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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Wellington&rsquo;s star-studded winter season comes to a close tomorrow night with the final US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifier at this iconic venue. Even without some of the biggest names in attendance, there&rsquo;s plenty of intrigue as we close the chapter on Wellington's dressage circuit. From leaderboard shakeups to career milestones, here&rsquo;s what to keep your eye on at AGDF 12.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-vIhvR" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats:&nbsp;Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival 12" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/vIhvR/1/" height="942" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">1. Evelyn Eger&rsquo;s new ride could reclaim the lead</h2>
After a commanding season aboard 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Tabledance 3, Evelyn Eger brings a new horse to the stage&mdash;Dancing Darkness 4. While this will be their freestyle debut, the pair logged a 72.326% in the Grand Prix Special earlier this month, suggesting they have the chops to land in the top five. That&rsquo;s all it would take for Eger to retake the series lead from Anna Marek. If it works out, she&rsquo;d join Marek as one of just two riders this season to lead the standings on two different horses.
<h2 dir="ltr">2. Camille Carier Bergeron&rsquo;s tenth freestyle could be her best yet</h2>
With nine FEI Grand Prix Freestyles under their belt, Camille Carier Bergeron and Finnl&auml;nderin will hit double digits this weekend&mdash;and they&rsquo;re doing it with momentum. Their personal best of 77.280% is second-highest in the field, and their most recent outing here earned a 75.325%. That score placed them just behind World Cup&ndash;bound Kevin Kohmann and series leader Anna Marek. A repeat performance could not only earn them the win, but also launch them into the top five on the Series leaderboard.
<h2 dir="ltr">3. Naima and Statesman bring 113 tests of experience to the ring</h2>
While Naima Moreira Lalibert&eacute; and Statesman are new to the US Equestrian Open Series, they&rsquo;re far from inexperienced. Statesman has logged 113 FEI-level tests&mdash;this weekend will be his 114th. That kind of mileage, paired with a personal best of 77.860%, makes them serious contenders. Their average (73.379%) already places them in the top five of this field. A win wouldn&rsquo;t change the leaderboard standings&mdash;but it could throw a wrench in the climb for Eger, Carier Bergeron, and Karen Lipp.
<h2 dir="ltr">4. Karen Lipp could move into third with another solid ride</h2>
Karen Lipp may not be the flashiest name on paper, but she&rsquo;s quietly become one of the Series&rsquo; most consistent performers. With 60 points from five starts, she&rsquo;s already in fourth place&mdash;and a top-five finish this weekend could move her into third. Riding Infinity, she&rsquo;s averaging 71.676% and has proven that steady, solid performances are a powerful strategy in a Series that rewards persistence as much as brilliance.
<h2 dir="ltr">5. Susan Dutta joins the double-digit freestyle club</h2>
Susan Dutta and her 14-year-old gelding Don Design DC will notch their 10th FEI Grand Prix Freestyle together this weekend. With a personal best of 73.950%, the pair are poised to contend for a top-five finish. Dutta has developed Don Design from a five-year-old to a seasoned international competitor over the years. And yes&mdash;that&rsquo;s the Susan Dutta behind the Dutta Corporation, one of the most recognized names in global horse transport.
<h2 dir="ltr">6. Kasey Perry-Glass returns aboard Heartbeat W.P.</h2>
Best known for her Olympic team bronze in Rio and team silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games aboard Goerklintgaards Dublet, Kasey Perry-Glass is back in international competition with a new mount: Heartbeat W.P., a 13-year-old KWPN gelding. The pair debuted in February with back-to-back wins in the CDI3* Grand Prix and Special, and recently posted a personal best of 76.290% in the Freestyle. With the highest average in the field (74.728%), Perry-Glass could be a podium spoiler if she continues this upward trajectory. She may not be chasing Series points&mdash;but don&rsquo;t be surprised if she makes headlines anyway.
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While it may not have the headline names of earlier qualifiers, this weekend&rsquo;s field is full of riders with something to prove&mdash;and plenty of chances to shake up the Series standings. It&rsquo;s the last AGDF qualifier, and for some, it could be their last best shot before the season&rsquo;s second half kicks off.
Catch all the action Friday night on the USEF Network. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a>!
<h1 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h1>
For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.
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">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

A rider saluting during a dressage test aboard a chestnut horse.

