<a href="https://evententries.com/#ShowCenterNy7IspNRvqnjxKn3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Early entries are already coming in</a> for the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Final - October&rsquo;s Morven Park 4*-L. Catching our eye was Boyd Martin.
Why? Well, not &ldquo;just&rdquo; because he is one of the USA&rsquo;s most successful eventers but also because he has a particular aptitude for four-star-longs; between 2008 and now, no one has tallied more wins at the level: 10. Australia&rsquo;s Shane Rose matches him but no one beats him. Here&rsquo;s the list: <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a74b275a-8597-409c-a6d8-c8fb2be8c43e.png?width=1268&amp;height=1444" alt="5 H Ih H Riders With the Most Cci4 L Wins Since 2008 (1)">
And one of Boyd&rsquo;s 4*-L wins was at Morven Park two years ago. A repeat effort this year would not only separate him from Shane on the win-count table, it would also earn Boyd a hefty portion of the $200,000 prize pot. I'm sure he wouldn't complain.&nbsp;
 <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/73c5afb7-8871-496c-959c-b7df2f098c75.png?width=1198&amp;height=1166" alt="35t Qv Boyd Martin S Ten Cci4 L Wins Since 2008">
When it comes to Morven Park, Boyd has venue familiarity going for him - he of course won the 4*-L but he&rsquo;s also had nine total international runs at the venue dating back to 2014. Plus, as of now, he&rsquo;s entered on three strong horses:
<h1 dir="ltr">1. Shanroe Cooley (10 YO)</h1>
Liz Halliday&rsquo;s mount Shanroe Cooley has only done one international with Boyd - a 3*-S which they won by adding just 3.6 XC time penalties to their dressage score. But, with Liz, Shanroe Cooley does have top-level experience. One of his best results was a 4th place finish at Tryon 4*-L (May 2024).&nbsp;
Shanroe Cooley has jumped clear in 20 of his 21 international XC runs, including six clears at the 4* levels (long &amp; short). And, of his 20 international SJ rounds, he&rsquo;s&nbsp;only knocked 3 rails (spread over three different courses).
<h1 dir="ltr">2. Miks Master C (13 YO)</h1>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/26ca95fb-2a87-4c52-b171-0ab54ca5b3a9.jpg?width=null&amp;height=null" alt="Miks Master C &amp; Liz Halliday at Kentucky 2024. Photo by Tilly Berendt.">
Miks Master C &amp; Liz Halliday. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Another of Liz Halliday&rsquo;s string being piloted by Boyd, Miks Master C has more top-level experience than Shanroe Cooley and is a four-time winner at the CCI4*-S level. He&nbsp;won the highly competitive Carolina 4*-S back-to-back, finishing on a 20.9 (2023) and a 22.5 (2024).
In 2023, on his very first 5* run (Kentucky), Miks Master C placed third by adding just 1.6 XC time penalties to his dressage score, finishing on a 28.5.&nbsp;
With Boyd, Miks Master C has only done one international: a 3*-S at Bromont. There, he and Boyd jumped clear in both the XC and SJ phases to finish 9th. It will be exciting to watch this pair at Morven and their EquiRatings win chance is likely to be high once all entries are in.
<h1 dir="ltr">3. Barney Rubble (11 YO)</h1>
Unlike Shanroe Cooley and Miks Master C, Barney Rubble has gone up through the international levels with Boyd but is the least experienced of Boyd&rsquo;s entries. He has done four 4* events. His first and only 4*-L was in Tryon this May where they got a 20 on cross country day but went on to add just 2.8 time penalties in the show jumping phase. Barney has been taken slow across the country on his previous 4* outings and I again think a confident, clean round will be Boyd&rsquo;s aim for Barney at Morven.
<h1>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h1>
The Final in a snapshot. For full Series details, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head to our quick guide</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e95e199-0e64-4508-aaa5-7039e5d08293.png?width=2160&amp;height=2700" alt="Final Snapshot for Open Eventing Blogs">
<h3>Current Series Standings (Aug 29, 2025):</h3>
See the full, updated series standings and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6322a623-cee0-440a-a66e-d0734fc72db4.png?width=722&amp;height=562" alt="Leaderboard After Rebecca Farm">
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
<hr>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Boyd Martin riding a bay horse over a cross country jump. Boyd has a determined look on his face.

