Friday’s CCI5*-L dressage competition at the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event saw a complete leaderboard shake-up as New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and her rock-star 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Artist surged into first place on a personal best five-star score of 22.3, besting yesterday’s top three riders—Will Coleman and Diabolo (27.3), Phillip Dutton and Possante (28.1) and Tim Price and Global Quest (29.8).

While the hot-blooded Thoroughbreds sometimes find the dressage phase more challenging than their warmblood counterparts, “Max” was more than happy to show off his dressage prowess during the pair’s dynamic test on the second and final day of this year’s Kentucky dressage competition.

“I am particularly lucky to have Max in the dressage because he’s such a beautiful mover,” Spencer said. “And he’s quite an expressive horse in dressage for a Thoroughbred—he likes to throw his front legs around like he did today.”

Over the past year, Spencer has been working on finessing Max’s changes and improving his rhythm, and their due diligence paid off in the dressage ring today. “It was kind of like being on a roller coaster in there where everything’s coming up quick and you have to make sure you’ve got all your i’s dotted and t’s crossed,” she said. “He was giving me so much energy today, and luckily it all channeled in the right direction and the judges seemed to like it.”

Fellow New Zealander Tim Price and his longtime partner 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding Vitali also impressed in the dressage ring today to finish in second place on a score of 22.6, surpassing Price and Global Quest’s third-place score of 29.8 during yesterday’s competition. Great Britain’s Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality cruised into third on a score of 25.1, as all eyes turn to tomorrow’s cross-country competition.

Monica and Max Find Their Groove in Dressage

Even though Spencer partially attributed her and Max’s success in the dressage ring today to luck, their first-place finish was far from chance. The longtime partners’ dressage scores have been consistently notable and gradually improving over their past three five-stars—Kentucky 2025, Maryland 2025 and Kentucky 2026. Spencer says she’s been working on keeping Max more relaxed in his dressage warm-up and believes that’s been key in helping him perform his best in the phase.

“I try to keep him loose and soft in the warm-up and then just trusting that when we get in the arena, I can get that competition frame. He knows all the moves, so we don’t need to practice that much. It’s about keeping him happy and fit in his body,” she said. “That way, I can keep him fresh and when we go out there, I just push the button. After we did the ring familiarization earlier in the week, we’ve just been working on flushing out the nerves for him.”

Looking toward tomorrow’s cross-country course designed by Derek di Grazia, Spencer noted that it’s a fair, readable track for the horses but is also a true five-star test. “Derek’s built a great course, and there could be problems at any number of places. You’ve just got to keep your wits about you the whole way around. The ground is fast, so I think people will make the time,” Spencer, who’s adept at making the time especially with Max, said. “For cross country, it’s always quite nice to be on a fast horse, and there are plenty of gallop stretches tomorrow. I plan to just be focused on the minutes because on course I tend to be like, ‘Oh, Max, that was big hill … you can have a little rest now, whereas I know he’s fit enough, so I just need to keep going and rest at the end.”

As Spencer and Max left Rolex Arena today following their stellar dressage test, several youth volunteers approached to ask if they could meet and pet the gelding. “They complimented me on my test and told me how much they love the Thoroughbreds, too. I love to see people here who are so passionate about eventing and also love our horses who just give us so much in this sport,” Spencer said, dabbing a joyful tear.

Price and McEwen Slide Into Second, Third Going Into Cross Country

Price, who’s been partners with Vitali for about seven years, says their work on the flying changes might have just made the difference in their dressage score today. “I’m always a bit conservative and together for the changes, but today I was like ‘No, he’s got the changes, go on and do it.’ He’s such a craftsman and has such a good mind,” Price said. “He knows everything and has proven himself time and again, and especially as he gets older, I’m mindful that he gives what he’s got to give.”

This is consistent with Price’s overall training philosophy. “I don’t drill my horses in any way, shape or form. I want them to be supple and with me, but the healthier they are in their bodies, the more they’ll be able and want to do everything we’re asking,” he said. “It’s our job to ask the right questions and to give them the ability to answer. The more he’s feeling strong and ready, the more he’ll be able answer the questions.”

Price notes that it’s his job to help get Vitali to that place. “It’s been a big part of the plan this time. You’re always fiddling with the plan and getting a bit better at it year by year—another half-percentage improvement in the way that I can train and prepare horses slowly adds up,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot with him—we’ve had a lot of disappointments in terms of final results. But equally, he’s an incredible horse in so many ways. I’ve never given up on him. I think he’s got a big one in him at some point. We’ve really formed a good partnership where we understand each other. It’s just a matter of tinkering away to try to find something that’s going to help us be truly successful at this level.”

McEwen and Brookfield Quality also produced a quality dressage test on the second day of five-star competition. “He put everything out there. He couldn’t have given me more, so I’m thrilled,” McEwen said. “He knows absolutely everything. So it’s just about getting it right on the day. He’s feeling really good, probably the fittest he’s ever been. Once he gets in there, he’s an old boy who knows exactly what he’s up to. So it’s just for me to try and get the rhythm, the balance and to produce as good a performance as possible.”

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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.