One Last Dance in Wellington

This weekend&rsquo;s qualifier shifts to the World Equestrian Center, with three of the current top six US Equestrian Open of Dressage riders set to compete. Leaderboard movement is inevitable&mdash;yet the field is notably missing star power: no Olympic team members, no reigning series leaders. Still, this week is a rare one. It&rsquo;s both unpredictable and important. And there&rsquo;s no scenario where the leaderboard doesn&rsquo;t shift.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Five to Watch</h2>
Five riders stand to make an impact this weekend, each with a unique twist on the series narrative.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Benjamin Ebeling &amp; Bellena</h3>
Benjamin Ebeling and 14-year-old mare Bellena are arguably the favorites based on personal bests and averages. Bellena holds the highest PB in the field&mdash;76.105%, earned with Ebeling&rsquo;s father, Jan Ebeling&mdash;and a competitive average of 73.441% in the Grand Prix Freestyle. The caveat? This marks Benjamin and Bellena&rsquo;s series debut&mdash;and their first Grand Prix Freestyle together. If they come anywhere near Bellena&rsquo;s past peak, they could take the win. That wouldn&rsquo;t just launch Ebeling onto the leaderboard in stylish fashion&mdash;it would also block riders like Eline Eckroth, Denielle Gallagher, or Karen Lipp from earning those critical 17&ndash;20 point finishes.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Charlotte Jorst &amp; Zhaplin Langholt</h3>
Charlotte Jorst is one of the most accomplished amateur riders in the US, having competed at the 2016 World Cup Finals and made the Olympic shortlist in 2021. She returns this weekend aboard 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Zhaplin Langholt. While they&rsquo;ve entered two qualifiers this year, they&rsquo;ve only earned points in one. That single result, however, was a big one&mdash; a win at the Gold Coast Opener in January that netted 20 points. The following weekend, they posted a strong 72.800% at AGDF 3, but narrowly missed the placings in a stacked field, finishing 11th. With just one qualifying score, Jorst is only just getting started in the series. But if Zhaplin Langholt lands on the podium, as expected, she&rsquo;ll almost certainly vault into the top 15. She&rsquo;s not a title contender yet, but she can absolutely steal points from those who are. That&rsquo;s the trouble for riders like Lipp. It&rsquo;s not just about who climbs, it&rsquo;s about who gets bumped.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">3. Karen Lipp &amp; Infinity</h3>
Karen Lipp currently sits third on the leaderboard with six of six qualifying results logged. That means she can only gain points by dropping her lowest score: a 10. Lipp&rsquo;s consistency has been impressive. All of her scores have come from deep fields at Wellington, where she&rsquo;s placed 6th through 10th in all but one of her qualifying results&mdash;a win in the CDI3* during Week 8. Despite cracking the top five just once, that steady accumulation has carried her into the leaderboard top three. To gain any ground, Lipp must place 5th or better, and even then, only a win would improve her total by the full 10 points, bringing her to 80. She can&rsquo;t catch Anna Marek or Evelyn Eger this week, but a podium keeps her in range. With the AGDF season now over and many top riders abroad, Lipp could find herself in more forgiving fields. Her average of 71.451% puts her well within top-five potential here.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">4. Eline Eckroth &amp; Daphne</h3>
If Lipp is the series&rsquo; consistency queen, Eline Eckroth is chasing results through a different strategy: podiums in smaller fields. Eckroth and her 14-year-old mare, Daphne, have made smart use of the series format. Their scores may not always be flashy, but final placings matter more in this series&mdash;and so far, that&rsquo;s working in Eckroth&rsquo;s favor. They&rsquo;ve earned three top-three finishes in four qualifiers. She enters this weekend with two scores still to add. Even a finish at the bottom of the standings (7th) would earn her 10 points, bringing her to 76. Although unlikely, a second-place finish to anyone other than Lipp would propel her into the overall top two. And if she makes the podium again next week, she&rsquo;s a legitimate threat for the series lead.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">5. Denielle Gallagher &amp; Come Back de Massa</h3>
With only three qualifying results so far&mdash;two of them wins&mdash;Denielle Gallagher may be the most dangerous rider in the field. She currently sits sixth overall with 57 points. A third win this weekend would tie her with Eger at 77. But unlike Eger, Gallagher has not yet maxed out her six scores. With two more qualifying results still to come, she has plenty of room to rise. Her potential path? A win here takes her to 77. A solid podium next week could launch her into the 90s&mdash;above Marek. With her trajectory and remaining opportunities, Gallagher may be the dark horse in the race to the Final.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a7ba8c4c-ce1e-4095-9594-d67272edac9f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="graphic showing how the scoring works: 1st 20 points, 2nd-3rd 17 points, 4th-5th 15 points, 6th-10th 10 points">
<h2 dir="ltr">Depth of the Field</h2>
Qualifier 15&rsquo;s scoring spread is notable. The difference between the highest and lowest average Grand Prix Freestyle score is 6.6%&mdash;a sizable gap. But that spread narrows significantly when you focus on the top five contenders. Less than three percentage points separate Come Back de Massa (the fifth-highest average) and Bellena (the highest). Zhaplin Langholt, ranked second on averages, is only 0.875% ahead of Hatsjie B. At this level, one mark, from a single judge, can be the deciding factor.&nbsp;
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-HAEyM" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: WEC - Ocala April Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/HAEyM/1/" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
This may not be a star-studded cast, but it&rsquo;s a pivotal week for leaderboard restructuring. Whoever wins here doesn&rsquo;t just collect points&mdash;they shift the pressure onto the riders sitting out, especially those hoping to coast on early-season success. As the second half of the season rolls along, Ocala offers an opening to gain ground&mdash;or to get passed. The race to Thermal is far from over, and this weekend&rsquo;s results will help define who&rsquo;s still in it. <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/16321" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tune in Friday night</a> for live coverage of the freestyle action.&nbsp;
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-eKemH" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Current US Equestrian Open standings" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/eKemH/1/" height="1096" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on&nbsp;<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.
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

dressage rider entering the ring seen from the back. Riding a black horse.