Boyd Martin is one of the most successful 4*-L riders and he's entered for the Final

Main

Hello, silence, our old friend&hellip;&nbsp;
The summer stillness drags on as we head into late-August, with the leaderboard dormant and the Series on pause.
Eight of the top ten riders haven&rsquo;t competed in an international competition since May. That means current No. 1 Anna Marek, No. 2 Kristina Harrison-Antell, co-No. 2 Eline Eckroth, No. 5 Genay Vaughn, and others through the top ten haven&rsquo;t stepped foot into a CDI arena. Where have you gone, Anna Marek?
In fairness, FEI competitions on US soil all but vanish in the summer months. This leaves riders the option to stay home and train in their own arenas, travel locally for USEF shows, or fly abroad to test their mettle against international opponents.
Of course, downtime has its value: conditioning, fine-tuning, schooling, and perhaps most importantly, giving horses (and riders) a mental and physical break. Showing is exhausting, with its constant travel, early mornings, disrupted routines, and new atmospheres taxing both horse and human alike. So, save for a few restless travelers, most seem to be sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon this summer.&nbsp;
But, not everyone has been on pause. Two of the top ten have kept themselves sharp abroad: Evelyn Eger and Denielle Gallagher.
Eger &mdash; you&rsquo;ll remember she <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-8-recap-when-the-numbers-dont-tell-the-whole-story">led the Series</a> through much of the spring &mdash; has returned to Europe and competed in 14 FEI classes since her last Wellington appearance in March. Her summer string has included younger horses, but most notably her freestyle mount, Tabledance 3. The pair came first in a CDI5* in Munich, where they earned a 76.855% &mdash; a score just shy of their PB (77.235%) and two and a half points above their career average of 74%. A month later, the pair again earned first with an above-average score, this time at a CDIO4* Nations Cup in Sweden, earning 75.335%.
It remains a mystery whether Eger and the 12-year-old mare will return to the US in the fall for the Equestrian Open Final, but if they do, it&rsquo;s clear they will pose a threat to the riders competing on home soil.
Gallagher has not been able to capitalize on the same summer success as Eger. She has competed in France twice since we last saw her in Ocala with her 13-year-old Lusitano gelding, Come Back De Massa. Both outings fell below her average of 71.290%. Still, international arena experience is international arena experience. So while her results may not sparkle on paper, every unfamiliar arena adds mileage. That mileage may pay off in November, when the Florida-based pair make their first trip to Thermal, CA, for the Finals.
Outside of the top ten, only a few competitors have ventured quietly into summer competition. Felicitas Hendricks (No. 11) has one freestyle under her belt &mdash; a very strong 79.340% &mdash; in an under-25 competition in Kronberg. A strong result, yes, but an age-restricted junior division. Devon Kane (No. 13) competed at Hagen&rsquo;s CDI3* in June, but scored well below her average due to an unfortunate <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-podcast-devon-kane-on-freestyle-magic-life-on-the-move-and-why-vamos-wasnt-for-sale-after-all">floor plan issue</a> that omitted a required element and resulted in zeroes for the movement.
The rest of the leaderboard has remained muted&hellip; with one inevitable outlier (because of course there&rsquo;s an outlier &mdash; would sport be any fun without one?).
The one outlying pair, singing in an otherwise quiet field, is Ben Ebeling and Bellena. Our nation turns its lonely eyes to him.
Since we last saw them in May, Ebeling and Bellena have competed in seven FEI classes, including three at the World Cup Finals in June. And while their freestyle score in Aachen was below their average, the pair scored a new combination best of 76.615% at the prestigious Achleiten CDI in Austria this July. It was also a new career-best score for Bellena. Their time has come to shine.
Ebeling and Bellena have a freestyle average of 75.310%, a number that has grown steadily throughout their season. They debuted as a freestyle pair back in April and have impressed from the very first halt salute. Their recent win in Austria, topping a field of 12, only reinforced their status as a threat abroad &mdash; and soon, back home, too. At 14th on the leaderboard, Ebeling currently holds a Finals ticket. If he stays above the cutoff for the last three qualifiers, he could walk out of Thermal with a very large check in hand.&nbsp;
The Final is still nearly three months away, with qualifiers on hold until the famed Dressage at Devon in late September. But when the Pennsylvania moon rises over an open field, the silence of summer will finally break.
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Dressage</h2>
Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage">
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center">
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<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

