<p dir="ltr"><strong>Laine Ashker</strong> won the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle at last year's Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival, and she and <strong>Zeppelin</strong> posted their personal best of 73.015% doing it. Saturday, she returns to the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington to defend both.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ashker currently sits 43rd on the Series leaderboard with 8 points from one qualifier. A win at MADFest would move her to 22nd &mdash; still outside the top-18 cutoff for the CDI5* Final, but inside the range where qualification becomes a realistic conversation. The 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding has been consistent across six FEI starts, averaging 70.876%, and his best work came on this footing, in this ring.</p>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-uGCLQ" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: MADFest CDI3*" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/uGCLQ/1/" height="381" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<p dir="ltr">The challenger is <strong>Ali Potasky</strong> and <strong>Inxs</strong>, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood who carries the field's highest average at 71.995%, but across just two FEI starts. Numbers do not lie, but it remains a question how predictive that two-run sample size can be. Potasky is 41st on the leaderboard with 9 points, so a win here would also jump her into 22nd.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle goes Saturday at the Virginia Horse Center. Live stream available on the <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18601/mid-atlantic-dressage-festival-lexington-cdi3">USEF Network</a>. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to watch the action.&nbsp;</p>

Ashker and Zeppelin in a Winner's Cooler at MADFest 2025

Ashker Returns to MADFest to Defend CDI3* Freestyle Win

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<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The 2026 Series actually began back in the fall of 2025, with&nbsp;<strong>Lucienne Bellissimo &amp; Dyri</strong> winning Qualifier 1 at Bouckaert and <strong>Will Coleman &amp; Diabolo</strong> taking Qualifier 2 at TerraNova. If you missed those, <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-story-so-far-of-the-us-equestrian-open-of-eventing">the full story is here.</a></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Here's everything that's happened in 2026.</p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Qualifier 3: Bouckaert</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Connor</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Pamukcu built the win slowly: fourth after dressage, third after show jumping, then fractionally faster cross-country than the combinations ahead. <strong>HSH Connor's </strong>ninth consecutive show jumping clear (has since gone on to a 10th), stretching back to 2023. It was Pamukcu's eighth CCI4*-S career win (now has had nine) across five different horses. She also placed fourth and sixth with her other two rides, opening the season on 80 points in a tie with Lucienne Bellissimo.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f62ed9be-1b87-48d8-9f83-3c108686b505.png?width=697&amp;height=849" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 14 114747"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Qualifier 4: Carolina International</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Tamie Smith &amp; Lillet 3</strong></h3>
<p>Smith swept the weekend: three different classes, three different wins. <strong>Lillet 3</strong> came closest to the cross-country time to win a big and competitive 4*-S. It was their fifth win together, and a real telling of their prestige ahead of Kentucky. Pamukcu's second and seventh-place finish across two rides added 65 points in a single weekend, moving her to 145 and 50 clear at the top.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dd930ea2-2769-49c5-8b9a-27d58be6c6a8.png?width=700&amp;height=855" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 14 114725"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Qualifier 5: TerraNova</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Colleen Loach &amp; FE Golden Eye</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">After a year away from international competition, <strong>FE Golden Eye</strong> returned with a 2-for-2 record: a 3*-S win at Bouckaert, and then the TerraNova 4*-S qualifier. Both times adding nothing but a few cross-country time penalties to his dressage score. It was Loach's first result on the Open leaderboard, and with 26 starters in the field she banked 50 points rather than the 40 that one fewer starter would have produced.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/04d588eb-9bcd-4c48-a591-0b63de6ec89d.png?width=700&amp;height=856" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 14 114652"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Qualifier 6: Galway Downs</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Tommy Greengard &amp; Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Greengard did earn the 75 points predicted, just not quite how anyone expected. <strong>That's Me Z,</strong> the weekend favorite, finished second after activating a pin on cross-country day despite posting the fastest XC round. Instead, four-star debutant <strong>Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad </strong>took the win on a composed three-phase performance. Greengard manager a 75-point haul in his first Open qualifier of 2026.