Unpredictable but Pivotal: Why WEC Could Reshape the Leaderboard

The Twin Rivers CCI4*-S marks <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Qualifier 9 of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing.</a> It also marks a new frontier for Tamie Smith and the first 2025 international for one of James Alliston's rising stars.
Last weekend, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIJnPuXOXmU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boyd Martin gained 130 Series points in a single qualifier</a> to jump to second on the leaderboard. Both Tamie and James, with multiple entries, can likewise make gains this weekend.&nbsp;
<h1 class="MsoNormal">Tamie Crosses a Threshold</h1>
About 18 years ago, Tamie Smith faced her first ever CCI4*-S event. Since then, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIRaiIYuYTS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">she has started a total of 100 competitions at the level </a>and has become the unofficial West Coast ambassador in the world of eventing.&nbsp;
The path to World silver medals (Pratoni 2022 team) and five-star victories (Kentucky 2023) is paved, largely, with CCI4*-S runs. And Tamie has become one of the USA's best at the level. She has <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIRaiIYuYTS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won 12 of her 100 CCI4*-S appearances</a>. And, even more telling, she has produced two of the USA's best CCI4*-S performances on record according to the EquiRatings High Performance Rating (which measures not just scores and placings but also all the other factors that make an event difficult to win).
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/72d3df95-cce2-4b78-a39b-b7548fa06935.png?width=1318&amp;height=1636" alt="Top 10 Cci4 S Performances by Us Riders">
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9556104c-7eb2-4b9e-baf2-4f035ec1f048.jpg?width=5172&amp;height=5606" alt="Bay horse Kynan &amp; Tamie Smith">
Tamie Smith &amp; Kynan who she rides this week. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Tamie is also one of just five US riders to register five or more&nbsp;sub-30 scores at the CCI4*-S level since 2008.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a42fa09c-cf2d-43f8-af26-f6c484ec475c.png?width=806&amp;height=826" alt="Us Riders With the Most Sub 30 Scores at Cci4 S Between 2008 2025"> And, at 4:48 pm PT on Thursday, Tamie will trot down center line on Kynan. It will be her 101st CCI4*-S start. Shortly after, Lillet 3 will be her 102nd.
Onward and upward to 200.
<h1 class="MsoNormal">Keep an Eye on Karma</h1>
Another West Coast stalwart,&nbsp;James Alliston, is Mr. Reliable at Twin Rivers. He&rsquo;s won the last four CCI4*-S events here &mdash; and just to show off, he did it on four different horses. This weekend, he brings forward four entries, including one of his most exciting prospects: Karma.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c8190c64-1cbc-4bcd-89e0-8a8f842181da.png?width=1200&amp;height=1622" alt="Last 10 Winners of Twin Rivers Cci4 S">
Karma is one to keep an eye on for the future. She hasn&rsquo;t run internationally since last summer, when she and James crossed the Atlantic to take on the&nbsp;CHIO Aachen Nations Cup, one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. There in Germany, Karma and James didn&rsquo;t just hold their own &ndash; they finished as the highest-placed US combination, ninth out of 45 starters. And that was in a field stacked with German athletes fighting for Olympic selection and other would-be Paris Olympians. It was a performance that helped Team USA secure the Nations Cup silver medal.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/cf81b56e-f5f2-4f05-87fe-51a26b4bdbf0.png?width=1080&amp;height=853" alt="Dark bay horse Karma &amp; rider James Alliston clearing a show jumping fence">
James Alliston &amp; Karma.
Karma has so far contested 10 internationals and aside from one early hiccup &mdash; a cross-country elimination on her very first international start &mdash; she has been on a roll:
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">She&rsquo;s picked up Elo points in all nine subsequent international appearances, a sign of continual improvement and consistency.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">She has knocked only one rail across all nine international show jumping rounds.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">She made her five-star debut at Kentucky last year where she finished 12th by adding only time penalties to her dressage score.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">She hasn&rsquo;t had a single XC jumping fault in any of those nine runnings, including a&nbsp;clear on that five-star debut.</li>
</ul>
So on Saturday, James and Karma be aiming for ten clear XC rounds in a row.
Or will they?
The pair are also entered for the Kentucky Three-Day CCI5* later this month. So it wouldn&rsquo;t be a surprise if James decides to withdraw the mare before cross-country. We&rsquo;ll find out soon enough &mdash; but whether or not she runs, this is a pair with positive momentum heading into their 2025 season.
<h1 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h1>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Instagram. </a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
<hr>
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;

James Alliston & the dark bay horse Karma clearing a cross-country fence during competition.

