<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">Competitors will take to the idyllic TerraNova dressage arena this weekend for the penultimate qualifier of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. At this stage, every placement and every percentage point matters. Not only will this weekend&rsquo;s performances determine who makes the cut for the Final in California, but leaderboard payouts are also on the line. Thousands of dollars could hinge on which horse decides to cross its legs in just the right way on Saturday night.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Contenders in Motion</h2>
<p dir="ltr">As a Florida stop, it&rsquo;s no surprise that familiar names fill the roster. Among them, <strong>Benjamin Ebeling</strong> and <strong>Kevin Kohmann</strong> are both poised for upward momentum. Each sits on four completed qualifiers, meaning any finish here directly boosts their season total.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite only debuting his freestyle with the 15-year-old <strong>Bellena </strong>in April, Ebeling enters the weekend as a favorite, leading Kohmann&rsquo;s average freestyle score by a slim 0.4 percentage points. It&rsquo;s a narrow gap, and one Kohmann will be eager to close aboard <strong>D&uuml;nensee</strong>, who owns the third-highest score of the season (79.240%), behind only Adrienne Lyle&rsquo;s and Helix&rsquo;s 80% performances.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With TerraNova marking their fifth qualifier, both riders will look to climb into the top five overall, a feat a freestyle win could achieve.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Adding a personal twist to the weekend, Kohmann will also face off against his wife,<strong> Devon Kane</strong>, who enters ranked 16th. Even a modest result would move her solidly into the top ten, and with one of the highest freestyle averages in the field, she could easily finish higher still.</p>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-tk8R5" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: TerraNova Dressage II" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/tk8R5/1/" height="706" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">A High-Risk Debut</h2>
<p dir="ltr">On the edge of qualification sits <strong>Jennifer Williams</strong>, currently holding the 18th and final spot on the leaderboard. Rather than bringing her seasoned partner <strong>Joppe K</strong>, Williams will debut a new horse, <strong>Babylon Berlin</strong>, at the Grand Prix level this weekend.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It&rsquo;s a bold move at a critical moment. Even an eighth-place finish would improve her total, but the real intrigue lies in what this debut signals about her strategy for the Final. Joppe K, who has been in Williams&rsquo; program since his early years, carried her to U.S. team selection for Aachen earlier this season, though their outing there was below expectations.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Is Babylon Berlin&rsquo;s first appearance a changing of the guard? Or is this simply a curiously timed debut?&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Shaping the Final</h2>
<p dir="ltr">With Ebeling and Kohmann chasing higher placements, Williams fighting to stay inside the top 18, and the Final just four weeks away, TerraNova will reshape the starting lineup for the desert showdown. Series leader Anna Marek is still safe&hellip; for now. But with Ebeling and Kohmann closing in on their fifth qualifying run, her title spot may be in jeopardy next week.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">For now, settle in for an evening of freestyle in one of the country&rsquo;s most beautiful arenas as riders take one more swing at shaping the Series before the road turns west to California.&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<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>

Kevin Kohmann and Duensee half pass across the arena in trot

The Penultimate Push

<p>The 2026 US Equestrian Open Eventing Series launched with a statement of intent from L<strong>ucienne Bellissimo and Dyri, </strong>who claimed their fifth consecutive international victory at <strong>Bouckaert in Fairburn, Georgia.</strong></p>
<p>With this victory, the British rider has now accumulated eight international wins this season, making her the GB rider with the most international wins in 2025- ahead of<strong> Ros Canter, Laura Collett, Tom McEwen,</strong> and the rest of Britain's elite. Her mount <strong>Dyri</strong> has also claimed the title of winningest British horse this season with five victories.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2fc0c36e-826e-4919-a913-4bc376b743a2.png?width=528&amp;height=706" alt="Screenshot 2025 10 29 162218"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dcc23cc9-8896-4046-afa5-996728c4c170.png?width=525&amp;height=649" alt="Screenshot 2025 10 29 162233"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Winning Formula</h2>
<p>Lucienne and&nbsp;<strong>Dyri </strong>opened with a dressage score of 33.0, to put them in the lead after the first phase, with <strong>Hot Bobo </strong>snapping at their heels on just 33.5. They jumped a clear round showjumping, before securing the win with a clear cross-country round. Adding 8.0 time penalties, <strong>Dyri</strong> was the fastest horse on course. High time penalties across the field was&nbsp; no surprise given the venues cross-country history over the last number of years.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3d00d1a2-fe2e-43ce-b763-5ed948c02d9c.png?width=1083&amp;height=732" alt="Screenshot 2025 10 29 162546"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Streak Continues</h2>
<p>This wasn't just another win - it was the culmination of a carefully strategized comeback. After two difficult runs at the start of 2025, Lucienne made the tactical decision to step <strong>Dyri </strong>back down to lower levels. The move paid dividends: four consecutive wins at 2* and 3*.</p>
<ul>
<li>Bouckaert CCI2*-S (Aug): 1st, 29.4</li>
<li>Tryon CCI2*-S (Sept): 1st, 27.7</li>
<li>Stable View CCI3*-S (Sept): 1st, 27.2</li>
<li>Morven Park CCI3*-S (Oct): 1st, 29.2</li>
</ul>
<p>This also marks Lucienne and Dyri's fifth CCI4* podium together.&nbsp;<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f0494ff5-4d65-4451-88a3-6b51408c1c35.png?width=1116&amp;height=716" alt="V8o0 L Lucienne Dyri S Four Star Podiums"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Bouckaert Breakthrough</h2>
<p><strong>Kate Sand</strong> and <strong>Top Shelf </strong>delivered a breakthrough performance to finish second with a double clear. This was only <strong>Top Shelf's </strong>second podium finish, having placed second at his first-ever international, a<strong> CCI1* at Bouckaert in 2021.</strong> 18.4 time penalties on cross-country kept them from challenging for the win, but this is a young horse (10YO) still finding his feet at this level. As the partnership strengthens and <strong>Top Shelf</strong> improves, those time penalties should naturally decrease.</p>
<p><strong>Bruce Davidson</strong> Jr. and <strong>Cerafino D</strong> took third place on 62.7. <strong>Olivia Miller and Cooley Starstruck </strong>finished fourth on 80.9, while <strong>Emily Mastervich and Rio de Janeiro </strong>rounded out the top five with 81.4.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Points on the Board</h2>
<p>With this opening qualifier complete, Bellissimo now sits atop the series leaderboard with 40 points.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/74654cce-df5d-4637-9bb6-57f2b9497d9e.png?width=1240&amp;height=860" alt="R Se76 Leaderboard After Qualifier 1"></p>
<h2>Looking Ahead</h2>
<p>The race to Morven Park 2026 has begun, and Bellissimo has made a mark. But with TerraNova still to come before the winter break, this story is far from over.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>Li</strong></em><strong style="font-style: italic;"><em>s</em>ten to the Bouckaert Preview Podcast now on the US Equestrian Open Podcast - available on all podcast platforms.</strong></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38817710/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>
<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">&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>
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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>

