Welcome to the EquiRatings Archive, a treasure trove of timeless tales that celebrate the unique bond between horse and rider, the thrill of competition, and the beauty of this age-old tradition. Here, you'll find an extensive collection of stories from the world of equestrian sports, covering everything in show jumping and eventing.

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It had been 897 days since Laura Kraut last claimed a five-star 1.60m Grand Prix win, a streak stretching back to her victory in Wellington in February 2023 with Baloutinue. In that time, Kraut had built an enviable record of consistency at the sport&rsquo;s highest level, recording 21 Top 10 finishes. But the top spot kept eluding her, including two second-place finishes in Rolex Majors earlier this season. That all changed in Dublin, where Kraut and Bisquetta produced the only clear round from a world-class field of 40 to win the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland.
<h2>Close Calls Along the Way</h2>
The road back to the top was anything but quiet. Kraut came within touching distance of victory multiple times, including second place at both the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen with Baloutinue and the US Equestrian Open Final Rolex Grand Prix of Wellington with Bisquetta earlier this year. In each case, the margin was narrow, the performance strong, but the final second kept her off the top step.
<h2><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e0b30130-07e1-4b60-b131-febfc59c0879.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Usef Jumping Graphics 2025 (14)"></h2>
<h2> The Dublin Decider</h2>
In the electric atmosphere of the RDS Main Arena, Ireland&rsquo;s Alan Wade had set a track that proved unforgiving. Clear rounds were nowhere to be found as the class progressed, with rails falling for Olympic champions, former winners, and rising stars alike. Then, as the penultimate combination, Kraut and Bisquetta entered the ring. With trademark poise and precision, they navigated the 14 obstacles without a fault to deliver the class&rsquo;s sole clear.
<h2>Patience Rewarded</h2>
&ldquo;The Dublin Horse Show is one of those bucket list events,&rdquo; Kraut said afterwards. &ldquo;Alan Wade built a course that was careful but fair, and you had to be perfect to go clear. Bisquetta was brilliant, very brave, very careful, and this year she&rsquo;s stepped up to another level.&rdquo;
For Kraut, this win was more than a victory, it was the culmination of patience, consistency, and readiness. After 897 days of chasing, she had proven once again why she remains one of the sport&rsquo;s greats.

897 Days Later: Laura Kraut Returns to the Top in Dublin’s Rolex Grand Prix

By nearly every metric, Anna Marek wins the inaugural $200,000 US Equestrian Open of Dressage Finals.&nbsp;
And fortunately for her, Marek has options when it comes to vying for the title. She&rsquo;s the only rider in the Series with two serious Finals horses. That gives her a rare question: Who should she bring?
Scores and stats matter, sure, but this decision goes beyond math &mdash; live sport doesn&rsquo;t always respect the numbers (which is why we love it, right?).
So the question is:
Which horse gives Marek the best shot at top prize?
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6c6461f5-1739-4197-b8d6-5f1c41714991.png?width=1380&amp;height=688" alt="C Ox Sa Anna Marek S Options Fire Fly Vs Fayvel">
<h2>Fayvel &ndash; A Premium Ride with Predictable Returns</h2>
If Fayvel were a vehicle, he&rsquo;d be a Lexus RX. Utterly dependable. Subtly sophisticated. Always smooth. Always simple to handle. The ride may not blow your hair back, but it&rsquo;ll get you there in comfort and style, every time.&nbsp;
Fayvel has a strong record both in the series and out. When he trots into the arena, you know what you&rsquo;re going to get: 75-77 percent, clean, technical execution, and a fighting shot at a podium. He&rsquo;s even logged international mileage with a World Cup Finals appearance in 2024. He is probably the safest choice &mdash; but not the most dangerous. When you stack up the numbers, his personal best trails Fire Fly&rsquo;s, but his career average edges him out.&nbsp;
<h2>Fire Fly &ndash; A Turbo Engine with Temperamental Timing</h2>
If Fayvel is Anna&rsquo;s reliable premium ride, then Fire Fly is her Maserati GranTurismo &mdash; built for power, stunning to watch, but demanding to handle. When he&rsquo;s dialed in, he&rsquo;ll blow past anything. But if you miss a gear, he&rsquo;ll stutter along at a pedestrian pace.&nbsp;
Fire Fly holds the highest personal best of the two &mdash; an 81.305% earned at the 2023 Pan American Games. He also leads Fayvel in Series average, but his lower career mark reflects a volatility that still shadows him.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-podcast-anna-marek-on-passion-patience-and-performance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As Marek explained earlier this year</a>, he didn&rsquo;t arrive in her barn as a finished Grand Prix horse. Despite his immense talent, he faced mental roadblocks &mdash; particularly in the piaffe, which happens to be the one movement where Fayvel scores higher. So Marek has had to adapt, finding a communication style that works specifically for him. As a sensitive horse, the atmosphere of the Final could work against Anna.&nbsp;
He&rsquo;s not a sure bet, but he does have the best scoring power. When he&rsquo;s on, he flies. When he&rsquo;s off, he falters.
<h2>Either Way, It&rsquo;s No Done Deal</h2>
Stats don&rsquo;t always hold. Predictions fall apart. Especially in horse sports. Challenging Marek will be the likes of Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee. Marek has a winning record against D&uuml;nensee with both her horses. But Fayvel is the more consistent scorer and he holds the stronger freestyle head-to-head. If the Final turns into a reliability contest, Fayvel may be the one who carries her to a win.&nbsp;
The last time Fayvel and D&uuml;nensee shared a Finals stage &mdash; at the 2024 World Cup &mdash; Marek placed 8th, Kohmann 13th.&nbsp;
Still, the strategy under this scenario is not without risk. Fayvel might not lay down a convincingly field-topping score while, if Fire Fly stays on the rails, he could not only win, but win big. His scoring power and proven ability to deliver under pressure could give him the edge.&nbsp; So for Marek, it comes down to this: Reliability or flash. Which will it be?

