<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 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="MsoNormal">Virginia&rsquo;s <strong>Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival</strong> this weekend hosts Qualifier 18 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Our entries for Saturday&rsquo;s Qualifier <span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">&ndash;</span> the Grand Prix Freestyle <span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">&ndash; </span>bring a few new faces to the Series and one key contender who could earn Final qualification this weekend.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/710aecfe-4503-4c40-bad4-30f3b625a885.png?width=1296&amp;height=1434" alt="Table showing the Grand Prix Freestyle Stats for entries in the 2025 Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival (Qualifier 18)"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Laine Ashker</strong> and <strong>Zeppelin</strong> made their Grand Prix (GP) Freestyle debut at last year&rsquo;s Dressage at Devon and have yet to contest another one&hellip;until now. Though among this field&rsquo;s least-experienced pairs, their sole GP Freestyle score (<strong>70.845%</strong>) is among this Qualifier&rsquo;s highest personal bests, showing potential for an impactful Series debut.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Though making her first Series appearance, a spot in the $200,000 Final <em>is</em> within reach for Ashker if she can produce three strong results. The current cutoff for the top 18 &ndash; who qualify for the Final &ndash; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>is 49 points. Getting to 49 is still a big ask for a Series debutant, but it&rsquo;s not impossible.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a62eb734-525e-474a-bfed-7fcd1d7ed159.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="How points are earned at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Qualifiers"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile,<strong> Adriane Alvord</strong> and <strong>Selfmade</strong> are the most-experienced pair in the field <em>and</em> they come into the weekend with the <strong>best proven scoring potential</strong>,<strong> </strong>having scored a personal best GP Freestyle score of <strong>76.750%</strong> at Dressage at Rose Mount 2023. In their several GP Freestyles since that winning performance, most of Alvord and Selfmade&rsquo;s scores have been in the high 60s, leaving the door open for their&nbsp;<span style="font-family: 'Aptos Narrow',sans-serif;">#</span>MADFest2025 competitors. But, if Alvord &amp; Selfmade do secure the win on Saturday, Alvord will have 40 total series points and a Final qualification will be within touching distance.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Ticket to the Final?</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of our entries for Qualifier 18,&nbsp;<strong>Micaela Mabraga&ntilde;a</strong> is the highest-placed rider in the series, sitting 24<sup>th</sup> with 32 Series points. This is key because if Mabraga&ntilde;a and <strong>Belatrix RH </strong>place 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3<sup>rd</sup> on Saturday (earning 17 points), they will be right on the bubble for Final qualification with the necessary 49 points. With five more qualifiers after MAD, they could be knocked out but, for now, 49 points earns a critical top-18 spot (P.S. <a href="https://inside.fei.org/sites/default/files/Dressage%20US%20Equestrian%20Open%20Series%20Effective%201%20January%202025%20Updated%2010%20November%202024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">everyone tied for 18th at the end of the Series does qualify for the Final</a>). Of course, the 20 points earned for a <strong>win</strong> would place Mabraga&ntilde;a more-securely in the top 18 with a bit more wiggle room.</p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">How to Follow</h2>
<p>The Grand Prix Freestyle (Qualifier 18) is this Saturday at MADFest:</p>
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.midatlanticdressagefestival.com/">https://www.midatlanticdressagefestival.com/</a></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Live Scores: <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/show/254865/competition/dressage/7241700" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/show/254865/competition/dressage/7241700</a></li>
</ul>
<p>And Friday's classes at MADFest can be livestreamed on the USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. Watch for free with a <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>free USEF Fan Membership</strong></a>.&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Series Leaders Heading into Qualifier 18 at MADFest</strong></h2>
<p><em style="font-size: 93%; color: #999999;">See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em></p>
<p><em style="font-size: 96%; color: #999999;"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ee725d73-81e9-45b6-95f4-fdf5513b60a3.png?width=617&amp;height=828" alt="Us Equestrian Open of Dressage Leaderboard Before Qualifier 18"></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage"><br></span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>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;</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;"></p>

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

Vying for the Final at #MADFest

<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>
<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>