Tamie Crosses 100 & James Brings a Rising Star

As the spring dressage shows draw to a close, we took a closer look at the horses delivering the best freestyle performances so far. The leaderboard race has been exciting to watch week after week, with both international and US riders jockeying for position. But the overall rankings only tell part of the story. Which horses have delivered standout performances? Which ones are consistently showing brilliance?
We reviewed the top six horses in the Series based on their average freestyle scores and found that the same combinations also account for the season&rsquo;s highest-scoring rides (though in a slightly different order).
Here&rsquo;s a closer look at the combinations leading the way in 2025.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-6OTwQ" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Top Horses in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6OTwQ/4/" height="599" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Top Six Horses</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">1. Helix (Adrienne Lyle)</h3>
Age: 13 Breed: KWPN Sex: Gelding Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center Bloodlines: Apache x Jazz Best Series Score: 80.600% Helix is the only horse to break the 80 percent barrier in the Series so far&ndash; and he&rsquo;s done it twice. His season-best 80.600% not only marked a personal best but also secured victory at the CDI5* at Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10. That prestigious event, the only 5* held in the Western Hemisphere, was the first time in four years that an American rider topped the podium. Despite their dominance, Adrienne Lyle and Helix&rsquo;s partnership is relatively new. They debuted their first freestyle together just a year ago at TerraNova, scoring 72.560%. Since then, they&rsquo;ve been on a steep upward trajectory, winning two Series legs and representing the US at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
<h3 dir="ltr">2. D&uuml;enensee (Kevin Kohmann)</h3>
Age: 16 Breed: Hanoverian Sex: Gelding Owner: Diamante Farms Bloodlines: Dancier x Davignon I Best Series Score: 79.240%
D&uuml;nensee&rsquo;s career-best freestyle score came at the perfect moment. It was during the historic Palm Beach Derby at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, which also served as the final World Cup Qualifier. Only one ticket to Basel remained for the Americans, and D&uuml;nensee faced off against Anna Marek and Fire Fly in a high-stakes showdown. Both delivered strong tests, but &ldquo;Denzel&rdquo; was in a league of his own: calm, fluid, and fully locked in. Their audience-favorite freestyle had spectators clapping along into the final halt. Kohmann&rsquo;s personal best of 79.240% earned him the win, the Series points, and the final World Cup berth. He later placed tenth overall at the World Cup Final, the highest-ranked American.
<h3 dir="ltr">3. Fire Fly (Anna Marek)</h3>
Age: 15 Breed: KWPN Sex: Gelding Owner: Janet Simile Bloodlines: Briar Junior x Oo Seven Best Series Score: 77.755%
Fire Fly is an impressive horse to watch. Hot, sensitive, and remarkably talented, it is no wonder he was shortlisted for the Paris Olympics with Marek aboard. Their dramatic freestyle, set to the Stranger Things soundtrack, is a performance worthy of the international stage. Their season-best came at AGDF 3, when Marek edged out Kohmann by just 0.21 percent. Although he has only started twice in the Series, Fire Fly has been remarkably consistent. Both outings, he scored in the high 70s and finished on the podium. His career average is 75 percent, reflecting a partnership that continues to trend upward. The progress is paying off. Between her two mounts, Marek has held the top spot on the leaderboard for more than two months.
<h3 dir="ltr">4. Fayvel (Anna Marek)</h3>
Age: 15 Breed: KWPN Sex: Gelding Owner: Cynthia Davila Bloodlines: Zizi Top x Houston Best Series Score: 78.785%
Marek is incredibly well positioned, with the ride on two Grand Prix superstars. While Fire Fly is flashy, hot, and commands attention, Fayvel is bold, reliable, and intelligent. He might lack the electric charisma of his stablemate but makes up for it with power, rideability, and calm focus under pressure. He transitioned to Marek&rsquo;s competitive string later in life when his owner suffered an injury that took her out of the saddle. Despite entering the top level at an older age, Fayvel quickly proved himself a powerhouse. He took Marek to the 2024 World Cup Final, where they finished as the highest-ranked American pair in ninth. Despite having the third highest Series score, Fayvel has yet to log a win this season. He came close in Week 10, trailing Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike by just 0.04 percent. As the long-time Series leader, Marek is all but guaranteed a place in the Final. With two stellar horses in her barn, the only question now is which one she will choose. You can learn more about both of Marek&rsquo;s horses in the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-podcast-anna-marek-on-passion-patience-and-performance">US Equestrian Open Podcast</a>.
<h3 dir="ltr">5. Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike (Julio Mendoza Loor)</h3>
Age: 14 Breed: KWPN Sex: Gelding Owner: Julio Mendoza Loor Bloodlines: Bretton Woods x Scandic Best Series Score: 78.520%
Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike have only competed in two legs of the Series, but they made those appearances count earning a first and second place. Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike was Mendoza Loor&rsquo;s Paris Games mount where they finished individual 27th. Their week 10 Series debut in Ocala was their first outing since the games. The following week, they finished second to Lyle and Helix in the CDI 5* in Wellington. Before coming to Mendoza Loor, &ldquo;Goldie&rdquo; was deemed too difficult to ride. A $20 sale price and 24/7 turnout later, he has become a powerful international competitor and one of the highest-scoring horses in the Series.
<h3 dir="ltr">6. Drombusch OLD (Felicitas Hendricks)</h3>
Age: 14 Breed: Oldenburg Sex: Gelding Owner: Felicitas Hendricks Bloodlines: Destano x Dimaggio Best Series Score: 78.200%
Felicitas Hendricks and Drombusch OLD came into the season as favorites after sweeping the freestyle classes at AGDF in 2024. Their first 2025 outing in Wellington also marked their debut in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifiers. They came out strong, earning their season high of 78.200%. Hendricks and Drombusch have been together since the gelding was six, and they won the Under-25 European Championship in 2023. Drombusch is particularly impressive in freestyle, where their floorplan is known for a strikingly high degree of difficulty, including 20 one-time changes down the centerline.
<h2 dir="ltr">Poised for the Final</h2>
Despite each of these six horses posting the highest scores in the Series so far, only five of them are currently in contention for a Finals spot. Mendoza Loor and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike only have two qualifier appearances. The results were strong&mdash;first and second place&mdash;but that only puts the pair on a score of 37. Mendoza Loor planned to summer in Europe, so unless he returns to the qualifiers in the fall, we might not see the pair in Thermal come November.
The remaining five horses are not just Series frontrunners but likely Finals contenders. Their consistency, scoring power, and ability to deliver under pressure have defined the season so far. With only two qualifiers left this spring before the summer break, these combinations are well-positioned to secure their places for Thermal. And once there, this group is poised to battle for the Final&rsquo;s podium positions. While many factors can influence the road to the Final, if early-season form is any indication, these are the horses to watch when the Series culminates in November.