Anna Marek riding the dark bay horse Fire Fly during a dressage competition.

Reliability or Flash: Which Will Marek Choose?

With just three qualifiers left before the inaugural US Open of Dressage Final, each venue on the calendar becomes part of the unfolding story. From the historic charm of Devon to the modern beauty of TerraNova and the scale of North Carolina&rsquo;s Tryon International, every stop in this final stretch has its own unique magic and offers riders a distinct opportunity. In the latest US Equestrian Open podcast, announcer Noah Rattner joined us to give a venue-by-venue preview of what makes this stretch of the calendar unforgettable.
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<h2>Dressage at Devon</h2>
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If you&rsquo;ve never been to Dressage at Devon, this is the year to go. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, this US Equestrian Heritage Competition is part elite sporting event, part time capsule. Held at the iconic Devon Horse Show Grounds &mdash; complete with the storied Dixon Oval and charming grandstands tucked into the Philadelphia suburbs &mdash; Devon is where history meets horsepower. The week begins with the world&rsquo;s largest open breed show, then transitions midweek to high-stakes FEI competition. This year, it kicks off the North American League for the 2026 World Cup and serves as a US Open qualifier. With legendary footing upgrades, packed crowds, and freestyles under the lights, Devon is the soul of American dressage.
<h2 dir="ltr">TerraNova Equestrian Center</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/66a393f7-35c9-4ac2-a122-a5d76ad56ebb.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=658" alt="" is="">
TerraNova Equestrian Center is one of the newest and most visually striking venues in the sport. Tucked into the palm-lined outskirts of Sarasota, this Florida facility is a purpose-built oasis: six all-weather arenas, horse-first infrastructure, lakeside competition rings, and a modern pavilion that spans the Grand Prix arenas. TerraNova is breathtakingly beautiful. Its layout mirrors many elements of the Final&rsquo;s venue in California, giving riders a chance to fine-tune in familiar surroundings. With top-tier accommodations and a production team among the best in the sport, it&rsquo;s more than a tune-up show. As the penultimate qualifier, it&rsquo;s a critical stop for those navigating the late-season schedule with intent and precision.
<h2 dir="ltr">Tryon International Equestrian Center</h2>
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Tryon International Equestrian Center is no stranger to big moments. It hosted the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games and remains one of the most versatile venues in U.S. equestrian sport. With 1,200 stalls, 12 arenas, and a stadium that lights up the Northern Carolina foothills,Tryon delivers scale, polish, and atmosphere. Dressage riders entering the final qualifier here will feel like they&rsquo;re already on a world stage. Tryon has built a reputation as a finely tuned machine that delivers on logistics and spectacle alike. For riders seeking last-minute points, this is the last opportunity to make the cut. The venue is built to run like a championship, and for athletes who haven&rsquo;t yet competed on a world-stage-sized platform, this is a crucial step. Expect a deep field, tight margins, and a sense of urgency in every performance.
<h3 dir="ltr">Desert International Horse Park</h3>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/34b4195a-4e0b-4701-872b-03e1cabfce19.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=632" alt="" is="">
And then &mdash; it&rsquo;s California. 
The Desert International Horse Park in Thermal will host the first-ever US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final, and it&rsquo;s hard to imagine a more fitting stage. Nestled between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains, this massive equestrian complex just outside Palm Springs rises from the desert with Olympic-caliber arenas, luxury infrastructure, and a skyline of mountains and palms. Known as the West Coast capital of show jumping, DIHP has in recent years embraced dressage, and this fall the discipline takes center stage. With $200,000 in prize money on the line and hospitality that feels more like a five-star resort than a horse show, the Final promises both competition and celebration.&nbsp;
<h1 dir="ltr">Let the Final Chapter Begin</h1>
We&rsquo;ve followed riders all year through triumphs, setbacks, strategy shifts, and musical reinventions and now we&rsquo;re headed into the most exciting stretch yet. It all begins at Dressage at Devon on September 23rd. Whether you&rsquo;re a die-hard fan or a newcomer drawn in by freestyle soundtracks and world-class sport, now is the time to tune in.
Join us at Devon. Pack your bags for Thermal. The road to the Final starts here.
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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>.