The Sound of Silence

Fifteen Qualifiers done, five to go. Next up, in two weeks, is the Fork at Tryon (12 Sep). In the meantime, we thought we&rsquo;d summarize the Series scores so far and what it&rsquo;s taken to win.
<h1 dir="ltr">First up, finishing scores:&nbsp;</h1>
The best Qualifier score came from California&rsquo;s Tommy Greengard &amp; Joshuay MBF. In fact, the top three Series scores have come from West Coast events, including the only sub-30 finishes.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/619146cc-b142-4e70-89d5-fff9de035b4d.png?width=1156&amp;height=1858" alt="R Nho E Top 10 Finishing Scores in the Series so Far">
Tommy &amp; Joshuay produced their table-topping result by finishing on their dressage score (aka, getting an FOD) &ndash; one of just three combinations in the Series so far to do so.
<h2 dir="ltr">The three FODs in the Series so far:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li dir="ltr">Tommy Greengard &amp; Joshuay MBF- 26.9 at Aspen Farms (Qual 13)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Jessica Phoenix &amp; Fluorescent Adolescent - 40.4 at TerraNova (Qual 6)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Brooke Burchianti &amp; Cooley Space Grey - 46.0 at TerraNova (Qual 6)</li>
</ol>
Of all 256 Qualifier runs, Tommy Greengard &amp; Joshuay and Tamie Smith &amp; Mai Baum make up the just 1% who finished on a sub-30 score. Here&rsquo;s a breakdown of all 256 finishing results:
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8c74721b-93f7-424b-b5b3-2b97f6575950.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Wc 18 Aug Usef Article Images (3)">
&nbsp;
<h1 dir="ltr">Next, dressage scores:</h1>
With Will Coleman, Off The Record produced his best ever international dressage score (21.8) en route to winning Qualifier 10, the Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S (Kentucky). Off The Record&rsquo;s previous best had stood for five years - a 21.9 from the 2020 Great Meadow CCI4*-S.
It&rsquo;s his new PB that tops the Series dressage table so far:
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3f300e35-2427-406e-90b4-ffd6f6306085.png?width=1156&amp;height=1724" alt="B Br M8 Top 10 Dressage Scores in the Series so Far"> 
The top three dressage scores on the table &ndash; delivered by Will &amp; Off The Record, Tamie Smith &amp; Mai Baum, and Phillip Dutton &amp; Possante &ndash; make up the 1% of Series tests in the 25-or-lower scoring bracket. Here&rsquo;s how all 256 panned out:
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9f99b0ba-31bb-4b13-a56f-41f55de8a2a7.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Wc 18 Aug Usef Article Images (4)">
&nbsp;
<h1 dir="ltr">Lastly, winning profiles:</h1>
Winning scores across the 15 Qualifiers have ranged from 26.9 to 52.3 while the first-phase scores of winners have all been sub-37.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b0827104-b787-48a2-81db-482e9cdb2f90.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="winning scores summary - first 15 eventing qualifiers">
Looking at the detailed winning scores, six Series winners have knocked a rail in the show jumping phase and one even won with a frangible penalty (11 points) across the country. Thirteen different athletes have won a Qualifier; Caroline Pamukcu and Jessica Phoenix each took home two Series victories.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/91d6d5b4-9a8a-4936-b52e-400d55c1d2ac.png?width=1464&amp;height=2282" alt="W Y3m T the 15 Series Winners so Far">
<h1 dir="ltr">The current leaderboard</h1>
Those two wins by&nbsp;Caroline and Jess helped put them both in the top three on the all-important leaderboard standings. The top three spots will bring home the money so it&rsquo;s a handy place to be this far into the Series.
<h3 dir="ltr">Once all Qualifiers are wrapped up, here's how the prize money is divvied.</h3>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">1st place:&nbsp; $25,000</li>
<li dir="ltr">2nd place: $15,000</li>
<li dir="ltr">3rd place: $10,000</li>
</ul>
Then, there's an&nbsp;additional $200,000 up for grabs at the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Morven Park CCI4*-L Final this fall</a>.
<h3>Series Standings after the First 15 Qualifiers:</h3>
See the full series standings, and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6322a623-cee0-440a-a66e-d0734fc72db4.png?width=722&amp;height=562" alt="Leaderboard After Rebecca Farm">
<h1 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h1>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
<hr>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