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c4dee390-708e-4cd6-955a-1bb1d697e12c.png?width=700&amp;height=850" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 14 114536"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Qualifier 7: Stable View</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Lucienne Bellissimo &amp; Dyri</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Bellissimo led from start to finish, finishing on her dressage score of 27.7 to become just the fourth combination in Stable View history to achieve it across nearly 400 starters. She also finished ninth with <strong>Kitsch Couture HPK.</strong> The gap from first to second on the Series leaderboard shrank from 50 points to five overnight. Pamukcu 145, Bellissimo 140.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/be1c7cef-a41b-4b75-acb4-90d982ca6158.png?width=907&amp;height=1105" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 07 122810"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Qualifier 8: Twin Rivers</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Karen O'Neal &amp; Clooney 14</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>James Alliston </strong>had won six consecutive runnings of Twin Rivers. Without Alliston's entry in 2026, O'Neal and <strong>Clooney 14</strong> wrote their names into its history instead, leading from dressage through to the finish. It was <strong>Clooney 14's </strong>third CCI4* win. The leaderboard at the top was unchanged: Pamukcu 145, Bellissimo 140.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/956d3444-638f-4bf3-b9e5-faeda66871b2.png?width=702&amp;height=853" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 14 114445"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Qualifier 9: Ocala</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Tamie Smith &amp; Jump To Day D</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Smith and <strong>Jump To Day D</strong> (in just his second four-star) won the Ocala CCI4*-S and did it with an FOD, finishing on their dressage score of 31.5. Just four combinations in the event's history had ever achieved it and Smith became the first at the current location of the event. She also placed fifth with<strong> Spiro P</strong> on his four-star debut.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7c7ce645-0353-48a5-aac3-7d21f9406bce.png?width=904&amp;height=1099" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 20 121920 (1)"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Qualifier 10: Fair Hill</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Double Sixteen</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Pamukcu and <strong>HSH Double Sixteen</strong> made the Fair Hill cross-country time (only the second combination in the venue's history to do so across 143 starters) and finished on their dressage score of 37.7. After a weekend that produced an FOD in both Ocala and Fair Hill, Pamukcu moved to 185. <strong>Boyd Martin's</strong> second and third place finishes at Fair Hill moved him to 160.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ef9a66bc-eb44-48d3-be94-4999cfa7cb14.png?width=703&amp;height=850" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 14 113950"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Q</strong><strong>ualifier 11: Kentucky</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Tamie Smith &amp; Lillet 3 (again)</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Tamie Smith </strong>entered as a heavy favorite across her three rides, but it was the Carolina qualifier winner, <strong>Lillet 3, </strong>who came out on top. The fastest cross-country round of the day, followed by the only clear inside the time in the show jumping. Back-to-back qualifier wins for Smith, who moved to 205 points and into the Series lead for the first time, 20 clear of Pamukcu.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4dda56bd-176d-4a1d-b81b-88a86335dd70.png?width=697&amp;height=846" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 28 114843"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Qualifier 12: Tryon</strong></h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Tamie Smith &amp; Danito</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Three in a row. Smith and <strong>Danito</strong> posted a 19.5 dressage score: a new all-time Series record across 607 starts, and the best test recorded internationally at any level in 2026 from over 5,000 FEI tests worldwide. The Tryon venue record of 24.6 had stood since 2020. Smith beat it by more than five penalties and held on to win despite a cross-country course that has never seen a clear inside the time. <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2e8eae00-a8e2-4c13-ab2b-cd40706268df.png?width=910&amp;height=1093" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 12 110148"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Twelve qualifiers covered. A leaderboard that has changed hands three times. The Series resumes at&nbsp;<strong>Qualifier 13 at Aspen Farms on June 11th</strong>.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c69a19fe-357b-49b3-8a87-10cdd8b0d124.png?width=682&amp;height=781" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 13 223822"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
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Series recap graphic with winner posters on it

Twelve qualifiers in. Here's what's happened so far.

