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

The 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage continues this weekend at Desert Dressage III, with the Grand Prix Freestyle set for Saturday, December 20, at 5:00 p.m. PT. As the second qualifier of the season, this marks the first opportunity for West Coast combinations to put points on the board.
The field is compact at just five entries, which places a natural ceiling on points. With five starters, the winner can earn a maximum of 15 points, highlighting the disadvantage smaller West Coast fields will have this season.
Many of these horses were last seen at this same venue just a month ago during the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-freestyle-finale-your-usual-suspects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2025 Final</a>, giving the weekend a familiar feel despite the calendar turning over to a new season.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Polishing Phase for Gino</h2>
Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino enter the freestyle with the strongest average in the field, carrying a 73.758% across eight FEI Grand Prix Freestyles, alongside a personal best of 75.875%. The pair debuted a new freestyle floorplan at the Final last month, and while the performance lacked the polish they may have hoped for, the foundation is clearly there.
This weekend is one of refinement. With a new season underway and no pressure to chase big points early, Desert Dressage offers a low-stakes setting to continue smoothing out the details and letting the choreography settle.
<h2 dir="ltr">Momentum Watch: Jorst and Zhapplin</h2>
Charlotte Jorst and Zhapplin Langholt come in off a <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/whos-on-form-for-the-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strong showing</a> at the 2025 Final at this same venue, where they scored 73.305%, nearly two points above their career average. Though they&rsquo;re often associated with the Florida circuit, the pair has remained on the West Coast since Thermal, where they are based in Reno, Nevada when not in Florida. If they bring that same form back to the ring this weekend, they have a real path to the top in this five-horse field.
<h2 dir="ltr">Familiar Names</h2>
Brittney Simpson and Kartsevo Goldfinch bring a freestyle personal best of 72.010% into the weekend, though their average sits slightly lower at 68.613%. With nine freestyle starts behind them, this pair has enough mileage to make gains if things align.
Meanwhile, Patty Mayer and Pio are likely to catch some eyes &mdash; especially for those who remember seeing Pio&rsquo;s name last month. That appearance, however, came in a different discipline entirely, as Pio competed in the FEI Para Grand Prix test at Thermal. This weekend marks a return to the conventional Grand Prix freestyle stage for the horse, with this being his second FEI freestyle.
<h2 dir="ltr">Series Implications</h2>
With just five combinations, the points on offer this weekend are limited, and any real movement will require repeat appearances later in the season. Desert Dressage marks the first opportunity for West Coast riders to get on the board and establish a baseline, while offering an early look at how the new points system shapes Series positioning.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/472b60ac-2918-4b5b-b370-f6699e0cbf6b.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched2026">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Charlotte Jorst rides Zhapplin Langholt in collected trot during Grand Prix competition.

Desert Dressage Hosts the First West Coast Qualifier of 2026

Qualifier 4 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage takes place this weekend at the Gold Coast Opener, held at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center&mdash;just fifteen minutes down the road from Wellington International and the Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival. The drive is short, but the atmosphere is entirely different. Where Wellington delivers international stars and polished spectacle, Gold Coast is run by the Gold Coast Dressage Association, an organization focused on education and the development of amateur sport.
The show offers a notably more relaxed environment to contest an FEI freestyle, particularly for horses still establishing themselves at the level. This season&rsquo;s Open Series also requires only four qualifying freestyle runs rather than six, making low-pressure starts like this quite useful, even if the immediate stakes remain modest with 20 points available to the winner in a field of seven.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Known Quantities</h2>
Charlotte Jorst returns to a venue that has treated her exceptionally well. The top amateur rider in the United States, Jorst has represented the US on championship teams and finished seventh at last year&rsquo;s Open Final in a competitive field. She won this leg a year ago with Zhaplin Langholt, posting a 73.985 percent&mdash;one of the strongest scores of her career and just shy of the pair&rsquo;s personal best. Gold Coast has historically suited them, and in a field like this, Jorst enters as the clear favorite. A new personal best is not out of the question.
Ellesse Gundersen is the only other rider in the field who has already logged a Series start this season, and that first result is worth a closer look. Gundersen and Quintessential 4 made their FEI freestyle debut in December at Ocala, opening the 2026 season with a fourth-place finish in a field of eight. That alone is a solid start for a debut international freestyle.
But look at who they finished ahead of. Their 72.350 percent beat <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-and-bellena-save-their-best-for-last" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reigning Equestrian Open champions</a> Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena. Now, were Ben and Bellena operating at full capacity? No, probably not. They'd just won a $200,000 championship and had nothing to prove. But it is still an achievement worth noting for Gunderson. That single score also sits above Jorst&rsquo;s current 11-run FEI freestyle average. Yes, it is a sample size of one, making it futile to draw any statistically meaningful conclusions. Still, expect Gundersen near the top of this class. She may even give the favorite a real run for her money.
<h2 dir="ltr">Different Kinds of Firsts</h2>
Beyond the favorites, several combinations here are riding their first freestyle of one kind or another.
Sylvia Gugler and Vulkano 14 headline that group with the horse&rsquo;s first freestyle appearance of his career. Gold Coast offers a sensible setting for that step, and the emphasis this weekend is undoubtedly on completing the test.&nbsp;
Caleb Scroggins and Villanelle follow in a similar vein, though with a slightly different kind of first. While the pair have competed nationally, this marks Villanelle&rsquo;s first FEI freestyle, making the class an opportunity to gain experience at the international level.&nbsp;
Finally, Frederic Wandres brings a third variation. Zara K 2 will contest only his second freestyle overall, and the first with Wandres in the tack.&nbsp;
This week&rsquo;s field is typical Gold Coast. It&rsquo;s a place where established combinations can return to familiar footing, newer partnerships can test a freestyle for the first time, and the class itself is allowed to unfold without much pretense attached.
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<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Close up of chestnut horse's head and neck in a dressage double bridle