A Podcast Tour of Devon, TerraNova, Tryon, and Desert International

The stage is set for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing at Morven Park (9th to 12th of October 2025). With a $200k prize fund, the biggest ever at CCI4*-L level, up for grabs, we ran our predictive model on the early entries. The <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/morvenpark_4l_2025">EquiRatings Prediction Center</a> is updated as every entry and every score happens - giving fans a near real time view on the predicted winners on paper.
<h3 dir="ltr">What is the Prediction Center?</h3>
The Eventing Prediction Center, developed by EquiRatings over a number of years, applies advanced predictive analytics to years of international eventing results. Trained on millions of rows of data, the model simulates each competition ten thousand times - breaking performance down by each phase. Each combination is given a probability distribution of likely outcomes, from dressage scores to cross-country clear rates, which are then aggregated to calculate finishing scores and win chances. While no model can perfectly foresee the future, testing against past competitions shows its accuracy: combinations given a 25% chance of winning really do win about one in four times. For fans, media, and athletes alike, it provides an accessible, data-driven way to understand who is most likely to succeed on the day. For us, it helps us turn an entry list into stories and angles.&nbsp; Here's a look at the top five contenders as decided by the model:
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4b4bf190-7850-408b-b6a8-dc6ad3f65150.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Miks Master C (1)">
Boyd Martin sits at the top of the<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/morvenpark_4l_2025"> Prediction Cent</a>er with Miks Master C with a 19% win chance. Miks Master C, nicknamed&nbsp;Mikki, is a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Mighty Magic out of Qui Luma CBF. He's owned by Ocala Horse Properties LLC and Debby Palmer. Mikki, previously ridden by Liz Halliday, brings an impressive resume including four CCI4*-S victories and a 3rd place finish at Kentucky CCI5* back in 2023 (it was their CCI5* debut). He is rated 742 on EquiRatings Elo, the third-highest rated US horse.&nbsp;
This marks only Boyd's third outing with the horse but their partnership is already showing promise. After a 9th place finish at Bromont CCI3*-S (double clear with time penalties) and a 4th at The Fork at Tryon CCI4*-S (again double clear with time), the question is: will they push for maximum speed at Morven Park? Given the stakes, I would expect so.
<h3 dir="ltr">What to expect:</h3>
Likely dressage score between 25-27. Excellent Cross Country Jumping with proven speed around Aachen, Kentucky and here at Morven (with Maya Black, CCI4*-S). One rail down in the show jumping across the last four internationals and clear on both occasions with Boyd. They have a huge chance and are a deserved joint favorite.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4c43aac4-f22a-4ac6-9a4a-fd4b29e5b050.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Off the Record (1)">
Sharing the top prediction percentage is William Coleman aboard Off The Record, a horse that needs no introduction. &lsquo;Timmy&rsquo; is owned by the Off The Record Syndicate LLC<a href="https://www.usef.org/team-usa/athletes/will_coleman"> </a>having been sourced through Richard Sheane (Cooley Farms) as a four-year-old.
In 2021, this pair became the first US combination to ever win the prestigious CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen, Germany and they were part of the U.S. team that won silver at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, where Coleman finished 7th individually.
Only two runs this year, a fourth place finish at Aachen and a win at the Kentucky CCI4*-S with a dressage score of 21.8 - their best test together as a combination and the best test that competition has ever seen.
Timmy is the highest-rated US horse currently in the sport based on the EquiRatings Elo (779) and ranks as the second-highest rated US horse of all time, trailing only the legendary Mai Baum. This combination brings both proven championship experience and current top form to Morven Park.
<h3>What to expect:</h3>