A collage of photos featuring Tommy Greengard, Will Coleman and Caroline Pamukcu

Top Scores and What it Takes to Win: the Eventing Qualifiers So Far

From riding bareback in the fields of South Texas to competing on international stages, Devon Kane&rsquo;s journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of the US Equestrian Open Podcast, she talks about the rise of her freestyle partner Vamos, what it feels like to represent the U.S., and the unique rituals she shares with her husband, fellow Grand Prix rider <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/a-cool-breeze-a-fiery-freestyle-kohmann-and-dnee-shine-in-wellington" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Kohmann</a>, when either of them is about to step into a competition arena.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation below
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37806175/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/1787d4/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<hr>
<h3 data-start="852" data-end="893">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="593" data-end="651">From Backyard Quarter Horses to Grand Prix Freestyle</h3>
Kane grew up in South Texas, where horses were part of daily life but dressage was still a world away.
&ldquo;I grew up riding in a halter bareback in the field,&rdquo; she recalled. &ldquo;Then my best friend started doing hunter-jumpers, and I thought it was the coolest thing.&rdquo; A bad fall ended her jumping career early, but it led her to a dressage barn and to the discipline that fit her &ldquo;Type A&rdquo; personality perfectly.
Her career has since taken her to the biggest stages in the sport, including representing the U.S. in Nations Cups. She calls it &ldquo;a privilege, not a pressure.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h3 data-start="1586" data-end="1634">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1482" data-end="1525">A Partnership on Horseback and Beyond</h3>
Competing at the top level can be isolating, but Kane has the rare experience of sharing the journey with her husband. Kohmann is not only her partner in life but often her first line of support at the barn.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/30827512-7613-49ff-90b4-feb4dd8d37dd.PNG?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="&ldquo;One of our rituals is that as Kevin&rsquo;s getting on, I give the horse a sugar, the horse gets a kiss, Kevin gets a kiss, then he gets on,&rdquo; she explained.">
When both ride on the same team, that support system shifts. &ldquo;It was different, because I had to get ready, he had to get ready, and we couldn&rsquo;t always watch each other. That was tough, but it was also really special to be doing it together.&rdquo; It is a glimpse into how their relationship balances professional pressure with personal connection, and how that bond strengthens both riders in the ring.
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2191" data-end="2232">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1568" data-end="1608">Vamos: The Horse Who Almost Wasn&rsquo;t</h3>
When Kane bought Vamos, she knew he was talented but not yet ready for the top tier.
&ldquo;He was skinny and angular, and even Kevin [Kohmann, her husband] told me, &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know if he has what it takes.&rsquo;&rdquo;
She refused to sell, trusting the process. That faith paid off with a 75% freestyle in Wellington that ended the debate.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d81b58e1-3a22-4b91-992e-ef1a8987fe46.PNG?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="&ldquo;Kevin came out crying and said, &lsquo;You were right. I was wrong. The horse is not for sale.&rsquo;&rdquo;">
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2738" data-end="2780">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2740" data-end="2762">Under the Lights</h3>
Freestyles are Kane&rsquo;s favorite class, and Vamos thrives on them, especially at night.
&ldquo;He hears the music and the horse just [exhales],&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Those are his most relaxed tests."
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d998f54c-57f5-49ad-a35b-312b8d3ac6d1.PNG?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="&ldquo;Kevin came out crying and said, &lsquo;You were right. I was wrong. The horse is not for sale.&rsquo;&rdquo;">
Their newest freestyle blends Enrique Iglesias and&nbsp;Despacito, a nod to Kane&rsquo;s South Texas roots.
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2782" data-end="3076">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="3083" data-end="3113">Lessons from a Near Miss</h3>
In Hagen this summer, their debut with the new freestyle looked like a win until Kane learned she had accidentally omitted a required element. &ldquo;Two zeros took me from winning to last place,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Lesson learned. It won&rsquo;t happen again.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Dressage</h2>
Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage">
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center">
&nbsp;
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