<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Eventing: Smith makes it three in a row at Tryon</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Next Qualifier: </strong>Aspen Farms (June 11th) <strong>| The Final:&nbsp;</strong>Morven Park 4*-L, Virginia (October 8th)</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Tamie </strong>Smith &amp; <strong>Danito</strong> won the Tryon International CCI4*-S making it a third consecutive qualifier win for Smith and another 50 points banked. The weekend began with a dressage score that turned a number of heads.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Smith &amp; Danito</strong> posted a<em> 19.5 </em>- a new all-time dressage record in the US Equestrian Open Series across 607 starts, and the best test recorded internationally at any level in 2026 from over 5,000 FEI tests worldwide. The previous Tryon venue record of 24.6 had stood since 2020. Smith beat it by more than five penalties. For the full story on that number and what it means, read our deep dive <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/tamie-smith-danito-set-a-new-series-dressage-record-at-tryon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">What the dressage lead couldn't guarantee was the win - no previous Tryon CCI4*-S winner had led after dressage, and the cross-country has never been beaten on time. Smith held on regardless, finishing on 27.9 to take the class. <strong>Will Coleman</strong> <strong>&amp;</strong> <strong>Off The Record</strong> finished second, with <strong>Boyd Martin &amp; Shanroe Cooley</strong> third.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYM7ELIkVyr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2e8eae00-a8e2-4c13-ab2b-cd40706268df.png?width=910&amp;height=1093" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 12 110148"></a></p>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>The Series Picture</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Smith extends her lead to 235 points. Coleman climbs to second on 215 after his Tryon result.<strong> Boyd Martin</strong> moves into third on 190 with <strong>Shanroe Cooley's</strong> 40-point haul. <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong>, who didn't enter at Tryon, drops two spots to fourth on 185. <strong>Lucienne Bellissimo</strong> moves to fifth on 175 as <strong>Kitsch Couture HPK</strong> finished fourth added 35 points.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYMwv_aDAeJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/977223d3-e79a-464c-85c6-500df37672ba.png?width=841&amp;height=520" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 12 105842"></a></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Series now takes a short break before heading west to Aspen Farms on June 11th.<br><br></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/eventing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e6b627a3-4fce-4bbf-8314-5c8c2402cd3e.png?width=1080&amp;height=158" alt="Read More Eventing"></a></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Dressage: USEF Nationals calls seven of the top ten to Ocala. Lexington is wide open.</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Next Qualifier: </strong>Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival&nbsp;(May 14)&nbsp;|<strong> The Final:&nbsp;</strong>Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November 13)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Seven of the top ten Series riders are in Ocala this week for the 2026 USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship and while the event carries no Series points, the stakes extend well beyond a national title. Nationals is a mandatory stop on the road to U.S. team selection for the FEI World Championships in Aachen this August. If you want to be considered for a team spot, you have to compete here. <strong>Ashley Holzer, Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn, Ellesse Gundersen, Jennifer Williams, Kevin Kohmann, Christian Simonson, &amp; Devon Kane</strong> are all in the field.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://us.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/dressage/708" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1371f0e1-b365-44bc-a49d-0ded19c90c81.png?width=1098&amp;height=1164" alt="0t C X7 Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage  (1) (1)"></a></p>
<p dir="ltr">That leaves the Series leaderboard somewhat exposed this weekend. The Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival in Lexington, Virginia is this weekend's Open qualifier, and the riders who didn't make the Nationals cut will have the top of the field largely to themselves.&nbsp;<strong>Claire Darnell</strong> is the one top-ten rider neither in Ocala nor back in Europe - if she makes the trip to Lexington, it could be a significant weekend for her Series position.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Jumping: Three of the world's best nine-year-olds are flying the US flag<br></strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Right now, three of the five highest-rated nine-year-olds in the world are US-based horses with all three having competed at the Kentucky International CSI5*. With the World Championships this summer and Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, the timing could not be better for the US to have a number of rising stars.<br><br>The EquiRatings Elo rating tracks how a horse performs against elite opposition over time. Every result either adds to or subtracts from their score depending on who they beat and who beats them. Quality of winning matters as much as winning itself.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b3658559-2737-4134-a8f1-5ede1cf285a0.png?width=1069&amp;height=649" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 12 122350"></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Descartes SR (Kent Farrington, Elo 693)</strong> has been the story of the spring. Sourced from Mexico, he won the Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix on his five-star debut before going into to a podium finish at CSI5* Grand Prix in Monterrey, Mexico in May. Two great 5* Grand Prix results in the space of a month for a nine-year-old. Farrington has described him as an exceptional talent and the results are making that case without any help.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Riesling van de Gaathoeve</strong> <strong>(Mckayla Langmeier, Elo 676) </strong>was previously campaigned by Shane Sweetnam before Langmeier took over the ride this year. At Kentucky she finished eighth in the CSI5* Grand Prix with just a single time fault, a solid performance at the highest level in only her first season with the ride. They are a combination to watch as their partnership progresses.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4f640b1e-0b72-4a41-b698-be3a4b96daf7.jpg?width=1772&amp;height=1181" alt="Mckayla Langmeier &amp; Riesling Van De Gaathoeve &copy;sportfot J B2 0760"><strong><em><em style="font-size: 90%; color: #999999;">Mckayla Langmeier &amp; Riesling van de Gaathoeve jumping at WEF Week 2.</em></em></strong></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Chagrin d'Amour (Lillie Keenan, Elo 674)&nbsp;</strong>announced himself as a serious competitor when he won Sparkassen Youngster Cup Final at CHIO Aachen last year. This year, one of their biggest results was their double-clear rounds to help the Trelawny Trailblazers claim victory in the $200,000 CSI5* MLSJ Team Competition at the Kentucky International. This is just one of Keenan's top horses as she quietly builds one of the strongest strings in the US right now.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Three horses, all nine years old, all performing at the sharp end of five-star competition. Watch out for these names, they are next generation of US superstars.<strong><br></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eeee484b-ef16-4e10-9de3-6d72b0a7f0c7.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a></p>
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The Open Weekly: New Records and Top Ratings