It will possibly all be decided by their dressage test. When winning Kentucky CCI4*-S this year they hit a PB of 21.8 but next time out was 35.6 at Aachen. Somewhere in between is most likely but if they do take the lead after the dressage phase, the speed and jumping power means they will prove very difficult to get past.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/07070c2e-0a52-418f-b42c-31fea369bf5b.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Hsh Blake">
HSH Blake - the well known 'young gun' of 2024. Caroline Pamukcu's Olympic Games&rsquo; partner comes into Morven Park with a 14% win chance and hot off a 3rd place finish at Plantation Field last weekend. Originally sourced in Ireland by Caroline's business partner Kelley Hutchinson of Hutchinson Sport Horses, Caroline and Blake won the individual gold medal and team silver medal at Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile back in 2023.
Their standout performance at the top level came at Tryon last year, when they finished on their dressage score to win the CCI4*-L . That victory earned them their highest-rated performance to date with a High Performance Rating (HPR) of 98. Blake is the highest-rated 10-year-old in the US with an Elo rating of 675. It hasn&rsquo;t been a perfect run since Paris but they are undoubtedly one of the global talents to look forward to between now and LA28.&nbsp;
<h3>What to expect:</h3>
Dressage is likely to be between 27 - 30. They have shown cross country speed at this level - winning Tryon last year with a clear inside time. It will be the first test on the hills of Morven Park. Excellent show jumper too - clear in 22 of their 27 career internationals. Huge contender and strong finisher. Likely decided by their time on Saturday.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fb133564-be3b-409e-bd0e-0335b678713c.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Shanroe Cooley">
Boyd Martin and Shanroe Cooley, also previously competed by Liz Halliday, arrive with a 13% win chance. &lsquo;Dallas'&nbsp;is an Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Ocala Horse Properties. Having spent the winter competing in the hunter and jumper rings with Peter Wylde and Eleanor Pieters in Florida, he has gone back to eventing, joining Boyd&rsquo;s string. Under Liz Halliday's guidance, Shanroe Cooley established himself with top-five finishes at both CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L. He is currently rated 661 on EquiRatings Elo - the second-highest rated 10-year-old in the US behind only HSH Blake.
With Boyd, the 10-year-old gelding has actually produced better placings than his stablemate in their limited outings together. Boyd and Shanroe Cooley won Bromont CCI3*-S and finished 3rd at Tryon CCI4*-S having accrued less time penalties than Miks Master C.
<h3>What to expect:</h3>
Shanoe Cooley has an excellent cross country record at international level with only one non-prefect jumping round from 22 international starts. They also have an exceptional show jumping record with one rail in the last 13 international competitions. It feels likely that they start around the 30 mark but with a time test promised at Morven Park, this horse is a likely podium finisher and could take the win.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2937cda3-64bf-46aa-bb40-29cdfd0c85d0.png?width=1600&amp;height=400" alt="Very Dignified">
Rounding out the top five is another 10-year-old Very Dignified. This is a newer partnership for Will Coleman, landing in his string from the Irish rider Robbie Kearns, who successfully produced the horse up to a win in the CCI4*-L at Kilguilkey, in Ireland. The mare is owned by Jerome Broussard, Gloria Callen, and Elizabeth Lendrum.
While they've completed only one four-star together - a 6th place at The Fork at Tryon with a pole down and 18.8 time penalties - the potential is clearly there. In classic Coleman style, he has already improved the horse's dressage phase, achieving the horse's best ever dressage score of 25.8 (3*S at Tryon in May).
<h3 dir="ltr">What to expect:</h3>
Will has improved the first phase meaning a sub 28 start is very possible. They finish strongly (only one rail in the last six internationals, including a clear with Robbie at Boekelo in this long format style). Will hasn't yet pushed for time on their rides to date but we expect it to be there given the record with Robbie. This one is under the radar but has lots to like and shouldn't be a surprise winner.
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<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>.