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>Annie and Diarm sat down with James Alliston on the US Equestrian Open podcast&mdash;and it&rsquo;s a good one. From his record-breaking weekend at Twin Rivers to the horses in his string and the road to Morven Park, James shares it all.&nbsp; Listen to the full episode or keep reading for the highlights, stats, and standout storylines.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36590375/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002180/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="" data-start="94" data-end="128">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="94" data-end="128">Twin Rivers and Teamwork</h3>
<p class="" data-start="149" data-end="363">James turned heads at Twin Rivers with a standout performance: four horses finishing in the top five, including first, second, third, and fifth. He became just the fifth rider in 17 years to achieve this rare feat.</p>
<p class="" data-start="149" data-end="363"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0c280dbb-c751-47c3-8077-0ee3c4e5745c.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Untitled Design (9)"></p>
<p class="" data-start="365" data-end="961">That success hasn&rsquo;t come in isolation&mdash;it&rsquo;s the result of a hardworking team behind the scenes. His wife, Helen, plays a pivotal role in the daily training and development of their horses, having produced several of James' horses up to three-star level herself. Their staff and students are essential in maintaining fitness programs and managing the chaos of show-day logistics, especially when multiple horses are competing in the same class. Even event organizers have played a part, adjusting schedules to help James juggle it all.</p>
<p class="" data-start="365" data-end="961">&nbsp;</p>
<hr class="" data-start="722" data-end="725">
<h3 class="" data-start="727" data-end="768">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="727" data-end="768">Karma: Speed, Spark, and Star Power</h3>
<p class="" data-start="769" data-end="949">Karma has become a fan favorite&mdash;and deservedly so. Karma brings serious energy both at home and in the ring. Dressage was tricky early on for the pair, but she&rsquo;s settled with experience and now shines at the top level. Looking ahead, James has his eye on Aachen if selected, with Montana and Morven Park also in the mix.</p>
<p class="" data-start="769" data-end="949"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b83a5eb7-97e4-4f78-8f1e-55269fb7cf06.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="She Is a Fantastic Horse an Incredible Athlete, so Fast and an Amazing Jumper. I'm Hoping With Time and Mileage, We Can Just Take a Little Bit of the Edge off the Hotness. but It's Partly That Tha"></p>
<p class="" data-start="173" data-end="402">James&rsquo;s win at Twin Rivers with Karma wasn&rsquo;t just a highlight of the season&mdash;it marked a major career milestone. It was his <strong data-start="296" data-end="343">10th international four-star win since 2008</strong>, a number achieved by only seven U.S. riders in history.</p>
<p class="" data-start="404" data-end="698">What makes that stat even more impressive is the efficiency behind it. James has reached that milestone with fewer than 50 runs at the level&mdash;giving him the <strong data-start="560" data-end="628">highest four-star win rate of any U.S. rider on the list, at 22%</strong>. Quietly consistent, deeply competitive, and now statistically elite.</p>
<p class="" data-start="404" data-end="698">&nbsp;</p>
<hr class="" data-start="1380" data-end="1383">
<h3 class="" data-start="1385" data-end="1417">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="1385" data-end="1417">A Deep and Balanced String</h3>
<p class="" data-start="1418" data-end="1644">There's Nemesis, making a strong comeback after injury, Paper Jam &mdash;a seasoned four-star veteran&mdash; and promising talents like Cora and Irish Pop who performed well at Twin Rivers.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1418" data-end="1644"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/709bc7dd-7dc2-4cbd-9eca-68c3c3761632.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston"></p>
<p class="" data-start="1803" data-end="1939">Events like Rebecca Farm and Montana feature in his summer calendar as James positions his team for a final push toward the Open finale.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1803" data-end="1939">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p class="" data-start="1803" data-end="1939">&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="" data-start="107" data-end="135">Learning from a Legend</h3>
<p class="" data-start="136" data-end="634">James reflects on his journey in the U.S. that began with a gap year and turned into a career-defining chapter under Bruce Davidson Sr. Working on a farm full of young horses, racehorses, and elite-level talent, he absorbed everything&mdash;from horsemanship and fitness to feel and finesse.</p>
<p class="" data-start="136" data-end="634"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/af037b8a-4057-4809-abd2-79317a7bad5f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (1)"></p>
<p class="" data-start="136" data-end="634">Bruce&rsquo;s style wasn&rsquo;t built on structured lessons but on immersion: ride, watch, learn, repeat. That intense, hands-on environment shaped James&rsquo;s foundation as a rider.</p>
<p class="" data-start="136" data-end="634">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="" data-start="641" data-end="665">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="641" data-end="665">All In on the Open</h3>
<p class="" data-start="666" data-end="1130">James was immediately intrigued when the U.S. Equestrian Open launched&mdash;especially the idea of serious prize money. For horses not yet ready for five-star, it offers a real purpose and a clear target. Now sitting third on the leaderboard, James plans to contest as many qualifiers as possible and is eyeing a trip to Morven Park for the final. It&rsquo;s a competitive challenge&mdash;and one he&rsquo;s fully committed to.</p>
<p class="" data-start="666" data-end="1130"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f611e1de-723f-45e0-80df-da1c4db95b81.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (2)"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>US Equestrian Open Leaderboard&nbsp;</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a37f0405-f149-414e-a21d-f585ccec3d83.png?width=733&amp;height=532" alt="Screenshot 2025 05 16 162737"></p>
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<h3>🎙️&nbsp;<strong data-start="48" data-end="99">Listen Now: James Alliston &amp; The Road to Morven</strong></h3>
<p>From Twin Rivers to leaderboard goals&mdash;James talks Karma, the Open, and what&rsquo;s next.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36590375/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002180/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<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>
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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>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">&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>&nbsp;</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>