Bellissimo and Dyri Make it Five in a Row at Bouckaert

<p>The 2026 US Equestrian Open Eventing Series launches Friday at Bouckaert in Fairburn, Georgia. And if last year taught us anything, it's that early points matter - just ask <strong>Phillip Dutton.</strong></p>
<p>Remember Bouckaert 2024? <strong>Phillip Dutton </strong>and<strong> Jewlent </strong>missed a fence here, and by season's end those lost points loomed large in the final standings. The lesson: you can't take early qualifiers for granted.&nbsp;This weekend's field of nine means 40 points will go to the winner.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Hot Bobo Returns</h2>
<p><strong>Karl Slezak </strong>and <strong>Hot Bobo</strong> enter as favorites with a 36% win chance on the <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/bouckaert_4s_oct2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Prediction Centre.</a></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/96d40c24-411e-4810-8d4a-03d7f3952619.png?width=673&amp;height=463" alt="Screenshot 2025 10 23 130011">&nbsp;<br><br>But more importantly, we finally get to see Hot Bobo back at the four-star level.&nbsp;The mare won at Defender Kentucky in 2023 by finishing on her dressage score - rare at a venue and competition of that caliber. She backed it up with win a Bromont's CCI4*-S before heading overseas to the Paris Olympics.</p>
<p>Then came a 15-month absence after Paris. <strong>Hot Bobo </strong>returned just two weeks ago at Morven Park's CCI3*-S, finishing fourth on a 35.7 with one rail. Now comes the real test: can she return to her 2023/2024 form in time to make her a potential Aachen team horse for Canada in 2026?</p>
<p>Don't expect Slezak to push all the buttons and win this weekend. With only four horses ever making time at Bouckaert in 13 years, and <strong>Hot Bobo</strong> returning after a long break, this is going to be about getting a solid four-star run under their belt.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Dyri's Calculated Return</h2>
<p><strong>Lucienne Bellissimo</strong> and<strong> Dyri</strong> sit at 29% to win with something nobody else has: recent venue success.</p>
<p>After two unlucky runs at the beginning of the 2025 season, Bellissimo stepped <strong>Dyri</strong> back down to the lower levels. The strategy worked: four consecutive wins at 2* and 3* shorts with mid-20s dressage, 3 inside-the-time runs, and zero rails. Now comes the step back up at a venue where <strong>Dyri </strong>has good form having finished second place here in March 2025&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Ones to Watch</h2>
<p>Don't overlook <strong>Buck Davidson</strong> and<strong> Cerafino D.</strong> The prediction center gives them just a 6% chance at top three, but Davidson has won here at Bouckaert before. In fact, he has produced the second-best finishing score in the venue's history. In a small field where experience matters, those credentials carry weight.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Waylon Roberts</strong> and <strong>Fernhill Salt Lake</strong> bring something this field needs: pace. Roberts doesn't hang about on cross-country, entering with a 95 Top Speed Percentage (TSP) - the highest in the field. With a 6RA of 33.1 they should be right in the mix and ready to capitalize on their speed.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Emily Mastervich</strong> and <strong>Rio de Janeiro</strong> are another combination worth watching. They won the very first qualifier of the first series - will they do it again? After a five-month break (a pattern seen in recent seasons so it is likely planned) and a retirement at Plantation, Mastervich will be looking to put that run behind her.</p>
<h2>What to Expect</h2>
<p>Bouckaert's statistic show how demanding the venue is. The cross-country clear rate is a respectable 68% but only 4 riders (2% of previous starters) have managed to go inside the time.<br>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/552b1963-5ea0-4a7f-b3fc-fa1abde1c992.png?width=742&amp;height=502" alt="Screenshot 2025 10 23 142218"><br><br>Only one combination in 270 starters has finished on their dressage score: <strong>Jacob Fletcher</strong> and A<strong>tlantic Domino </strong>in 2018 when they took the win.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The Bigger Picture</h2>
<p>This is the first of just two qualifiers before the series takes a winter break and it starts again in 2026. With riders engaging more and more with the series format, expect more strategic approaches to the points race.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The US Equestrian Open format counts your best six results, which means missing one qualifier doesn't end your season. But nail this opener and you've got points banked before the 2026 battle begins.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The race to Morven Park 2026 starts now.<br><br></p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>Listen to the Bouckaert Preview Podcast now on the US Equestrian Open Podcast - available on all podcast platforms.</strong></em></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38735600/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>
<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">&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>
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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>