Six Horses Everyone Will Be Chasing in Thermal

In only her second Grand Prix Freestyle as a senior, accomplished 21-year-old Erin Nichols earned her first international freestyle victory at TerraNova, scoring 72.140% aboard her 16-year-old KWPN gelding, Elian Royale. While this marks a new milestone at the senior level, Nichols is no stranger to the spotlight&mdash;she&rsquo;s a former triple gold medalist at the North American Youth Championships and a winner of multiple international U25 classes, including freestyle victories on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nichols placed second in Friday&rsquo;s Grand Prix with a 68.848%, just behind USA&rsquo;s Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena (69.109%). While Ebeling opted to ride in the Grand Prix Special, it was Nichols and Eline Eckroth contesting the Freestyle the next day.
While not an overall personal best, the 72.140% is right in line with Nichols&rsquo; average across her freestyle performances&mdash;most of which came during her successful run in the Under 25 ranks. That makes this weekend&rsquo;s test a senior-level personal best, and an important benchmark as she builds her r&eacute;sum&eacute; at the top level. Although the field was small, the win is a clear milestone for Nichols, who has her sights set on future U.S. team appearances and dreams of representing her country at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
<h2>Eckroth Climbs the Leaderboard</h2>
Eckroth&rsquo;s second-place finish&mdash;earned in a modestly contested class&mdash;was enough to propel her from 11th to 4th in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings. She edges out early-season favorite Felicitas Hendricks, who is likely returning to Germany now that the Wellington circuit has wrapped. Like Karen Lipp, currently ranked third overall, Eckroth is gaining ground through consistent 2nd- and 3rd-place finishes at smaller shows. It&rsquo;s a reminder that Series points don&rsquo;t always come from big wins&mdash;smart scheduling can pay off, especially with cash prizes going to the top 18 riders at the end of the qualifiers. The biggest payday, however, will come at the Finals, where those top 18 will face off in Thermal, California, this November.
<h2>Ocala Could Shake Things Up</h2>
The TerraNova weekend may have featured a small field, but it gave Nichols another career milestone to add to her already impressive resume. It also shuffled the standings in favor of Eckroth, who will compete again next weekend against third-place rider Karen Lipp at the World Equestrian Center&rsquo;s CDI4* Freestyle. With the two riders only four points apart, Ocala&rsquo;s outing could significantly reshape the leaderboard&mdash;potentially even knocking Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger out of second place.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on&nbsp;<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.

Horse and rider trot away from the camera in an upper level dressage test.

Nichols Claims First Senior Freestyle Victory at TerraNova

Maryland International at Loch Moy kicks off tomorrow for the 14th qualifier of the US Equestrian Open. It is a stacked field and with a good amount of entries, it is looking to be a hot competition.
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Prediction Centre&nbsp;</h3>
The<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/maryland_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> EquiRatings Prediction Centre</a> gives Caroline Pamucku a 50% overall win chance at Maryland. But don't count out Jennie Brannigan and Connery &ndash; the 2023 winners are back after having the fastest cross-country time of day. Hard ground is forecast this weekend, so a quick cross country round will be key &mdash; minimising time penalties could really shake up the leaderboard.
<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/maryland_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ac7f2c40-61f4-41e3-a4ec-c14d1ae02c76.png?width=775&amp;height=916" alt="Screenshot 2025 06 26 102919"></a>
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Maryland Fan Guide</h3>
If you want to know more on the competitors&mdash; from the best dressage horses to the fastest cross-country combinations &mdash; check out the <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/maryland-lochmoy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maryland Fan Guide</a>. It breaks down all the must-know stats and stories to follow this weekend. <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/maryland-lochmoy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/14ce1955-86c7-497c-ac17-e7090d244d73.png?width=484&amp;height=658" alt="Screenshot 2025 06 26 105115"></a>
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Maryland Preview Podcast</h3>
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37111980/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/1787d4/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne dive into the entries, tactics, ground conditions, and more on this week&rsquo;s podcast &mdash; from Jennie Brannigan stepping up with Kismet for their four-star debut to Caroline Pamukcu and Arden Wildasin, who could make a serious push for the podium with their speed. Tune in to the US Equestrian Open podcast for all the details. 
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Podcast graphic for the US Equestrian Open Podcast