Charlotte Jorst Is the Favorite at Gold Coast

The Open Weekly: Results and Early Signals from the Winter Circuits

As we near the end of 2025, it's time to reflect on the inaugural US Equestrian Open series - a journey that brought together the best of American eventing across the country. From coast to coast, riders and horses competed for points at 20 qualifiers, creating moments that will define this sport for years to come.
The numbers tell the story of an ambitious series that delivered on its promise:&nbsp;349 runs, 179 horses, and 115 athletes representing 8 nations. This wasn't just an American competition - it was an international stage that attracted riders from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, and Sweden alongside the United States. 
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/582fac01-b833-4b03-b5fb-1d59829a51ae.png?width=851&amp;height=156" alt="Us Equestrian Open Season Wrapped (1)">
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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Winners' Circle</h2>
Twenty qualifiers produced 20 winners and 60 podium finishes. But there was actually only 13 riders who took a win while Caroline Pamukcu and James Alliston emerged as the most prolific winners, each claiming victory three times throughout the season.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8fe6ab04-40e3-441f-b7c9-6b9baf555002.png?width=916&amp;height=1100" alt="Xy Fz L Us Equestrian Open Qualifier Winners "> Eighteen horses recorded wins, with&nbsp;HSH Double Sixteen (Caroline Pamukcu) and HMR Rolan (James Alliston) leading the way as the only two-time winners.
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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Venues</h2>
Fifteen venues across the United States hosted qualifiers, each bringing their own character and challenges to the series. The largest fields gathered at:
<ol>
<li>Kentucky - 53 starters (April 23, CCI4*-S)</li>
<li>Carolina- 36 starters (March 13, CCI4*-S)</li>
<li>The Fork at Tryon - 31 starters (September 11, CCI4*-S)</li>
</ol>
But size wasn't everything. When measured by the EquiRatings Elo Field Strength - the average rating of the top 20 horses in each field - the competition quality told a slightly different story:
<ol>
<li>Carolina&nbsp;- 536 field strength</li>
<li>The Fork at Tryon - 517 field strength</li>
<li>Kentucky&nbsp;- 513 field strength</li>
</ol>
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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Athletes</h2>
The average age of riders competing in qualifiers was 39, though the series showcased talent across generations. The youngest competitors&mdash;Lizzie Hannon, Molly Duda, and Cassie Sanger&mdash;all made their mark at just 20 years old, proving that youth and ambition could compete at the highest level. And while we won&rsquo;t call out the opposite end of the spectrum, let&rsquo;s just say experience was well represented too.
Caroline Pamukcu was the series' workhorse, recording 20 runs across the season.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/735b66a1-0186-4440-b176-66511df74ed3.png?width=832&amp;height=820" alt="J V0o P Riders With the Most Runs Nbsp ">
 
