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 Rolex US Equestrian Open Final of Jumping format is straightforward: jump clear in Round One and you're in the jump-off. Make the jump-off and you're normally in the top 10.&nbsp;But rails fall, turns go wrong, and the fastest round doesn't always belong to the favourite. The podium has no guarantee. Unless you're Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/94425304-de34-4076-afd2-dfc5765c9756.jpeg?width=2500&amp;height=1922" alt="Wef12 88">
Just over a week ago in <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ward-wins-in-wellington-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wellington's Week 7 CSI5* 160 class</a>, Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz (or 'Gizmo' to his friends) did it again: a clear jump-off round, a third-place finish, another podium added to a record that is beginning to look less like form and more like a law of the sport.
From 21 jump-off appearances at CSI5* 160 level, Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz have produced 18 clear rounds - an 86% strike rate. This is the second-highest clear rate the sport has seen at this level since 2010.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3a518779-e943-4f3a-af20-21f8a746ef99.png?width=1388&amp;height=862" alt="Uz04m Combinations With the Highest Jump off Clear Rate at Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Csi5 160 Level Since 2010 ">
They have stood on the podium 19 times at this level. Eighteen of those podiums came from clear jump-offs. The sole exception was the Rolex Grand Prix of Dublin, where only Laura Kraut jumped clear in Round One, making a four-fault round still good enough for the podium.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ee60694f-a4ef-43ad-a726-c93d5a60b33b.png?width=1132&amp;height=1416" alt="I T Jk a All of James Kann Cruz S Jump off Runs at Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Nbsp Csi5 160 Level ">
So as Week 12 of Wellington draws nearer, Sweetnam's task is far simpler than any of his rivals: deliver in the first round and the rest will take care of itself.
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<h3 dir="ltr">Form That Demands Attention</h3>
The Kentucky-based Irish combination arrived in Wellington in the kind of form that makes others take notice. James Kann Cruz, the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Kannan x Cruising), has been operating at a level that borders on the extraordinary. As Sweetnam reflected in the WEF Week 7 press conference:
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"He hasn't knocked a fence in a Grand Prix since Dublin in August, and that's ridiculous. I'm blessed to have a horse that good. He really loves his job."
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The numbers back up the sentiment. James Kann Cruz currently sits as the highest-rated Irish horse on the EquiRatings Elo at 772 and his peak of 775 makes him the highest-rated Irish horse ever recorded. A record like that isn't built on a single standout week. It is built on years of quiet, relentless consistency at the very top of the sport.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7a73361e-dded-49a9-ad3b-88c2cdc76a9f.png?width=1880&amp;height=1062" alt="E Stk6 the Highest Rated Irish Horses of All Time Nbsp (1)">
Sweetnam is respected throughout for his feel and his composure. A fierce competitor who wears it quietly. When he and James Kann Cruz step into a jump-off arena, expectation shifts.
Third feels normal. Second feels common. The conversation now is whether he can win.
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<h3 dir="ltr">A Contender Peaking at the Right Time</h3>
Wellington has a way of rewarding combinations who arrive sharp and assured. James Kann Cruz fits that profile precisely: a horse in his prime, proven at this height, and one who appears to thrive when the atmosphere is biggest and the margin for error is smallest.
His numbers hold under scrutiny whether in individual five-star Grand Prix competition or on championship teams. The consistency is not contextual. It travels.
But in Week 12, none of that history matters until their first round is complete. Everything&mdash;the statistics, the Elo rating, the podium record&mdash;is conditional on one clear round. Just 80 seconds.
The Rolex US Equestrian Open Final may not be won in Round One. But for Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz, it may very well be secured there.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-bouckaert-opens-vaughn-takes-the-lead-and-cook-shines-at-wef" 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>

Only 80 Seconds Stand Between Shane Sweetnam and a Podium Finish

<h3 dir="ltr">Eventing: It&rsquo;s Finally Time!</h3>
Next Qualifier: Bouckaert Equestrian, Georgia | The Final: Morven Park, Virginia (October)
Three days is all that stands between us and the start of the 2026 US Equestrian Open eventing season. After months of buildup, form-watching, and series speculation, Bouckaert is finally here. Later this week, watch out for our full preview article and fan guide to help you get the most out of the action.