Prediction Center - Top 5 on Win Chance for the US Equestrian Open Final at Morven Park

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 Aachen's Nations Cup 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.
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<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">
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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>.&nbsp;

The Sound of Silence

Charlotte Jorst and Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn each claimed victory in this week&rsquo;s doubleheader at Qualifier 17. Both riders, who began the week outside the top 18 cutoff for a Finals berth, are now comfortably inside the qualifying cutoff. With the final spring qualifiers approaching, every point now carries weight.
<h2 dir="ltr">TerraNova: A Nail-Biter Finish</h2>
At TerraNova, Jorst and Zhaplin Langholt topped the Grand Prix Freestyle with a 74.085%&mdash;just shy of their personal best and nearly three percentage points above their season average. The polished, confident ride earned the highest individual judge&rsquo;s mark of the day from the judge at B. Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena narrowly missed the win with a 73.985%, making this one of the closest finishes in series history. Devon Kane and Vamos secured third place with a 72.705%.
<h2 dir="ltr">Pacific Coast: Vaughn Makes History</h2>
On the West Coast at Pacific Coast Dressage, Vaughn and Gino returned from their World Cup Finals debut to win with a 74.040%. The pair has now won all three of their series starts&mdash;the first rider in the series to win three legs&mdash;and extended their California winning streak to eight. G&uuml;nter Seidel and Jack took second with a combination-best 73.510%, and Kristina Harrison-Antell and Finley placed third on 72.715%.
<h2 dir="ltr">Leaderboard Shifts as Vaughn Climbs Ten Places</h2>
Kristina Harrison-Antell climbed from sixth to second overall with 86 points after another consistent top-three finish. She displaced Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger, who had held onto second place for weeks. However, the biggest positional jump this week belongs to Vaughn, who rose ten places&mdash;from 19th to ninth&mdash;after her Pacific Coast win.
G&uuml;nter Seidel moved into a tie for seventh with 64 points, rising eight places. His combination-best performance with Jack helped secure his Finals position within the top 18.
Vaughn&rsquo;s jump into ninth (60 points) now puts her solidly inside the Finals cutoff after beginning the week outside the qualifying zone. Devon Kane also moved up, now sitting 10th with 59 points following her TerraNova podium finish. Charlotte Jorst advanced from outside the cutoff to 12th place with 55 points, creating a comfortable margin above the line that should hold through the season.
Benjamin Ebeling remains just outside the cutoff but could clinch a Finals berth with another podium finish at WEC in two weeks.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Road Ahead</h2>
Only two qualifiers remain this spring: the Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival in Lexington, Kentucky (May 15), and the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage in Oregon (May 29). After that, the series pauses until late September. The remaining schedule favors East Coast riders, especially those based in Florida, offering more scoring opportunities for competitors like Ebeling, Kane, and Jorst. Riders near the cutoff&mdash;or those aiming to improve their prize money standings&mdash;will need to capitalize on the final spring starts before the Finals in November.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">

Jorst and Vaughn Vault Into Finals Contention with Coastal Wins

Virginia&rsquo;s Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival this weekend hosts Qualifier 18 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.&nbsp;Our entries for Saturday&rsquo;s Qualifier <span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">&ndash; the Grand Prix Freestyle <span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">&ndash; bring a few new faces to the Series and one key contender who could earn Final qualification this weekend.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/710aecfe-4503-4c40-bad4-30f3b625a885.png?width=1296&amp;height=1434" alt="Table showing the Grand Prix Freestyle Stats for entries in the 2025 Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival (Qualifier 18)">
Laine Ashker and Zeppelin made their Grand Prix (GP) Freestyle debut at last year&rsquo;s Dressage at Devon and have yet to contest another one&hellip;until now. Though among this field&rsquo;s least-experienced pairs, their sole GP Freestyle score (70.845%) is among this Qualifier&rsquo;s highest personal bests, showing potential for an impactful Series debut.
Though making her first Series appearance, a spot in the $200,000 Final is within reach for Ashker if she can produce three strong results. The current cutoff for the top 18 &ndash; who qualify for the Final &ndash; &nbsp;is 49 points. Getting to 49 is still a big ask for a Series debutant, but it&rsquo;s not impossible.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a62eb734-525e-474a-bfed-7fcd1d7ed159.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="How points are earned at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Qualifiers">
Meanwhile, Adriane Alvord and Selfmade are the most-experienced pair in the field and they come into the weekend with the best proven scoring potential, having scored a personal best GP Freestyle score of 76.750% at Dressage at Rose Mount 2023. In their several GP Freestyles since that winning performance, most of Alvord and Selfmade&rsquo;s scores have been in the high 60s, leaving the door open for their&nbsp;#MADFest2025 competitors. But, if Alvord &amp; Selfmade do secure the win on Saturday, Alvord will have 40 total series points and a Final qualification will be within touching distance.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Ticket to the Final?</h2>
Of our entries for Qualifier 18,&nbsp;Micaela Mabraga&ntilde;a is the highest-placed rider in the series, sitting 24th with 32 Series points. This is key because if Mabraga&ntilde;a and Belatrix RH place 2nd or 3rd on Saturday (earning 17 points), they will be right on the bubble for Final qualification with the necessary 49 points. With five more qualifiers after MAD, they could be knocked out but, for now, 49 points earns a critical top-18 spot (P.S. <a href="https://inside.fei.org/sites/default/files/Dressage%20US%20Equestrian%20Open%20Series%20Effective%201%20January%202025%20Updated%2010%20November%202024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">everyone tied for 18th at the end of the Series does qualify for the Final</a>). Of course, the 20 points earned for a win would place Mabraga&ntilde;a more-securely in the top 18 with a bit more wiggle room.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">How to Follow</h2>
The Grand Prix Freestyle (Qualifier 18) is this Saturday at MADFest:
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.midatlanticdressagefestival.com/">https://www.midatlanticdressagefestival.com/</a></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Live Scores: <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/show/254865/competition/dressage/7241700" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/show/254865/competition/dressage/7241700</a></li>
</ul>
And Friday's classes at MADFest can be livestreamed on the USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. Watch for free with a <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free USEF Fan Membership</a>.&nbsp;
<h2>Series Leaders Heading into Qualifier 18 at MADFest</h2>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ee725d73-81e9-45b6-95f4-fdf5513b60a3.png?width=617&amp;height=828" alt="Us Equestrian Open of Dressage Leaderboard Before Qualifier 18">
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> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 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" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
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;