New Podcast: Devon Kane on Freestyle Magic, Life on the Move, and Why Vamos Wasn’t for Sale After All

With just five qualifiers left in the US Equestrian Open Eventing series, all eyes are on Jessica Phoenix. Sitting 30 points behind Phillip in the standings, she has five of her six counting results on the board. One more strong result could turn the leaderboard on its head.
The equation is simple. In a qualifier with fewer than 25 starters, a win is worth 40 points, second place earns 35, and third place brings 30. Any podium finish would pull Jess level with Phillip&mdash;but the math just got more complicated.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/93c031f0-9df0-4f1d-8657-5faf25faabfb.png?width=874&amp;height=865" alt="Screenshot 2025 08 14 152111">
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Plantation Wild Card</h2>
Phillip has his sights set on the Plantation qualifier as his final tune-up before Morven Park, and this strategic move could shift the entire championship calculus. If he can secure first or second place at Plantation, he will extend his points buffer when Jess needs it to shrink.
While Jess is hunting for her breakthrough result, Phillip has the opportunity to slam the door before she gets her chance. A win at Plantation (40 points) would put him 70 points clear, making any single result insufficient for Jess to catch him. Even a second-place finish (35 points) would stretch his lead to 65 points, requiring Jess to win her next outing just to pull within 25 points of the lead.
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h2> Limited Options, Rising Pressure</h2>
September brings a packed run of qualified and Jess's potential path forward is narrowing by the week.&nbsp;
September
<ul>
<li>The Fork &mdash; 11th&ndash;14th</li>
<li>Plantation Field &mdash; 18th&ndash;21st</li>
<li>Twin Rivers &mdash; 19th&ndash;21st</li>
<li>Stable View &mdash; 25th&ndash;27th</li>
</ul>
October
<ul>
<li>Woodside &mdash; 3rd&ndash;4th</li>
</ul>
The west coast events Twin Rivers and Woodside are likely off her calendar, leaving just three venues where she can strike. But now she faces a ticking clock&mdash;every day Phillip gets closer to Plantation, her window of opportunity shrinks.
The historical numbers are not in her favor. Jess has not competed at any of the remaining venues since 2022, and the last time she stood on the podium at one of them was back in 2017. That's a long drought to break when the pressure is on.
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<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Competing Strings</h2>
Both riders come into the finale with serious firepower. Jessica has four horses&mdash;Freedom GS, Wabbit, Aeronautics, and Fluorescent Adolescent&mdash;that have already competed in US Open qualifiers this season. Phillip brings Denim, Possante, and Quasi Cool to match her stable strength, having recently handed the reins of Jewelent over to his daughter Olivia Dutton. This shift in horse allocation could prove pivotal. Jessica now holds the advantage in numbers (4 vs 3), giving her more options and chances to gain points and for the finale. 
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>But who is actually better?</h2>
The head-to-head battles this season between these combinations have been tight. At TerraNova in March, Jess took the win with Freedom GS and second place with Fluorescent Adolescent, while Phillip's Possante finished third and Denim back in sixth.&nbsp;
But the tables turned at the Kentucky CCI4*-S in April, where Phillip's Possante claimed second place, with Jessica and Freedom GS just behind in third, followed by Phillip's Denim in fourth&mdash;the perfect example of the razor-thin margins that separate these horses.
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<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>More Than Just Points</h2>
The battle between Phillip and Jess is not purely about bragging rights. The prize money for winning the series adds a tangible incentive. At this stage of the season, every second, every rail, and every point counts.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f698a19a-3030-4d6c-8ea4-7038546ee6e1.png?width=762&amp;height=757" alt="Screenshot 2025 08 14 152041">
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<hr>
<h2> The Final Question</h2>
Will Jess take the fight to Phillip now, striking before Morven Park? Or will she hold her ace until the series finale, risking it all in one high-pressure showdown? The countdown is on &mdash; the next few weeks will decide if Jess rewrites the story or if Phillip can hold onto his lead.
One thing&rsquo;s certain: Jess has got her sights set on Morven.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;And the Morven four-star long &mdash; we will bring almost every horse we have, because not only is it part of the US Open, but we truly believe it&rsquo;s one of the best venues in North America to produce event horses.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
Listen to Jessica Phoenix on the US Equestrian Open podcast.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36737995/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/4c414c/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

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