<p>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.</p>

Main

<p dir="ltr">Last weekend at The Fork,&nbsp;<strong><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></strong> after securing a 120-point haul. <strong>Phillip Dutton</strong>, 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;<em>can </em>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>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr"><em><strong>Prize money come Series end:</strong></em></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><em>1st - $25,000</em></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;"><em>2nd - $15,000</em></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;"><em>3rd - $10,000</em></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">One rider with a good shot at catching Phillip is&nbsp;<strong>James Alliston</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>James is competing in this weekend's Qualifier 18 - Twin Rivers - and&nbsp;<strong>he&rsquo;s won the last five editions of the event.</strong></p>
<p><strong><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;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">This time, James brings forward a CCI4* first-timer,&nbsp;<strong>HMR Rolan</strong>. 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.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><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)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">On their latest outing last month - a national event - James and Rolan were crowned <strong>USEA Open Intermediate Champions</strong> and before that, they finished second in the Rebecca Farm CCI3*-L.</p>
<p>Now, facing Rolan's first CCI4*, the pair compete against five other combinations and according to EquiRatings Predictive Analytics,<strong><a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/twinriverssep2025/predictions--records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> they have a 35% chance of winning</a></strong>.</p>
<p>That&rsquo;s important because<strong> a win here would take James from 145 Series points to 185 points and equal third in the Series.</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<h1><strong>The Scenario</strong></h1>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<h1><strong>Other Challengers</strong></h1>
<p>Another qualifier going on this weekend is the East Coast&rsquo;s Plantation Field. Of that field, <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> and <strong>Jennie Brannigan</strong> are the two that could join James in a race for the Open podium.</p>
<p><strong><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"> </strong></p>
<p><em>All to say</em>, the Series ain't over. The checks aren&rsquo;t written. Stay tuned.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h1><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h1>
<p>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>.</p>
<p><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"></p>
<h3><strong>Current Series Standings (Sep 18, 2025):</strong></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(109, 114, 114);"><em>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>.</em></span></p>
<p><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"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full <strong>Series calendar </strong>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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><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"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

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

West Side Story

<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">This weekend's CCI4*-L at Morven Park is many things - one being the inaugural US Equestrian Open Final and one being a showcase of some of the most accomplished riders in&nbsp; US eventing history.</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">The Numbers Don't Lie</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The entry list reads like a who's who of American eventing royalty. Between just three riders&mdash;<strong>Boyd Martin, Buck Davidson, and Phillip Dutton</strong>&mdash;they have 274 combined completions at 4*-L and 5* level since 2008. This is testament not only to their talent and consistency, but to their horsemanship and management behind decades of keeping horses fit, sound, and competitive at the highest level.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ab768f5b-5f09-4b64-818e-a60230f18778.png?width=1088&amp;height=1132" alt="Zd K7 U Riders in the Morven Park Field With the Most Completions at 4 L Amp 5 "></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Boyd Martin</strong> leads the pack with 94 completions and arrives with two rides: <strong>Miks Master C</strong> and <strong>Shanroe Cooley.</strong> More significantly, Martin sits on 10 career wins at 4*-L level - tied for the most in the sport (since 2008). A win this weekend would make him the outright record holder with 11.<em> </em>He also has two wins at the<em> </em>CCI5* level - Adelaide 2003 and Maryland 2021.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0add9a8e-bfc7-4154-b11d-b25be337769f.png?width=1000&amp;height=962" alt="Pzbbo Riders in the Morven Park Field With the Most Wins at 4 L"></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Phillip Dutton</strong>, US eventing icon, brings <strong>Denim </strong>and <strong>Possante</strong> to Morven Park. Since our records began in 2008, Dutton has racked up 89 completions, putting him on the verge of hitting the 90 mark this weekend. He has had 4 wins at CCI4*-L level and one win at the 5* level back in 2008 at Kentucky.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Buck Davidson</strong> continues the family legacy established by his father Bruce. The Davidson name is synonymous with American eventing excellence, and Buck has carved out his own legendary status with 91 completions and four wins at four-star. He arrives with <strong>Cooley Candyman</strong>, ready to add to that tally.</p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">Beyond the Big Three</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The depth doesn't stop there. The field if filled with riders who bring impressive credentials and experience</p>
<ul>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Jess Phoenix</strong> - 50 completions, 2 wins</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Will Coleman </strong>- 41 completions, 2 wins.&nbsp;</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Jennie Brannigan </strong>- 34 completions, 5 wins</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Tamra Smith </strong>- 33 completions, 3 wins at CCI4*L, including a 2022 Morven Park victory, and one at 5*</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Ryan Wood </strong>- 20 completions, 2 wins&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/06c9cb32-2061-4508-a108-e6210ba490f0.png?width=1264&amp;height=1298" alt="I Gxh a Horses in the Morven Park Field With the Most Completions at 4 L Amp 5 "></p>
<h3 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">Why It Matters</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">At a venue where the cross-country clear rate sits under 50% and only eight combinations have finished inside the optimum time across the last 80 starters, experience is a going to be a huge advantage.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Morven Park is to host one of the most experienced fields assembled at any 4*L event on US Soil since 2015. Legends will compete, milestones will be reached, history will be made.<br><br></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><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"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Legends Assemble at Morven Park