Image from overhead of a male dressage rider approaching the competition arena on a dark bay horse.

Vying for the Final at #MADFest

<h3 data-start="541" data-end="595">Tryon's Podium</h3>
The young mare Jaguars Duende continued her upward trajectory at the Tryon leg of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing taking the win in the CCI4*-S class. It marked back-to-back CCI4*-S podium finishes for this pair, following a second place on debut at the level.
It was their speed cross country that set her ahead of the field that included established names like Tsetserleg and Direct Advance. Sharon White and Jags&nbsp;picked up 4.4 time faults, the fastest in the field, while the average for the class was 16 penalties. Kim Severson and Cooley Corraghy Diamond delivered a strong performance to secure second place, while rising stars Cole Horn and MBF Cooley Permission To Land rounded out the podium in third. Remarkably, it was only the pair&rsquo;s second CCI4*-S start together - and their first completion at the level - making the result a major milestone in their young partnership.
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<h3 data-start="541" data-end="595"> Jaguars Duende's International Wins</h3>
Their victory at Tryon CCI4*-S marked Jaguars Duende&rsquo;s fifth international win. That win follows up their 2nd place at Ocala for their four-star debut and a 5th at Carolina this spring - adding to a record that already included four other major wins :
<ul>
<li data-start="846" data-end="878">Maryland 5 Star CCI3*-L (2024)</li>
<li data-start="846" data-end="878">Tryon CCI3*-L (2024)</li>
<li data-start="846" data-end="878">Carolina CCI3*-S (2024)</li>
<li data-start="846" data-end="878">Virginia CCI2*-S (2022)</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a539dc4c-e4da-4705-9cbc-d80da46e794b.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (4)">
Across 14 international starts, they&rsquo;ve finished on the podium 9 times, showing their impressive consistency and form.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7695e7c7-80e7-40de-8969-29921fcd6037.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Tryon Recap (4)">
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<h2 data-start="1170" data-end="1221">&nbsp;</h2>
<h3 data-start="1170" data-end="1221">📈 The Rise in Numbers: Elo and What It Tells Us</h3>
A standout marker of their form? Jaguars Duende&rsquo;s Elo rating has surged from 338 to 625 since her international debut. Unlike most horses whose ratings fluctuate, Jags has only moved in one direction - up.
Elo is a performance rating system used by EquiRatings to track the strength of combinations over time. It goes beyond simple results &mdash; taking into account:
<ul>
<li data-start="1723" data-end="1751">The level of competition</li>
<li data-start="1723" data-end="1751">The&nbsp;strength of the field</li>
<li data-start="1723" data-end="1751">How&nbsp;consistently a horse finishes ahead of top-class rivals</li>
</ul>
The higher the rating, the more proven the horse is in big fields. And big jumps in Elo suggest a combination is trending in the right direction - fast.
Elo is not just a stat - it is a story of steady improvement and strong performances against increasingly tough competition. For Jaguars Duende, a rise of nearly 300 points since 2022 confirms what fans and selectors alike are noticing: this horse is exceptional. <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dec1cb6b-32c5-4046-818c-869addfa3f5c.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Tryon Recap (8)"> 
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<h3 data-start="0" data-end="306">What is next for Jaguars Duende?</h3>
At just 9 years old, Jags is on the brink of breaking into the top 25 Elo-rated horses in the USA, with her current score sitting just below Hallie Coon&rsquo;s Cute Girl (630 Elo). Based on her sharp upward trend and consistent form, we expect her to move into that elite tier at her very next outing.
What makes this even more remarkable is the age gap &mdash; the average age of the top 25 Elo horses is 14. If Jags breaks through, she&rsquo;ll be the youngest in the group. She&rsquo;s climbing fast, and doing it years ahead of schedule.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/bd664257-cba0-4e2c-9d65-3cbf266cbce7.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (5)">
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<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
&nbsp;
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;
&nbsp;
<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>.&nbsp;
&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">
&nbsp;
<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>.