First Points on the Board: Bouckaert Begins

<p dir="ltr">Taking place at Tryon International Equestrian Center, this week&rsquo;s qualifier may feature a small class, but it&rsquo;s far from insignificant.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Two familiar faces headline the final qualifier: <strong>Julio Mendoza Loor</strong> and <strong>Laine Ashker</strong>. Both sit just outside the top 18, and both could qualify for the Final by Saturday night if conditions align.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Mendoza Loor&rsquo;s Mission</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Mendoza Loor enters Tryon in 25th place on 37 points. Despite contesting only two qualifiers, he finished first and second in those starts. With his 14-year-old partner <strong>Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike</strong>, the Paris Olympian boasts a strong Grand Prix Freestyle average of 77.549%, one of the highest in the Series, and a personal best of 84.230% making him the clear favorite in Tryon.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If he wins (and it&rsquo;s hard to see him not doing so), he&rsquo;ll finish the season on 57 points, tying with Adrienne Lyle for 18th place, the final qualifying position for the Thermal Final. Even if he skips the trip west, that 18th-place finish still nets him $500, which isn&rsquo;t much, but it&rsquo;ll pay for his next FEI entry fee.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Ashker&rsquo;s Chance</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Ashker&rsquo;s path is a little different. A second-place finish would add 17 points to her current 35-point total, bringing her to 52 points and 19th&nbsp; overall&mdash;just outside the automatic qualifying cutoff. But there&rsquo;s still hope. When riders inside the top 18 decline their invitations, the next in line receive the call-up. With Kevin Kohmann and Eline Eckroth already confirmed as non-participants, at least two Final spots should open, likely including one for Ashker.</p>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-OIbVf" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: Tryon Fall Dressage III" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/OIbVf/1/" height="470" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Leaderboard at a Glance</h2>
<p dir="ltr">With <strong>Kevin Kohmann</strong>, <strong>Eline Eckroth</strong>, <strong>Benjamin Ebeling</strong>, and Kristina <strong id="docs-internal-guid-d11817c3-7fff-0b93-2222-ec70e4bbf4b7">Kristina Harrison-Antell </strong>all sitting out this weekend, <strong>Anna Marek&rsquo;s</strong> hold on the top spot is secure. Once the dust settles in Tryon, she will officially be crowned the Series leaderboard champion, earning $12,500 for her season-long effort. The bigger check, of course, awaits in Thermal.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f4b16253-141a-41e1-8da6-537304def5ae.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Infographic titled &ldquo;The Series Standings Are Finalized After the Qualifiers.&rdquo; It explains how $50,000 in prize money for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage is distributed based on season-end standings. The Series winner earns $12,500; payouts continue through 18th place, which receives $500. The graphic includes icons of first-, second-, and third-place trophies and notes that riders can also qualify for the Final event."></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
<p dir="ltr">For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>

A male dressage rider wearing a navy coat, white breeches, and a helmet rides a dark bay horse performing an extended trot. The US Equestrian Open of Dressage logo appears in the top left corner. Red, white, and blue stripes border the bottom edge

All Eyes on Tryon: The Last Dance Before the Desert

<p dir="ltr">In a final qualifier class of just three, Tryon proved that a small field can still have Series-altering impact. Both <strong>Julio Mendoza Loor</strong> and <strong>Laine Ashker</strong> entered the weekend outside the qualification cutoff&mdash;and both left with invitations to the Final.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mendoza Loor and his Paris mount, <strong>Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike</strong>, claimed victory on a 76.190%, while Ashker and <strong>Zeppelin </strong>followed with 72.955%. Their one-two finish vaulted both riders up the leaderboard: Mendoza Loor now sits in 18th, the last automatic qualifying position, and Ashker moves to 20th but has already received and accepted her invitation to the Final.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Entries for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final will be confirmed later this week, but several riders inside the top 18&mdash;<strong>Eline Eckroth</strong>, <strong>Evelyn Eger</strong>, and <strong>Kevin Kohmann</strong>&mdash;have already declined their spots, which created an opening for Ashker. Eckroth plans to stay in Florida to prepare for the winter circuit, while Eger and Kohmann are entered in the $350,000 World Cup event in Mexico the week before the Final. As for Mendoza Loor, we&rsquo;ll have to wait and see whether he joins the field in Thermal when entries are confirmed.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">With the standings now set, <strong>Anna Marek</strong> officially tops the season leaderboard on 105 points, closing out the inaugural season with a $12,500 payout. Later this week, we&rsquo;ll take a closer look at her journey and how she got here. In the meantime, as we wait with bated breath for official entry announcements, one question lingers: <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/reliability-or-flash-which-will-marek-choose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which horse will she bring to the Final</a>? With Kohmann out of the picture and Ebeling on an upward trajectory, it&rsquo;s a decision that promises to be anything but simple.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ec351ddc-39ae-4bbb-8c20-23407423ff89.png?width=497&amp;height=684" alt="Screenshot of the final US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard showing Anna Marek in first with 105 points, followed by Benjamin Ebeling with 94, and Kristina Harrison-Antell, Eline Eckroth, and Kevin Kohmann tied at 86. The top 20 riders are listed through Laine Ashker in 20th with 52 points."></p>

A dressage rider in formal competition attire raises his fist in celebration while riding a chestnut horse adorned with a ribboned bridle and the Ecuadorian flag on its saddle pad. The US Equestrian Open Dressage logo appears in the top right corner

