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.

Main

Isabell Werth is in Wellington.&nbsp;
I could, frankly, end the preview there. Place your bets on the German "Queen of Dressage" &mdash; World No. 2, the most decorated Olympic equestrian athlete of all time, holder of 14 Olympic medals across seven Games, eight of them gold. That&rsquo;s a pretty safe bet, right?
It is, but it comes with a small caveat. Werth has not arrived on an Olympic-tested mount. If she had, the preview would end here and the story would write itself. Instead, she rides Special Blend 3 who is making his FEI Grand Prix Freestyle debut this week. What we know of their potential comes from a single German national freestyle in 2025: 79.850%.&nbsp;
Because Werth is campaigning Special Blend 3, the "Isabell Factor" is less a guaranteed victory and more a legendary bomb dropped into an already volatile field.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Rest of the Field</h2>
The field itself would be notable without Werth in it. All 11 horses have scored over 70% in the Grand Prix Freestyle at least once. Two have cleared 80%: Jewel's Goldstrike with Julio Mendoza Loor (PB: 84.230%) and Harmony's Giulilanta with Susan Pape (PB: 81.745%). Three more are within one percent of that line &mdash; Bellena with Benjamin Ebeling (79.930%), Duenensee with Kevin Kohmann (79.240%), and Special Blend 3 (79.850%, national competition). Five combinations have reached ten or more Grand Prix Freestyle starts.&nbsp;
The predictions this week are, to be direct about it, a genuine mess.
Who wins depends on which metric you trust most. By averages, it's Pape. By ceiling, it's Mendoza Loor. By starts and venue familiarity, it's Kohmann. By rider experience, it's Werth. And none of that has touched the reigning US Equestrian Open of Dressage champion, Benjamin Ebeling. While his December performance was below average, his trajectory since last June has been consistently upward. Writing them off because of a December result would be a mistake.
That's five legitimate arguments for five different winners. In the same class.&nbsp;
And that's before we get to Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Caroline Darcourt, who are perfectly capable of making Friday's podium more complicated.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Case for Each</h2>
Susan Pape and Harmony's Giulilanta lead the field on averages &mdash; just under 80% in the freestyle &mdash; and Pape holds the US Equestrian Open of Dressage record score outright: 81.745%, set at AGDF 3 in January. Her freestyle body of work with this horse is small (three starts), but the direction of travel is unmistakable: 78.290% in November, 79.805% in December, 81.745% in January. The pair are technically very strong, and in freestyle, that's the best position to be in. The choreography bonuses are there to reward good work, not paper over bad.
Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel's Goldstrike have the highest personal best in the field &mdash; 84.230% &mdash; which is nearly two and a half points above anyone else's personal best. His average of 77.6% sits below Pape's, but his ceiling is a reminder that averages don't always determine outcomes.&nbsp;
Kevin Kohmann and Duenensee bring 20 starts together, the most of any combination entered. Twenty starts is a kind of knowledge that doesn't show up in raw data. That&rsquo;s experience, mileage, and familiarity with atmosphere. They average 75.4% &mdash; lower than the leaders &mdash; with a PB of 79.240%, and Kohmann knows this horse and this venue as well as anyone in the ring.
Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena are the defending champions. Ignoring their outing in December, they&rsquo;ve been on a consistent upward trajectory since last June. Their average is 76%, their PB is 79.930%, and their partnership isn&rsquo;t yet a year old.&nbsp;
Then there is Isabell Werth and Special Blend 3. The pair have no prior freestyle data at the FEI level which means no average to anchor the prediction &mdash; just a national score of 79.850%, a partnership that is clearly still developing, and one of the most accomplished riders in the history of the sport. They do, however, have a body of four FEI Grand Prix Specials, the test unequivocally known to be the most difficult test of the dressage discipline. Horses and riders consistently score below their Grand Prix average in the test. Isabell and Special Blend 3 average 71.3% in the Grand Prix. The Special? 72.4%. A full percentage point higher than the basic Grand Prix test. If that&rsquo;s what they can do with a test of technical landmines, imagine what they can do when they can choreograph the moves to the horse&rsquo;s strengths.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">A Personal Pick</h2>
From a strictly data-driven standpoint, you can argue this class five different ways. So who the heck is the pick for favorite?
If I have to pick a name, I&rsquo;m giving the nod to Susan Pape. The averages are hers, as is the momentum.
The 81.745% personal best is both the highest recent score in the field and backed by a clear progression: 78% in Germany in November, 79% in Britain in December, then 81% in Wellington less than a month ago. Her Grand Prix scores consistently land in the 70s providing the technical foundation needed to let the freestyle choreography shine. And her Grand Prix Special scores, too, trend slightly above the Grand Prix.&nbsp;
Whether she can keep her momentum &mdash; and whether I've just made the most moronic prediction in equestrian sport &mdash; with the "Queen of Dressage" breathing down her neck is a question for Friday night.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Watch the Action</h2>
Watch all Friday Night Stars action on <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18412/adequan-global-dressage-festival-vii">USEF Network</a>. The freestyles begin Friday at 7:00 ET. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.