Jaguars Duende is Climbing to the Top

Annie and Diarm sat down with James Alliston on the US Equestrian Open podcast&mdash;and it&rsquo;s a good one. From his record-breaking weekend at Twin Rivers to the horses in his string and the road to Morven Park, James shares it all.&nbsp; Listen to the full episode or keep reading for the highlights, stats, and standout storylines.
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<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36590375/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002180/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 class="" data-start="94" data-end="128">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="94" data-end="128">Twin Rivers and Teamwork</h3>
James turned heads at Twin Rivers with a standout performance: four horses finishing in the top five, including first, second, third, and fifth. He became just the fifth rider in 17 years to achieve this rare feat.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0c280dbb-c751-47c3-8077-0ee3c4e5745c.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Untitled Design (9)">
That success hasn&rsquo;t come in isolation&mdash;it&rsquo;s the result of a hardworking team behind the scenes. His wife, Helen, plays a pivotal role in the daily training and development of their horses, having produced several of James' horses up to three-star level herself. Their staff and students are essential in maintaining fitness programs and managing the chaos of show-day logistics, especially when multiple horses are competing in the same class. Even event organizers have played a part, adjusting schedules to help James juggle it all.
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<hr class="" data-start="722" data-end="725">
<h3 class="" data-start="727" data-end="768">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="727" data-end="768">Karma: Speed, Spark, and Star Power</h3>
Karma has become a fan favorite&mdash;and deservedly so. Karma brings serious energy both at home and in the ring. Dressage was tricky early on for the pair, but she&rsquo;s settled with experience and now shines at the top level. Looking ahead, James has his eye on Aachen if selected, with Montana and Morven Park also in the mix.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b83a5eb7-97e4-4f78-8f1e-55269fb7cf06.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="She Is a Fantastic Horse an Incredible Athlete, so Fast and an Amazing Jumper. I'm Hoping With Time and Mileage, We Can Just Take a Little Bit of the Edge off the Hotness. but It's Partly That Tha">
James&rsquo;s win at Twin Rivers with Karma wasn&rsquo;t just a highlight of the season&mdash;it marked a major career milestone. It was his 10th international four-star win since 2008, a number achieved by only seven U.S. riders in history.
What makes that stat even more impressive is the efficiency behind it. James has reached that milestone with fewer than 50 runs at the level&mdash;giving him the highest four-star win rate of any U.S. rider on the list, at 22%. Quietly consistent, deeply competitive, and now statistically elite.
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<hr class="" data-start="1380" data-end="1383">
<h3 class="" data-start="1385" data-end="1417">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="1385" data-end="1417">A Deep and Balanced String</h3>
There's Nemesis, making a strong comeback after injury, Paper Jam &mdash;a seasoned four-star veteran&mdash; and promising talents like Cora and Irish Pop who performed well at Twin Rivers.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/709bc7dd-7dc2-4cbd-9eca-68c3c3761632.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston">
Events like Rebecca Farm and Montana feature in his summer calendar as James positions his team for a final push toward the Open finale.
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<hr>
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<h3 class="" data-start="107" data-end="135">Learning from a Legend</h3>
James reflects on his journey in the U.S. that began with a gap year and turned into a career-defining chapter under Bruce Davidson Sr. Working on a farm full of young horses, racehorses, and elite-level talent, he absorbed everything&mdash;from horsemanship and fitness to feel and finesse.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/af037b8a-4057-4809-abd2-79317a7bad5f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (1)">
Bruce&rsquo;s style wasn&rsquo;t built on structured lessons but on immersion: ride, watch, learn, repeat. That intense, hands-on environment shaped James&rsquo;s foundation as a rider.
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<hr>
<h3 class="" data-start="641" data-end="665">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="641" data-end="665">All In on the Open</h3>
James was immediately intrigued when the U.S. Equestrian Open launched&mdash;especially the idea of serious prize money. For horses not yet ready for five-star, it offers a real purpose and a clear target. Now sitting third on the leaderboard, James plans to contest as many qualifiers as possible and is eyeing a trip to Morven Park for the final. It&rsquo;s a competitive challenge&mdash;and one he&rsquo;s fully committed to.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f611e1de-723f-45e0-80df-da1c4db95b81.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (2)">
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>US Equestrian Open Leaderboard&nbsp;</h3>
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a37f0405-f149-414e-a21d-f585ccec3d83.png?width=733&amp;height=532" alt="Screenshot 2025 05 16 162737">
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<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>🎙️&nbsp;Listen Now: James Alliston &amp; The Road to Morven</h3>
From Twin Rivers to leaderboard goals&mdash;James talks Karma, the Open, and what&rsquo;s next.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36590375/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002180/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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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
&nbsp;
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;
&nbsp;
<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>.&nbsp;
&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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<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>.