Tryon Delivers the Final Twist in the US Equestrian Open Qualifiers

<p data-start="54" data-end="329">If you rode the highs of the 2025 Series and that Morven Park finale <em data-start="151" data-end="166">two weeks ago</em>, we hope you&rsquo;ve caught your breath because the 2026 US Equestrian Open Eventing Series kicks off <strong data-start="266" data-end="281" data-is-only-node="">this Friday</strong> at <strong data-start="285" data-end="307">Bouckaert CCI4*-S</strong> in Fairburn, Georgia.</p>
<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">New to the US Equestrian Open?</h2>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Perhaps you caught wind of the thrilling finale at Morven Park, saw buzz on social media about the series battle, or you're gearing up for the dressage final and accidentally found yourself reading about eventing. Whatever brought you here, welcome! And don&rsquo;t worry, you&rsquo;re not late. We&rsquo;re just about to kick off the second-ever series, and you&rsquo;ve joined us at the perfect time.<br><br>The US Equestrian Open of Eventing is a year-long competition that brings together the nation's top eventers in a points race culminating in a high-stakes final with a massive prize purse.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Here's how it works:</strong> Riders compete in a series of 4*-S qualifier events throughout the season, earning points based on their final placings. The bigger the field (25+ starters), the more points are up for grabs. Your best six qualifier results count toward your series standing, and whoever accumulates the most points wins $25,000, with second and third place earning $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">But that's just the series prize money. Complete at least one qualifier with a Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER), or buy in for $5,000, and you're eligible for the October 2026 Series Final at Morven Park - a CCI4*-L with a staggering <strong>$200,000 prize pot</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">Reflecting on Year One: Boyd Martin's Historic Victory</h2>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Last year's inaugural series delivered everything we could have hoped for - fierce rivalry, fantastic competition, and a champion who made history while honoring a dear friend.<br><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/badf2c98-95f3-43cd-a3ba-4eb03c050b04.png?width=1600&amp;height=2000" alt="Eventing Winner Boydfinal (1)"></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Boyd Martin</strong> and <strong>Miks Master C</strong> claimed the 2025 US Equestrian Open Eventing Championship title at Morven Park in spectacular fashion. The victory was particularly meaningful as Boyd dedicated the win to <strong>Liz Halliday, </strong>who produced <strong>'Mikki' </strong>into the champion he is.&nbsp;Will Coleman demonstrated his consistency by securing both second and third place in the final aboard<strong> Off the Record</strong> and<strong> Very Dignified, </strong>respectively.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">When the series standings were tallied after all qualifiers, <strong>Boyd Martin</strong> topped the leaderboard with 260 points, followed by<strong> Phillip Dutton </strong>with 235 points and <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> with 215 points.</p>
<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">This Weekend: Let the Games Begin</h2>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The 2025-2026 season launches this Friday at Bouckaert - the first of two 4*-S qualifiers happening before the year ends (TerraNova follows shortly after.) With multiple venues scheduled throughout 2026 - from Carolina and Galway Downs to Tryon, Maryland Int., The Fork, and beyond - riders will have plenty of opportunities to rack up points and position themselves for that coveted spot at the 2026 Final at Morven Park.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Get excited!</strong> Whether you're going to be ringside, watching online, or following through the US Equestrian Open Podcast this season promises the same excitement, world-class sport, and dramatic storylines that made year one so memorable.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The gallop to glory begins now. This is the first chance to score points and begin the long run toward lifting that Morven Park trophy in October 2026.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>Listen to the Bouckaert Preview Show now on the US Equestrian Open Podcast - available on all podcast platforms.</strong></em></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38735600/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><em><strong><br></strong></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/ac73ddee-59a5-410b-a07f-0ac96cdbf934.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="2025 Blog Social Promos"></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>

Back in the Start Box: The 2026 US Equestrian Open Kicks Off

<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Series leader <strong>Tamie Smith </strong>currently has the most international wins gloablly in 2026 with eight. The next closest is <strong>Julia Krajewski </strong>on six. Eight wins by the 18th of May is a number worth contextualising.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/47bcddd2-25d8-4599-8417-9368e080019c.png?width=630&amp;height=391" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 18 172009">&nbsp;<br><br>Last year, <strong>Lara de Liedekerke-Meier </strong>set a new all-time record of 21 wins in a single season. It was one of the most extraordinary individual seasons the sport has seen. When you look back at where she was at this exact point in 2025? Six wins. Smith is already two ahead of that pace.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8f3377b8-c07e-4576-9dea-4bf35a52b8f9.png?width=634&amp;height=393" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 18 172357"></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">To be clear: matching 21 wins in a season would require an exceptional volume of runs across the rest of the year, and with a <em>potential </em>trip to Germany for the World Championships, where you arrive with just one horse, wouldn't help the tally. But the trajectory is striking regardless.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">What makes Smith's eight wins particularly notable is what level they have been at. Four of them have been at the CCI4* level. Across de Liedekerke-Meier's entire record-breaking 2025 season, she recorded only three four-star wins. Smith already has four CCI4*-S wins and it is only May. One of those victories also came with the<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/tamie-smith-danito-set-a-new-series-dressage-record-at-tryon" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> lowest international dressage score</a> recorded anywhere in the world in 2026. The level at which she is winning matters as much as the volume.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2abfb7ce-23d5-4271-84ca-0591e57a214c.png?width=634&amp;height=481" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 18 171852"></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">It is also worth pausing on the context of this season. Last year, <strong>Mai Baum</strong>, one of the greatest event horses the US has ever seen,<strong> </strong>retired. That is no small thing to absorb. And yet Smith has come out in 2026 with what may be the strongest string of her career, producing results at a rate that puts her among the most dominant riders in the world right now. Last year she was second on the global win count behind de Liedekerke-Meier on ten. This year she is first... and it is only May.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">We know we have been talking about<strong> Tamie Smith</strong> a lot but the numbers keep giving us reasons to.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Read our full feature on why the data points to her as the 2026 Series favorite <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/six-horses-two-weekends-why-tamie-smith-is-the-series-favorite" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-path-to-node="9"><strong data-path-to-node="9" data-index-in-node="0">Join the Conversation</strong></h3>
<p data-path-to-node="10">Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="77"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a></strong>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="89"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a></strong>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="100"><a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a></strong></p>
<h3 data-path-to-node="6"><strong data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="4">Go Beyond the Article</strong></h3>
<p data-path-to-node="7">Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="78"><a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast.</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p data-path-to-node="7"><em><strong>The mission of the US Equestrian Open is to grow and foster a deeper connection to equestrian sport by delivering a premier, unified championship series that engages a broader fanbase through top-level competition, storytelling, and a dynamic, entertaining experience.</strong></em></p>

