The achievement acknowledges a year in which Martin demonstrated remarkable consistency across the sport's biggest stages. Among his seven international wins throughout 2025, Martin <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/mikki-dora-and-six-boyd-will-and-caroline-three-exciting-partnerships-from-the-us-equestrian-open-eventing-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed victory in the inaugural US Equestrian Eventing Open Final</a> at Morven Park aboard Miks Master C.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dafa659e-8368-4605-9714-ddddb542436a.jpg?width=1016&amp;height=1366" alt="Boyd Martin League 290">
Martin recorded a total of 24 top-five FEI finishes with 11 different horses during the season. This included three podium places at five-star. Cooley Nutcracker was third at Pau. Commando 3 was second at Kentucky and third at Maryland. Commando 3 proved to be a very reliable player throughout the year, clocking multiple podium finishes. These results include a win at an early US Open qualifier at Stable View, contributing points to the series leaderboard, ultimately concluding with Martin <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjJS4kDKxX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winning the overall series,</a> as well as the final event.
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjJS4kDKxX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/64afa3c8-e29a-466b-a9c7-301d62573412.png?width=1022&amp;height=926" alt="Blog Cover Boyd Martin (1)"></a>
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Boyd Martin grew up in Australia to an Australian father and an American mother. In his acceptance speech at the Pegasus Awards on Thursday night, he recalled when his parents brought him to get his American passport as a child: &ldquo;At the time I thought, &lsquo;why the heck would I ever need an American passport&rsquo;... little did I know that that decision would ultimately change my life&rdquo;.
As a young rider, Martin made the move across the world from Australia to America. He said in his speech: &ldquo;I always wondered how I'd compare to the best in the world&rdquo;. 
This year, he proved that he&nbsp;is the best in the world. A defining moment of Boyd Martin&rsquo;s phenomenal 2025 season came at the beginning of May, when he became the first American eventing athlete to hold the No. 1 spot at the top of the FEI World Rankings in 21 years. He finished the year ranked globally as No. 2 with 537 points and will surely be fighting to get back on top in 2026.
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Martin has been an important member of the Defender US Eventing Team for many years. In 2025, he helped them to earn their third consecutive podium place at CHIO Aachen. Aachen is set to host the World Championships in 2026. Team USA will be eying up that gold medal, having taken home the silver at last World Championships in Pratoni in 2022.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f74880b9-1269-4a4f-a18c-2770ae816486.jpg?width=5518&amp;height=4059" alt="2026 Iw Annual Meeting 135">
Speaking on his representing America, Martin said, &ldquo;In 2010, I was faced with one of the hardest decisions of my life and it was to change my nationality to represent America. I soon realized when I got to America that this is my home. I also wanted to support the country that was supporting my career. I also felt it was wrong for the owners that had poured so much support into me, being a rider with a different flag. It was the greatest decision I ever made&rdquo;.
Boyd Martin is a proud representative of America and a worthy recipient of the International Equestrian of the Year award. We look forward to seeing him contest the US Equestrian Open Series in 2026.
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Hear from Boyd Martin on winning the 2025 Series of US Equestrian Open of Eventing on The US Equestrian Open Podcast.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
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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>.

Boyd Martin: USEF International Equestrian of the Year

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The Open Weekly graphic featuring an image of Boyd Martin on his horse. 

