Harry Meade withdrew Amanda Gould’s Grafennacht before the final trot-up at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event on April 26 due to foot soreness after losing a shoe on cross-country. Jennie Brannigan’s FE Lifestyle was sent to the holding box but passed re-inspection. Twenty-three five-star pairs presented to the ground jury ahead of showjumping.
British rider Harry Meade chose not to present Grafennacht at the final horse inspection. The mare had finished equal 11th overnight with a 28.9 dressage score and 11.6 time faults. “She pulled off a front shoe early on course, and despite pulling up well she’s a little footsore this morning,” Meade said. He added that the horse comes first and thanked his team, noting she remains bright and perky. Meade’s other ride, Superstition, owned with Mandy Gray, passed in eighth place and advances to showjumping. Jennie Brannigan’s FE Lifestyle, owned by Nina and Timothy Gardner, went to the holding box after the initial trot but cleared re-inspection, trotted by Phillip Dutton due to Brannigan’s ankle injury. The pair sit 12th heading into showjumping. The ground jury—New Zealand’s Andrew Bennie, the USA’s Valerie Pride, and Finland’s Seppo Laine—reviewed 23 five-star entries, with four retirements and one elimination from cross-country the previous day. Alexander Conrad re-trotted Malibu Preacher on a looser rein and passed, while Tim Price’s Vitalil and Global Quest were presented by Carlos Parro owing to Price’s shoulder injury from a bike fall. In the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S, Britain’s Isabelle Cook on Cymoon “F” Z and Elizabeth Barratt on Ride for Thais Chaman Dumontceau passed first. Alexandra Knowles withdrew P.S. I Love You after it was held.