A black horse in a dressage bridle with US Equestrian Open branding

Werth is in Wellington — Here's Why It's Not a Foregone Conclusion

The Winter Equestrian Festival is at its halfway point. Tonight brings the second CSI5* 160 Grand Prix of the season to the International Arena, and while the spotlight is firmly on this evening's class, the bigger picture is already coming into focus. Five weeks from now, the Rolex US Equestrian Open Final of Jumping will take centre stage in Week 12. For the athletes lining up tonight, every round between now and then is a building block.
<h2>What to expect tonight</h2>
This is one of the toughest five-star tracks on the global circuit. The Round 1 average clear rate here is just 16% - compared to 28-35% at many other CSI5* 1.60m shows worldwide. From a field of 32 combinations tonight, EquiRatings is predicting just six clear rounds. Once riders make the jump-off, the picture improves. Historically, 58% of those who qualify go on to jump clear. But getting there is the challenge.
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">So which US riders are making a case?</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">McLain Ward &amp; High Star Hero</h3>
Three time winner of this class, McLain Ward has chosen High Star Hero as his weapon of choice tonight. They carry a 71% jump-off clear rate with three wins from seven jump-off appearances.&nbsp;
Ward's predicted clear chance tonight sits at 33%, with a 4% win chance. Those numbers are modest on paper, but once he's in a second round, the conversion is ruthless -&nbsp; nearly a 50% win rate in jump-offs tells you everything about how this pair handles pressure.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Lillie Keenan &amp; Fasther</h3>
Keenan has been quietly assembling one of the most consistent five-star profiles for Team USA. Fasther carries a 50% clear rate across 12 CSI5* 1.60m rounds in the past 12 months. Her predicted clear chance is 40%, with a 6% win chance.&nbsp;
The jump-off record makes for even better reading: six clears from ten jump-offs, six podium finishes. When this pair reaches a second round, they land on the podium.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Katie Dinan &amp; Out Of The Blue SCF</h3>
Dinan and Out Of The Blue SCF carry a 30% clear chance tonight and a 3% win chance &mdash; sitting at the competitive edge of the field rather than among the headline names. But that's often where Week 12 stories begin. A 5th place finish with a time penalty at the World Cup of Ocala last week shows they are operating at this level and improving. Five weeks is enough time to build.
<h3 dir="ltr">Natalie Dean &amp; Acota M</h3>
Back in five-star competition after a seven-month absence, Dean and Acota M carry a 30% clear chance and a 2% win chance tonight. Having jumped double clear at this venue during WEF Week 5 last year, they may rediscover that form tonight. A name to keep on your radar as the season builds toward the Final.
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The International Names They'll Have to Beat</h2>
The American riders aren't building toward Week 12 in isolation. Three names in tonight's field are impossible to ignore.
WEF Week 5 winners, Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir, arrive with only four rounds at CSI5* 1.60m. But they have produced four clears. A 100% clear rate. The sample size is small but so is the fault count. Keep an eye out for this ten-year-old tonight.
Runners up in this class last year, Darragh Kenny and Eddy Blue enter as the statistical favourites. a 56% predicted clear chance, a 14% win chance, and a 67% clear rate over the past 12 months. They jump last tonight.&nbsp;
Then there's the streak. Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour have cleared 11 consecutive CSI5* 1.60m rounds. They are only the 8th combination since 2010 to manager 11 consecutive clears in a row. EquiRatings gives them a 55% clear chance and a 13% win chance tonight. With top-five finishes in their last nine five-star Grands Prix, this partnership represents the standard every American will need to meet come Week 12.
<a href="https://jumping-prediction-centre.equiratings.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e5b9121-00b3-4de0-886e-9d63c69f9641.png?width=1228&amp;height=1432" alt="Gg Yej Wef 7 Win Chances "></a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Bigger Picture</h2>
There are four CSI5* Grand Prix in the WEF season: Weeks 5, 7, 9, and 12. Week 5 is done. Tonight is Week 7. Two more chances to win big before the Final.
In a class where only one in six combinations is expected to go clear in Round 1, the combinations that arrive in Week 12 in contention will be those who have proven they can handle this level consistently, not just occasionally.
Tonight is the next data point. Week 12 is the destination.