Before we get there, the weekend just gone offered a reminder of who is on form. The $100,000 LiftMaster Grand Prix Eventing Showcase presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Service saw several combinations with serious Open ambitions.
Phillip Dutton and Denim won the Showcase by going inside the time cross country - one of only two combinations in the entire field to do so. Denim finished 6th at the US Equestrian Open Final last year and placed top 10 at each of the three qualifiers he contested. They start the new year on top form and as major contenders for this year&rsquo;s Series and Final
Second place went to Elisa Wallace and the ten-year-old Lissavorra Quality. Wallace and this horse are not known as a fast combination, yet they crossed the finish line with just 4.8 time penalties. On a day when the clock was tough, this was an exceptional result. 20 penalties at the US Equestrian Open Final and a mixed 2025 season overall makes this performance all the more significant as a reset heading into the new season. If the cross country speed shown here carries into the qualifier season, Lissavorra Quality is one to watch as she develops.
Third place went to the Australian pair Sophia Hill and Humble Glory - the other combination inside the time. Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire finished fourth with Caroline Pamukcu slotting into fifth with King's Especiale. With HSH Double Sixteen and HSH Connor also in her string for Bouckaert, Pamukcu arrives this week as one of the title contenders with genuine depth.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/eventing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/254e09dd-d92e-4194-986b-baf0dbd8460b.png?width=1080&amp;height=158" alt="Read More Eventing"></a>
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<h3 dir="ltr">Dressage: The Double Header Delivers a New Series Leader</h3>
Next Qualifier: WEC - March Dressage | The Final: Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November)
Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn is the new US Equestrian Open of Dressage Series leader.&nbsp;A coast-to-coast double header to open 2026 delivered great sport, excitement, and personal bests, but it was Vaughn&rsquo;s weekend in California that changed the Series picture most.
HITS Del Mar Dressage Opener
California's Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino had a weekend to remember at Del Mar. The pair opened with a personal best in Friday's Grand Prix before going on to claim the Freestyle Qualifier the following day with 75.955%. On the Series leaderboard, Vaughn moves to first overall with 45 points. The result also carries significant World Cup implications.&nbsp;
<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/26f73d45-9ce2-4dd7-899b-c777fe4b02e1.png?width=1240&amp;height=714" alt="Bo Iwm Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage "></a>
The victory draws Vaughn level with Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Jaccardo on 57 points in the North American League standings, placing her second behind Christian Simonson on Indian Rock, whose 60 points have all but confirmed his place at the Final in Fort Worth, Texas this April.&nbsp;
Vaughn's spot is not yet secure, however. Her three-score average sits below Fraser-Beaulieu's, who looks well-positioned for one of the three North American starting places. The third berth will be decided at the final qualifier at Wellington's Global Dressage Festival in two weeks, where Kevin Kohmann (54 points) and Benjamin Ebeling (52 points) could each tie both riders with a win. All ties are broken by the highest average.
Brittney Eastgate (formerly Simpson) was also in the ribbons aboard Kartsevo Goldfinch, posting a combination-best 72.020% for second place in the Freestyle.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVZHO_XkQ_O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5789f223-8a88-4901-8606-b2515bcc1b07.png?width=907&amp;height=1104" alt="Screenshot 2026 03 03 111023"></a>
Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival 8
On the East Coast, Sweden's Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven delivered a commanding performance aboard Hyatt, a 13-year-old KWPN mare, taking the win with 78.000%. Germany's Michael Klimke and Harmony's Fado found themselves in second with a personal best of 74.770%, a result that moves Klimke into tied 7th on the Series leaderboard with 25 points. Susan Dutta rounded out the three-horse field in third and now sits on 23 points, placing her in tied 9th overall.
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVT4cg5kR-n/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3ad941f8-d866-4f9b-941f-7465640cbd62.png?width=904&amp;height=1099" alt="Screenshot 2026 03 03 110949"></a>
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a>
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<h3 dir="ltr">Show Jumping: Cook Dominates Wellington</h3>
The Rolex US Equestrian Open Final: Wellington, Week 12 | Countdown: 3 Weeks
Last week was a strong one for US riders. At WEF Week 8, Team USA defended their title in the Wellington CSIO4* Nations Cup, and 24 hours later Karl Cook topped the Grand Prix podium.