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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Horses</h2>
The equine athletes averaged 12 years of age, with experience clearly valued at this level. Six horses competed at just 8 years old:
<ul>
<li>Marvel - Monica Spencer</li>
<li>That's Me Z - Tommy Greengard</li>
<li>Cooley Corraghy Diamond - Kim Severson</li>
<li>Invictus - Mia Farley</li>
<li>BGS Calculated Chaos - Mia Farley</li>
<li>Monbeg Zebedee - Allison Springer</li>
</ul>
At the other end of the spectrum, three 19-year-old horses proved that age is just a number -Fly Me Courageous (Janelle Fleming) and&nbsp;Honor Me (Lisa Marie Fergusson) and the legendary Mai Baum, who retired on the ultimate high note with a win at the Rebecca Farm event.
<h2>Looking Ahead</h2>
The inaugural series set a benchmark for the US Equestrian Open - we can't wait to see how this series builds and how the numbers compare this time next year. 
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<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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<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">
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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>.

2025 US Equestrian Open: A Year in Review

For Isabelle Bosley &amp; Conner, the rise has been building for a while. Now, it is becoming impossible to ignore.
The nine-year-old gelding closed out 2025 with a win at Maryland CCI3*-L, producing the highest-rated performance at the level on US soil all season. That result was no one-off. Across the year, the pair recorded three international wins, one runner-up finish, and clear showjumping rounds at every FEI start - establishing Conner as one of the standout young horses in the country.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e1d1626d-517c-48be-a305-04a8f5b2c198.png?width=1580&amp;height=1712" alt="Yl6 Oh Top 10 Cci3 L Hprs on Us Soil in 2025 ">
This spring, they stepped into four-star company, most recently adding a sixth-place finish at Kentucky CCI4*-S to an already impressive resume. Off the back of another major performance, Conner now sits fifth among US nine-year-olds on EquiRatings Elo.
But the real story behind Conner &amp; Isabelle is not just the results, it is how they got there.
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<h2 data-section-id="15vcrml" data-start="819" data-end="849">Produced From the Beginning</h2>
Having&nbsp;been brought up in a deeply horsey family, Isabelle was immersed in the sport from the beginning. Her parents are both racehorse trainers, and much of her early riding came through foxhunting, galloping racehorses, and spending her childhood around barns. Producing horses herself was never really a question, it was simply the way she learned the sport.
And that's how Conner entered the picture. Isabelle bought him at the end of his five-year-old season, before he had done much of anything in the sport, and everything since then has been built together.
<blockquote data-start="1010" data-end="1330">
&ldquo;When I got him, he had not done anything. So we&rsquo;ve had him from the very beginning stages, first cross-country school, first horse show. So it&rsquo;s been a very long process. I know him really well. And he really trusts me."
</blockquote>
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Conner feels like the first true top-level horse Isabelle has had underneath her. Before him, she had only taken one other horse to the four-star level - something she described as&nbsp;&ldquo;almost like taking a pony around Advanced.&rdquo; 
But even now, despite the results and growing attention around the partnership, she still talks about Conner like the young horse she first brought home as a five-year-old.
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1f544f75-0a3f-4f71-a89d-10f7e0cf36de.jpg?width=5312&amp;height=3908" alt="Iw 26 K3 De CC I4 Xc Isabelle Bosley Conner">Isabelle &amp; Conner out cross-country at the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S
<h2 data-section-id="6tvhvy" data-start="1654" data-end="1677">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-section-id="6tvhvy" data-start="1654" data-end="1677">Maryland to Kentucky</h2>
Maryland CCI3*-L felt like the moment everything clicked. Conner's 96 HPR placed him alongside some of the strongest three-star performances seen from young horses in the US over the last number of seasons.
The next challenge was four-star.
Stepping up this spring came with a learning curve. Isabelle admits there were moments where the pair had to rethink things, particularly around balance and control as&nbsp;Conner adjusted to bigger tracks and faster questions.
Kentucky, though, looked like confirmation they were moving in the right direction.
<blockquote>
"The bigger the crowd, the better it is for me, especially on cross-country. It kind of lifts him up and gets him to take things in instead of just running. So it works in my favor and he loved it. I could feel him going around just like 'Oh my God, all these people are here for me.'"
</blockquote>
While many young horses can shrink in major atmospheres, Conner seemed to grow into it. Isabelle described him calmly taking in the atmosphere during the warm-up and feeding off the crowd once out on course.&nbsp;The result was a polished top-10 finish at one of the biggest and most prestigious venues in the sport.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/014e6964-ab34-43b2-b1f0-34fcc253c5c9.jpg?width=4625&amp;height=3316" alt="Iw 26 K3 De CC I4 Jump Isabelle Boseley Conner 3">Isabelle &amp; Conner show jumping clear with 0.8 time penalties at the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S
<h2 data-section-id="1e2gfcj" data-start="2835" data-end="2853">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-section-id="1e2gfcj" data-start="2835" data-end="2853">Still Only Nine</h2>
What stands out most about Isabelle's approach is how patient she remains despite the success. Conner is producing elite-level performances already, but she still frames the season as part of a bigger development process rather than a finished product.
<blockquote>
"I just remind myself he's just a nine-year-old and he's still such a baby. Each event we're just learning something new and I do think every event we've gotten better and better."
</blockquote>
That mindset may be one of the biggest reasons this partnership has progressed so quickly without feeling rushed.
And while the results already place Conner among the most exciting young horses in the country, Isabelle's focus is firmly on the future. The current plan is to head to the US Equestrian Open Final at Morven Park. It is already a meaningful venue for Isabelle, having been the only four-star long she has successfully completed before. This time, though, she returns with a very different kind of horse underneath her.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-potasky-wins-at-madfest-eyes-turn-to-aachen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">Join the Conversation</h3>
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<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast.</a>&nbsp;
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.