Mcclain Ward looking at camera while riding a horse

WEF Week 7: Who's Building Toward the Open Final?

Megan McIver sat down with Annie Bishop on this week's US Equestrian Open podcast to talk horses, risk-taking, and the goal she's finally saying out loud. Find the full episode <a href="https://pod.fo/e/391d1f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>
<h3 dir="ltr">A California Beginning</h3>
Megan is a California rider through and through. She grew up riding at Webb Ranch in Portola Valley after convincing her dad that she needed to ride horses. Eventually, beach trail rides weren't enough. Lessons followed. Then competition. Then a life built around the sport.
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Like many eventers, she didn't come from a deep equestrian background. What she had was work ethic. In high school, she rode multiple horses a day, then came home to finish homework late into the night. At Cal Poly, she balanced a full-time degree in accounting , a sorority, and worked for former Olympian Gina Miles and Bec Braitling. Megan was Gina&rsquo;s assistant trainer and it was here that she got really serious about the sport.&nbsp;
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<h3 dir="ltr">Building Something of Her Own</h3>
After formative years with Gina Miles, Bec Braitling and Brian Sabo, Megan returned to Northern California to build something of her own. She established McIver Equestrian at the Horse Park at Woodside; a serious base with four-star events on site, world-class facilities and the infrastructure to match her ambitions.
Just 15 minutes away is Eric Duvander, with whom she works and trains full time. The support system is intentional, the set-up is strategic, and her business is growing due to it.
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<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">Igor B: The Risk&nbsp;</h3>
If there's one horse Open fans will recognise, it's Igor B. He is known at home as Rupert but was originally named Cuddles by the breeder's daughter.
However, they are a partnership that almost didn't happen. Megan saw him in the UK while trying a different horse. The video didn't sell her and she couldn't afford him. But when she watched him walk just three steps in person, she knew.
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Buying Igor B meant risk. Loans. Stretching beyond what felt comfortable.
But Megan leaned on the advice of long-time supporters&nbsp;Leo Wang: life is about taking risks and sometimes you have to get uncomfortable to move forward.
So she bought Rupert.
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Now, after two full seasons together, which included Megan&rsquo;s first step up to four-star level, a seventh-place finish in the inaugural US Equestrian Open Series of Eventing signals that the foundations are firmly in place. The process is starting to pay off.
The next step? Go faster. When it feels right, be braver against the clock.
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<h3 dir="ltr">Kapitan Sparrow XII: The Journey</h3>
Kapitan Sparrow XII might be the most meaningful horse in the barn. He arrived hot, spooky, running through fences, and definitely not an obvious four-star prospect. But Megan saw something worth the investment.
They've worked through setbacks (including a colic episode en route to competition). They've managed quirks. They've grown up together.&nbsp;Last season saw their step up to four-star where he jumped clear cross-country in both of his two starts at the level.&nbsp;
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<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">The Goal on the Wall</h3>
In her tack room, Megan keeps written plans for each horse - two years out, three, five. At the top of her own list sits something bigger.
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For a long time, she kept that quiet. Now she is practising saying it out loud. Because saying it makes it real.
The US Equestrian Open is part of that picture. Not as a stepping stone, but as a championship in its own right. For combinations like Megan and Rupert, it is both opportunity and objective. A structured season to measure progress.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/40144145/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>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Image of Megan McIver jumping Igor B cross country