The US squad of Karl Cook, Marilyn Little, Callie Schott, and anchor McLain Ward faced eight other nations. With Cook, Little, and Schott all jumping clear, Ward sat out the first round.&nbsp;
When he was called upon in the decider, Ward delivered. Riding Jordan Molga M (pictured below), a partnership still gaining mileage at this level, he produced a composed clear to secure gold ahead of Ireland, with Canada finishing third.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ecc3e3cf-633f-42c9-91b5-0bab9c781d39.jpeg?width=2500&amp;height=2336" alt="Wefcsio4 87">
The victory marked back-to-back Nations Cup wins for the U.S. in Wellington and the nation&rsquo;s 11th title in the 25-year history of the event.
While the team result made the headlines, Marilyn Little with La Contessa and Callie Schott riding Garant (pictured below) were the standout performers, each producing double-clear rounds. At Nations Cup level, that kind of consistency is exceptional and it was the foundation of the win.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/388830b2-b247-4788-ab9a-e24aa470760e.jpeg?width=2500&amp;height=2070" alt="Wefcsio4 67">
Sunday&rsquo;s $200,000 JTWG Inc. Grand Prix came down to a five-horse jump-off. Karl Cook and Signe Ostby&rsquo;s Candy claimed the win with a bold inside turn to the final fence, leaving out a stride to gaining the edge. Ireland&rsquo;s Darragh Kenny (Colibelle Hero Z) and Shane Sweetnam (Coriaan van Klapscheut Z) finished second and third.
Cook&rsquo;s golden weekend, Nations Cup gold on Saturday, Grand Prix victory on Sunday, comes just three weeks before the Rolex US Equestrian Open Final. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ward-wins-in-wellington-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McLain Ward is carrying momentum from Week 7</a>; now Cook has firmly entered the conversation. The picture is sharpening. The combinations capable of winning Week 12 are making themselves known, one result at a time. Week 9 is next.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eeee484b-ef16-4e10-9de3-6d72b0a7f0c7.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a>
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<h2 data-path-to-node="4">Stay in the Loop with The Open Weekly</h2>
Thanks for joining us for this week's edition! Don't forget: a fresh update of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/the-open-weekly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Open Weekly</a>&nbsp;drops on the site&nbsp;every Tuesday.
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">Join the Conversation</h3>
Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>
<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>.

Open Weekly Promo Graphic with Phillip Dutton and Denim

The Open Weekly: Bouckaert Opens, Vaughn Takes the Lead, and Cook Shines at WEF

In November, Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena closed out the dressage season with a career-best 79.930% freestyle to become the inaugural US Equestrian Open champions. Just two weeks ago, Kent Farrington delivered a statement win in Wellington, taking the $1M Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix to become the first winner of the 2026 series.
This weekend, both champions arrive at the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas with the chance at another huge title in their respective disciplines.
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Jumping: Farrington Has Never Won This</h2>
Across his two horses &mdash;&nbsp;Greya and Toulayna &mdash; Kent Farrington carries a 22% win chance, the highest in the field by a distance. In a sport where 10% is considered strong, 22% with the two entries is a statement.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d4d09312-f450-42eb-bf9a-7bbf354879c0.png?width=1692&amp;height=1538" alt="B X Wf V Win Chances for the World Cup Final ">
The format sees the competition spread across Thursday, Friday and Sunday and rewards tactical thinking. Being able to campaign two horses across three days is a weapon in the right hands, and Day 1 (Thursday) matters more than people expect. Day 1 matters more than you think - the last seven World Cup Final winners all led after the opening day.
One storyline sharpens all of this: Farrington has never won the World Cup Final. Wellington was his. Is Fort Worth next?
A horse that could stop him? Gangster Montdesir - ten years old, six starts at CSI5* 1.60m, six clears. The only horse in the entries with a perfect record at this level. Richard Vogel rode him faster than Greya in the Wellington jump-off before a single rail at the final fence handed Farrington the title. He will not need reminding. The rivalry from Wellington is not finished.
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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]">Dressage: Bellena's First World Cup Final</h2>
Four horses competing in Fort Worth's Grand Prix have ridden down a US Equestrian Open centreline. One of them is the champion.
