The 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L cross-country course will be no walk in the Kentucky Horse Park for the horse-and-rider combinations. But years of training have gone into preparing for this event, and the competitors seem eager to deliver on Saturday. Cross-Country course designer Derek di Grazia created an impressive course of 28 obstacles for the CCI5*-L cross-country course. The combinations will aim to complete the 6,312-meter track inside the optimum time of 11 minutes 5 seconds. Before crossing through the finish flags, they will tackle several impressive fences.

Which Kentucky CCI5*-L XC Jump Is the Most Intimidating? Poll

Vote on your pick for the most intimidating Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L cross-country jump! Check out a selection of the jumps below and scroll to the bottom to cast your vote and we’ll report back on the results.

16 Owl Hole at the Mounds – an owl hole brush fence on a mound (Practical Horseman editor for height reference). ©Alana Harrison
18A Defender Head of the Lake – a rolltop with a drop into water. This fence has a long route option. ©Alana Harrison
18B & 19AB Defender Head of the Lake – offset brushes in water followed by a corner on land. ©Alana Harrison
9B Opposing Corners – a left corner at 9A followed by a right corner at 9B (shown). ©Alana Harrison
14A Pete’s Hollow – a log drop into the hollow followed by two chevron triple brushes (not shown) in the bottom of the hollow (14B) and on the lip out of the hollow (14C). This fence has a long route option. ©Alana Harrison
15A EEI Root Cellar – a 1.80-meter drop followed by two skinny brush fences (15BC). ©Alana Harrison
15B EEI Root Cellar – the first of two skinny brush fences (15BC) following the massive drop at 15A. ©Alana Harrison
12B/C Spring Water – a left brush corner in water following a fish log into water (12A). This fence has a long route option. ©Alana Harrison
28 The Pinnacle – a picture frame fence serves as the final fence on course. ©Alana Harrison

For More

For current results of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L, click here. CCI5*-L cross country begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Click here for ride times.

View the full CCI5*-L cross-country course here.

To visit the event website, click here.

To check out more of our coverage from the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, click here.


Thanks to Dechra for our coverage of the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.