Isabelle Bosley and Conner Are Rising Through the Ranks

Woodge Fulton and Cash Point at the historic Morven Park Mansion

The Series by the Numbers: How Tough is Each Venue?

For more than a decade, EquiRatings metrics have been flagging future 5* and championship horses while they were still competing at 3*. And the latest numbers suggest the biggest future players in the US Equestrian Open aren&rsquo;t coming from nowhere, they&rsquo;ve been hiding in plain sight all along.
<h3>1. HPR</h3>
Think of the High Performance Rating (HPR) as the metric that measures individual brilliance. It answers one specific question: &ldquo;How impressive was that particular ride?&rdquo; Traditional scoring only tells you who finished first, but the HPR strips away the "noise" to reveal the true quality of a performance.&nbsp;
Unlike a standard penalty score, HPR accounts for variables that raw results miss. It weighs field strength, course difficulty, winning margins, and even the judging. Because of this, a horse finishing fifth in an Olympic-caliber class can earn a higher HPR than a win at a weak local event.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Elo</h3>
If HPR is the stopwatch that catches a spike in brilliance, Elo is the market. It measures long-term consistency over a horse's entire career.
The system is self-correcting and works like a points exchange. You gain significant points for beating a high-rated opponent and you lose more for underperforming against a weaker field. Over time, the rating converges on the horse's true competitive level and long-term consistency.
While HPR isolates a single moment of greatness, Elo reveals who is consistent, world-class competitor.
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<hr>
&nbsp;
To test whether the data really does spot greatness early, we analyzed HPR and Elo scores from US horses aged 7-10 competing at the three-star level across three snapshots in time: roughly 10 years ago, five years ago, and today.
<h2>The Proof: 2014-2016</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">The "Time Machine" View</h3>
RF Scandalous recorded a 92 HPR in the CCI3*-L at Ocala in 2015 while still an emerging name. That performance with Marilyn Little foreshadowed both team and individual gold at the Pan American Games later the same year, followed by top-five finishes at Luhm&uuml;hlen 5* (2017) and Kentucky 5* (2018).
Matching that number was Mai Baum (Tamie Smith), who logged a 92 HPR at Jersey Fresh&rsquo;s CCI3*-S. Long before his landmark Kentucky 5* victory, the data already marked him as exceptional. He would go on to become the first US winner of Kentucky in 15 years and the highest-rated US horse ever recorded on the EquiRatings Elo.
Fernhill Fugitive, ridden by Phillip Dutton, recorded one of the highest Elo ratings in this cohort during the period - a level of consistency that later translated into two top-ten finishes at the Kentucky 5*. Copper Beach also stood out on Elo at just nine years old under Buck Davidson. After a series of top-level wins, he went on to partner rising star Cosby Green through her first five-star appearances.
Even beyond the headline names, the pattern holds. Elite 3* HPRs (90+) and high Elo&rsquo;s correlate strongly with big 5* performances, championship appearances, and Hall of Fame careers.&nbsp;
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<hr>
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Validation: 2018-2021</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">The Current Titans</h3>
Fast-forward five years and the picture sharpens. The data highlights many familiar names&mdash; Chin Tonic HS, FE Lifestyle, Jump Jet, Cooley Quicksilver&mdash;two recent contenders at the US Equestrian Open Final stood out.
As a 3* horse, Miks Master C&nbsp; topped the list with the highest-rated performance of this group with a 97 HPR at Maryland's CCI3*-S. At the time, he was piloted by Maya Black, then being produced by Liz Halliday all the way to a 3rd place at Kentucky 5* before Boyd Martin took the ride and won the inaugural US Equestrian Open Final.
The Elo also identified&nbsp;Off The Record early. He sat near the top of this cohort&rsquo;s Elo table thanks to a string of high‑placing runs for Will Coleman. This combination then went on to a string of impressive results but most notable an Aachen victory, a World Championship team silver medal and most recently, a 2nd place finish at the US Equestrian Open&nbsp;
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<hr>
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Prediction: 2024-2025</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">The Future of the US Equestrian Open</h3>
Turn to the present.
<h3 dir="ltr">Highest Rated Performances (HPR)</h3>
Conner, ridden by Isabelle Bosley, leads the pack with a massive 96 HPR at the 2025 Maryland CCI3*-L. This performance line puts the 8-year-old in the same rarified air as past legends at this level.
The &ldquo;90+ Club&rdquo; also includes performances from names like Rockett 19 and Alyssa Phillips, Shanroe Cooley with Boyd Martin, and Jaguars Duende ridden by Sharon White.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4374c84f-c313-4f65-a387-b03a7ff8462a.png?width=1704&amp;height=1234" alt="S Bt3 O the Highest Rated Performances From 7 to 10 Year Olds at Cci3 2024 Amp 2025 ">
<h3 dir="ltr">Highest Elo Ratings</h3>
While HPR measures single-event brilliance, the EquiRatings Elo tracks cumulative strength, which of course favours older horses rather than younger. Jaguars Duende (Sharon White) currently tops the leaderboard for 7 to 10-year-olds, followed closely by Tamie Smith&rsquo;s Lillet 3.&nbsp;
Fernhill Bertus is the only 8-year-old to feature - an impressive achievement given he has to rank ahead of older horses who&rsquo;ve had far more opportunities to build Elo points. He&rsquo;s been remarkably consistent, never recording an international jumping penalty in either show jumping or cross-country, and capped his season with a top-10 finish at Maryland&rsquo;s CCI3*-L. It&rsquo;s a combination firmly worth watching as the years progress.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/51801cb1-ea73-4cd6-800d-d70f601edb9a.png?width=1520&amp;height=890" alt="Jbrad the Highest Rated Us 7 to 10 Year Olds Based on the Equiratings Elo ">
Looking across a decade of data, the pattern is consistent: when US 7- to 10-year-olds post HPRs in the 90+ range or carry high Elo ratings, they go on to the sport&rsquo;s biggest stages. On that basis, the future US Equestrian Open winners could come from any of the horses listed above.
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For more on the future stars of the US Equestrian Open, listen to the latest podcast episode!
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Read this week's Open Weekly article <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-results-and-early-signals-from-the-winter-circuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>
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<hr>
<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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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.jpeg?width=1280&amp;height=1600" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

