Lifestyle Horse Country’s Guide to the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event April 21, 2025 In town for the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park? This annual event brings the best of the eventing world to the heart of Horse Country. There’s nothing quite like the elegance of dressage, athleticism of cross country and thrills of stadium jumping, plus, the shopping, vendor fair and demonstrations make this event a must-experience for any horse lover. While you’re in Lexington for the event, be sure to check out some of the other equine attractions and experiences nearby to make the most of your time in the Horse Capital of the World. We’ve put together a list of some stops to add to your Kentucky Three Day Event itinerary! Get your tickets to the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event There’s truly nothing like this special event. Each year, the world’s top eventing athletes converge on the Kentucky Horse Park to compete for the title.The Defender Kentucky Three Day Event is one of only seven CCI 5* events in the world, which is the highest level of the Olympic sport of eventing. The competition begins on Thursday, April 24 with the dressage phase, followed up by the cross country phase on Saturday, April 26 and the conclusion, stadium jumping on Sunday, April 26. Along with the eventing competition, the Kentucky International CSI5* show jumping competition will take place, Wednesday through Saturday, presented by our friends at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute!Learn more about this event and purchase tickets here. Attend Events & Demonstrations One of the best parts of the Kentucky Three Day Event is the opportunity to learn more through the events, demonstrations and clinics taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park and beyond. Two of our nonprofit members, New Vocations and the Secretariat Center, will be hosting exciting events during the weekend! The Secretariat Center, located on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park, is offering a Grooming Clinic on Friday, April 25 featuring some of the best grooms and equine care professionals in the industry. New Vocations is hosting their annual Open Barn & BBQ on Thursday, April 24, a fun evening featuring demonstrations, food trucks, live music and more. Go Racing at Keeneland Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington is wrapping up their Spring Race Meet this week, with racing on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Keeneland is a National Historic Landmark and one of the most prominent racecourses in the entire world, thanks to its great impact on the equine industry in Kentucky and beyond. Racing at Keeneland is often dubbed as ‘racing as it was meant to be’, and is a great way to immerse yourself in the sport of horse racing. Check out our Guide to Keeneland for some tips and tricks to make the most of your day at the races. Visit a Horse Farm Go behind the scenes at farms and facilities focused on providing top tier care to equines of all breeds and disciplines, immerse yourself in Kentucky’s Thoroughbred racing culture, or see a little bit of everything! We recommend checking out our list of the farms & facilities near the Kentucky Horse Park to easily add those to your schedule for the weekend, or browse all of our available tours by clicking here. Experience the best of Central Kentucky Lexington and the surrounding area has a little bit of something for everyone, whether you’re a bourbon aficionado, outdoor enthusiast or a food connoisseur. The food scene in Central Kentucky often focuses on locally-sourced and inspired meals, including spots like Wallace Station, Windy Corner Market and more. Along with horses, Kentucky is well known for its bourbon! The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is the ultimate source for all distillery tours and unique experiences relating to Kentucky’s native spirit. Our friends at VisitLex are a great resource to learn more about all that Lexington has to offer.