Tamie Smith & Lillet 3 cross-country at Carolina CCI4*-S

The Tamie Smith season so far

<h2 dir="ltr">Dressage: Potasky bests Ashker at MADFest to claim CDI3* freestyle win</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Ali Potasky</strong> <strong>&amp; Inxs</strong> won Saturday's CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle at the Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival with a personal best of 72.425%, edging out<strong> Laine Ashker &amp; </strong><strong>Zeppelin </strong>by 0.315%.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Potasky came into the weekend with the field's highest average but only two starts on record. Saturday's result adds a third data point, and her best one yet.&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><em>"I&rsquo;ve been working on the details&mdash;the connection, the frame, and the softness through the top line. Today I feel like I had moments where that was coming along more than it has in the past,"</em> she said of <strong>Inxs, </strong>who can carry tension in competition.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYfgZs9gM_g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6d88416e-5f37-48b8-be8f-68b2a8098839.png?width=700&amp;height=853" alt="Screenshot 2026 05 19 113032"></a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Ashker, meanwhile, was debuting a new freestyle with <strong>Zeppelin.</strong> She posted a strong 72.110% on a first outing with new music and has her eyes set on the Final in Thermal.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Miceala Mabraga&ntilde;a &amp; Belatrix RH</strong> finished third with 70.035%, also a personal best.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The top of the overall standings is unchanged after this weekend, but Potasky and Ashker both move into the low 20s. Although still outside the top-18 cutoff for the CDI5* Final, they are both now in range with only four qualifiers remaining this season.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f1d326a8-8044-4186-8952-a26653416d9a.png?width=1098&amp;height=1110" alt="0t C X7 Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage  (2)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">The next qualifier takes place at the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage in Oregon, Saturday, May 30.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Listen to this week's episode of the US Equestrian Open Podcast</h2>
<p><iframe style="border-image: initial; border: medium none currentcolor;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/41360160/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/28427a/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>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong><strong id="docs-internal-guid-c3f8300a-7fff-1f24-0f99-1ae7d7e449eb"></strong></strong><strong>Jumping: The world's best head to Aachen</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">It was a quieter weekend for US riders on the international circuit despite three five-stars running across Madrid, Windsor, and Hamburg. However, that is because the focus was already shifting elsewhere. Aachen is this week.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">This year's CHIO arrives earlier than usual. Due to the FEI World Championships in Aachen in August, the organisers have moved the spring edition to May 22&ndash;24, christening it the "TSCHIO", a nod to the local Aachen dialect and the deep community bond the event carries.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday is the second Major of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, making <strong>Richard Vogel </strong>(winner of the Dutch Masters in March) a live Grand Slam contender this weekend.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">This weekend also carries weight for the coming months as it shapes up to be a direct audition for the World Championships. This weekend's US contingent is as follows:</p>
<ul class="[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3">
<li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>Kent Farrington: </strong>Greya, Descartes SR</li>
<li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>McLain Ward:</strong>&nbsp;High Star Hero, Lestro vd Valckenborg</li>
<li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>Laura Kraut: </strong>Bisquetta, Cinnamon, Una Mariposa</li>
<li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>Lillie Keenan: </strong>Anton, Fasther, Kick On</li>
<li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>Karl Cook: </strong>Caracole de la Roque, Candy, Foxy de la Roque</li>
<li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>Aaron Vale:</strong>&nbsp;Carissimo 25, Gray's Inn, Helios du Moulin</li>
</ul>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The World Championships are fast approaching. This week at Aachen is where the conversation about who goes starts to get serious.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eeee484b-ef16-4e10-9de3-6d72b0a7f0c7.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Eventing: The Series takes a breath&nbsp;</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Next Qualifier:&nbsp;</strong>Aspen Farms (June 11th)&nbsp;<strong>| The Final:&nbsp;</strong>Morven Park 4*-L, Virginia (October 8th)</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Series is on a slight break as we wait for the next qualifier at Aspen Farms on June 11th.<strong> Tamie Smith</strong> leads the Series on 235, <strong>Will Coleman</strong> is second on 215, and&nbsp;<strong>Boyd Martin</strong> is third on 190. Check out the full leaderboard <a href="https://us.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The break is a good moment to zoom out and celebrate 2026 so far. <strong>Tamie Smith</strong> currently leads the world in international wins in 2026 with eight. She is already two ahead of where <strong>Lara de Liedekerke-Meier</strong> stood at the same stage of her record-breaking 2025 campaign. Lara went on to set a new single-season record with 21 international wins, surpassing <strong>Piggy March&rsquo;s</strong> previous mark of 15. Out of those eight wins, four have come at the CCI4* level and it is only May.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">We wrote it up in full this week. Read it <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-tamie-smith-season-so-far" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a></p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/eventing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/254e09dd-d92e-4194-986b-baf0dbd8460b.png?width=1080&amp;height=158" alt="Read More Eventing"></a></p>
<h2 data-path-to-node="4">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-path-to-node="4"><strong data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="0">Stay in the loop with The Open Weekly</strong></h2>
<p data-path-to-node="5">Thanks for joining us for this week's edition! Don't forget: a fresh update of&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="72"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/the-open-weekly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Open Weekly</a>&nbsp;</strong>drops on the site&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="124">every Tuesday.</strong></p>
<h3 data-path-to-node="9"><strong data-path-to-node="9" data-index-in-node="0">Join the Conversation</strong></h3>
<p data-path-to-node="10">Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="77"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a></strong>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="89"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a></strong>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="100"><a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a></strong></p>
<h3 data-path-to-node="6"><strong data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="4">Go Beyond the Article</strong></h3>
<p data-path-to-node="7">Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<strong data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="78"><a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast.</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<h3><em><strong>The Mission of the Open&nbsp;</strong></em></h3>
<p><em>The mission of the US Equestrian Open is to grow and foster a deeper connection to equestrian sport by delivering a premier, unified championship series that engages a broader fanbase through top-level competition, storytelling, and a dynamic, entertaining experience.</em></p>