Megan McIver’s Plan to Turn Seventh into Selection

Tamie Smith is doing what Tamie Smith seems to do. She leads on Danito with a 27.0 &mdash; exactly his six-run average (6RA), delivered on cue &mdash; and sits joint third with&nbsp;Lillet 3 on 29.9 and 13th with Kynan. Lillet 3 leads the <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prediction Centre </a>and is certainly one to watch tomorrow with a serious chance at making the time. Three horses and three solid positions. The points Tamie could gain her may become extremely critical in her <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/six-horses-two-weekends-why-tamie-smith-is-the-series-favorite" target="_blank" rel="noopener">campaign for the Series lead.</a>
<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a7447e51-337d-4337-b156-b0afde008c47.png?width=931&amp;height=792" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 24 171623"></a>
Sharon White &amp; Claus 63 were the surprise (and impress!) of the phase. A 28.1 is their second-best four-star test from 20 starts together, behind only the 25.2 they produced at the US Equestrian Open Final at Morven Park last year. They outperformed their 6RA by 4.2 marks to sit second overnight. The <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026/movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prediction Centre</a> has rewarded them accordingly with a +16% swing in win chance, the biggest post-dressage move in the field, putting them top at 21%.
<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026/movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/27215b29-d617-4f04-9806-261922a0d3fc.png?width=931&amp;height=510" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 24 171702"></a>
Then there is Elizabeth Barratt and Ride for Thais Chaman Dumontceau. The 20-year-old, competing as part of Great Britain's Rising Lions team, posted a 29.7 to sit third &mdash; just under the horse's six-run average of 30. The horse's most recent run before Barratt took over in 2025 was the Paris Olympics with St&eacute;phane Landois, where they scored a 24.4. The horse was also previously produced and ridden by the late Thais Meheust who tragically lost her life in a horseriding accident.&nbsp;
As Barratt grows into the partnership and performing on the bigger stages, the ceiling could be high. No British rider has ever completed this class in its five-year history meaning that Barratt, alongside Rising Lions teammates Finn Healy (35.8, 25th) and Isabelle Cook (39.3, 36th), are aiming to change that.
Cross-country is tomorrow. Tamie Smith is everywhere. Sharon White is on form. And a 20-year-old from Great Britain just announced herself.
<div style="text-align: center; margin: 20px 0;"><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #1a5fa8; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; padding: 14px 28px; border-radius: 6px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://usequestrianopen.info/kentucky4s2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more about Kentucky in the Fan Guide</a></div>

Tamie's on top and Sharon surges in the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Kentucky is East Coast territory. The iconic Kentucky Horse Park, the five-star running simultaneously, the history and the atmosphere - it all belongs to the established order. And yet, scroll through the top ten of today's dressage leaderboard and a different story emerges.
Four of the combinations sitting inside the top ten are based on the West Coast.
Tamra Smith, Temecula-based and in imperious form all season, leads on Danito with a 27.0, sits fourth with Lillet 3, and 13th with Kynan. That was somewhat expected. What perhaps wasn't is the company she's keeping from her own backyard.
Molly Duda, 21 years old, is based with Tamie Smith in Temecula. Not only does she own Lillet 3 for Tamie, but she sits sixth on 31.1 with&nbsp;Carlingfords Hes a Clover - their best four-star dressage test together across seven international starts. The context makes it more impressive. Scoring ran 2.6 penalties above the six-run average (6RA) across both days &mdash; a tough environment &mdash; and yet Carlingfords Hes a Clover beat their own 6RA by 6.4 penalties. The biggest improvement of any combination in the field.
Then there's Tommy Greengard, 26, based in Malibu, who arrives with two horses and sits equal seventh on 31.4 with&nbsp;That's Me Z. That same combination finished 17th here last year. He also has Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad in the field &mdash; a horse that won his first four-star at Galway Downs just weeks ago sitting in 26th on a 36.3. One to watch tomorrow as he takes on the cross-country with two relatively inexperienced horses who show great promise. Hear from Tommy Greengard on the US Equestrian Open Podcast <a href="https://pod.fo/e/3f8f36" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>
This is exactly what the US Equestrian Open was built for. A series that gives West Coast-based (and young!) riders, not just a reason to make the trip east, but a genuine shot at competing with &mdash; and beating &mdash; the best in the country. Duda and Greengard are not here to make up the numbers. They are here because of the Series pathway, and they are walking it.
Cross-country tomorrow will ask different questions. But the West Coast has already made its point.&nbsp; Read more on why EquiRatings think its possible to win the US Equestrian Open Series from the West Coast: <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/is-the-us-equestrian-open-winnable-from-the-west-coast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/is-the-us-equestrian-open-winnable-from-the-west-coast</a>