Maryland CCI4*-S Preview

Kent Farrington has done what only Kent Farrington has ever done before. With victory in the $340,000 CSI5* Grand Prix of Greenwich aboard Toulayna, the world no. 1 secured his eighth five-star Grand Prix/World Cup triumph of 2025, matching the unprecedented tally he first set in 2017.
<h2>History Repeats Itself, With a Twist</h2>
In the modern era of show jumping, consistency at the very top is one of the sport&rsquo;s hardest currencies. Since 2010, no rider other than Farrington has managed to amass eight five-star Grand Prix or World Cup wins in a single calendar year. Martin Fuchs (2019) and McLain Ward (2010) came close, but only Farrington has scaled the summit. Twice.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ea454955-bc3b-41c8-b0b3-aed61501a437.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Usef Jumping Graphics 2025 (21)">
This latest victory in Greenwich, achieved by just three-hundredths of a second over Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V., was the perfect snapshot of what makes Farrington unstoppable: speed, precision, and the nerve to execute under pressure.
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<h2>Greya Joins the Legends</h2>
It isn&rsquo;t just Farrington rewriting history this year, his superstar mare Greya is doing the same. With her latest Grand Prix win in Williamsburg, the 11-year-old Oldenburg (Colestus x Contender) captured her sixth five-star victory of 2025, matching the legendary record set by Gazelle in 2017. Remarkably, both mares have been guided to these milestone seasons by Farrington, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest championship managers of horses in modern show jumping. With history still unfolding, Greya&rsquo;s campaign could yet surpass Gazelle&rsquo;s benchmark and stand alone at the very top.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/204b935d-44bc-4581-ad1c-99937e60f2a6.png?width=1200&amp;height=600" alt="1">
<h2>Rivalries and Records</h2>
Farrington and Bluman have been locked in a season-long battle across Major League Show Jumping and beyond, trading blows in Toronto, Traverse City, and now Greenwich. While Bluman once again pushed him to the limit, Farrington&rsquo;s composure in the jump-off brought his season tally to an extraordinary eight wins.
Behind the stats lies a remarkable storyline: Farrington&rsquo;s triumphs have come aboard multiple horses, led by Greya, with whom he has taken 6 of those wins and Toulayna, the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare co-owned with Rabbit Root Stables. The mares&rsquo; blend of scope and speed has been the cornerstone of Farrington&rsquo;s dominance in 2025.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2f5016af-b017-4a7f-92b4-8eb6707474d8.png?width=1200&amp;height=600" alt="2">
<h2>The Making of a Modern Legend</h2>
What sets Farrington apart isn&rsquo;t just his ability to win, it&rsquo;s his ability to do it again, and again, across different arenas, continents, and lineups of the world&rsquo;s best. From Wellington to Traverse City, from Toronto to Greenwich, 2025 has been a masterclass in sustained brilliance.
Eight five-star Grand Prix victories in one year is a number most riders can scarcely imagine. For Kent Farrington, it is not just a record, it is a signature.