<p dir="ltr">With just 0.04 percentage points separating them, Week 10&rsquo;s qualifier was a tight battle for first place. Ultimately, <strong>Julio Mendoza Loor</strong> took the win aboard his Paris Games mount, <strong>Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike</strong>, 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 <strong>Anna Marek</strong> aboard <strong>Fayvel</strong>, a 14-year-old gelding. This finish puts Marek and the US flag back atop the leaderboard.&nbsp;</p>
<p><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"></p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&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."</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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 <strong>Kevin Kohmann</strong> and <strong>D&uuml;nensee </strong>at Global Dressage Festival 3.</p>
<p><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></p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next&nbsp;</h2>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">With Marek, Eger, and Hendricks separated by fewer than 20 points, the battle for the top spot is far from over.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><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"></p>

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

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<div>After the 20 CCI4*-S Qualifiers, the grand finale of the US Equestrian Open steps up to a CCI4*-L at Morven Park. To qualify for the $200,000 Final, riders must earn an MER at any one of the Qualifiers. So far,&nbsp;<strong>76 athletes have earned their ticket</strong>, with five more qualifiers still to come.&nbsp;<strong>Who of them has demonstrated 4*-L winning form? </strong></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">riders can also buy into the Final</a> without having MER'ed at a Qualifier - provided they meet all other 4*-L prerequisites - but here, we're going to focus on the pre-qualified athletes. We looked at the 4*-L results of the 76 Final-eligible riders and compared them to the 4*-L winning standard.</div>
<h1>What does it take to win a 4*-L on US soil?</h1>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Across the last 20 4*-L events on US soil, the winners averaged a<strong> </strong>first-phase score of 31.8 and a final score of 35.3.&nbsp;Looking beyond the averages,<strong> eighteen of the 20 winners scored a sub-35.0 dressage score</strong> and a <strong>slight majority of them (12), finished on a sub-35.0 score.</strong></div>
<div><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/480414b7-56c8-4791-bb02-134bd42be4e0.png?width=1366&amp;height=2881" alt="Last 20 winners of US 4L events"></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h1>Who's scored a sub-35 <strong>dressage</strong> score at US 4* longs?</h1>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Of the 76 Final-qualified riders, <strong>11 have scored three or more sub-35.0 dressage tests at US 4*-L events within the last few years</strong> (2021 onward).</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1f2f678e-0a7e-4b4b-8572-f2756bc6aeb2.png?width=1096&amp;height=1314" alt="Kv11y Final Qualified Riders With the Most Sub 35 0 Dressage Scores at Recent Us 4 L Events"></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Table-topper <strong>Tamie Smith</strong>&nbsp;has earned three of her 12 scores with <strong>Kynan </strong>who she has&nbsp;<a href="https://evententries.com/#ShowCenterNy7IspNRvqnjxKn3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered for the Final</a>.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><strong>Boyd Martin's</strong> eight sub-35.0 scores came from just nine US 4*-L starts since 2021, and one was at Tryon this spring with <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/boyd-martin-is-one-of-the-most-successful-4-l-riders-and-hes-entered-for-the-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Barney Rubble </strong>who he has entered for the Final</a>.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> earned three of her sub-35s with <strong>King's Especiale</strong>, <strong>HSH Double Sixteen</strong>, and<strong> HSH Blake</strong> - all three of whom are entered for the Final.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/87378dd5-acf6-495e-93ee-cc0ff04539d8.jpg?width=5728&amp;height=5345" alt="Hsh Blake Kentucky 2024 Er Caroline Pamukcu 3856_photo by Tilly Berendt"></div>
<div><em style="font-size: 90%; color: #999999;">HSH Blake &amp; Caroline Pamukcu. Photo by Tilly Berendt.</em></div>
<h1>Who's scored a sub-35 <strong>finishing</strong> score at US 4* longs?</h1>
<div>
<p>Just 10 of the 76 Final-qualified riders have <em>finished</em> sub-35.0 at recent <strong>US 4*-L events</strong> (2021 onward).</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/15c9516c-94c8-4e59-8f31-a04381f7bc9c.png?width=1096&amp;height=1230" alt="Hv5r4 Final Qualified Riders With Sub 35 0 Finishing Scores at Recent Us 4 L Events"></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>With <strong>Commando 3</strong>,<strong> Boyd Martin</strong> won the 2023 Morven Park 4*-L on a sub-35.0 finishing score. In fact, of his five 4*-L sub-35s since 2021, he won four of them and placed third in the other. He hasn't yet won a 4*-L with any of his current Final entries, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/boyd-martin-is-one-of-the-most-successful-4-l-riders-and-hes-entered-for-the-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he is a dominant rider at the level</a>.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><strong>Mia Farley</strong> earned her sub-35 at the 2022 Morven Park 4*-L with <strong>Phelps</strong>, finishing third. For the Final, Mia so far has <strong>Invictus </strong>entered. The Final will be Invictus' second 4*-L after finishing eighth in the 2024 TerraNova 4*-L. Invictus produced his international dressage PB at that 4*-L, a 27.9. A cross-country 20 and jumping penalties saw he and Mia finishing with a high score on the weekend but he hasn't had any cross-country jumping faults in any of his four 4*-S runs since then.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Ultimately, when we look at the top and tail of a US 4*-L - first phase and final score - <strong>sub-35.0 is a good number to keep in mind</strong>. Certainly, some of our early entries have already shown they can do it.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<h1>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h1>
<p>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>.</p>
<p><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"></p>
<h3><strong>Current Series Standings (Sep 5, 2025):</strong></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(109, 114, 114);"><em>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>.</em></span></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6322a623-cee0-440a-a66e-d0734fc72db4.png?width=722&amp;height=562" alt="Leaderboard After Rebecca Farm"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full <strong>Series calendar </strong>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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><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"></p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
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Image of Tamie Smith waving and smiling as she leaves the dressage arena on the bay horse Kynan.