Ali Potasky & Inxs on the Open Weekly graphic

The Open Weekly: Potasky Wins at MADFest as All Eyes Turn to Aachen

<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ashker was already the first athlete to compete in the US Equestrian Open across both eventing and dressage. The Maryland International CCI4*-S has added another first. She is now the only athlete to have won a qualifier in both disciplines.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It took 16 horses and more than 100 FEI eventing starts to get here. Four of those horses made it to CCI5*. None of them won at the top level. <strong style="color: #001c54; font-weight: bold;">Lovedance</strong> did it in his first season.</p>
<div style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin: 28px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 6px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eef0f5; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Win</div>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cross country time was always going to separate the field at Maryland and as we expected, nobody made the time. <strong style="color: #001c54; font-weight: bold;">Ema Klugman</strong> &amp; <strong style="color: #001c54; font-weight: bold;">Chiraz</strong> came closest, picking up 14.8 penalties to finish second. <strong style="color: #001c54; font-weight: bold;">Lovedance</strong> added 19.2, but a 29.7 dressage score and a clear show jumping round were enough to hold off the chasers. It marks Ashker's third international eventing win, all of which have come with Lovedance.</p>
<div style="margin: 28px 0 12px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin-bottom: 6px; letter-spacing: 0.01em;">Laine Ashker &amp; Lovedance's International Eventing Wins</div>
<div style="border: 1px solid #dde1ea; border-radius: 2px; overflow: hidden;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;" border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="background: #001c54;">
<td style="padding: 9px 14px; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgba(255,255,255,0.6);">Date</td>
<td style="padding: 9px 14px; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgba(255,255,255,0.6);">Event</td>
<td style="padding: 9px 14px; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgba(255,255,255,0.6);">Level</td>
<td style="padding: 9px 14px; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgba(255,255,255,0.6); text-align: right;" width="60">Score</td>
</tr>
<tr style="background: #f3f0e8; border-top: 1px solid #eef0f5;">
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 13px; color: #374172; vertical-align: middle;">Nov 2022</td>
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; color: #001c54; vertical-align: middle;">Lexington VA</td>
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 13px; color: #374172; vertical-align: middle;">CCI2*-L</td>
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; text-align: right; vertical-align: middle;">27.7</td>
</tr>
<tr style="background: #f3f0e8;">
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 13px; color: #374172; vertical-align: middle;">Nov 2023</td>
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; color: #001c54; vertical-align: middle;">Lexington VA</td>
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 13px; color: #374172; vertical-align: middle;">CCI3*-S</td>
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; text-align: right; vertical-align: middle;">46.4</td>
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<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 13px; color: #374172; vertical-align: middle;">Jun 2026</td>
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; color: #001c54; vertical-align: middle;">Maryland International</td>
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 13px; color: #374172; vertical-align: middle;">CCI4*-S</td>
<td style="padding: 11px 14px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; text-align: right; vertical-align: middle;">52.1</td>
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<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; margin-top: 10px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">International wins only. Every one has come with Lovedance.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; margin-top: 10px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/cffc7ec1-2e6e-4987-8af0-022cb01a6b58.png?width=694&amp;height=837" alt="Screenshot 2026 06 30 113521"></div>
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<div style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin: 28px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 6px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eef0f5; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two Horses, Two Disciplines</div>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ashker is the only athlete to have competed in the US Equestrian Open across both eventing and dressage, a status she <a style="color: #c8102e; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/laine-ashker-becomes-the-us-equestrian-opens-first-dual-discipline-athlete">earned at Bouckaert in March</a>.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the dressage side, every international win of her career has come with&nbsp;<strong style="color: #001c54; font-weight: bold;">Zeppelin</strong>, including a <a style="color: #c8102e; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lainey-wins-and-micaela-is-on-the-bubble">personal-best 73.015% Grand Prix Freestyle</a> at the Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival in May 2025 where they secured a US Equestrian Open qualifier win.<br><br>Her 12th place (66.260%) at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage CDI5* Final last November made her a 5* athlete in both dressage and eventing.</p>
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<div style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.4; color: #001c54; margin-bottom: 14px;">&ldquo;To have two world-class horses in two different disciplines is pretty freaking amazing.&nbsp;Whenever I have a Debbie Downer day, I think about where I was five years ago. I had a prelim horse and horses doing Prix St-Georges. Now to have this is pretty unreal.&rdquo;</div>
<div style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #c8102e;">Laine Ashker on competing at the US Equestrian Open in two disciplines</div>
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<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>"Five years ago, I would have never dreamed it," </em>she added. <em>"If you'd asked seventeen-year-old me if I'd have horses doing this, I would have looked at you sideways."</em></p>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0e26b061-b7f6-4638-8eed-40a9bd73c5fb.jpg?width=null&amp;height=null" alt="Img L1998">Laine Ashker &amp; Zeppelin&nbsp;at the US Equestrian Open Final of Dressage in November 2025.</em></p>
<div style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin: 28px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 6px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eef0f5; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What Dressage Gives Back</div>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ashker has spoken before about how one discipline feeds the other. At Kentucky earlier this year, she pointed to the eventing dressage test itself and what it feels like compared to riding Zeppelin.</p>
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<div style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.35; color: #001c54; margin-bottom: 16px;">&ldquo;It puts the eventing test into perspective. It&rsquo;s a pretty simple test. But I&rsquo;m doing it on a very fit event horse for whom this is their Grand Prix. It helps me break it down and I don&rsquo;t get nearly as nervous.&rdquo;</div>
<div style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #c8102e;">Laine Ashker at kentucky 2026</div>
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<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The bigger carryover, she said, is in the show jumping. <em>"I've learned how to rate and balance the canter a lot better than I have in the past, from a dressage standpoint. I'm very grateful for the dressage work helping me with that."</em></p>
<div style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin: 28px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 6px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eef0f5; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Belief She Didn't Have Before</div>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Maryland win has done something to Ashker's outlook. She is talking about five-star debuts and LA contention with a smile on her face now.&nbsp;</p>
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<div style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.35; color: #001c54; margin-bottom: 16px;">&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a belief in myself now that I can do it. Wherever the stars take us, maybe a first five-star in the next couple of years, or a win at the US Open, or maybe, if we&rsquo;re lucky, contenders for LA. I&rsquo;m telling you this with a smile on my face.&rdquo;</div>
<div style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #c8102e;">Laine Ashker on what comes next</div>
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<div style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin: 28px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 6px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eef0f5; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eyes on Both Opens</div>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 14px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At ten years old, Lovedance, the US Equestrian Open Final of Eventing at Morven Park in October is a likely path to do their first 4*L and it seems that Ashker has big plans for the rest of the season. <em>"I'm very humbled and very grateful,"</em> she said, <em>"and looking forward to hopefully competing in both US Opens on both my horses."</em></p>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 28px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lovedance has eventing covered. Zeppelin keeps adding to his unbeaten run in dressage. The only discipline left is show jumping. Greya might want to keep an eye on the entry list.</p>
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<div style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #6b7280; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maryland Final Score</div>
<div style="font-size: 26px; font-weight: 800; color: #c8102e; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 4px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">52.1</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; line-height: 1.4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lovedance's winning total. A clear show jumping round and 19.2 time penalties on cross country did the rest.</div>
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<td style="padding: 14px; border-bottom: 1px solid #dde1ea; background: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;" width="50%">
<div style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #6b7280; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Series Standing</div>
<div style="font-size: 26px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 4px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Joint 17th</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; line-height: 1.4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">40 points from one Qualifier. Five open scoring slots remain.</div>
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<td style="padding: 14px; border-right: 1px solid #dde1ea; background: #f7f8fc; vertical-align: top;" width="50%">
<div style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #6b7280; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lovedance's Wins</div>
<div style="font-size: 26px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 4px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; line-height: 1.4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every international win of Ashker's eventing career has come with this one horse.</div>
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<td style="padding: 14px; background: #f7f8fc; vertical-align: top;" width="50%">
<div style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #6b7280; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Zeppelin's Wins</div>
<div style="font-size: 26px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 4px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; line-height: 1.4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every international dressage win of Ashker's career has come with this horse.</div>
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Laine Ashker with both Zeppelin and Lovedance