Eight and Great: Kent Farrington Rewrites the Record Books

That&rsquo;s the case with the top 10 Grand Prix Freestyle scores of the 2025 Equestrian Open season so far. Look closely, and a pattern emerges&mdash;one that goes beyond individual performances and starts to show us something bigger.
Adrienne Lyle, Anna Marek, and Kevin Kohmann have delivered 8 of the 10 best freestyle scores of the year. Even more striking? All 10 of the top scores by American riders belong to them. These aren&rsquo;t just one-off wins. They&rsquo;re a data-backed show of dominance and a window into why these riders are leading the conversation as the US Equestrian Open of Dressage barrels toward its Final.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Message Behind the 'Top Ten' Metric</h2>
In sports, a stat tells you what happened. A metric tells you what matters.
The top 10 scores are a stat. Alone, they don&rsquo;t guarantee anything. But when we zoom out&mdash;looking at the names, the consistency, the progression&mdash;they begin to function like a performance metric. And the message they&rsquo;re sending is clear: when it comes to the biggest moments under the brightest lights, Lyle, Marek, and Kohmann are delivering the highest-level performances we&rsquo;ve seen on U.S. soil this season.
Take Adrienne Lyle and Helix. They own the top two scores, both breaking the 80% barrier. Lyle is the only American to do so this season. Her 80.600% at AGDF 10 wasn&rsquo;t just a combination best; it was a statement that her Paris Olympic mount is just getting started.
Marek and Kohmann, meanwhile, have carved out their own stretch of real estate on the leaderboard. Between them, they hold another six of the ten best scores, ranging from Kohmann&rsquo;s 79.240% at the Palm Beach Derby to Marek&rsquo;s 77.755% with Fire Fly back in January. These rides reflect more than isolated talent. They're part of a multi-show arc building toward bigger goals: World Cups, the US Equestrian Open Finals, LA 2028.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-HSoyu" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Top Tests: 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/HSoyu/1/" height="707" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Holding the Top Spot on Home Turf</h2>
All ten of the highest-scoring American freestyles this season also belong to Lyle, Marek, or Kohmann. It&rsquo;s easy to overlook how rare that is, especially at a venue like Wellington, where every weekend sees Olympians and international stars take the stage.
Germany&rsquo;s Felicitas Hendricks and Evelyn Eger have reminded American riders that even on home soil, nothing is guaranteed. In Wellington, where the home crowd and familiar footing should offer an edge, they&rsquo;ve shown up and won anyway. Ecuador&rsquo;s Julio Mendoza Loor remains a wildcard threat with the ability to shake up any podium.&nbsp;
But what Lyle, Marek, and Kohmann have done is deliver repeatedly in those same fields, under that same pressure, and still emerged with the season&rsquo;s top scores.
It&rsquo;s a sign that American dressage is entering a new chapter&mdash;one that&rsquo;s penned with competitive intent and inked with momentum. These performances don&rsquo;t close the gap with Europe just yet, but they&rsquo;re proof that the U.S. is building a future that could. The road to LA 2028 starts here.
<h2 dir="ltr">What It All Means</h2>
With only a few qualifiers left, the leaderboard is crowded and unstable. One big ride can still vault a rider into the Final. One no-show could knock someone out. Kohmann sits in a precarious 17th. Lyle looks safe enough in 14th, probably. Marek is comfortably booked on a first-class seat to the Final.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4fd42b30-420d-4f94-b8c6-317e3ddd7b44.png?width=492&amp;height=327" alt="Current leaderboard bubble: Riders ranked 14&ndash;23. Top 18 qualify for the Final."> Current leaderboard bubble: Riders ranked 14&ndash;23. Top 18 qualify for the Final.
That&rsquo;s what makes this top 10 so telling. A blockbuster ride&mdash;or even a collection of them&mdash;doesn&rsquo;t guarantee a spot in the Final. Brilliance matters. Consistent brilliance matters more. But the only real ticket is a mix of timing, strategy, and follow-through. And by those metrics, only one rider has nailed the formula:
Anna Marek.
She looks poised to earn the $12,500 bonus for the leaderboard&rsquo;s top point-earner, but once she arrives in Thermal, the leaderboard is irrelevant. The $200,000 prize is based on one ride, one score, one shot. All that consistency? It gets you to the arena. But it won&rsquo;t win you the check.
<h3 dir="ltr">Want to Dig Deeper?</h3>
Watch the top rides from these three on USEF Network. Follow their progress toward the Final at<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/"> usequestrianopen.org</a>. And keep an eye on the leaderboard because when one of these three steps into the arena, history tends to follow.

dressage horse graphic with black and white background and in color horse trotting away from camera

The Trio at the Top: What the Top 10 Freestyles Say About This Season

With just 0.04 percentage points separating them, Week 10&rsquo;s qualifier was a tight battle for first place. Ultimately, Julio Mendoza Loor took the win aboard his Paris Games mount, Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike, despite a music error that forced them to restart their test. New to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifiers&mdash;but not new to the sport&mdash;Mendoza Loor rode to an upbeat, bold soundtrack, earning a score of 75.860%. Finishing second was Anna Marek aboard Fayvel, a 14-year-old gelding. This finish puts Marek and the US flag back atop the leaderboard.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e9eaf549-50ba-4fec-995a-c082ff590f4c.png?width=491&amp;height=496" alt="Top 5 riders in the US Open of Dressage as of Feb 9, 2025. (1) Anna Marek (2) Evelyn Eger (2) Karen Lipp (4) Denielle Gallagher (5) Felicitas Hendricks">
Mendoza Loor&rsquo;s high-energy freestyle music particularly suited &ldquo;Goldie&rsquo;s&rdquo; trot work. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding scored exceptionally well in the piaffe and passage, earning 8.0s from most judges. A stumble during one of the flying changes cost them a few marks, likely making the final score even closer than it would have been otherwise. This marked their return to competition after placing 27th individually at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
&ldquo;There were a lot of highlights tonight in the test,&rdquo; Mendoza Loor said. &ldquo;After the line of the one-tempis, he was really there in what I was asking him to do. His performance was amazing."
Marek, fresh off a second-place finish in Wellington last weekend on Fire Fly, delivered a strong test to a freestyle featuring the punchy, rhythmic &lsquo;BOOM&rsquo; by X Ambassadors and the playful, offbeat &lsquo;Coincidance&rsquo; by Handsome Driver. Her ride was remarkably consistent, with no movement receiving lower than a 7.0 from any judge.
The 0.04 percentage point margin between first and second place is the smallest in Series history, breaking the previous record of 0.210 percentage points, which was also set by Marek&mdash;though that time aboard Fire Fly&mdash;when she narrowly edged out Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee at Global Dressage Festival 3.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-LMZSy" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Winning MarginsUS Equestrian Open Dressage Qualifiers" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LMZSy/1/" height="539" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Range Plot" data-external="1"></iframe>
This second-place finish earned Marek 17 points in the Series standings, cementing her position at the top of the leaderboard. With the Final in Thermal, CA, this November, her focus is now on maintaining that lead as the qualifiers near their halfway point.
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next&nbsp;</h2>
The back-to-back qualifiers return to Wellington this weekend for Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10&rsquo;s CDI5*&mdash;a highly anticipated competition in Florida&rsquo;s winter circuit. The entry list is stacked, with top combinations poised to shake up the standings: Adrienne Lyle on Helix, Anna Marek on Fayvel, Evelyn Eger on Tabledance 3, Felicitas Hendricks on Drombusch OLD, Kevin Kohmann on D&uuml;nensee, Tinne Vilhelmson&nbsp;Silfv&eacute;n&nbsp;on Devanto, and Julio Mendoza Loor on Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike.&nbsp;
With Marek, Eger, and Hendricks separated by fewer than 20 points, the battle for the top spot is far from over.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b0ba4a7e-31a4-4a11-a147-7faa41ac9f1d.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2025 US Open of Dressage">