West Coast contenders deliver in the Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S

Eleven qualifiers in. Two wins in a row. A leaderboard lead of 205 points over Caroline Pamukcu on 185. If there was any doubt about who the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series favorite is, Tamie Smith has spent the last two weekends removing it.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c09f80e8-7dc8-4c6b-a734-019d145f71c5.png?width=1234&amp;height=1212" alt="W1 N Zj Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Eventing Nbsp (2)">
Three weeks ago, we called it (read the full article<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/six-horses-two-weekends-why-tamie-smith-is-the-series-favorite" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> here</a>). Six horses across two back-to-back qualifiers, open scoring slots, and a West Coast calendar that was always going to favor her. The prediction was Tamie Smith wins the 2026 Series. She went to Florida and Kentucky and made believers of anyone who wasn't already.
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">How the wins arrived</h2>
At Ocala, Smith steered Jump To Day D to victory in just his second CCI4* appearance, finishing on his dressage score of 31.5 - a feat only three combinations had managed in the event's entire history, all at a previous venue. She also placed fifth with Spiro P on his CCI4* debut. Two horses, two results, 60 points banked.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7c7ce645-0353-48a5-aac3-7d21f9406bce.png?width=904&amp;height=1099" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 20 121920 (1)">
Then came Kentucky, where Smith &amp; Lillet 3 won the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S with a score of 31.3 - a performance built on precision across all three phases. After dressage, Tamie sat third on 29.7. It was on cross-country day that the race changed.&nbsp;Lillet 3 added just 1.6 time penalties around the course (the fastest round of the day) to move from third into the lead heading into the showjumping. From there, she held it. Of 31 pairs to jump&nbsp;Guilherme Jorge's course, Tamie and Lillet 3 were the only combination to go clear within the time.
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<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]">Why the big wins matter most</h2>
In a series where the points scale is tiered by field size, winning big is not just better, it's structurally different. A win in a field of more than 25 starters pays 50 points. Win a smaller qualifier and you're getting 40. The ten-point gap compounds across a season.
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Look at how Boyd Martin built his winning 260-point campaign in 2025. His platform was the large-field qualifiers: a win and multiple top-four finishes in fields of 25-plus. He didn't even need two outright wins in those events to get there. Tamie already has two - Kentucky and Carolina, both with&nbsp;Lillet 3. That is a stronger foundation than Boyd had at the same stage.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8a0429b4-0bcf-4a78-ab57-2148d4ba6e97.png?width=1080&amp;height=1189" alt="Series Podium (1)">
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Tryon International Three Day Event</h2>
But the opportunity for big points isn't finished yet either. In two weeks, Tryon will field a 25+ field and Tamie will compete with Ferrie's Cello and Spiro P.&nbsp; She arrives with two more shots at a maximum score before the season tips into the West Coast stretch.
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The West Coast factor</h2>
Here is where Tamie's campaign takes on a different shape to anyone trying to chase her.
The second half of the season, the calendar tilts west. Rebecca Farm (July 18), Twin Rivers (September 17), and Woodside (October 2) are all West Coast events. Historically, they draw smaller fields. That is not a weakness, it is an opportunity.
Smaller fields mean wins are more attainable. Tamie's current 20-point scores (earned in tough, competitive fields) become very replaceable with 40 point wins on home turf.&nbsp;
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Call</h2>
Nine qualifiers to go. 205-points. A string of seven horses. Two 50-point wins already banked.&nbsp;Tamie Smith is on course to win the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series.
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<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
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The US Equestrian Open was born from a strategic&nbsp;Board of Directors decision in 2023 to build a permanent legacy for US&nbsp;Equestrian sport.&nbsp;Its mission is to grow and foster a deeper connection to equestrianism by delivering a premier, unified championship series in the Olympic disciplines. With top-level competition, storytelling, and a dynamic, entertaining experience, the&nbsp;vision is to transform disparate events into a cohesive, narrative-driven season.&nbsp;The series is anchored by&nbsp;core values which include fan-first accessibility, competitive integrity, storytelling, and a dynamic&nbsp;entertaining experience onsite&nbsp;.