Maryland Win Makes Laine Ashker the US Open's First Dual-Discipline Winner

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<div style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #6b7280; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Series Standing</div>
<div style="font-size: 26px; font-weight: 800; color: #83b1d6; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 4px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3rd</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; line-height: 1.35; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">US Equestrian Open of Dressage</div>
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<td style="padding: 14px; border-bottom: 1px solid #dde1ea; background: #ffffff; vertical-align: top;" width="50%">
<div style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #6b7280; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Best Freestyle</div>
<div style="font-size: 26px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 4px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">74.365%</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; line-height: 1.35; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Season high, TerraNova Dressage 1</div>
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<td style="padding: 14px; border-right: 1px solid #dde1ea; background: #f7f8fc; vertical-align: top;" width="50%">
<div style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #6b7280; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Best Qualifier Placing</div>
<div style="font-size: 26px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 4px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1st</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; line-height: 1.35; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">WEC Ocala, March</div>
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<td style="padding: 14px; background: #f7f8fc; vertical-align: top;" width="50%">
<div style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #6b7280; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Qualifiers Completed</div>
<div style="font-size: 26px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 4px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; color: #6b7280; line-height: 1.35; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Series starts this season</div>
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<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong style="font-weight: 600; color: #001c54;">Claire Darnell</strong> sits third in the Series with a horse she almost leased away. Last season ended with injuries for both her and <strong style="font-weight: 600; color: #001c54;">Harold S</strong>, and by January she was weighing whether to keep the ride at all. It's a good thing she kept it because they went on to win their first Grand Prix and first freestyle at the level. She tells the whole story on the podcast: the decision, the music, and the partnership behind it.</p>