The Crystal Ball: How Data Predicts the Next Generation of US Superstars

The Wellington CDI5* qualifier is a notable date on the North American Dressage calendar. Outside of the newly created <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final</a>, it remains the only CDI5* held in the region&mdash;a status it has carried since the Global Dressage Festival launched in 2009. This year&rsquo;s edition draws an internationally experienced freestyle field, with six Olympians contesting Thursday&rsquo;s Grand Prix to qualify for either the Special or the Freestyle later in the weekend.
With none of the current top three on the Open leaderboard entered, the points picture focuses squarely on opportunity through the middle of the field. Riders sitting between fourth and fifteenth have ample room to shuffle positions.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-ZIIjN" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: AGDF 3" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ZIIjN/1/" height="693" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Susan Pape and a Statistical Edge</h2>
On paper, Great Britain&rsquo;s Susan Pape arrives with the strongest freestyle numbers in the field. Pape and Harmony&rsquo;s Giulilanta have contested just two FEI Grand Prix Freestyles together, producing an average of 79.048% and a personal best of 79.805%.
The limited sample size is worth noting, but those scores still stand apart from the rest of the field. If Pape delivers something close to her established range, she positions herself clearly at the top of the class. This weekend also marks the first appearance by a British rider in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, adding a new flag to the Series.
<h2 dir="ltr">Anna Marek Returns to the Freestyle Ring</h2>
Anna Marek returns to the freestyle ring for the first time this season with Fayvel. Their last freestyle appearance came at the Open Final last year, where they finished third on a 77.830%, behind Felicitas Hendricks and <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-and-bellena-save-their-best-for-last">Ben Ebeling</a>.
Their FEI freestyle average currently sits at 75.966%, with a personal best of 78.995%. Those numbers keep them firmly in podium range, particularly in a field without the Open&rsquo;s current leaders. The primary question this week is simply how quickly they settle back into freestyle competition after a break from the test.
<h2 dir="ltr">Caroline Darcourt and the Mid-70s Conversation</h2>
Caroline Darcourt and Lord Django sit just behind Marek on paper, but their numbers reinforce how tight that grouping is. Their freestyle average of 75.333% trails Fayvel&rsquo;s by a narrow margin, and their personal best of 78.170% sits just below Marek&rsquo;s top score.
They were last seen at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-3-preview-get-used-to-hearing-about-indian-rock">AGDF 1</a>, finishing fourth on a 75.695%. That score aligns closely with their established range and reflects the kind of consistent mid-70s performance that often keeps the combination competitive when others make mistakes.
<h2 dir="ltr">Frederic Wandres with Championship Credentials&nbsp;</h2>
Frederic Wandres enters the freestyle with significant championship credentials despite piloting a mount with some of the least amount of experience. Verrenberg, the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding, has only two FEI Grand Prix Freestyles to his name, but he is ridden by a member of Germany&rsquo;s 2024 Olympic gold medal team.&nbsp;
The pair arrive off a strong showing at last week&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/down-the-road-from-wellington">Gold Coast Opener</a>, where Wandres won the Grand Prix on a 71.326% and returned the following day to win the Grand Prix Special on a higher 72.298%. Scoring higher in the Special than the Grand Prix is notable and points to the technical accuracy we&rsquo;ve come to expect from the Germans. In theory, that should translate well to the freestyle that builds upon a strong technical base with artistry and musicality.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Experience Lower Down the Order</h2>
Ashley Holzer and Hawtins San Floriana round out the group of realistic contenders. The mare has steadily improved her freestyle marks, most recently earning a personal best of 75.010% at AGDF 1, placing them squarely within the mid-70s range occupied by several podium threats.
Holzer, a three-time Olympian, joins fellow Canadian Olympian Chris von Martels in adding depth and experience to Friday&rsquo;s freestyle lineup.
<h2 dir="ltr">What to Watch</h2>
Friday&rsquo;s freestyle brings together a mix of proven international riders and developing freestyle partnerships in a prestigious CDI5* setting. Catch the action live on <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18391/adequan-global-dressage-festival-iii">USEF Network</a> starting at 7:15 p.m. ET. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.
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Close-up of a dressage horse wearing a crystal-trimmed ear bonnet during competition