What it takes to win a 4*-L on US soil

<p dir="ltr"><strong><a href="https://evententries.com/#ShowCenterNy7IspNRvqnjxKn3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Early entries are already coming in</a></strong> for the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Final - October&rsquo;s Morven Park 4*-L. Catching our eye was <strong>Boyd Martin</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Why? Well, not &ldquo;just&rdquo; because he is one of the USA&rsquo;s most successful eventers but also because he has a particular aptitude for four-star-longs; between 2008 and now, no one has tallied more wins at the level: 10. Australia&rsquo;s <strong>Shane Rose</strong> matches him but no one beats him. Here&rsquo;s the list:<br><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a74b275a-8597-409c-a6d8-c8fb2be8c43e.png?width=1268&amp;height=1444" alt="5 H Ih H Riders With the Most Cci4 L Wins Since 2008 (1)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">And one of Boyd&rsquo;s 4*-L wins was at Morven Park two years ago. A repeat effort this year would not only separate him from Shane on the win-count table, it would also earn Boyd a hefty portion of the $200,000 prize pot. I'm sure he wouldn't complain.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/73c5afb7-8871-496c-959c-b7df2f098c75.png?width=1198&amp;height=1166" alt="35t Qv Boyd Martin S Ten Cci4 L Wins Since 2008"></p>
<p dir="ltr">When it comes to Morven Park, Boyd has venue familiarity going for him - he of course won the 4*-L but he&rsquo;s also had nine total international runs at the venue dating back to 2014. Plus, as of now, he&rsquo;s entered on two strong horses:</p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>1. Shanroe Cooley (10 YO)</strong></h1>
<p dir="ltr">Liz Halliday&rsquo;s mount Shanroe Cooley has only done one international with Boyd - a 3*-S which they won by adding just 3.6 XC time penalties to their dressage score. But, with Liz, Shanroe Cooley does have top-level experience. One of his best results was a <strong>4th place finish at Tryon 4*-L</strong> (May 2024).&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Shanroe Cooley has <strong>jumped clear in 20 of his 21 international XC runs</strong>, including six clears at the 4* levels (long &amp; short). And, of his 20 international SJ rounds, he&rsquo;s&nbsp;<strong>only knocked 3 rails</strong> (spread over three different courses).</p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>2. Miks Master C (13 YO)</strong></h1>
<p><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/26ca95fb-2a87-4c52-b171-0ab54ca5b3a9.jpg?width=null&amp;height=null" alt="Miks Master C &amp; Liz Halliday at Kentucky 2024. Photo by Tilly Berendt."></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em style="font-size: 90%; color: #999999;">Miks Master C &amp; Liz Halliday. Photo by Tilly Berendt.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">Another of Liz Halliday&rsquo;s string being piloted by Boyd, Miks Master C has more top-level experience than Shanroe Cooley and is a four-time winner at the CCI4*-S level. He&nbsp;<strong>won the highly competitive Carolina 4*-S back-to-back, finishing on a 20.9 (2023) and a 22.5 (2024)</strong>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In 2023, on <strong>his very first 5* run (Kentucky), Miks Master C placed third </strong>by adding just 1.6 XC time penalties to his dressage score, finishing on a 28.5.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">With Boyd, Miks Master C has only done one international: a 3*-S at Bromont. There, he and Boyd jumped clear in both the XC and SJ phases to finish 9th. It will be exciting to watch this pair at Morven and <strong>their EquiRatings win chance is likely to be high </strong>once all entries are in.</p>
<h1><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h1>
<p>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>.</p>
<p><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"></p>
<h3><strong>Current Series Standings (Aug 29, 2025):</strong></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(109, 114, 114);"><em>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>.</em></span></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6322a623-cee0-440a-a66e-d0734fc72db4.png?width=722&amp;height=562" alt="Leaderboard After Rebecca Farm"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full <strong>Series calendar </strong>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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><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"></p>
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<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