Tamie's on top and has a West Coast advantage

For the first time in 2026, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage runs coast to coast. Wellington, on the east, hosts one qualifier. Del Mar hosts the other, bringing the Series spotlight back to California and widening the leaderboard race in a single weekend.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Del Mar Dressage Opener</h2>
It&rsquo;s the first West Coast Open qualifier of 2026, giving California-based combinations their first real chance to make a mark this season &mdash; unless, like Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn, they headed east to Wellington to get their campaign underway.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fc7e0ecc-e947-4379-9704-0a991c05a6d4.png?width=1408&amp;height=1066" alt="Nq I Z0 Grand Prix Freestyle Stats Del Mar Dressage Opener ">
Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino arrive at Del Mar as the clear favourite. Their FEI freestyle average of 74%&nbsp;is five points clear of the next combination in a five-horse field. Their personal best of 76.415% is also the highest entered.
Vaughn and Gino have been together since he was six. They've gone from regional shows to the world stage side by side, and they've done it the hard way - Vaughn is rider, caretaker, groom, and travel companion rolled into one, running a family business in California with her mother.&nbsp;
Vaughn sits fifth on the 2026 leaderboard with 30 points. A win here is worth 20, which would move her to the top of the standings and, if the result follows the data, likely secure a World Cup qualification. Last year marked her first appearance. This weekend could book her second.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/275c4b1f-9268-4fdb-b93c-66c1be8b798b.png?width=1240&amp;height=714" alt="Tbu9b Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage ">
Behind Vaughn, the field is closely grouped. Yet, the most intriguing entry is Cyndi Jackson and Florisson, who carry no FEI freestyle record but have averaged 73% across three national freestyle starts with a personal best of 75.600%. National scores carry a different weight, but a combination averaging 73% at any level is capable of making this weekend's contenders uncomfortable.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Palm Beach Dressage Derby</h2>
Wellington's freestyle card is the lighter of the two this weekend, with most of the Grand Prix talent at Global opting for the Special. Three combinations have entered.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6af28d24-406e-47e0-b9bf-4ce9fed24fec.png?width=1408&amp;height=798" alt="F B44p Grand Prix Freestyle Stats Palm Beach Dressage Derby ">
Susan Dutta and Don Design DC are the favourite with a freestyle average of 71.5% and a personal best of 73.950%. Dutta sits just outside the current top 10 on the leaderboard, and a strong result here likely moves her into that bracket.&nbsp;
Michael Klimke and Harmony's Fado enter on a single FEI freestyle result of 71.445%. Klimke's pedigree is impeccable but having only one score makes him relatively difficult to place.&nbsp;
Adriane Alvord and Selfmade carry an FEI average of 67.06%, though a national personal best of 76.750% suggests there's more ceiling there than the international record shows.
In a three-horse field with the Series' smallest points allocation, Dutta has the clearest case for the win. Whether Klimke's experience closes the gap is the question that only Palm Beach can answer.
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Genay Vaughn and Gino cantering with a rug and sash