The Open Weekly: This Week’s Results, Leaderboard Moves, and What’s Next

Qualifier 4 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage takes place this weekend at the Gold Coast Opener, held at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center&mdash;just fifteen minutes down the road from Wellington International and the Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival. The drive is short, but the atmosphere is entirely different. Where Wellington delivers international stars and polished spectacle, Gold Coast is run by the Gold Coast Dressage Association, an organization focused on education and the development of amateur sport.
The show offers a notably more relaxed environment to contest an FEI freestyle, particularly for horses still establishing themselves at the level. This season&rsquo;s Open Series also requires only four qualifying freestyle runs rather than six, making low-pressure starts like this quite useful, even if the immediate stakes remain modest with 20 points available to the winner in a field of seven.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Known Quantities</h2>
Charlotte Jorst returns to a venue that has treated her exceptionally well. The top amateur rider in the United States, Jorst has represented the US on championship teams and finished seventh at last year&rsquo;s Open Final in a competitive field. She won this leg a year ago with Zhaplin Langholt, posting a 73.985 percent&mdash;one of the strongest scores of her career and just shy of the pair&rsquo;s personal best. Gold Coast has historically suited them, and in a field like this, Jorst enters as the clear favorite. A new personal best is not out of the question.
Ellesse Gundersen is the only other rider in the field who has already logged a Series start this season, and that first result is worth a closer look. Gundersen and Quintessential 4 made their FEI freestyle debut in December at Ocala, opening the 2026 season with a fourth-place finish in a field of eight. That alone is a solid start for a debut international freestyle.
But look at who they finished ahead of. Their 72.350 percent beat <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-and-bellena-save-their-best-for-last" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reigning Equestrian Open champions</a> Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena. Now, were Ben and Bellena operating at full capacity? No, probably not. They'd just won a $200,000 championship and had nothing to prove. But it is still an achievement worth noting for Gunderson. That single score also sits above Jorst&rsquo;s current 11-run FEI freestyle average. Yes, it is a sample size of one, making it futile to draw any statistically meaningful conclusions. Still, expect Gundersen near the top of this class. She may even give the favorite a real run for her money.
<h2 dir="ltr">Different Kinds of Firsts</h2>
Beyond the favorites, several combinations here are riding their first freestyle of one kind or another.
Sylvia Gugler and Vulkano 14 headline that group with the horse&rsquo;s first freestyle appearance of his career. Gold Coast offers a sensible setting for that step, and the emphasis this weekend is undoubtedly on completing the test.&nbsp;
Caleb Scroggins and Villanelle follow in a similar vein, though with a slightly different kind of first. While the pair have competed nationally, this marks Villanelle&rsquo;s first FEI freestyle, making the class an opportunity to gain experience at the international level.&nbsp;
Finally, Frederic Wandres brings a third variation. Zara K 2 will contest only his second freestyle overall, and the first with Wandres in the tack.&nbsp;
This week&rsquo;s field is typical Gold Coast. It&rsquo;s a place where established combinations can return to familiar footing, newer partnerships can test a freestyle for the first time, and the class itself is allowed to unfold without much pretense attached.
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <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;

Close up of chestnut horse's head and neck in a dressage double bridle

Charlotte Jorst Is the Favorite at Gold Coast

As we look forward to the 2026 season, four US-based combinations have established themselves as serious prospects for this year's US Equestrian Open series. These nine-year-old horses and their riders have built impressive records over the past two years and are ready to make their mark at the highest level.
The Elo is EquiRatings' overall performance rating that measures a horse's performance across all three phases - the higher the number, the stronger the horse. Here are the top-rated US nine-year-olds heading into 2026.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9c092754-1442-430e-806c-811f2979a658.png?width=1472&amp;height=950" alt="N Ty Xq the Highest Rated Us Nine Year Olds Based on the Equiratings Elo ">
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<h3 dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/16cadbb1-e935-45da-aa17-c0cf08e41609.jpg?width=3744&amp;height=2496" alt="Sch 4232 Photo Credit to Sherwood Holmes for Liz Crawley Photography"></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">Cooley Corraghy Diamond &amp; Kimberly Severson (555 Elo)</h3>
At the top of the table is Cooley Corraghy Diamond on an Elo of 555. The nine-year-old gelding has been a model of consistency, never placing outside the top 10 across his international finishes in 2024 and 2025. His jumping record is nearly flawless; he&rsquo;s been clear cross-country every time, with no showjumping round accumulating more than four faults.
The partnership have already tackled four-star competition, with four starts at CCI4*-S level including a runner-up finish at Tryon in May 2025. These impressive results suggest Kim and Cooley Corraghy Diamond are ready for the US Open's demanding tracks.
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<h3 dir="ltr">That's Me Z &amp; Tommy Greengard (516 Elo)</h3>
That's Me Z finished in the top 20 at the Le Lion d'Angers 7-Year-Old World Championships. The gelding backed up that performance with a strong 2025 campaign as an eight-year-old, completing four events at CCI4*-S level and claiming three podium finishes.
Tommy and That&rsquo;s Me Z deliver when it counts. With championship experience and consistent four-star results already on their record, this combination could be one to watch as a nine-year-old in 2026.
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<h3 dir="ltr">Conner &amp; Isabelle Bosley (496 Elo)</h3>
Conner has yet to step up to four-star, but his three-star resume speaks volumes. The gelding closed out 2025 with a win at Maryland's CCI3*-L, posting the highest HPR of the year (96) at three-star-long on US soil. The 2025 season delivered three international wins and one runner up finish, with clear showjumping rounds every time out.
Isabelle has built a partnership with winning form. If they make the move to four-star in 2026, they'll arrive with a proven track record.
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<h3 dir="ltr">MBF Silver Bridge &amp; Caroline Pamukcu (491 Elo)</h3>
Despite a cross-country retirement at their first international event of 2025, MBF Silver Bridge bounced back to finish in the top 10 at every subsequent start. The nine-year-old gelding consistently delivered sub-30 dressage scores and never had more than four showjumping faults across the season.
The horse is in capable hands; Caroline finished third in the US Equestrian Open series last year. While they have yet to tackle four-star, the consistency and quality suggest they could be ready to make that step in 2026.
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<h3 dir="ltr">Looking Ahead</h3>
These four combinations have proven themselves at three-star level and are emerging at four-star. With the horses now in their nine-year-old season, we could potentially see them challenging for US Equestrian Open qualifiers in 2026.
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<hr>
<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.
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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>.