New Podcast: James Alliston and The Road to Morven Park

With a personal best score, Laine Ashker and Zeppelin earned a decisive win at the Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival. Just behind them, Micaela Mabraga&ntilde;a and Belatrix RH delivered when it counted &mdash; their runner-up finish was enough to secure a spot in the US Equestrian Open Final (for now).&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal">A convincing win for a dual-discipline athlete</h2>
Two Grand Prix (GP) Freestyles, two 70+ scores. This weekend at the Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival, in only their second GP Freestyle, Laine Ashker and the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding Zeppelin won with a 73.015% and were the only pair to break into the 70s. It was a personal best for them as Ashker and Zeppy outdid their previous GP Freestyle result of 70.845% from last year&rsquo;s Dressage at Devon. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJxhRecSGTb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">Ashker and Zeppelin have been together since Zeppy was just four years old</a>, making their convincing win even sweeter. The pair won this weekend&rsquo;s Qualifier by 4.390 percentage points over the second-placed pair Micaela Mabraga&ntilde;a &amp; Belatrix RH. That is one of the largest winning margins in the US Equestrian Open so far.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2a28d693-7966-4b7e-8803-158c2a247e7d.png?width=1368&amp;height=2432" alt="The Winning Margins of All Qualifiers to Date. US Equestrian Open of Dressage.">
Ashker is well known in eventing circles, having formed one of those famous five-star eventing partnerships with her beloved, and now retired, Anthony Patch. On any given day on Instagram, you&rsquo;ll see her training the likes of Zeppelin for dressage or the up-and-comer Lovedance for eventing, a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how Lainey pursues excellence in both disciplines.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal">A finalist added! (for now)</h2>
Coming into this Qualifier with 32 Series points, Micaela Mabraga&ntilde;a needed to finish third or higher to secure a place in the Final. She met the brief. With&nbsp;Belatrix RH, Micaela finished second and brought her points tally to 49. That puts her in equal-18th place on the Series leaderboard and&hellip;well&hellip;that is right on the bubble: only the top&nbsp;18 riders&nbsp;at the end of the Series earn a ticket to the&nbsp;$200,000 Final&nbsp;in November.
How Micaela got to 49:
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Gold Coast Opener (Qualifier 3) - 2nd with Belatrix RH:&nbsp;17 points</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>WEC Ocala Dressage II (Qualifier 7 East) - 5th with Belatrix RH: 15 points</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival (Qualifier 18) - 2nd with Belatrix RH: 17 points</li>
</ul>
With five more Qualifiers still to go &ndash; and only four on the east coast &ndash; there will be opportunities for Micaela to solidify her Final qualification with added points. &nbsp;But there will also be opportunities for others to bump her out of the top 18&hellip; That next threat comes this weekend at the WEC Ocala May dressage show which hosts Qualifier 19.
<h2>Who's Qualified for the Final so Far (after Qualifier 18 of 23)</h2>
The top 18 riders at the end of the Series are eligible for the $200,000 Final. All riders tied for 17th right now make up the 17th, 18th and 19th athletes and sit in qualifying positions (everyone tied for 18th does qualify). See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier, <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
&nbsp;<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8c6f6c8c-f528-4aee-b66b-e90534e91944.png?width=700&amp;height=1363" alt="Who Is Qualified for the Final so Far. The Us Equestrian Open of Dressage .">
<h2 class="MsoNormal">What's Coming Up</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> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 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" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
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;

Color image of Laine Ashker and the chestnut horse Zeppelin on a victory lap in a dressage arena

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