Coast to Coast: The US Equestrian Open of Dressage Delivers a Double-Header

Two thousand people packed the stands at Wellington on Friday night to see Isabell Werth.&nbsp;
She arrived with Special Blend 3, the youngest horse in the field making his FEI Grand Prix Freestyle debut. They left with an 82.660% &mdash; the highest score in US Equestrian Open of Dressage history. The artistic mark alone was 90.120%, drawing 10s from three judges on music. The freestyle was originally composed for Emilio, Werth's Olympic team gold medal-winning horse, which tells you something about the ambition of the choreography. Special answered it. Twenty-two one-tempis. Strong piaffe with genuine lift. A 9.5 degree of difficulty. For a first Friday night in Wellington, the horse more than delivered and earned his standing ovation.
"This freestyle is really, really difficult and I was not sure what Special would do because he's not experienced in these kinds of atmospheres, but he was very focused," said Werth. "This crowd was so supportive and started to clap, which is something special.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;That end to a test is a feeling I really enjoy, and it's how you know why you're still in the saddle in a competition."
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Werth, who last competed in Wellington 16 years ago, also had something to say about what she found when she returned.
"I'd like to thank the show team because it was pretty impressive here," said the seven-time Olympian. "I didn't expect that it would be like this. There's a huge improvement in the whole environment here &mdash; the horses, the riding &mdash; which is great to see. We have to make dressage more global and for sure here there is a lot of energy and enthusiasm, which I love to see and be a part of. I'm pretty sure that I'll come back next year."
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Jaccardo posted 79.250% for second. At 12, Jaccardo is one of the younger Grand Prix horses in the field, with forward, expressive gaits that suggest the scores will only climb from here. Their freestyle featured seven Britney Spears songs, and Jaccardo played the atmosphere like he's been doing Friday nights his whole life.
"This was Jac's first Friday night, and he'd never been into an atmosphere like this, so I was a bit nervous because there were so many people," said Fraser-Beaulieu. "But he came into the arena and was like, 'Let's go!'"
Third went to Julio Mendoza Loor and the 15-year-old Jewel's Goldstrike, who scored 78.165%. After the final salute, Mendoza Loor wrapped his arms around Goldstrike's neck and wiped a tear from his eye.&nbsp;
"Riding 'Goldie' is a joy every time," said Mendoza Loor. "I paid $20 for this horse, and he's taken me to the Olympics, taken me here, and every time he gives me 100%. He never lets me down, and that's why I cry all the time because this horse has made me who I am.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;There aren't enough words to explain how good he is and how much I love him."
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Isabell Werth riding Special Blend 3 at AGDF 7