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

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

<p data-start="406" data-end="767">For six-time Olympian <strong data-start="428" data-end="446">Steffen Peters</strong>, dressage has always been about connection. Between horse and rider, yes, but also between sport and audience. His partnership with <strong>Suppenkasper</strong> (&ldquo;Mopsie&rdquo;) captured the world&rsquo;s imagination during the Tokyo Olympics, when their electric freestyle earned millions of views and a nickname that stuck: <em data-start="748" data-end="764"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc92GJphMqA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Rave Horse</a></em>.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38339040/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/no/custom-color/5883c8/time-start/00:00:00/hide-show/yes/hide-playlist/yes/hide-subscribe/yes/hide-share/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p data-start="769" data-end="1071">&ldquo;I knew when we designed that freestyle that it would likely be my last,&rdquo; Peters shared on the&nbsp;<strong data-start="881" data-end="923">US Equestrian Open of Dressage Podcast</strong>. &ldquo;I wanted music you&rsquo;d play at a party &mdash; something that makes people want to get up and dance. That&rsquo;s the essence I wanted to share with Mopsie.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="1073" data-end="1360">And, it almost didn&rsquo;t happen. Fifteen minutes before the Olympic freestyle began, Peters realized he&rsquo;d submitted the wrong music file.</p>
<blockquote>
<p data-start="1073" data-end="1360">&ldquo;We were calling Florida at three-thirty in the morning to get the right version sent to Tokyo,&rdquo; he laughed. &ldquo;The tower was not happy, but it worked out.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 data-start="1362" data-end="1389">The Energy of a Crowd</h2>
<p data-start="1390" data-end="1683">From Tokyo to Aachen, the crowd has become part of the performance. In a normal Grand Prix test, Mopsie, who is a fairly noise sensitive horse, would probably react. But in a freestyle? He feeds off it.</p>
<blockquote>
<p data-start="1390" data-end="1683">"The American crowd gets so into it. They bring the score up. There&rsquo;s no doubt in my mind.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<p data-start="1685" data-end="2044">That bond &mdash; between horse, rider, and audience &mdash; is what Peters hopes to see again when he joins the <strong data-start="1786" data-end="1814">US Equestrian Open Final</strong> commentary team this fall. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be there with empathy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When someone has a mistake, I feel it. When someone has a great ride, I&rsquo;ll react to that emotionally. I know what it feels like to be in that moment.&rdquo;</p>
<h2 data-start="2046" data-end="2073">The Power of the Open</h2>
<p data-start="2074" data-end="2553">Peters also sees the <strong data-start="2095" data-end="2129">US Equestrian Open of Dressage</strong> as something transformative not just for riders, but for fans discovering the sport. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s such a wonderful idea to have this Series here in the United States,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s bringing dressage into the mainstream, where people who might not know the sport can suddenly fall in love with it. We saw that with Mopsie &mdash; millions of people saw him online and thought,&nbsp;<em data-start="2497" data-end="2516">this is dressage?</em> That&rsquo;s what the Open can do, too.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="2555" data-end="2951">He highlighted the Open&rsquo;s coast-to-coast reach and the significance of holding its inaugural Final in California &mdash; a reflection, he said, of the strength and depth of West Coast dressage. With world-class footing, an energetic atmosphere, and a venue built to bring fans closer to the action, Thermal represents exactly what the Series stands for: connection, excitement, and exceptional sport.</p>
<p data-start="2953" data-end="3232">For Peters, it&rsquo;s also about community. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not the Pan Ams, it&rsquo;s not the Olympics, but it&rsquo;s still a big stage,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p data-start="2953" data-end="3232">&ldquo;It gives riders and horses the chance to shine under pressure and fans the chance to be part of something special. That&rsquo;s what keeps the sport growing.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 data-start="3234" data-end="3255">Words of Wisdom</h2>
<p data-start="3256" data-end="3541">As for advice to riders fine-tuning their freestyles ahead of the Final? Peters encourages balance and intuition. Success, he believes, comes from partnership rather than pressure. &ldquo;Let your horse tell you how far you can go,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t ride the scoreboard. Ride your horse.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="3256" data-end="3541">Listen to the full podcast <a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710/dressage-steffen-peters-on-freestyle-fans-and-finding-balance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>