Wellington CDI5* Draws International Freestyle Field

The US Equestrian Open of Eventing was designed to connect the country's top CCI4*-S competitions into a year-long championship. But there's an inherent tension in the format: American eventing is split down the middle, with the sport's traditional power centers&mdash;Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania&mdash;clustered on the East Coast, while the West operates almost as its own circuit.
It's not just geography. It's logistics, it's culture, and increasingly, it's strategy.
This raises a compelling question heading into the 2026 series: Can a West Coast-based rider actually win it all?
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<h2 dir="ltr">The West Coast Disadvantage (Or Is It?)</h2>
There are five West Coast venues in the Open series&mdash;Twin Rivers, Galway Downs, Rebecca Farm, Aspen Farms, and Woodside&mdash;hosting six total qualifiers. Yes, that's fewer events than the East Coast offers. And yes, West Coast fields tend to be smaller. In fact, none in 2025 exceeded 12 starters.
But here's what the numbers actually show: it's absolutely winnable from the West.
Under the Open's points structure, wins at qualifiers with fewer than 25 starters earn 40 points instead of 50. Six West Coast wins? That's 240 points. Last year, Boyd Martin won the series with 260 points - just 20 more. Phillip Dutton's second-place finish came in at 235 points.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0c791596-b15d-4a2b-8862-2e998a744a81.png?width=3204&amp;height=2600" alt="Qualifiers With More Than 25 Starters (1)">
The gap isn't insurmountable. In fact, it's small enough that one strategic East Coast trip&mdash;say, Kentucky with two horses&mdash;can close it entirely.
And we've already seen it work. Tamie Smith and James Alliston both finished high on the 2025 leaderboard despite being West Coast based. They didn't need to dominate the East Coast circuit - they just needed to dominate their circuit, then supplement strategically.
That's not a disadvantage. That's a blueprint.
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Kentucky Factor</h2>
The great equalizer? The Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at Kentucky Horse Park, which consistently draws huge entries. It's the one East Coast event where West Coast riders routinely make the trip and now with the US Open in the mix it's for good reason. A strong result will guarantee you high points, and if you bring multiple horses, it's a chance to bank serious totals in a single weekend.
In 2025, Tamie Smith, James Alliston, Molly Duda, and Tommy Greengard all made the pilgrimage east for Kentucky.
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Contenders</h2>
If a West Coast rider is going to break through in 2026, it'll likely be one of these four. Each brings a different approach, but all have the horsepower to compete.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5054259c-98f2-4311-b0ee-621211562860.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1242" alt="K3de 539">
<h3 dir="ltr">Tamie Smith: The Rebecca Farm Specialist</h3>
Tamie Smith doesn't just compete at Rebecca Farm in Montana - she owns it. Across 13 CCI4*-S starts there, she's posted 11 top-three finishes, including multiple wins. Her record there is nothing short of dominant, and in a series where consistency matters, that's a built-in advantage.
This year, Smith brings three confirmed 4* horses: Lillet 3, Kynan, and Danito. But the wildcard is D'Luxe Steel, a rising star who's won both his CCI3* attempts. If he steps up to 4*, Smith has a serious string.
The strategic play? Rack up points at Rebecca Farm and Woodside, make a calculated Kentucky run with multiple horses, and let the numbers stack up.
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c0635902-1735-4dd1-b2f4-de2ad532e3a4.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1174" alt="K3de 548">
<h3 dir="ltr">James Alliston: The Volume Shooter</h3>
James Alliston's 2025 campaign was a masterclass in sheer volume. He competed six different horses at CCI4*-S level, including three wins. His breakout star was HMR Rolan, who won back-to-back 4* events on his four-star debut - a breakthrough that immediately marked him as a serious contender for 2026.
