For the first time ever, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover will include a team challenge when it returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky from April 24-27, 2014.
The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will award $20,000 in prize money, while helping national teams prepare for the team competition at the 2014 World Equestrian Games next summer.
"This is the only Four-Star event in the Western Hemisphere," said Darren Ripley, President of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), producer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. "Since we attract so many international competitors it makes sense to host a team competition. And with the Eventing World Championships being contested at next year's World Equestrian Games, this is a great year to get it started!"
Teams will consist of either three or four entries. For countries with more than four competitors entered in the event, teams will be selected by each country's chef d'équipe. If there are fewer than three individuals from a country, teams may be formed by combining entries from two countries that have not already created a team. For example, a Canadian rider cannot be added to a team of two New Zealand riders if there is already a team of Canadian riders. However, an individual Australian rider can be added to the team of two New Zealand riders to form a New Zealand/Australian team.
The winning team will be the team with the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest placed individuals on the team. For the purpose of the final team ranking only, a team member who fails to complete the competition will be given a score of 1,000 penalties. Rosettes will be given to the top three teams and prize money will be awarded to the owners.
