Forty-four combinations started in the 2026 Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S, but ultimately it was Tamie Smith (USA) and Lillet 3 who were victorious. They began the competition in a tie for third after dressage but moved into first with the fastest CCI4*-S cross-country ride of the day over Derek Di Grazia’s course. Smith and the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare had the only double-clear stadium jumping round in the division to clinch the win on a score of 31.3. With the result, Smith became the first rider to win the both the CCI5*-L (with her 2023 win with Mai Baum) and the CCI4*-S with Sunday’s win.

“She was super. I couldn’t have asked her to do better,” Smith said of Lillet 3 after their stadium jumping round. “She came up just enough to rise to the occasion and didn’t get too tense or tight, and just jumped amazing. She just keeps going from strength to strength. She just was so rideable and just tried her heart out, and I don’t even think she touched a rail she jumped so well.”

Smith also received her leading lady rider award from a surprise guest, Olympian and friend Liz Halliday, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a riding accident in August 2024. They shared a special moment during the awards ceremony.

“I know [Liz] is going to continue to be better, and if anybody’s going to be doing amazing things again, it’s her,” Smith said. “I think what was so emotional for me is my mare just stood there like she knew. It was so crazy because she’s hot, and when she’s been standing, she paws. It was just really cool that she soaked in the moment, and it’s good to see Liz out here again.”

Fellow Americans Will Coleman and Mia Farley joined Smith on podium. Coleman rode Very Dignified to a second-place finish on a score of 37.4 in the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare’s first CCI4*-S event of the year. Farley and Invictus were coming off a second-place finish earlier in the year at The Event at TerraNova, and they nearly had a repeat performance. Finishing nine-tenths of a point behind Coleman, Farley and the 10-year-old Holsteiner-Thoroughbred gelding settled on a highly respectable third-place finish on a score of 38.3.

There were many memorable moments throughout the competition, from flowing dressage tests to determined cross-country rounds with cheering fans to being able to hear a pin drop during the stadium jumping rounds. Quiet moments behind the scenes also took place between riders and their horses as well as with their support teams. All of these moments took place throughout the week, yet they seemed to happen in a flash. In case you missed some of the action at “The Best Weekend All Year,” check out some of our favorite snapshots from the 2026 Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian.

Snapshots From the 2026 Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Tamie Smith (USA) fist pumps the air after she and Lillet 3 clinch the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S win with the only double-clear stadium jumping round in the division on Sunday. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Isabelle Cook (GBR) and Cymoon “F” Z share a moment with Isabelle’s mom and coach, Olympian Kristina “Tina” Cook (GBR), while schooling on Tuesday. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Sharon White’s Claus 63 checks in the Duncan Peters, DVM, DACVSMR, in the vet box while groom Kate Servais untacks him after cross country. ©Alana Harrison
Tommy Greengard (USA) pats That’s Me Z after a lovely dressage test on Thursday in the Rolex Stadium. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Supporters of Dan Kreitl (USA) and Carmango cheer as they head to the finish after the final cross-country fence. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Laine Ashker (USA) had a striking pink shadbelly coat that popped on her dark bay mare, Lovedance. ©Alana Harrison
Team Prac trainer James Alliston (USA) is all smiles after his dressage test with HMR Rolan. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Isabelle Cook (GBR) and Elizabeth Barratt (GBR), members of the Rising Lions initiative to assist up-and-coming British eventers, hug in the vet box following their cross-country rounds. ©Alana Harrison
Sharon White (USA) and Claus 63 perform an extended trot during their dressage test. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Future eventer? A pint-sized fan takes in the sights on cross-country day. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Sydney Elliott (USA) smiles on her way to the jog strip with QC Diamantaire for Sunday’s Horse Inspection. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Buck Davidson (USA) and Cooley Candyman clear fence 22, the Folding Table, as they near the end of the cross-country course. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Lillet 3 struts her stuff during the dressage phase with Tamie Smith (USA) in the irons. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Ali Kuhn (USA) smiles while galloping away from a cross-country fence after successfully navigating it with Little Hail. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Kuhn gets a hug after finishing cross country while Little Hail is attended to by their pink-clad team on the way to the vet box. ©Alana Harrison
Mia Farley (USA) and Invictus easily clear the triple bar on their way to a third-place finish. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Will Coleman (USA) and Very Dignified fly over a cross-country fence as spectators look on. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Dan Kreitl (USA) and Carmango en route to the jog strip for Sunday’s Horse Inspection. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Sea of Clouds looks back after passing Sunday’s Horse Inspection with Olivia Dutton (USA). He had the cornea of his right eye removed, but he has returned to competing at the top levels of the sport. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Laine Ashker (USA) pats Lovedance after they head to the vet box. ©Alana Harrison
Team Prac trainer Elisa Wallace (USA) pats Ashker on her back after her cross-country finish. ©Alana Harrison

For More

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!