Benjamin Ebeling &amp; Bellena arrive as the Open's defining partnership. From their freestyle debut in April through to the inaugural final in November, they broke their personal best four times in a row. That final score &mdash; 79.930% &mdash; is still their peak. This combination consistently&nbsp;raise their game when the occasion demands it.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4da24029-4984-4685-9e34-9b3f831c40c6.png?width=1408&amp;height=1736" alt="R8i6 T the Top 10 Grand Prix Freestyle Combinations at the World Cup Final ">
Fort Worth is a step up from anything they have faced together. Three combinations in this field average above 80% in the Grand Prix Freestyle including early 2026 Series leader Christian Simonson with Indian Rock. Bellena's average of 75.779% puts her in the chasing pack. But the Open final showed what she can produce when it counts, and Ebeling &mdash; who competed at the Riyadh final in 2024 &mdash; already has World Cup Final experience.&nbsp;
The Grand Prix is tonight. The freestyle is Saturday - the format the US Equestrian Open is built around. If you want to watch your champions on the world stage, Saturday night is the moment.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-fods-personal-bests-lucienne-bellissimo-and-devon-kane" 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">Join the Conversation</h3>
Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>
<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;
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<h3>The Mission of the Open&nbsp; </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.&nbsp; 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;.
The&nbsp;US Equestrian Open&nbsp;spans the three Olympic disciplines&mdash;Jumping, Eventing, and Dressage&mdash;with USEF contributing $200,000 in prize money to each final to ensure high-stakes competitive integrity. The Jumping Final took place at Wellington International from&nbsp;March 24&ndash;29, 2026. Next stop will be&nbsp; the Eventing Final at Morven Park from&nbsp;October 8&ndash;11, 2026.&nbsp;The season concludes with the Dressage Final at the Desert International Horse Park from&nbsp;November 11&ndash;15, 2026. You can follow along with the qualifiers, the unfolding stories and sport updates at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.usequestrianopen.org</a>, on our video series&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkdGSxID6G_eceNlWgvqIuspJsKrSqCq2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Road</a>, and on our&nbsp;<a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weekly podcast</a>.&nbsp;
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US Open Champions Kent Farrington and Benjamin Ebeling holding a trophy 

Your US Open Champions are at the World Cup Final

For those following closely, Fort Worth felt like a continuation rather than a surprise: the newly crowned US Equestrian Open Champion added the missing trophy to an already heavyweight CV.
Fresh from their statement win at the Open in Wellington,&nbsp;Kent Farrington &amp; Greya carried that same assured rhythm into the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final, sharing the workload with Toulayna through the early stages before closing out Sunday&rsquo;s double round to deliver another emotional night on home soil. The stage is now set for a summer adventure in Europe and she will almost certainly start as favorite to win the World Championships at Aachen.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ec539404-493f-4ce0-bdf3-6746fcf063eb.png?width=871&amp;height=837" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 14 113208">
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The pre-competition favourite and the missing title</h2>
For more than a decade, Kent Farrington has sat in the top tier of global show jumping. He has had spells in the world number one spot, major wins from Spruce Meadows to Geneva but the World Cup Final remained stubbornly absent from his record. He started as the favorite to win but actually getting it done (which needed a perfect final round) is a different story.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0744badb-61a9-4131-98a9-6f7e80af43a1.png?width=1920&amp;height=1080" alt="Cmh World Cup Finals Thursday"> 
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Thursday: Toulayna on top &amp; leader trend maintains</h2>
The opening leg in Fort Worth was a speed class under Table C. Aaron Vale &amp; Carissimo 25 set an early pace. Farrington came in 15th to go, took the lead and never lost it. Toulayna played her part in the win when you see the trends. It has proved almost impossible to overturn a day 1 World Cup Final leader. Germany&rsquo;s Daniel Deusser &amp; Otello de Guldenboom were second and multi-time World Cup champion Steve Guerdat with Albfuehren&rsquo;s Iashin Sitte sat third.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/39092eab-8f43-4102-a28c-28e27b7048fa.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Er Post Wc">
<h3><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/166bd141-311d-406d-8bf5-220a143d22e5.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Er Post Wc (1)"></h3>
By the numbers &ndash; after Day 1
<ul>
<li>1st: Farrington leads the standings after Thursday&rsquo;s speed.</li>
<li>40%: statisical chance of converting that lead into the title.</li>
<li>7: Number of previous World Cup champions who all led from Day 1.</li>
