April 24, 2026 
Moving day came early at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L with a whole new group of riders filling the top four slots at the close of dressage. And it’s experience that conquered the day.
U.S.-based Monica Spencer (NZL) and her OTTB, Artist, are familiar faces at the top of the podium. They held the top spot at the 2025 Maryland CCI5* until the show jumping and were in the hunt for the top at this same event last year. A beautiful and expressive mover, Artist puts to bed the concern that Thoroughbreds can’t be competitive at the top of the sport from day one, earning a 22.3 on a test studded with 9s for individual movements.
“It’s a PB at five-star. So hasn’t sunk in yet! I’m getting braver with my warm ups; letting him stay loose and soft, and just trusting that when I get in there, I can get that competition frame, and I don’t need to practice so I can keep him fresh, go out there, and push the button.,” Spencer said of her longtime partner.
“I enjoy riding him in the dressage, and I have had a few good Thoroughbreds over the years that have been good at dressage. I am particularly lucky with the way Max moves. He likes to throw his front legs around, and he did that today.”
The pressure, however, is realistic.
“I’d like to be as far ahead as possible, just in case. It’s a long week, and my attitude is very much that I just want to start on the best score I can. We all, I think, look at every day as very separate. With eventing, you can be a rooster one minute and a feather duster the next! So I just try to enjoy the moment and play to my horse’s strengths.”
Spencer’s teammate from across the pond, Tim Price (NZL) and his senior team horse, Vitali, occupy second position with a 22.6, separating him and Spencer only by 0.3 points. For the past two years, 16-year-old Holsteiner has made appearances at five star and Nations Cup events almost exclusively.
“It’s not his first rodeo,” Price laughed. “Experienced ones that have a lot of good balance, you can do something [the judges] can throw a few marks at, but it’s also quite risky, because you’re asking for more. I don’t think I’ve ever asked such changes out such a big canter! He’s just such a craftsman, and he’s got such a great body and mind for the job.”
The final podium spot holds a familiar face to the Kentucky CCI5*. Tom McEwen (GBR) has finished in the top 5 for the past three years and is on track for a repeat with a 25.1 aboard Brookfield Quality (aka Norris).
“I didn’t actually get to watching these two tests but from what I understand, they’re both stunning,” McEwen remarked.
“Realistically, I know what Norris can do, and all you can do is lay down your own and that’s what we did. So when they lay down a test that they have, it’s always going to be pretty tough to get that close to them, but he’s close enough. He’s an old boy that knows exactly what he’s up to. It’s for me to try and get the rhythm, the balance, and to show as good performance as possible.”
Paris Olympian Caroline Pamucku and HSH Blake are the top American combination, sitting in fourth on 26.6.
“I’m so lucky to ride him and have a special partnership,” she said. “Every time I get to ride him, he’s unreal. He gives me 200% every time I go in the ring, which do not many horses do. Leslie [Law, U.S. Eventing Chef d’Equipe and High Performance Manager] asked him before I went in, if he can be okay with applause. And I was like, he’s actually better. As soon as they start cheering, he goes into this next gear.”
Cross country day presents a course set by Derek di Grazia (USA) that promises to be more than meets the eye.
“There’s nothing ‘non five-star’ about it. He demands right through the course, Derek’s been very clever with putting the right kind of question at the right kind of place around the course,” Price mused on the cross country.
“Walking it just gives me that little feeling of nerves and excitement.”
Five star cross country commences at 1.30 pm EST and is streaming on Clipmyhorse.tv.