New Podcast: Steffen Peters on Freestyle Joy, Olympic Lessons, and Riding for the Dance Floor

<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The US Equestrian Open of Eventing is reshaping elite competition in the United States. Launched in 2024 by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), this season-long championship series offers a structured points race across 20 qualifying events, culminating in a $200,000 final.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">For new fans discovering the sport in 2026, here's everything you need to know about how the series works, why it matters, and what makes it one of the most significant developments in American eventing.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h3>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>What is the US Equestrian Open of Eventing?</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The US Equestrian Open of Eventing is a season-long championship series organized by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Think of it like a points race across multiple competitions, similar to NASCAR or professional golf tours, where athletes accumulate points throughout the season to qualify for a winner-takes-all finale.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The series is part of a broader US Equestrian Open initiative that also includes Dressage and Jumping disciplines, all designed to build momentum and mainstream excitement ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h3>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>How Does The US Equestrian Open of Eventing Work?</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The format is straightforward: there are 20 qualifying events which are held at venues all across the United States at the CCI4*-S level.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">At each qualifier, riders earn points based on their final placings. The more competitive the field (qualifiers with more than 25 starters award higher points), the more points are up for grabs. After the qualifying season concludes, the rider who accumulates the most points from their best six qualifier results wins the series and claims a $25,000 prize, with second and third place earning $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">But that's not all.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4d7a4cd4-8c72-44a6-8990-0fd99b9284be.jpg?width=2704&amp;height=2134" alt="Img 5414 (2)"></strong></h3>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>The Big Finale</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Riders who complete at least one series qualifier with a Minimum Eligibility Result (MER) can qualify for the US Equestrian Open Final or they can buy into the final for $5,000, which gets added to the prize pot. The final is a CCI4*-L competition held each October at Morven Park International in Leesburg, Virginia, featuring a staggering $200,000 in prize money.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">That's right: $200,000 - the highest-ever prize pot offered at this level of eventing.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h2><strong>Why Does The US Equestrian Open Matter?</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Historically, American riders seeking tough top-level competition often traveled to Europe. The US Equestrian Open creates a world-class alternative on home soil, keeping elite talent stateside while providing fans with a structured season they can follow from start to finish.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The series creates an opportunity for fans to create a deeper connection to equestrian sport by delivering a premier, unified championship series that engages a broader fanbase through top-level competition, storytelling, and dynamic entertainment. Real-time leaderboards track the season-long race, creating narratives fans can follow as riders climb the standings toward that $200,000 finale.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The series also marks eventing's push toward mainstream sports visibility. The finals are broadcast on ESPN and the USEF Network, bringing the sport to audiences who might never have watched eventing before.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7654c5c3-bc6e-4fb1-8053-85a096ae56ba.jpg?width=3328&amp;height=4160" alt="Boyd Martin With Us Open Trophy.. Credit Devyn Trethewey Us Equestrian. From Open Final 2025 (1)"></strong></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>The Inaugural Champion of the US Equestrian Open</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The first-ever US Equestrian Open Final took place October 9th-12th 2025 at Morven Park. Four-time Olympian <strong>Boyd Martin</strong> rode <strong>Miks Master C t</strong>o victory, edging out <strong>Will Coleman </strong>and <strong>Off The Record </strong>after they had a single rail in the final show jumping phase. The dramatic finish showcased exactly the kind of high-stakes competition the series was designed to deliver.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Boyd Martin</strong> also won the overall series title, earning the $25,000 series prize in addition to his final victory.&nbsp;<strong>Phillip Dutton </strong>claimed second place in the series standings ($15,000), with <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> rounding out the podium in third ($10,000).</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h3>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Following the 2026 Series</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">With two qualifiers happening at the end of the 2025 season, this year's qualifying events will kick off again with Bouckaert International on March 5th and run through early October, culminating in the final at Morven Park October 8-11, 2026. Real-time leaderboards track point standings throughout the season, making it easy for new fans to follow the championship race as it unfolds.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Whether you're completely new to eventing or a longtime fan looking for elite competition, the US Equestrian Open offers an accessible entry point to one of equestrian sport's most demanding disciplines&mdash;with prize money, prestige, and the coverage to match.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

New Year, New Fans: What Actually is the US Equestrian Open of Eventing?