<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The dressage phase at Tryon International is done, and the number at the top of the leaderboard is worth stopping to appreciate.<strong> Tamie Smith &amp; Danito</strong> scored <strong>19.5</strong>: a new all-time dressage record in the US Equestrian Open, the best of 607 starts across the Series' history.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/878ef31d-240d-435c-b11c-e20df6716031.png?width=1644&amp;height=1640" alt="Ctuzs the Top Ten Dressage Tests From the Us Equestrian Open Nbsp "></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">It didn't stop there. That 19.5 is also the best dressage test recorded internationally in 2026 across any level. Out of over 5000 FEI tests worldwide this year, nothing has touched it.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>How good is a 19.5?</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Danito's </strong>EquiRatings 6RA &mdash; the average of his last six FEI dressage tests &mdash; sits at 27.9. Smith beat that benchmark by 8.4 penalties today. The previous venue record at Tryon's CCI4*-S was 24.6, set by <strong>Erin Kanara &amp; Paddy The Caddy</strong> back in 2020, a record that had stood for five years. Smith beat it by more than five penalties.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Some will point to the judging and suggest the scoring was on the generous side. It's a fair question to ask but the data doesn't necessarily support it as an explanation in this case. Across the full field, combinations performed an average of just 0.8 penalties better than their 6RA. That cut both ways, with some combinations significantly outperforming their average and others falling well short of it. The field didn't collectively post career-bests. Smith's 8.4-penalty improvement on her rolling average wasn't a tide lifting all boats. It was an outlier in a field where the judging, by the numbers, was broadly in line with expectation.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>The best international test of 2026</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">It's also worth noting the broader context of today's top 10. Eight of the top 10 dressage tests in 2026 internationally have been recorded on US soil. Five have been by American riders - the most represented nation in that group. Whatever is happening in US eventing right now, the numbers keep pointing to serious strength.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b8361792-4d37-42eb-9869-6963622a6c78.png?width=1620&amp;height=1632" alt="Pu Lvu the Top 10 International Dressage Tests Globally in 2026 "></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Lucienne Bellissimo &amp; Dyri&nbsp;</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Second after dressage is&nbsp;<strong>Lucienne Bellissimo &amp; Dyri </strong>on 23.2, also a performance worth noting. <strong>Dyri's</strong> 6RA is 27.8, meaning they improved on their average by 4.6 penalties. It is a 4* PB for the combination that have had a serious start to the 2026 Series. <strong>Dyri</strong> is one of only a handful of horses which have finished on their dressage score in the 2026 Series (at Stable View in April). In a class where no one has ever made the cross-country time, that kind of baseline speed matters.</p>
<h2><br><strong>Could we see another Series record broken this weekend?</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">For context on how the weekend might unfold: the all-time finishing score of the Series is 26.9, set last year by both <strong>Phillip Dutton &amp; Possante</strong> and <strong>Tommy Greengard &amp; Joshuay MBF.</strong> Given the field and the scores already posted, that record seems to be well within reach.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">However, history adds an important caveat here. None of the seven previous Tryon International CCI4*-S winners were leading after dressage. The cross-country here is notoriously tough on the time with no combination ever making it in the history of this class. A clear cross-country round here typically adds around 17.5 time penalties. Smith's lead is significant, but the competition is nowhere near over.<br><br></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>The Series picture</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Smith is already the Series leader, and Tryon is exactly what she needs: a high-points qualifier to consolidate her position at the top of the standings. She arrives here in the form of her career, having had seven international victories already this year - more than any other rider in the world. And now the best dressage test globally at any level.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Two phases to go. Keep watching.<br><br></p>