<h2 style="font-size: 21px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin: 34px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #dde1ea; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The horse she almost let go</h2>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The doubt came to a head on an ordinary hack around the property.</p>
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<p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4; color: #001c54; margin: 0 0 14px 0;">&ldquo;I distinctly remember thinking about the potential of leasing him. And I thought about not riding that horse every day. It made me really sad.&rdquo;</p>
<cite style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #83b1d6; font-style: normal; display: block;">Claire Darnell on whether to keep the ride</cite></blockquote>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That settled it. She entered the CDI at WEC Ocala. Her home coach, <strong style="font-weight: 600; color: #001c54;">David Marcus</strong>, assumed she meant the national show and could not work out why she would haul four hours north when Wellington was full of options. Then she told him it was the CDI. He told her it was a very good idea, and that she would go and do well.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She had not shown Harold at CDI level since 2023. This year they won their first CDI Grand Prix and their first CDI freestyle. She kept a shoe from that show.</p>
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<p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4; color: #001c54; margin: 0 0 14px 0;">&ldquo;I saved one of his shoes as something I see all the time. It's a reminder that we can go out there and do hard things.&rdquo;</p>
<cite style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #83b1d6; font-style: normal; display: block;">Claire Darnell on her first CDI wins</cite></blockquote>

<h2 style="font-size: 21px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin: 34px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #dde1ea; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The music</h2>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Darnell writes her own freestyles, and builds them for other riders too. Harold's floor plan has stayed mostly the same, with tweaks to push the difficulty. She turned a straight piaffe into a piaffe pirouette because it scored better and raised the degree of difficulty. The plan is hard on paper and easy in the saddle.</p>
<blockquote style="margin: 28px 0; padding: 24px 20px 20px 24px; border-left: 4px solid #83b1d6; background: #f7f8fc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4; color: #001c54; margin: 0 0 14px 0;">&ldquo;It feels so easy to go out there and ride that floor plan, and the difficulty is very, very high on it.&rdquo;</p>
<cite style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #83b1d6; font-style: normal; display: block;">Claire Darnell on Harold's freestyle</cite></blockquote>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The music has moved around more. She started on an EDM mix, took it to her first CDIs in the desert, and it did not score the way she wanted. With two weeks to replace it, she landed on the Hunger Games soundtrack. It opens with a line lifted straight from the film: Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That set is on its way out. Watching the World Cup, she saw how hard the crowd leaned into freestyles set to music they knew. So the summer project is an 80s mix.</p>
<blockquote style="margin: 28px 0; padding: 28px 24px; background: #f7f8fc; border-top: 3px solid #83b1d6; border-bottom: 3px solid #83b1d6; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<p style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.4; color: #001c54; margin: 0 0 14px 0;">&ldquo;It'll be a little bit more of a party freestyle next time we go out. What a cool feeling to be riding your last center line and people are singing and clapping.&rdquo;</p>
<cite style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #83b1d6; font-style: normal; display: block;">Claire Darnell on this fall's freestyle</cite></blockquote>

<h2 style="font-size: 21px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin: 34px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #dde1ea; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A partnership built from scratch</h2>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Darnell has had Harold since 2016. She had just retired her previous Grand Prix horse and flew to Europe to find the next one. The made horses all had something she did not like. She wanted one she could build herself. Harold was the second-to-last stop.</p>
<blockquote style="margin: 28px 0; padding: 24px 20px 20px 24px; border-left: 4px solid #83b1d6; background: #f7f8fc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4; color: #001c54; margin: 0 0 14px 0;">&ldquo;We saw him just trotting around the ring with the warm-up rider, and we were like, okay, this is the one.&rdquo;</p>
<cite style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #83b1d6; font-style: normal; display: block;">Claire Darnell on finding Harold</cite></blockquote>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He was a four-year-old stallion, quiet in a way he has never lost. She has taken him all the way to Grand Prix herself, and says building a horse up from scratch means you know everything about them from top to bottom.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The quiet does not make him dull. Harold likes the award ceremonies. He stands still for the handshakes, then lights up and prances once the music starts and the crowd claps. At home he patrols the property, checks on the neighbor's cows, and snorts at the garbage cans.</p>
<blockquote style="margin: 28px 0; padding: 24px 20px 20px 24px; border-left: 4px solid #83b1d6; background: #f7f8fc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4; color: #001c54; margin: 0 0 14px 0;">&ldquo;He's like the HOA president. He has to go check everything out, make sure everybody's doing the right thing.&rdquo;</p>
<cite style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #83b1d6; font-style: normal; display: block;">Claire Darnell on Harold at home</cite></blockquote>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He is not spooky. He has herded sheep, gone on mountain trail rides, and still hacks out bareback in a halter.</p>

<h2 style="font-size: 21px; font-weight: 800; color: #001c54; margin: 34px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #dde1ea; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Roots, and a run at the Final</h2>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Darnell was riding before she could walk. First pony at two, a dressage-judge mother, and a childhood spent bringing young horses along. Bronze medal at 13, silver at 16. Almost every horse she has competed she or her mother produced.</p>
<p style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.72; color: #1a1a2e; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She is based in Wellington now. The Series Final runs in November at Desert International Horse Park, where Harold contested his first Grand Prix CDI back in 2022. If they make it, it would be their first five-star.</p>
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<p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4; color: #001c54; margin: 0 0 14px 0;">&ldquo;It would be a very full circle moment if we are able to make it back there.&rdquo;</p>
<cite style="font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.18em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #83b1d6; font-style: normal; display: block;">Claire Darnell on the Final</cite></blockquote>

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<div style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.16em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #83b1d6; margin-bottom: 10px;">US Equestrian Open Podcast</div>
<p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; color: #ffffff; margin: 0 0 16px 0; font-weight: bold;">Hear the full conversation with Claire Darnell.</p>
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<div style="margin-top: 20px;"><a style="display: block;" href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <img style="display: block; max-width: 100%; height: auto;" src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb" alt="Read more dressage" width="100%"> </a></div>

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<p style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.65; color: #374172; margin: 0;">Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the <a style="color: #c8102e; font-weight: 600;" href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast/episode/9d0bca7b89e2b9a8f19af7c9427c7d645abb2ae1/view">US Equestrian Open Podcast</a>.</p>
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