<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The opening day of dressage at the series final delivered a few surprises, with the overall field performing slightly worse than expected. The average difference versus the average scores came in at +1.4. We saw Phillip take the lead while also setting the tone for what we can expect tomorrow on his other ride Possante.</p>
<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Top Three Lead the Way</strong></h3>
<p><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ed7f40b4-1110-45d7-b48f-37fa0adc61d6.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Morven Park Graphics (41)"></strong></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>1. Phillip Dutton and Denim</strong> topped the leaderboard with an impressive 27.5, marking Dutton's best 4*-L test on US soil since Mystery Whisper at Jersey Fresh in 2012. This score came in 3.1 points better than expected to be the standout performance of the day. It's a spectacular start to the final for the man who led the series for so long but didn't manage to take the win.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>2. Elisa Wallace and Lissavorra Quality</strong> sit in second place on 33.3 - coming in 1.6 points better than expected. Wallace delivered her second-best 4*-L score and the horse's second-best test at the level in their 12th 4* start.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>3. Ryan Wood and Cooley Flight</strong> round out the top three on 33.4, also scoring 2.5 points better than expectations. Wood saw this one coming, having spoken to our team a few weeks ago about his prepaations :</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">"He has had a great preparation with his last two events and having his lowest FEI dressage score. We are hoping that we can continue with that trend and impress the Australian selectors. We are lucky now to have a selector - Clayton Fredericks - based in the US so he can keep close tabs on what is going on here and report back to the homeland."&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Looking Ahead to Friday</strong></h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">All eyes will be on tomorrow's session, where three of the lowest predicted scores will take center stage. Due to the running order going from the lowest to highest placed in the series, we have a stacked Friday filled with some of the biggest names in the field.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d383d957-1513-44a9-8325-dbafd1ee14a0.jpeg?width=797&amp;height=1600" alt="Whats App Image 2025 10 09 at 20.54.30"></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>1. Miks Master C</strong> (Boyd Martin, 11:00 AM) brings the field's best 6RA of 25.9. This new partnership has only completed two tests together, scoring 27 and 27.9, but the horse went as low as 20.1 with previous rider Liz Halliday-Sharp in 2023. Can Boyd unlock that potential or will it take more time to gel?</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>2. Possante</strong> (Phillip Dutton, 1:42 PM) comes in with a 28.8 6RA. Possante has gone sub-25 in two of his last three four-star starts including his 24.5 just three weeks ago at Plantation Field. This 12-year-old could give Dutton a real shot at maintaining an overnight lead.&nbsp;<br><br><strong>3. Off The Record</strong> (Will Coleman, 11:49 AM) arrives as a joint-favorite with a 30.3 6RA. Earlier this year, the Aachen winner demonstrated their class with a venue-record 21.8 at Kentucky, though followed that with a 35.6 at Aachen. Expect something between those extremes. Coleman will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing test with Very Dignified today, who scored 5.3 marks worse than expected. While this is an educational run for the relatively new combination, it has likely put 'Dora' out of contention for the weekend.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">With Friday's dressage featuring the field's strongest predicted performers, the leaderboard could look very different by tomorrow evening.<br><br></p>
<hr>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><em>Dressage takes place Thursday and Friday at the Grand Prix arena, with CCI4*-S tests also interspersed throughout the schedule.</em></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><em>You can watch the live stream for free through the USEF network.&nbsp;</em><em>Sign up for free here: <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew&nbsp;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew&nbsp;</a>and watch live here: <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_EU/events/16790" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_EU/events/16790</a></em></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><em>Check out the fan guide here: &nbsp;<a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/thefinal2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://usequestrianopen.info/thefinal2025/</a><br></em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><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"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><em>&nbsp;</em></p>