New Podcast: James Alliston and The Road to Morven Park

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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>
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<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>
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<h1>Who's scored a sub-35 <strong>dressage</strong> score at US 4* longs?</h1>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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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>
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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>Returning for the third year in a row for the CCI4*-L, <strong>Lucienne Bellissimo </strong>and&nbsp;the 13-year-old gelding <strong>Dyri</strong> have proven that they can perform at this venue. Last year, they led the CCI4*-L after dressage (30.7) only to drop to second with 4.8 cross-country time penalties. The year before, they finished 4th.</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body"><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">"He's done the four-star long at Morven twice now. </span><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">He sadly didn't win it last year. He finished up second... He deserved to win it. </span><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">I found a gallop that suited him and I left him alone and it was the right choice by the horse. </span><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">But I will definitely be aiming him for the four long </span><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">there again."</span></p>
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<p class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body"><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">In fact, this will be their 5th year in a row at this venue and their track record speaks for itself. With results like this, <strong>Bellissimo </strong>and <strong>Dyri </strong>are a serious threat even though they may not instantly make the headlines or top the <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/morvenpark_4l_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Prediction Center.</a></span></p>
<p class="cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body"><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b5bfa8f1-8c65-473c-bd1e-c21cd72d7801.png?width=1880&amp;height=666" alt="Rrj Rz "></span></p>
<h3>Their 2025 Season</h3>
<p>The season started brilliantly with two top-five finishes at CCI4*-S but then came challenges. At Kentucky, their first attempt at five-star, Bellissimo made a tough call:&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I could feel him saying, I'm not enjoying this. So I put my hand up and did the walk of shame and brought him home, but it was the right choice because he doesn't deserve to get spooked."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>A few weeks later, what should have been a confidence-building run at Tryon's four-star long turned into an unlucky fall at a double of corners when Dyri hit the back rail after an open distance.&nbsp;<br><br><em>"Horses, it's a humbling sport,"</em> Bellissimo admits. Two difficult outings in a row for a usually reliable partnership.</p>
<h3>The Rebuild</h3>
<p>Rather than push through, Bellissimo took the approach of stepping back a few levels and giving Dyri a spin around some smaller events. The strategy worked - winning their last two events, albeit at the CCI2*-S level. With two FODs, it seems the partnership is clicking again - just in time for Morven Park 2025.</p>
<h3><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/04fc8630-3c6e-4d49-a0a3-542ecdc7ec5f.png?width=1676&amp;height=422" alt="Ff L77 "></h3>
<h3>The Morven Threat</h3>
<p>Because of this inconsistent start to the season, Dyri doesn't feature high on the Prediction Center. But knowing the full story, the rebuild, and the track record - this combination could be a real threat.<br><br>In the dressage, you can expect this pair to score around the 30 mark - which was enough to lead this exact competition last year. As long as their cross country stays back on track, they are in with a good chance. Dyri's showjumping record is excellent - having only had one pole across their last 8 international runs.</p>
<p>Bellissimo discussed how the US Equestrian Open adds extra pressure: <em>"It does suddenly make you think, maybe I should go a bit quicker today," </em>and with time penalties being the only thing that cost them victory at Morven last year? The pressure may benefit this pair this time around.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3><em>Listen to&nbsp;<strong>Lucienne </strong>Bellissimo on the US Equestrian Open Podcast now.</em></h3>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37875415/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/4c414c/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
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<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>
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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>

