April 26, 2026 
In the ups and downs of equestrian sports, it’s hard to think of an eventer who has experienced more highs and lows than Will Coleman in the past five years.
2021: wins the Aachen CCIO4* with Off The Record.
2022: wins team silver at the World Equestrian Games in Pratoni.
2024: withdraws Chin Tonics HS from the CCI4*-S on day one of Kentucky Three Day Event and is out of Olympic team consideration due to injury. Wins the same class with Diabolo. Is selected for the Olympic team with Off The Record, and named direct reserve with Diabolo. Competes with neither after making a tactical substitution only to have Diabolo develop an abscess at the Olympic venue.
2025: wins the Kentucky CCI4*-S with Off The Record in the spring. Loses the inaugural U.S. Open Champion of Eventing title at Morven Park due to an unlucky rail in the fall.
But Coleman embodies the maxim: you have to be in the position to lose in order to win.
“[Eventing is] such a hard game,” he said. “I always try to remind myself that I chose to do this. I love to do this. Results are not guaranteed. Nothing in life is guaranteed. You have to enjoy the journey, and there’s going to be rough bits.
“But every time I’ve been in a rough patch, I’ve always found a way to become a better person and better horseman, and so those down spells have really been what’s helped me become a better version of myself.”
On Sunday at the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three Day Event in Lexington, Coleman’s “better” version proved to be best one.
The penultimate pair in the podium deciding show jumping phase, teammate Caroline Pamukcu had just laid down a clear round to finish on 28.6 when he entered the stadium. Coleman and Diabolo could afford a time fault, but not a rail.
It felt like every person in the stands rode the course with him, barely breathing as he navigated Guilherme Jorge’s twisting track. When Coleman crossed the timers with only 0.8 time penalties to add to his dressage score, the crowd erupted into cheers.
He was guaranteed second place, at worst, with only one left to compete and a score of 28.1.
And then Monica Spencer (NZL), leader after dressage and cross country, cleared the path to the top step. She and Artist dropped an unfortunate three rails down and from first to seventh.
And with that Will Coleman etched his name the annals of K3DE history. Winner of the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three Day Event CCI5*-L. Second U.S. rider to take the title in the last 18 years. First pair to have won both the CCI4*-S (2024) and the CCI5*-L (2026) at The Best Weekend All Year.
Emotions were high.
“It is a surreal feeling. It’s something that I think we all dream about. Winning a five-star, in my opinion, is one of the hardest things to do,” said the newly minted national champion.
“I have so much respect for the sport, the horses, and the riders, that I really feel like it’s almost unfair that I’m the only one that gets to take home the win. But I’m overjoyed for my horse and all the people that are a part of his journey; my incredible owners, my family, my coaches, and our incredible group of staff that help us look after a large group of horses.
“Back at home, I wake up most days feeling like the luckiest guy in the world, and today I feel extremely lucky.”
Pamukcu and HSH Blake took reserve honors with their clear round, and the celebrations were swift and sweet in the ring as she fist-pumped her way back to the in-gate.
“I have so much more to learn, and every day I wake up in the morning, I try to be the best I can and try to do the best for my horses. Blake today really helped me out a lot. All the kudos goes to him. He’s such a special horse, and he really made up for everything that I lacked,” she said noting that horse holds such a special place in her heart she named daughter after him.
Third place went to David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed, climbing from 12th position on a 30.8 and adding nothing to that score.
“This weekend, it’s been absolutely magic!” Doel exclaimed. “He’s a bit of an unreal horse. He’s taken me around every Northern hemisphere five-star now, and been in the top 10 in all of them. It’s very rare to get all three phases right, all on one day. We pretty much nailed it this weekend.”
Coming from England, he had a virtual support team tuning in online.
“I kept trying to log on to ClipMyHorse, and I think [my family] were all kicking me out of my account. I had a very quick phone call with my dad at home and all the girls. They were, I’m afraid, willing a few poles down. Dad did say there’s a little bit of unsportsmanlike behavior, but I forgave them for that.”
The door was wide open all week. On Sunday in Lexington, Will Coleman had the skill, talent, and experience—along with just enough luck—to close it behind him.