Thursday Dressage Sets the Tone for Friday's Best

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<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Will Coleman</strong> and <strong>Off The Record </strong>have taken control of the Morven Park CCI4*-L leaderboard with a 25.1 dressage score - the lowest ever recorded at this venue's 4*L level and Coleman's personal best at this level. The performance puts them 1.1 penalties clear of <strong>Sharon White </strong>and <strong>Claus 63,</strong> with <strong>Boyd Martin</strong> sitting third on <strong>Miks Master C.</strong></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/bd752d55-1ec4-4dca-9343-444fe7075e6f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Morven Park Graphics (86)"></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Will Coleman </strong>spoke about <strong>Off The Record</strong> after his dressage:</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">"Timmy is as professional as they come. He's so laid back that sometimes it feels like he's half asleep going through his business in the arena, but he knows the job. He really was just excellent for me today. I'm so appreciative of him."</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">White delivered her third-best international dressage test since records began in 2008 (her top two scores came at the 2* level), posting 25.2 penalties with <strong>Claus 63</strong> and improving on their 6RA by over 9 penalties.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Boyd Martin</strong> and&nbsp;<strong>Miks Master C,</strong> who competed first on day two, sit third on 25.9. The score carries particular significance given<strong> Boyd Martin's </strong>remarkable record with sub-27 dressage tests at this level. Boyd has turned every previous sub-27 test at CCI4*-L into a victory - winning at Jersey Fresh in 2018 and 2021, Morven Park in 2023, Tryon in 2020, and Fair Hill in 2011 with scores ranging from 25.4 to 26.9.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/049611f6-51a0-48fd-b7c9-695de920fc4b.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Morven Park Graphics (88)"></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5">Win Chances After Dressage</h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Based on the EquiRatings Prediction Centre,&nbsp;<strong>William Coleman holds a 38% chance to win</strong>, with a 63% probability of finishing in the top three. <strong>Sharon White sits at 17%&nbsp;</strong>and<strong> Boyd Martin sits on 14% to win.</strong></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/25d8251e-b119-470e-a7e3-768009f56176.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Morven Park Graphics (87)"></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Cross Country Preview</strong></h3>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The cross country phase promises to shake up the standings significantly. Looking at recent CCI4* cross-country statistics for the top three combinations, the data reveals important insights:</p>
<ul class="[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-2.5 pl-7">
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Off The Record &amp; Will Coleman</strong>: 90% clear rate at this level, compared to a 60% course average, giving them +30% on other competitors. This is the fastest horse in the field with a 96% Top Speed Percentage (TSP)</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Claus 63 &amp; Sharon White</strong>: 80% clear rate with an 83% TSP&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Miks Master C &amp; Boyd Martin:</strong> Perfect 100% clear rate with an 86% TSP rating - but a new ride for Boyd and their first 4*L together</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e097a7a5-f775-455d-ae10-5e03ba8a763c.jpg?width=3024&amp;height=4032" alt="Img 5419 (1)"></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Will Coleman</strong> acknowledged the challenge ahead:&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">"There are plenty of places where you have to be incredibly accurate and get your horse in the right canter to prepare for what Derek has set out there. Timmy's not the most gifted galloper, but he has a good engine, so if I'm hyper efficient, I'm hoping we can jump around clean and maybe get close to the time."</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The cross-country phase will determine whether <strong>Will Coleman</strong> can maintain his historic advantage or if <strong>Boyd Martin's</strong> perfect record with sub-27 scores will continue.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;Don't miss it.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><em><strong>Listen to the dressage review pod on the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Podcast.</strong></em></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><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"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
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Cross Country Eve at Morven Park