Tamie Smith & Danito set a new Series dressage record at Tryon

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<h2 class="group relative relative pb-3" data-is-streaming="false"><strong>1. No combination has ever finished on their dressage score</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Across 122 starters at Tryon since 2020, not one has finished on their dressage score. The cross country time has never been beaten, and the jumping phases have caught out plenty. It is worth watching the <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/tryon2026/cross-country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speed horses </a><strong>(Off The Record, Dyri, Shanroe Cooley, QC Diamantaire) </strong>on Sunday. If any horse manages to make the time, they will become the <em>first ever </em>at the venue.</p>
<br>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #c8102e; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; padding: 12px 24px; border-radius: 4px;" href="https://usequestrianopen.info/tryon2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more in the Tryon Fan Guide</a></div>
<h2 class="group relative relative pb-3" data-is-streaming="false"><strong>2. Two horses arrive on long showjumping streaks</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Kynan</strong> and <strong>Fernhill Bertus </strong>arrive at Tryon with the longest incoming clean SJ streaks in the field. Both have nine international rounds in a row without a fault. Both also rank at the top of the adjusted SJ average, meaning those streaks have been built on difficult courses, not easy ones. Watch Friday to see if either makes it ten.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1d90436c-b7c4-4fad-a54f-4c962a23aab9.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=1589" alt="Kynan Tamie Smith 2025 K3de 539.jpg"></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="group relative relative pb-3" data-is-streaming="false"><strong>3. Fernhill Bertus: The eight-year-old the data already loves</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">This is <strong>Fernhill Bertus's</strong> first CCI4*-S start. He arrives as the second-highest rated eight-year-old in the world by EquiRatings Elo &mdash; behind only last year's Le Lion d'Angers champion, <strong>Brookfield Danny de Muze</strong> &mdash; with a completely flawless record across nine international starts. Not a single jumping fault, cross country or show jumping, in any of them.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/776a8093-c3e7-486f-b168-48c2b3af6f05.jpg?width=4768&amp;height=4047" alt="C E5 A1840"></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Madison Temkin, </strong>25, produced three top-10 finishes from four runs aboard him in 2025. In 2026, their one international start (Stable View CCI3*-S) resulted in a podium finish. Everything about this combination suggests a horse ready for the step up. Everything about this combination suggests a horse ready for the step up and a big result this weekend could put <strong>Fernhill Bertus</strong> top of the global eight-year-old rankings. Watch closely.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="group relative relative pb-3" data-is-streaming="false"><strong>4. Off The Record: Don't miss him</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">At <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/tryon2026/who-wins--top-scores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">31% win chance</a>, <strong>Off The Record </strong>heads into Tryon as the statistical favorite. At 17, with Aachen on the horizon, this is his first international run of 2026 - a confident, clean outing may matter more than the result this weekend. But go watch <strong>'Timmy'. </strong>He is one of the most consistent horses the US has ever produced, and these opportunities to see him compete don't come around often.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1bb7dee1-eab4-4a99-b231-1c7ce6d8545c.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=1472" alt="Off the Record 2025 Will Coleman and off the Record"></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>5. Four of the top five are here and the points are big</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Four of the top five on the <a href="https://us.equestrian-hub.com/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Series leaderboard </a>&mdash; <strong>Tamie Smith</strong> (205 pts), <strong>Will Coleman </strong>(170 pts), <strong>Boyd Martin</strong> (160 pts), and <strong>Lucienne Bellissimo</strong> (140 pts) &mdash; are all in the Tryon start list. With 31 starters confirmed, 50 points are on offer for the winner, the maximum available at any qualifier, and exactly the kind of weekend that impacts Series positions.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f4c60395-4300-4ffc-a11d-a722b69c73c4.png?width=717&amp;height=397" alt="Points Scale for Blog Inserts"></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The predictions back it up. <strong>Will Coleman</strong> <strong>&amp; Off The Record </strong>lead on win chance at 31%. <strong>Lucienne Bellissimo &amp; Dyri</strong> sit at 20%. She also brings <strong>Kitsch Couture HPK.</strong> <strong>Tamie Smith</strong> holds three entries &mdash; <strong>Danito, Kynan, &amp; Spiro P </strong>&mdash; giving her the highest combined probability in the field. Boyd brings <strong>Shanroe Cooley</strong> (5%) and <strong>Fetiche Des Rouges.&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/918041ac-8f31-4848-9220-f17a25350f77.png?width=1009&amp;height=523" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 06 120004"></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Fifty points. Four title contenders. This qualifier is likely to have a huge impact on the <a href="https://us.equestrian-hub.com/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaderboard.</a></p>
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Will Coleman & Off The Record at the US Equestrian Open Final last year.

5 storylines to follow at Tryon this weekend

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Twelve qualifiers in. Here's what's happened so far.

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Tamie Smith & Danito set a new Series dressage record at Tryon

5 storylines to follow at Tryon this weekend

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