<li>0.19s: Margin back to Daniel Deusser in second, with Steve Guerdat within half a second.</li>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Friday: Greya gives him a cushion</h2>
Toulayna stepped out and Greya stepped in. The format switched to a standard round. The first round whittled the field down to seven for the jump‑off, among them Eiken Sato, Kevin Staut and an in‑form Guerdat.&nbsp;
Going in last in the jump‑off, Farrington knew exactly what was required. Sato &amp; Chadellano JRA had set 34.90 seconds; Staut &amp; Visconti du Telman posted 35.79. Greya&rsquo;s record in top level jump-offs and ability to convert is one of the best in the sport with perhaps only Richard Vogel and United Touch or Gangstar Mondesir who can challenge them. Greya left a stride out down the final line, and slid under Sato&rsquo;s time to stop the clock in 34.36 seconds, securing Farrington a second win in as many days.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b704f32b-505d-44d6-ba6e-cb5ebe373e17.png?width=739&amp;height=798" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 14 113354"> &ldquo;I think I came with a faster horse today, which makes it easier,&rdquo; he admitted with a grin. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been really thinking about Sunday and wanted to measure her efforts and measure her speed to put myself in the best position possible.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The numbers told the story of that positioning. With the Friday victory, Farrington remained on a zero score overall, while Guerdat moved to four penalties and Staut to six, giving the American a full rail in hand heading into Sunday&rsquo;s decisive rounds. The win chance moved to 66%.&nbsp; <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/31f861c2-f252-4741-a388-d16bd609ef7d.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Er Post Wc (2)">
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Sunday: riding with a rail in hand</h2>
On Sunday, there was an air of anticipation in Fort Worth and around the jumping world. Kent, despite the huge win chance, was shadowed by Steve Guerdat, a rider who has built his own legend on the World Cup Final stage. Behind them, Kevin Staut and Katie Dinan sat poised to capitalize on any crack in the leader&rsquo;s armour, while only the top 30 combinations from the earlier days returned to jump two final tracks.
The format was straightforward: two rounds, cumulative faults deciding the title. Greya had a rail in the first round.&nbsp; If he felt the pressure of expectation, it did not appear in his language. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just in the present, riding the course with my horse,&rdquo; he said of his approach to the final day. When Greya cleared the final oxer in the last round, Dickies Arena responded with the full force of a home crowd that had just seen one of its own produce a full‑length performance rather than a late‑night twist. It felt just like Wellington had a couple of weeks before for the Open final. Rails for Steve Guerdat meant Katie Dinan climbed onto the overall podium with Out of the Blue SCF, giving the United States two of the top three places on the final podium.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f68f5c1e-a981-47af-91c8-b8125f6870cb.png?width=758&amp;height=745" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 14 112210">
For US Jumping, the image of Farrington lifting the World Cup trophy in Texas, with Dinan on the podium feeds directly into the wider narrative of resurgence on the championship stage. With McLain to return, with Karl Cook and Lillie Keenan waiting in the wings, with Laura Kraut having the superstar Bisquetta, it is going to be an exciting summer. Stay tuned to the open channels to follow it all.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-fods-personal-bests-lucienne-bellissimo-and-devon-kane" 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">Join the Conversation</h3>
Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>
<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;
<h3>The Mission of the Open&nbsp; </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.&nbsp; 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;.
The&nbsp;US Equestrian Open&nbsp;spans the three Olympic disciplines&mdash;Jumping, Eventing, and Dressage&mdash;with USEF contributing $200,000 in prize money to each final to ensure high-stakes competitive integrity. The Jumping Final took place at Wellington International from&nbsp;March 24&ndash;29, 2026. Next stop will be&nbsp; the Eventing Final at Morven Park from&nbsp;October 8&ndash;11, 2026.&nbsp;The season concludes with the Dressage Final at the Desert International Horse Park from&nbsp;November 11&ndash;15, 2026. You can follow along with the qualifiers, the unfolding stories and sport updates at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.usequestrianopen.org</a>, on our video series&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkdGSxID6G_eceNlWgvqIuspJsKrSqCq2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Road</a>, and on our&nbsp;<a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weekly podcast</a>.&nbsp;
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Kent Farrington winning the World Cup Final in Forth Worth

The Open Champion becomes the World Cup Champion

California based, Tamie Smith&rsquo;s moved east for the start of the season and it is playing to her advantage. It&rsquo;s giving her access to bigger fields and therefore bigger points, setting the tone for a serious 2026 Series campaign.
