The 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L competition saw Will Coleman make history as the second American to claim the title in two decades. He and longtime partner 2012 Holsteiner gelding Diabolo finished on top following the final show jumping phase. “It’s a surreal feeling—something we all dream about,” he said. “Winning a five-star, in my opinion, is one of the hardest things to do in equestrian sport. It’s such a hard game.”

Coleman’s five-star win marked the second time that eventing history was made in the Bluegrass State last weekend. Earlier on Sunday in the four-star competition, the U.S.’s Tamie Smith, who claimed victory in the 2023 CCI5*-L Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, took top honors in the 2026 Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S with mare Lillet 3. Coleman is now the second rider ever to win both the CCI4*-S and the CCI5*-L at Kentucky and the first rider to claim the titles on the same horse—he and Diabolo swept the competition in last year’s Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S.

Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and her Olympic partner and best friend HSH Blake delivered solid performances throughout this year’s five-star competition to cruise into second place, and Great Britain’s David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed finished in third. The U.S.’s fan-favorite Boyd Martin and Commando 3 finished in sixth, but the home crowd also had their eyes on Martin and Liz Halliday’s former partner 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Nutracker, who produced a double clear show jumping round to finish in 11th.

PH editors Kathleen Landwehr (left) and Alana Harrison on the scene at this year’s Kentucky Three-Day Event.

“When we finished, I looked up and she was giving me a thumbs up—typical Liz,” Martin, who strategized with Halliday just before they went on course Sunday, said. “She’s such a competitor and a top human being, and it’s about more than just a competition here for ‘Bali’ and me.”

This weekend also marked a special occasion for the U.S.’s Emily Hamel and Holsteiner gelding Corvett, who finished in ninth place. While celebrating “Barry’s” 19th birthday on Sunday, the pair completed their 11th and final five-star together. “It’s almost like he knew this was going to be his last five-star—he gave me everything all weekend,” Hamel beamed. “He is phenomenal, and I love him so much.”

With every “Best Weekend All Year” we cover, it’s always an honor and a privilege to share the experience with the incredible horse and rider athletes the event draws. Replete with laughter, tears, unbelievable determination and always a fervent love and devotion to the horse, here’s a behind-the-scenes’ glimpse of moments you might have missed from this year’s Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L.