<p>As the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) gears up for its third five-star Grand Prix of the season, anticipation is at an all-time high. Saturday night&rsquo;s $500,000 CSI5* Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix will see some of the world&rsquo;s best combinations battle it out under the lights in the International Arena. With just one more CSI5* Grand Prix left before the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Final during WEF 12, this is a crucial moment for riders to make their mark.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/611386ef-bae7-4dee-913f-2a2f1bc45a39.png?width=1484&amp;height=1862" alt="Uyi Hw Top 10 Elo Rated Horses for the Wef 9 500 000 Csi5 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix (1)"></p>
<h1>Reigning Champions in the Field</h1>
<p>Two of the biggest names in the sport will enter the ring as the highest-rated horses in the competition: <strong>Henrik von Eckermann &amp; King Edward </strong>and <strong>Christian Kukuk &amp; Checker 47</strong>. These two reigning champions&mdash;King Edward as the current World Champion and Checker 47 as the reigning Olympic Champion&mdash;have already proven themselves at WEF this season.</p>
<p>King Edward, the highest-rated horse on record with an Elo rating of 810, finished fifth in the WEF 5 CSI5* Grand Prix after delivering a solid double clear. Meanwhile, Checker 47 has been nothing short of dominant, claiming a CSI4* Grand Prix victory during WEF 3, finishing as the runner-up in WEF 7&rsquo;s five-star Grand Prix, and are of course the defending champions of the WEF 12 Grand Prix.</p>
<p>Both horses arrive in top form and will be the combinations to beat when the competition heats up under the Saturday night lights.</p>
<h1>The Hometown Heroes</h1>
<h3>McLain Ward &amp; Ilex &ndash; The USA&rsquo;s Best Shot?</h3>
<p>If the American crowd is looking for a home victory, their hopes may rest on McLain Ward &amp; Ilex. This combination played a key role in securing Team USA&rsquo;s Olympic silver medal in Paris last summer, and Ilex will be making his five-star Grand Prix season debut here at WEF 9.</p>
<p>Ward&rsquo;s track record at the Winter Equestrian Festival speaks for itself. Since 2010, he has amassed an impressive 60 international wins at this venue. He is also one of just two riders in history to win multiple five-star Grands Prix in the same WEF season&mdash;a feat that only one other rider has ever achieved.</p>
<h3>Kent Farrington &amp; Myla &ndash; Making History?</h3>
<p>That rider? Kent Farrington&mdash;who has already won both five-star Grands Prix of the WEF 2025 season aboard Greya. No rider has ever managed to win more than two five-star Grand Prix classes in a single WEF season, but with Myla in strong form, Farrington could be on the verge of rewriting history.</p>
<p>Though Myla sits just outside the Top 10 Elo-rated horses in the field (Elo: 720), she is ranked among the Top 5 highest-rated 10-year-old horses in the world. Farrington&rsquo;s record speaks for itself, and if anyone can pull off the impossible, it&rsquo;s him.</p>
<h3>Lillie Keenan &amp; Argan de Beliard &ndash; A Veteran of the International Arena</h3>
<p>For Lillie Keenan &amp; Argan de Beliard, experience will be key. The 13-year-old gelding will be jumping his 40th five-star 160cm round in this Grand Prix, with 12 of those rounds already taking place in this very arena at WEF.</p>
<p>Most recently, the pair delivered a strong podium finish, taking third place in the WEF 7 CSI5* Grand Prix. With familiarity and form on their side, they will be looking to improve upon that result as they take on another stacked field this weekend.</p>
<h1>The Challengers</h1>
<h3>Darragh Kenny &amp; Zero K &ndash; The Momentum Factor</h3>
<p>Ireland has always had a strong presence in Wellington, and this year is no exception. Leading the charge will be Darragh Kenny &amp; Zero K, who will enter the ring last in the draw after their WEF 9 Challenge Cup victory last Thursday. Kenny has a history of success under the lights, and with momentum on his side, he could be a serious contender for the win.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&ldquo;These classes are so competitive. There are so many brilliant riders. One day it&rsquo;s me, next day it&rsquo;s Kent [Farrington], next day it&rsquo;s Richard Vogel, Henrik Von Eckermann, Mclain Ward. That&rsquo;s just how competitive this circuit is here.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<h3>Shane Sweetnam &amp; James Kann Cruz &ndash; Ireland&rsquo;s Top-Rated Horse</h3>
<p>Another top Irish combination to watch will be Shane Sweetnam &amp; James Kann Cruz, currently the highest-rated Irish horse with an Elo of 760. Coming off a runner-up finish in the Ocala World Cup last month, James Kann Cruz is in top form and could be one of the biggest threats to the championship favorites.</p>
<h1>The Stage is Set</h1>
<p>With elite talent from around the world converging on Wellington, this promises to be one of the most thrilling nights of the WEF 2025 season. Can King Edward solidify his reign? Will Checker 47 add another WEF Grand Prix title to his record? Or will a US rider rise to the occasion on home soil? One thing is certain&mdash;Saturday night is set to deliver a world-class showdown.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>About the Series</strong><br>Born from a commitment by the US Equestrian Board in July 2023, the US Equestrian Open aims to grow the sport's awareness, exposure, and fan engagement. With $1 million in prize money and extensive media coverage on ESPN and the USEF Network, this series is designed to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Provide a structured, prestigious championship format.</li>
<li>Attract a broader audience.</li>
<li>Enhance competition opportunities for athletes.</li>
</ul>
<p>Stay connected with the US Equestrian Open on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the USEF Network for live event updates, stories, and results. Use #USEquestrianOpen to share your own experiences and connect with fellow fans.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1ba79d22-0b13-4687-b1e5-5dc0cd708aee?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="P. 4 Jumping"></p>
<p><strong>For sponsorship and media inquiries, please contact:</strong></p>
<p>Carly Weilminster: cweilminster@usef.org<br>Layson Griffin: lgriffin@usef.org</p>

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