Alliston also has proven commodities in Paper Jam, Nemesis, Cora, and Karma, and Irish Pop. That depth gives him flexibility: he can double-up at West Coast events, absorb an off day with one horse, and still stay competitive.
Twin Rivers has been particularly kind to Alliston. He won<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/west-side-story"> six consecutive editions</a> between 2021 and 2025, and with the venue hosting two Open legs, Alliston has a serious chance to rack up points.
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c56ba19f-73a9-4a5f-8cf8-4933666e11d2.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1067" alt="Web 25 Bicton Usa Duda 8412">
<h3 dir="ltr">Molly Duda: The Rising Threat</h3>
Molly Duda campaigned two horses at 4* in 2025&mdash;Disco Traveler and Carlingford&rsquo;s He&rsquo;s A Clover&mdash;but her string is building. Jutopia impressed at the three-star level with Duda, including a one-off second-place finish at Rebecca Farm&rsquo;s CCI4*-S with Tamie Smith.
If 21-year-old Duda steps up with Jutopia and continues developing her other prospects, she could quietly accumulate enough points to challenge for a podium spot. She won't win on volume, but she doesn't need to - she just needs clean, consistent performances.
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2f20b1e6-fa98-4a8e-bd75-b47d1eb70e6b.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1222" alt="K3de 540">
<h3 dir="ltr">Tommy Greengard: The Commitment Question</h3>
Tommy Greengard was on track to have a stellar 2025 series before his campaign stalled mid-season. In fact, at the time we thought<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/tommy-greengard-the-west-coast-contender-who-could-win-it-all"> he could win the whole thing.</a> With Joshuay MBF and That's Me Z, he showed he had the horses and the talent but not the sustained commitment across enough qualifiers.
In 2026, the question is simple: will he go all-in?
If Greengard commits to the full calendar, doubles up strategically, and makes a Kentucky appearance, he's got a legitimate shot. But as we saw last year, potential and execution are two different things.
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<h3 dir="ltr">The Dark Horse: Kaylawna Smith-Cook</h3>
Don't sleep on Kaylawna Smith-Cook, Tamie's daughter. She competed at CCI4*-S level from 2021-2023 and currently has three horses campaigning successfully at CCI3* level: Piccadilly's Pride ME, Dealas, and Coco Chanel.
If even one of those horses steps up to 4* this season, Kaylawna becomes a contender - especially if she mirrors her mother's approach of picking her spots carefully and executing when it counts.
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Path to Victory</h2>
So can a West Coast rider win the 2026 US Equestrian Open? The blueprint exists:
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Dominate at home.&nbsp;Win or podium at all six West Coast qualifiers. Even at 40 points per win, that's 240 points.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Double up strategically.&nbsp;Bring multiple horses to high-point qualifiers like Kentucky. Two horses in the top five at a single event can net 85+ points in one weekend.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Play the volume game.&nbsp;You need depth. No single horse will win the series; it's always going to be a string effort.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Don't overthink the East Coast. You don&rsquo;t need to bounce around states like Pennsylvania and Virginia. One or two well-timed trips east can be enough if your West Coast foundation is solid.</li>
</ol>
Tamie Smith, James Alliston, Molly Duda, and Tommy Greengard all have the tools. The question is whether they'll commit to the strategy and whether 2026 will be the year a West Coast rider takes it all.
Stay tuned. The series starts in less than two months, and the West has something to prove.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-freestyle-west-coast-momentum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
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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>.

