Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Diabolo championed a historic day at the Kentucky Horse Park, topping the leaderboard of the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L presented by MARS Equestrian. Today marked the second time in just three years a U.S. combination has won the event after a previous 15-year drought of a home winner. The pair were impeccable throughout the competition, adding only time penalties in the show jumping phase to their dressage score to complete the weekend on a 28.1. As the highest-placed U.S. combination, the pair also claimed the 2026 Defender/USEF CCI5*-L National Championship presented by Mars Equestrian. Fellow U.S. combination, Caroline Pamukcu (Springtown, Pa.) and HSH Blake finished in second place overall, just behind Coleman and Diabolo on a 28.6, while David Doel (GBR) and Galileo Nieuwmoed completed the week in third on a 30.9.

Photo – Will Coleman and Diabolo (©US Equestrian)

“It’s a surreal feeling and it’s something I think we all kind of dream about – winning a five-star, which in my opinion, is one of the hardest things to do,” said Coleman, reflecting on today’s monumental victory. “It’s one of the hardest things to do in equestrian sport and I sort of feel like we all deserve to win because it’s such a hard game, this sport. It takes so long to really get good enough at it to possibly contend in one of these things.”

Impressive Debut

In an impressive debut at the level as a partnership, Coleman and Diabolo, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Roulett M), owned by the Diabolo Group and cared for by Erin Jarboe, were unstoppable in their quest for their first five-star victory, building on their results after each phase. Of the pair’s consistency in performance throughout the week, Coleman noted that his relationship with Diabolo has only continued to grow and strengthen since adding him to his string in 2023.

“I always thought he would get there, but his route was unique, I would say. Katie and I, and our owners, and all the people involved, coaches; we all had a high opinion of this horse and felt like he had a high ceiling,” noted Coleman. “He struck me as a winner from the first time I laid eyes on him. Not saying it wasn’t a challenging road, but this horse has a real eagerness to him that if we could channel it the right way, we always felt like he was capable of incredible things.”

Starting off the week with a very competitive dressage score of 27.3 to seat them inside of the top five, the pair were one of only four combinations to finish inside of the optimum time on Derek di Grazia’s (USA) challenging cross-country track yesterday, which Coleman noted was a testament of his faith in Diabolo’s confidence and character.

“This horse has a real conscience. I always feel like he wants to do his best and I think as a rider, that gives you tremendous peace of mind knowing that your horse is going to go in there and really try for you,” he explained. “He’s an amazing athlete and I felt really good about him all day. He’s just a really, really special horse. He hasn’t really had many opportunities, but he’s made the most of the ones that he’s had.”

Genuine Appreciation

As always, Coleman’s graciousness and genuine appreciation for his horse, support team, owners, was undeniable, as today’s victory marks a career milestone in a long and arduous journey to reach the top of the podium at a CCI5*-L event. Winning a CCI5*-L is a career-defining moment for any athlete, and Coleman’s win today marks the second U.S. victory at Kentucky in the last three years, and the first time-ever the same U.S. combination has won both the CCI4*-S (2024) and CCI5*-L in their career.

“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 mostly 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,” said Coleman.

Aboard her Paris 2024 Olympic Games partner, HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass) owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline and Deniz Pamukcu, and cared for by Chloe Tehan, the duo kept things close to the very end. Pamucku jumped a clear round on the final day to keep the pressure on and secure a guaranteed podium finish. Their finish in second place marked Pamukcu’s highest-ever finish at a CCI5*-L event, with the pair also completing the weekend on a personal best score at the level of 28.6. In HSH Blake’s debut in five-star competition last fall, the pair nearly jumped to a finish on the podium and ultimately took fourth at the 2025 Maryland Five Star CCI5*-L. With their improved result today, Pamukcu noted that “Blake” only continues to give as the pair gain more invaluable experience together.

Really Proud

“I’m really proud of both horses. I try every day to be the best person I can and it’s a hard sport and I have so much more to learn,” said Pamukcu. “Blake really helped me out a lot today, so truthfully all the kudos go to him. He’s such a special horse. He really made up for everything that I lacked in that arena today as his rider.”

As the second highest-placed U.S. combination behind Coleman and Diabolo, Pamukcu and HSH Blake were recognized as reserve national champions in the 2026 Defender/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship.

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