I wonder how many Euros we will see this year. A lot of likely candidates are entered at Badminton.
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Given the uncertain climate and tariffs etc., I expect very few outsiders will risk a trip over the pond.
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Entries are live: https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/olympic-champion-top-2-in-the-world-entered-at-defender-kentucky/
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https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/entries-and-ride-times
5*: 42 entries (33 riders)
USA: 21
GBR: 6
GER: 3
AUS: 2
BEL: 1
NZL: 6
IRL: 1
CAN: 2
4* entries are not listed yet
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Cross entered at Badminton: (9)
Jennie Brannigan & FE Lifestyle
Lara De Liedekerke-Meier & Hooney D’Arville
Tom McEwen & Brookfield Quality
Tom McEwen & JL Dublin
Harry Meade & Superstition
Harry Meade & Grafennacht
Harry Meade & Et Hop Du Matz
Joseph Murphy & Calmaro
Tim Price & Falco
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This is better than I expected due to all the international double entires plus so many first times. Although those 9 cross-entered horses will drop the list considerably when it all shakes out.
I didn’t expect Caroline to be back with two.
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To be fair, I always assume cross-entries are “in case of issue” on the same side of the ocean and “Plan A” on the other side. As in, Jennie wants to go to Badminton but has cross-entered at Kentucky in case she can’t get a flight/raise the money/whatever, and Lara wants to come to Kentucky but has cross-entered at Badminton as a back-up for the same reasons.
In this case, Jennie is the only one from the American side of the ocean, so I don’t think the cross-entries inherently will drop the field size much. Joe Meyer is the other North American entered at Badminton and he isn’t even on the Kentucky list.
Harry can’t run more than two at Badminton, and he has two Badminton entries that are not cross-entered, so his Kentucky three should come bar an issue. I’d be surprised if it was ever Plan A to run JL Dublin at Badminton again, understandably. I think Kentucky probably makes the most sense for Lara’s horse too. Falco is the only one besides FE Lifestyle that I personally think is more likely than not to come off the Kentucky list.
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I will happily be watching from home (and cheering Jess Phoenix on with Florescent Adolescent in the 5*!). One day I will make it down to Kentucky but probably not for another 10+ years until I’m retired (and hopefully the exchange rate from CAD to USD is better!).
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No Kidding!
I think Jennie’s plan will be to do the dressage at Kentucky & then hop on the plane to Badminton. So I believe she will stay on the entry list & withdraw after dressage. (unless she can’t get a flight/raise the money, then she wouldn’t withdraw & just continue).
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Ah yes. That extra week between the two now makes all the difference! Good point.
I tore my left hamstring last year, like it’s hanging on by a thread. Not going to KY because I don’t know how much walking I could tolerate. I will live stream but it’s not the same. Especially since M. Jung is entered.
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I will say I hate this practice because it is a form of false advertisement. Years ago both Tennis and Golf had a problem with this. Events would list big name players and at the last minute they would withdraw. In the run up to the event, they would be marketing all the big names that were entered in the tournament.
I would say that you won’t see Tim Price or Harry Meade bring three and I doubt Boyd will ride three. My prediction is, when it gets to the start of the event, the 5* will be down to about 36-37 entries.
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That would put us right about at last year’s number, which is pretty impressive considering how many typical mainstays are not in this year’s entries.
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Both Harry Mead and Tim Price have multiple 5* horses, and don’t forget Jonelle Price too. They have been to Kentucky before and they enjoyed it. There aren’t too many opportunities to run at 5*!
I’ve just been thinking, if 5 years ago you told us that Kentucky 2025 would be running without the likes of Phillip Dutton, Tamie Smith, Doug Payne, Liz Halliday, Will Coleman, and Will Faudree… man.
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Here is a better way to look at it - you only get so many chances to get your horse experience in a big, atmospheric ring. It’s good horsemanship to take those opportunities when you have them.
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Not a better way to look at it, just different. Your point is about the horse and rider, mine is about the people paying money for tickets. The event has published and will market a list of horse/rider combinations knowing that many will not actually be competing at all or competing in a limited capacity. So if I buy a ticket to see an event with 42 riders and it ends up say at 30, I’ll feel pretty deceived. As I said above the PGA and USTA ran into this problem and eventually corrected the practice.
Golfers don’t need to give their clubs big atmosphere experience. Unfortunately for horse sport, best possible accommodation of horses and best possible accommodation of the public are sometimes incompatible. Cross entering is only sensible for riders who need a crystal ball to know how the next 4-6 weeks will go. And having paid the entry, why not do dressage? At shorts some riders will do dressage and stadium then withdraw for the practice with less wear and tear. Events could make more distinction between the list of entries who may run and the list of starters.
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I think the horsey fan base understands that horses are gonna horse. Scratches and disappointment are inevitable.
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