The Morven Specialists: Lucienne Bellissimo and Dyri

<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>
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<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>
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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>

Legends Assemble at Morven Park

<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36687545/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/003f80/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p data-start="374" data-end="729">Ben Ebeling is one of the brightest young stars in American dressage - but he didn&rsquo;t always plan to be here. He started out in the show jumping world, doing his first Grand Prix over fences before he ever entered a Grand Prix dressage arena, and only truly pivoted because he asked his father to teach him how to do a pirouette.</p>
<p data-start="731" data-end="904">His father was delighted when Ben asked to learn his first pirouette - finally, a sign he might be turning toward dressage. But Ebeling had other plans. He only wanted the movement to help him turn tighter in his jump offs, not yet realizing he'd just taken his first real step toward a new discipline. Although he misses the show jumping ring, Ben credits it with shaping key parts of his riding, especially his ability to handle hotter, more sensitive horses, a skill that&rsquo;s served him well in the dressage arena.</p>
<p data-start="731" data-end="904">This season, Ebeling is campaigning Bellena, a Grand Prix mare produced by his father, Jan Ebeling, and recently handed over to Ben. Their growing partnership has quickly become one of the most compelling stories on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard.<br><br></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Progress Over Podiums</h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Ben&rsquo;s connection with Bellena is still new. They began competing together in Wellington, where they faced a few mistakes early on, simply because they didn&rsquo;t know each other well yet. But now, with each competition, things are starting to come together and the pair is showing real progress.</p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">However, Ben isn&rsquo;t chasing ribbons. He is chasing progress. He finds just as much joy in the daily training as in the big competitions, saying he gets the same thrill from a young horse nailing its first flying change as he does riding down the centerline at Aachen.<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/95473147-9593-4061-bbd6-fca82482ced4.jpg?width=1078&amp;height=644" alt="Img 1372"></p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Family Legacy and Traditions</h3>
<p>Ben&rsquo;s journey in dressage has been shaped by the quiet strength and experience of his father, Jan Ebeling. A respected competitor and coach, Jan has guided Ben from childhood through to Grand Prix level, offering a steady presence both in the arena and beyond it.</p>
<p>Their relationship balances high-performance ambition with a grounded, supportive dynamic and a few light hearted family traditions along the way. One of their long-running rituals is that the winner buys dinner and the loser buys ice cream. After years of buying ice cream, Ben finally bought dinner last week - a small moment that speaks volumes.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8560c575-cb1e-474b-bc80-9f25ebf29b78.jpg?width=1073&amp;height=567" alt="Img 1375"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br>Ben and the US Equestrian Open of Dressage<br><br></h3>
<p data-start="107" data-end="332">Now, Ebeling has his eyes on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage final. With points already on the board and a big freestyle coming up at WEC, the road to Thermal is officially in motion.</p>
<p data-start="334" data-end="735" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">He believes the series is pushing the sport in the right direction, offering a championship that feels fresh and fan-focused - something akin to a World Cup but rooted in the US circuit. His fan-focused perspective is exactly why this series exists.<br><br></p>
<p data-start="334" data-end="735" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/781baea3-bc7e-4ce2-a8d3-015fa16b534f.jpg?width=1079&amp;height=567" alt="Img 1373"></p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="58" data-end="126">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="58" data-end="126">🎧&nbsp;<strong data-start="61" data-end="126">Listen Now</strong></h3>
<p data-start="128" data-end="263">Hear more on Ben's training, freestyles, and what makes the US Equestrian Open such an exciting step for dressage fans and riders alike.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36687545/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/003f80/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Dressage</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage"></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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 class="MsoNormal"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