This Year's 9-Year-Olds on Track for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing

Qualifier 3 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage concluded Friday night in Wellington with a result that felt both <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-3-preview-get-used-to-hearing-about-indian-rock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected</a>, yet historic. Christian Simonson and Indian Rock delivered an 81.445 percent Grand Prix Freestyle, setting a new personal best for the pair and the highest score recorded in Open Series history to date.
The win marked Simonson&rsquo;s second victory of the season and extended an eight-start winning streak that now spans multiple venues and levels. While Indian Rock has scored higher in the past with his previous rider, Emmelie Scholtens, Friday&rsquo;s test represented a new high point for this partnership, one that continues to progress at a notable pace.
From the opening line, the freestyle had a sense of ease that carried through the test. That impression was reflected across the panel, with all five judges placing the combination first and awarding marks that reinforced both the technical quality and overall impression. The final score edged past Simonson and Indian Rock&rsquo;s previous Open Series record of 81.405 percent, set last season.
A day earlier, Simonson and Indian Rock scored 76.043 percent in the Grand Prix, the highest mark by an American rider at that level since Adrienne Lyle and Salvino posted 77 percent on the same grounds three years ago. Together, the two scores place Simonson and Indian Rock atop a small but growing group of younger American riders now producing internationally competitive numbers with increasing regularity.
The result also carried practical consequences. With the win, Simonson and Indian Rock clinched their qualification for the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas this spring, becoming the first American combination to do so this season. It is another milestone in what has been a rapid ascent for the 23-year-old rider, who climbed from No. 151 to No. 15 in the world rankings this month, now the highest-ranked American rider globally.
&ldquo;At the end of the test I was shaking my head in absolute disbelief,&rdquo; Simonson said.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Since I started riding, I&rsquo;ve been coming to this show and always hoped that one day I could do Friday Night Stars because it&rsquo;s the epitome of amazing dressage freestyles in Florida. So, on that last centre line, I was just thinking, &lsquo;Whoa, this is me doing this with the Indian Rock. I can&rsquo;t believe it.&rsquo;&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Behind the winners, Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino finished second on 75.790 percent, backing up their December win in California with a solid result in a deeper field. Ashley Holzer and Hawtins San Floriana took third on 75.010 percent, narrowly ahead of Caroline Darcourt and Lord Django, who posted a 74.695 percent freestyle at the venue where they once set their career high.
With three qualifiers now complete, the Open Series leaderboard has begun to take shape. Simonson leads with 40 points, followed by Vaughn on 30, while the remaining positions reflect a mix of single starts and early-season exploration.
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<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <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;

Christian Simonson on Indian Rock in the trot in Wellington Florida

Boyd Martin: USEF International Equestrian of the Year

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Boyd Martin: USEF International Equestrian of the Year

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