A bay horse in a double bridle walks out of the arena after a dressage test. 

Down to the Decimal: Mendoza Loor Wins Closest Finish in Series History

Last weekend at The Fork,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoEwwLDYCw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boyd Martin soared to the top of the Open leaderboard</a> after securing a 120-point haul. Phillip Dutton, on 215 points, is now sitting pretty in second place. But, while Boyd is fairly out of reach this late in the Series, Phillip&nbsp;can be caught and if he is, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it will cost him $5,000</a>.
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Prize money come Series end:
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">1st - $25,000</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;">2nd - $15,000</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;">3rd - $10,000</li>
</ul>
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One rider with a good shot at catching Phillip is&nbsp;James Alliston.&nbsp;
James is competing in this weekend's Qualifier 18 - Twin Rivers - and&nbsp;he&rsquo;s won the last five editions of the event.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9b4f52ba-a85f-4a2a-84c1-76355322fce3.png?width=1190&amp;height=1670" alt="Last 10 Winners of Twin Rivers Cci4 S">&nbsp;
This time, James brings forward a CCI4* first-timer,&nbsp;HMR Rolan. But looking at Rolan&rsquo;s results, so far he has handled everything in stride. James has taken Rolan around four internationals and, across all four, Rolan has added just 4 penalties to his dressage score, just a single rail. That&rsquo;s it.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5b88af88-2748-4fa6-9b81-40791d070065.png?width=1400&amp;height=736" alt="Cm Ob F Hmr Rolan S International Appearances (1)">
On their latest outing last month - a national event - James and Rolan were crowned USEA Open Intermediate Champions and before that, they finished second in the Rebecca Farm CCI3*-L.
Now, facing Rolan's first CCI4*, the pair compete against five other combinations and according to EquiRatings Predictive Analytics,<a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/twinriverssep2025/predictions--records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> they have a 35% chance of winning</a>.
That&rsquo;s important because a win here would take James from 145 Series points to 185 points and equal third in the Series.
Then, after Twin Rivers, there is one last qualifier on the West Coast - Qualifier 20: Woodside. The Woodside Fall International is an event James has started 24 times before, including two entries in the CCI2*-S last year. He hasn&rsquo;t contested the CCI4*-S there since 2020 but he may be incentivized to enter this year - given the horse power - if it gives him a chance to secure more Open winnings.&nbsp;
<h1>The Scenario</h1>
Say James wins Twin Rivers this weekend to sit on 185 points coming into Woodside. To then catch Phillip on 215, James would need to place third or higher at Woodside (30+ Series points) to meet or exceed Phillip. Now, from 2020 onward, the number of Woodside 4*-S starters has ranged from 2 (2024) to 15 (2020), so placing third this year may be more or less straightforward depending on the number of this year&rsquo;s entries.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h1>Other Challengers</h1>
Another qualifier going on this weekend is the East Coast&rsquo;s Plantation Field. Of that field, Caroline Pamukcu and Jennie Brannigan are the two that could join James in a race for the Open podium.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2e11d825-95cc-4c7c-8ac9-a0d18a33031a.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="West Side Story leaderboard notations"> 
All to say, the Series ain't over. The checks aren&rsquo;t written. Stay tuned.
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<hr>
<h1>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h1>
The Final in a snapshot. For full Series details, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head to our quick guide</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e95e199-0e64-4508-aaa5-7039e5d08293.png?width=2160&amp;height=2700" alt="Final Snapshot for Open Eventing Blogs">
<h3>Current Series Standings (Sep 18, 2025):</h3>
See the full, updated series standings and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dfc13b24-b6dc-4dab-ac88-91d5d46150e5.png?width=721&amp;height=557" alt="Eventing Leaderboard as of 18 Sep 2025">
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 <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>.

Image of James Alliston jumping the dark bay horse Karma over a cross country fence during competition.