Britain’s Tom McEwen secured third place in the five-star dressage at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event with a score of 25.1. Elizabeth Barratt claimed third in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S class scoring 29.7. Both riders praised their horses after tests on 24 April.
Tom McEwen rode Brookfield Quality, owned by John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn, to a fluent and consistent performance. The horse, fifth here last year and nicknamed “Norris,” felt fresh and delivered a near foot-perfect round, McEwen said. “I’m so delighted, I thought we put everything out there. He couldn’t have given me more,” he added after the test on 24 April. Monica Spencer leads on Artist, with Tim Price second on Vitali in the five-star class. McEwen anticipates a challenging cross-country tomorrow over Derek di Grazia’s track, calling it a true five-star test. Harry Meade placed eighth with Grafennacht on 28.9 and tenth with Superstition, while David Doel and Tom Jackson sit 12th and equal 23rd respectively. In the CCI4*-S class, 20-year-old Elizabeth Barratt excelled with Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau, known as “Chaman” or “Big C,” a former Olympic horse for France. “I was absolutely thrilled. He was amazing,” she said, noting his love for crowds. The pair consolidated at three-star last year before stepping up. Barratt is part of the Rising Lions initiative with Isabelle Cook and Finn Healy, who scored 35.8 for 25th place.
