

Ariel is also in her late 30s.

[axl]

Curious, does anyone know if Skyeler Voss is related to the MD family?

[leighbo009]

I just went through and tried to find the ages or year of birth for each of the US Riders in the 4* & 5* based on the conversation above. I thought it was interesting. Data could be wrong, based on google searches or FEI rider information.

Sorted Oldest to Youngest

Name	Year of Birth	Age
Sarah Cousins		62
Phillip Dutton	1963	61
Robin Walker		60
Jan Byyny		58
Heather Gillette		56
Chris Newton		56
Allison Springer		51
Sharon White	1974	51
Tamie Smith	1975	50
Buck Davidson	1976	49
Emily Mastervich		48
Matt Brown		48
Mary Bess		46
Shannon Lilley		46
Rebecca Braitling		46
Boyd Martin	1979	45
Elisa Wallace	1982	43
Katherine Coleman		42
Will Coleman	1983	42
Skyeler Voss		41
James A	1984	41
Lisa Berry		40
Hannah Sue Hollberg		39
Emily Hamel	1986	39
Alexandra Knowles	1986	39
Jennie Brannigan	1987	37
Lauren Niicholson	1987	37
Sarah Kuhn		37
Ariel G	1988	37
Tracey Bienemann	1989	36
Taren Hoffos	1989	36
Kristi Foresman		35
Alexander Conrad	1991	34
Ali Kuhn		33
Alex O’Neal		33
Arden Wildasin	1993	32
Caroline Pamukcu	1994	31
Kimmy Cecere		31
Chris Talley		30
Savannah Fulton		30
Gabby Dickerson		29
Briggs Surratt		28
Brooke Burchianti		26
Tommy Greengard	1999	26
Sophie Click	1999	26
Mia Farley		25
Colin Gaffney		25
Oliva Dutton		24
Cassie Sanger	2004	21
Molly Duda		21

**Updated with missing information thanks to @FLeventer

[Knubbsy]

I’m fairly certain Ali is 33 but I could be off by a year

I had no idea Woodge is 30. But I guess that makes sense. It’s easier to miss ages when I’m used to seeing everyone in a baseball cap or helmet.

[MHM]

Thanks for putting that together.

It demonstrates one of the great things about horses. There are people competing at the top level with an age range of more than 40 years, including two generations of Duttons. Love it.

[trakehners]

I was at the jog and didn’t have the greatest view but Falco looked off on the right front from where I was standing (and not a super slight “is he or isn’t he” kind of off). I’m not sure if something specific happened on course or if he was just NQR on Sunday due to the exertion on Saturday, but from where I’m sitting it was the right call for horse welfare to not re-present.

[Syrynx]

LOL bought mine on the way in to SJ stadium.

[Not_Your_Janice]

Emily Mastervich is formerly Emily Beshear. I think she’s 47.

[FLeventer]

Lisa Berry is 40
https://www.fei.org/athlete/10007849/BARRY-Lisa

Robin Walker is 60
https://www.fei.org/athlete/10005332/WALKER-Andrew-Robin

Ali Kuhn is 33
https://www.fei.org/athlete/10328601/KUHN-Alexandra

Emily Mastervitch is 48
https://www.fei.org/athlete/10011120/BESHEAR-Emily

These are the ages they are turning this year. Emily is still 47, her birthday is July 9th. The FEI marks the year turning in their database, not the actual age based on birth date.