Scenes From the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L

Will Coleman, who claimed his first CCI5*-L win at the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event with Diabolo, is only the second American to claim the title in the last two decades. ©Amy K. Dragoo
This weekend marked a special occasion for the U.S.’s Emily Hamel and Holsteiner gelding Corvett. The longtime partners completed their 11th and final five-star together. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Great Britain’s Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality had a great weekend of five-star competition, finishing in fifth on a final score of 33.1. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Fan-favorite Boyd Martin chats with media after dressage competition. Martin rode Commando 3 and Cooley Nutcracker in this year’s five-star competition. ©Alana Harrison
Great Britain’s Harry Meade and Superstition leave the warm-up arena as they head into the massive Rolex Arena to perform their dressage test. ©Alana Harrison
New Zealand’s Tim Price and Vitali celebrated a stellar Kentucky weekend, finishing in fourth on a final score of 33.0. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Liz Halliday gives Boyd Martin and her former eventing partner Cooley Nutcracker a thumbs up after their five-star dressage test. ©Kathleen Landwehr
New Zealand’s Monica Spencer gives 15-year-old Thoroughbred Artist a pat while warming up on Tuesday before the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event kicked off on Thursday. ©Kathleen Landwehr
The U.S.’s Caroline Pamukcu celebrates after she and her longtime partner and best friend HSH Blake clinched third in this year’s five-star competition. ©Alana Harrison
Will Coleman gets drilled by this enthusiastic Pony Club volunteer, who is responsible for opening and closing the dressage arena entrance. ©Amy K. Dragoo
“No, no, Will. That’s not right. You must enter the arena here.” ©Amy K. Dragoo
“That’s still not right, Will. Come on. Let’s try again.” ©Amy K. Dragoo
“Try to look a little less like a duck and really extend your trot here.” ©Amy K. Dragoo
“Now, that’s how you exit the arena.” ©Amy K. Dragoo
“Finally, Will! Good job!” ©Amy K. Dragoo
Eindhoven Garette, Shannon Lilley’s (USA) mount for the CCI5*-L this year, gets a little stretch before taking his victory lap for the final awards’ ceremony on Sunday. ©Alana Harrison
Monica Spencer and Artist cruised through Derek di Grazia’s five-star cross-country track to maintain the overnight lead going into show jumping. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Four-time Olympian Boyd Martin skillfully pilots Commando 3 down the drop on di Grazia’s challenging five-star course. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Following the first jog on Wednesday, Caroline Pamukcu answers questions from livestream commentator Frankie Thieriot with her daughter Blake, who was indeed named after Pamukcu’s beloved HSH Blake. ©Amy K. Dragoo
New Zealand’s Monica Spencer strolls the cross-country course with her husband Andrew Spencer. ©Amy K. Dragoo
The Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix opening ceremonies included a “parade” of eventing and jumping Olympians who were on site last weekend. (From left to right: Laura Kraut, Lucy Davis Kennedy, Caroline Pamukcu, Jessica Springsteen, Boyd Martin and Karl Cook.) ©Kathleen Landwehr
While everyone in attendance was grateful Saturday’s cross-country competition didn’t see the rain that was forecasted, the afternoon’s CCI5*-L competitors faced warm temperatures and plenty of sun. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Great Britain’s dapper Harry Meade was all smiles following his and Superstition’s dressage test. The pair finished in 12th place on a final score of 44.2 ©Amy K. Dragoo
Boyd Martin and 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Nutcracker, who finished the CCI5*-L in 11th place, warm up on Tuesday to ensure “Bali” was comfortable with Kentucky’s electric atmosphere. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Emily Hamel, who finished in ninth place with Corvett while celebrating his 19th birthday on Sunday, fields questions from the media, including Practical Horseman editor Alana Harrison. ©Kathleen Landwehr
Monica Spencer gives “Max” a hug following their stadium jumping round. The longtime partners finished in seventh place on a final score of 36.7. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Will Coleman takes questions from livestream commentator Frankie Thieriot with the help of his daughter Charlotte. ©Alana Harrison
New Zealand’s Tim Price fist bumps Great Britain’s Tom McEwen, who’s holding his 1-and-a-half-year-old son, as fellow Brit Harry Meade looks on. ©Alana Harrison
The U.S.’s eventing stalwart Phillip Dutton warms up Possante for the CCI5*-L dressage competition last Friday. ©Alana Harrison
Great Britain’s David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed finished in third on 30.8. “This weekend has been absolutely magical,” Doel said. “Galileo is a bit of an unreal horse—he’s taken me around the Northern Hemisphere five-stars and has been in the top 10 in all of them.” ©Amy K. Dragoo
Caroline Pamukcu was thrilled with Blake’s performance at this year. “I’m so lucky to have incredible horses, but this is such a hard sport, and I still have so much to learn,” she said. “Every day I try to do the best I can with my horses, and Blake really helped me out today. All the kudos to him. He’s such a special horse.” ©Amy K.Dragoo
Caroline Pamukcu heads over to the Mixed Zone after her and HSH Blake’s dressage test to take questions from the media with her daughter Blake in tow. ©Alana Harrison
Boyd Martin signs autographs and chats with fans outside the warm-up arenas. ©Alana Harrison
A spectator goofs around with her sweet pup in between riders during Saturday’s cross-country competition. ©Alana Harrison
Phillip Dutton and Possante had a solid five-star completion at this year’s event, finishing in eighth place on a final score of 37.7. Dutton’s daughter Olivia Dutton was also in Kentucky last weekend competing in the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S with Sea Of Clouds. ©Alana Harrison
Will Coleman and Diabolo navigate fence the Owl Hole at the Mounds, an owl-hole brush fence on a mound during the CCI5*-L competition. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Here, they tackle the fish log with a drop into water that was followed by a challenging left turn to a brush corner before exiting the water. ©Amy K. Dragoo
Boyd Martin hugs Liz Halliday, after riding her former eventing partner Cooley Nutcracker, in the CCI5*-L dressage competition last Friday. ©Alana Harrison
Grand Prix dressage rider Silva Martin coaches her husband Boyd Martin while he and Commando 3 warm up for dressage competition. ©Alana Harrison
Great Britain’s David Doel celebrates after his third-place finish with Galileo Nieuwmoed in the CCI5*-L. ©Alana Harrison
Australia’s Sophia Hill flashes a smile while leading Humble Glory to the first jog last Wednesday. ©Alana Harrison
Katie Coleman, Will Coleman’s wife, slips Diabolo a treat for a job well done following show jumping on Sunday. ©Alana Harrison
Great Britain’s Harry Meade and his wife, Rosie Meade, chat with their team following show jumping. ©Alana Harrison
Great Britain’s David Doel shares a quiet moment with Galileo Nieuwmoed before the first jog last Wednesday. ©Alana Harrison
Like clockwork throughout this year’s three-day, the moment Caroline Pamukcu dismounted HSH Blake, her husband Deniz Pamukcu handed over daughter Blake. ©Alana Harrison
It looks like Deniz is going to have two horsewomen in his life. ©Alana Harrison
This cute pup was intent on catching all the cross-country action during Saturday’s CCI5*-L competition. ©Alana Harrison
Phillip Dutton and friend Joanie Morris enjoy a special moment following his and Possante’s show jumping round on Sunday. ©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!