Is the US Equestrian Open Winnable from the West Coast?

The achievement acknowledges a year in which Martin demonstrated remarkable consistency across the sport's biggest stages. Among his seven international wins throughout 2025, Martin <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/mikki-dora-and-six-boyd-will-and-caroline-three-exciting-partnerships-from-the-us-equestrian-open-eventing-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed victory in the inaugural US Equestrian Eventing Open Final</a> at Morven Park aboard Miks Master C.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dafa659e-8368-4605-9714-ddddb542436a.jpg?width=1016&amp;height=1366" alt="Boyd Martin League 290">
Martin recorded a total of 24 top-five FEI finishes with 11 different horses during the season. This included three podium places at five-star. Cooley Nutcracker was third at Pau. Commando 3 was second at Kentucky and third at Maryland. Commando 3 proved to be a very reliable player throughout the year, clocking multiple podium finishes. These results include a win at an early US Open qualifier at Stable View, contributing points to the series leaderboard, ultimately concluding with Martin <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjJS4kDKxX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winning the overall series,</a> as well as the final event.
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Boyd Martin grew up in Australia to an Australian father and an American mother. In his acceptance speech at the Pegasus Awards on Thursday night, he recalled when his parents brought him to get his American passport as a child: &ldquo;At the time I thought, &lsquo;why the heck would I ever need an American passport&rsquo;... little did I know that that decision would ultimately change my life&rdquo;.
As a young rider, Martin made the move across the world from Australia to America. He said in his speech: &ldquo;I always wondered how I'd compare to the best in the world&rdquo;. 
This year, he proved that he&nbsp;is the best in the world. A defining moment of Boyd Martin&rsquo;s phenomenal 2025 season came at the beginning of May, when he became the first American eventing athlete to hold the No. 1 spot at the top of the FEI World Rankings in 21 years. He finished the year ranked globally as No. 2 with 537 points and will surely be fighting to get back on top in 2026.
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Martin has been an important member of the Defender US Eventing Team for many years. In 2025, he helped them to earn their third consecutive podium place at CHIO Aachen. Aachen is set to host the World Championships in 2026. Team USA will be eying up that gold medal, having taken home the silver at last World Championships in Pratoni in 2022.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f74880b9-1269-4a4f-a18c-2770ae816486.jpg?width=5518&amp;height=4059" alt="2026 Iw Annual Meeting 135">
Speaking on his representing America, Martin said, &ldquo;In 2010, I was faced with one of the hardest decisions of my life and it was to change my nationality to represent America. I soon realized when I got to America that this is my home. I also wanted to support the country that was supporting my career. I also felt it was wrong for the owners that had poured so much support into me, being a rider with a different flag. It was the greatest decision I ever made&rdquo;.
Boyd Martin is a proud representative of America and a worthy recipient of the International Equestrian of the Year award. We look forward to seeing him contest the US Equestrian Open Series in 2026.
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Hear from Boyd Martin on winning the 2025 Series of US Equestrian Open of Eventing on The US Equestrian Open Podcast.
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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>.

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