New Podcast: Ben Ebeling on Family, Freestyle, and the Future of US Dressage

<p data-start="348" data-end="790">From riding bareback in the fields of South Texas to competing on international stages, Devon Kane&rsquo;s journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of the US Equestrian Open Podcast, she talks about the rise of her freestyle partner Vamos, what it feels like to represent the U.S., and the unique rituals she shares with her husband, fellow Grand Prix rider <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/a-cool-breeze-a-fiery-freestyle-kohmann-and-dnee-shine-in-wellington" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Kohmann</a>, when either of them is about to step into a competition arena.</p>
<p data-start="792" data-end="845">🎧 <em data-start="609" data-end="648">Listen to the full conversation below</em></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37806175/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></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="852" data-end="893">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="593" data-end="651">From Backyard Quarter Horses to Grand Prix Freestyle</h3>
<p data-start="652" data-end="1062">Kane grew up in South Texas, where horses were part of daily life but dressage was still a world away.</p>
<p data-start="652" data-end="1062">&ldquo;I grew up riding in a halter bareback in the field,&rdquo; she recalled. &ldquo;Then my best friend started doing hunter-jumpers, and I thought it was the coolest thing.&rdquo; A bad fall ended her jumping career early, but it led her to a dressage barn and to the discipline that fit her &ldquo;Type A&rdquo; personality perfectly.</p>
<p data-start="1064" data-end="1225">Her career has since taken her to the biggest stages in the sport, including representing the U.S. in Nations Cups. She calls it &ldquo;a privilege, not a pressure.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="594" data-end="869" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="1586" data-end="1634">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1482" data-end="1525">A Partnership on Horseback and Beyond</h3>
<p data-start="1526" data-end="1887">Competing at the top level can be isolating, but Kane has the rare experience of sharing the journey with her husband. Kohmann is not only her partner in life but often her first line of support at the barn.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="1526" data-end="1887"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/30827512-7613-49ff-90b4-feb4dd8d37dd.PNG?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="&ldquo;One of our rituals is that as Kevin&rsquo;s getting on, I give the horse a sugar, the horse gets a kiss, Kevin gets a kiss, then he gets on,&rdquo; she explained."></p>
<p data-start="1889" data-end="2289">When both ride on the same team, that support system shifts. &ldquo;It was different, because I had to get ready, he had to get ready, and we couldn&rsquo;t always watch each other. That was tough, but it was also really special to be doing it together.&rdquo; It is a glimpse into how their relationship balances professional pressure with personal connection, and how that bond strengthens both riders in the ring.</p>
<p data-start="2028" data-end="2184">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2191" data-end="2232">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1568" data-end="1608">Vamos: The Horse Who Almost Wasn&rsquo;t</h3>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405">When Kane bought Vamos, she knew he was talented but not yet ready for the top tier.</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405">&ldquo;He was skinny and angular, and even Kevin [Kohmann, her husband] told me, &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know if he has what it takes.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405">She refused to sell, trusting the process. That faith paid off with a 75% freestyle in Wellington that ended the debate.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d81b58e1-3a22-4b91-992e-ef1a8987fe46.PNG?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="&ldquo;Kevin came out crying and said, &lsquo;You were right. I was wrong. The horse is not for sale.&rsquo;&rdquo;"></p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2738" data-end="2780">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2740" data-end="2762">Under the Lights</h3>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">Freestyles are Kane&rsquo;s favorite class, and Vamos thrives on them, especially at night.</p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">&ldquo;He hears the music and the horse just [exhales],&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Those are his most relaxed tests."</p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d998f54c-57f5-49ad-a35b-312b8d3ac6d1.PNG?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="&ldquo;Kevin came out crying and said, &lsquo;You were right. I was wrong. The horse is not for sale.&rsquo;&rdquo;"></p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">Their newest freestyle blends Enrique Iglesias and&nbsp;<em data-start="3027" data-end="3038">Despacito</em>, a nod to Kane&rsquo;s South Texas roots.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2782" data-end="3076">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="3083" data-end="3113">Lessons from a Near Miss</h3>
<p data-start="3114" data-end="3357">In Hagen this summer, their debut with the new freestyle looked like a win until Kane learned she had accidentally omitted a required element. &ldquo;Two zeros took me from winning to last place,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="3114" data-end="3357">&ldquo;Lesson learned. It won&rsquo;t happen again.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Dressage</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage"></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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 class="MsoNormal"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

New Podcast: Devon Kane on Freestyle Magic, Life on the Move, and Why Vamos Wasn’t for Sale After All

<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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