Isabell Werth Sets New US Equestrian Open of Dressage Record in Wellington

Brooke Burchianti sat down with Annie Bishop on this week's episode of the US Equestrian Open Podcast. Find the full episode <a href="https://pod.fo/e/396daa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<h2 dir="ltr">In Her Blood</h2>
Some riders find horses. For Brooke, it was never really a question. Her mother competed through the intermediate and three-star level, producing thoroughbreds up through the levels. Her grandmother rode too. By the time Brooke was three, sitting on her mother's big dressage horse, it was already decided.&nbsp;Pony Club and Welsh ponies led to a single-minded certainty that this was to be Brooke&rsquo;s job and not a phase.
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"Ever since then I was like 'This is this is for me, there's nothing else that I want to do.' Ever since I was a kid, I was like 'I want to ride horses my whole life. That's the job I want. That's it. And that's what I ended up doing.'"
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From there she went to James Madison University, where she studied sports management; a degree that, it turns out, maps almost directly into running an equestrian business. With a degree in her back pocket for if the horses didn&rsquo;t work out, she returned home to Pennsylvania, took over the farm her mother had run, and began building something of her own.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Family Dynamics</h2>
The farm her mother Karin owns is also where Brooke trains which means her first and most important coach is also her mother. That dynamic, as Brooke is quick to admit, has not always been smooth.
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"When I was a kid, I was a bit defiant and I didn't necessarily take instruction super well from her. I take it well from other people."
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The turning point came when Brooke recognised that there weren't many people in the area who had competed to the level her mother had. She decided to stop being a daughter at the barn and start being a student. Brooke has learned to listen to her mother&rsquo;s advice because she knows her, and more to the point, knows Astro, better than anyone.
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Second Choice</h2>
Brooke made the trip to Cooley Farm in Ireland looking for a horse. She had her eye on one horse in particular but horses being horses, that one failed the vetting.
Cooley Space Gray or Astro to his friends, was next on the list. She sat on him twice over two days and they just clicked.
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"I think we just kind of matched each other. I think he knew that I wasn't going to get in his way too much. I was just there to be his friend more than anything and that's honestly what he needs."
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He was only 6 and had come from a show jumping barn meaning he had no eventing experience and Brooke would have to build everything from scratch. But she bought him anyways, brought him home to Pennsylvania, and got to work.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9cc2648a-c6bb-4677-ac8f-dceaea847484.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1066" alt="Whats App Image 2026 02 25 at 12.05.34">
Fast forward 7 years and Brooke has produced Astro all the way from his first 2* to their 5* debut at Kentucky last year.
His name came from Brooke's interest in astrology and from the feeling, looking back, that the whole thing was written in the stars. The first horse wasn't meant to be hers. Cooley Space Gray was.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Everything His Way</h2>
Astro is not a complicated horse to ride. He is, however, completely on his own terms.
The mare Brooke had before him was a hot chestnut thoroughbred that she describes as a dragon. Astro is the opposite. He runs in a snaffle across all three phases. Brooke could take a breath and he would slow down. On cross-country, his ears come up, he looks for the next fence, and he goes.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a1839783-2f92-4aae-bb94-a018067c7b46.jpeg?width=1440&amp;height=960" alt="Whats App Image 2026 02 25 at 12.06.00">
What he does not do is take instruction he hasn't agreed to. This extends to basic yard management. One morning this winter, Brooke went to catch him in the field and he simply declined.
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"He's like 'I don't think I want to come in right now - you're not going to catch me,'&nbsp; and so I literally will just open the gate and just be like 'Just come in when you can buddy.'"
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The same quality that makes him hard to catch (occasionally) is what makes him so effective on course. He does not get in his own way. He does not need to be managed into submission. He jumps because he wants to jump and the results show it. Last year, he and Brooke were one of just four combinations to finish on their dressage score at an Open qualifier.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7647d547-5141-4d9f-bc02-a30798b32865.png?width=1748&amp;height=614" alt="W A0 Jf the Four Fod S From the 2025 Series Qualifiers Nbsp ">
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<h2 dir="ltr">The String Behind Brooke</h2>
Brooke doesn't have one type of horse, she has every type.
Cooley Constellation, known as Aries, is the almost-exact opposite of Astro: nearly 17 hands, long, gangly, and in Brooke's words &ldquo;the sweetest horse in the barn&rdquo;. He stepped up to the 3*L at Maryland last season and Brooke believes he has a five-star in him when the time comes.
Then there is KHH Lanesboro or Bart. Also from Ireland, Bart is smaller and more similar to Astro. He is competing at the CCI1* with aims to step up in the spring.
A third Cooley horse is incoming but her name is undecided. It will, Brooke confirms, be on the astrology theme.
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Future</h2>
Astro is on a well-earned break after the season. A few minor strains&mdash;nothing serious, but enough to justify some rest&mdash;mean he&rsquo;ll return this summer, with autumn plans still taking shape.&nbsp;
Aries is aiming for Carolina to kick off the year, with a long-term goal of stepping up to Advanced in the autumn.&nbsp;
Bart is set to move up to 2* in the spring, Virginia is a possibility, though plans remain flexible.
When Brooke first went to Cooley and sat down with Richard Sheane, she nearly kept her biggest goals to herself. But she said it anyway: she wanted to ride at Advanced, and one day at five-star. She&rsquo;s achieved these goals now... so the next chapter is hers to write.
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
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Brroke Burchianti and Cooley Space Grey jumping cross country

Family, Fate, and Five-Star: The Brooke Burchianti Story

The story of Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque isn&rsquo;t a straight line and that&rsquo;s exactly what makes it compelling.
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_60FqMTTwTE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
From early uncertainty to Olympic silver, from inconsistency to brilliance, The Open Road captures the reality behind one of the sport&rsquo;s most powerful partnerships. It&rsquo;s not about perfection. It&rsquo;s about understanding, patience, and learning how to ride the extremes.
As Cook puts it, some horses aren&rsquo;t meant to be smoothed out... because those sharp edges are what make them great.
Watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_60FqMTTwTE&amp;list=PLkdGSxID6G_eceNlWgvqIuspJsKrSqCq2&amp;index=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full video now </a>and go inside the journey behind the results.

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