Now she arrives at a defining moment. This weekend at <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/ocala2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ocala,</a> she arrives with three horses, including the <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/ocala2026/who-wins--top-scores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Prediction Centre favorite.</a> Two more enter with strong podium chances. Next week at Kentucky, she brings another three, including both the <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">favorite and the second favorite.</a>
That's six horses across two back-to-back qualifiers. And she's only used half her scoring allocation.
<div style="text-align: center; padding: 1.5rem 0;"><a style="display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; background: #185FA5; color: #fff; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; padding: 12px 28px; border-radius: 6px; text-decoration: none; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://usequestrianopen.info/ocala2026"> Learn more about Ocala in the Fan Guide </a></div>
<h2 dir="ltr">Where Tamie sits right now</h2>
Tamie is equal 4th in the 2026 Series standings on 95 points. Seems like a big gap to close? It's not.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/741b82fa-462c-4474-9975-e2fc822dfc71.png?width=717&amp;height=513" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 16 105732">
The leader, Caroline Pamukcu has five counting scores. Tamie has three and is only 50 points behind (just one Kentucky win away from matching her!). Of course competitors can improve upon their scores but to do that, they need to beat what they've already posted which is a harder task than simply adding.
At 145 points across five results, Pamukcu's floor is already high. Tamie's three open slots have no floor at all. Every score she adds counts in full. It&rsquo;s not a gap to close, it&rsquo;s an advantage.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/812789df-6b96-4362-8f94-51b264689242.jpg?width=4256&amp;height=2832" alt="Tamie">
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Ocala opportunity</h2>
This weekend in Ocala, Tamie arrives with three horses and holds the top win chance in the field by some distance.
EquiRatings gives Jump To Day D a 28% win chance and a 57% podium chance. No other combination in the field is even close to that number on win chance. Pierre's Farceur du Bochard slots in fourth on a 12% win chance and&nbsp;Spiro P is on a 6% win chance.
Three horses. Three podium shots. Three scores left to count for the leaderboard. The probability of Tamie leaving Florida without additional points on the board is low.
<a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/ocala2026/#page-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/68bf1206-5e83-4549-91b8-19fcac2cda8d.png?width=715&amp;height=486" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 16 122320"></a>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Kentucky chance</h2>
Whatever Tamie takes out of Florida, Kentucky gives her a second chance to build on it.
The points scale shifts at Kentucky. With a field of over 25 starters, every placing pays more. Tamie doesn't even have to improve her finishing position to improve her points, the same result is simply worth more.
And if Ocala goes quietly? It doesn't matter. She still arrives with three experienced horses, three open slots, and both the favorite and second favorite on the&nbsp;<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prediction Centre.</a>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f4c60395-4300-4ffc-a11d-a722b69c73c4.png?width=717&amp;height=397" alt="Points Scale for Blog Inserts">
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<h2 dir="ltr">The huge string behind her</h2>
Tamie's string is one of the biggest in the US at the four-star level right now. Looking at her 2025 and 2026 results &mdash; and setting aside Jutopia (Molly Duda's horse, on whom she did one run) and the retired&nbsp;Mai Baum &mdash; she has seven horses competing at the level, one of which makes their four-star debut at Ocala this weekend.
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The string is not just large, it's in form. Tamie has already won five international events in 2026, more than any other rider globally. Only one of those wins has come at four-star level, but the volume and consistency across the board points to a rider hitting her stride at the right time.
The finishing score data backs it up. Among US athletes at the four-star level over the last 12 months, Tamie sits atop of the EquiRatings power* rankings with an average of 29.8 - the only US rider to break the sub-30 barrier.&nbsp; *The Power average is calculated from the three best finishing scores recorded by an athlete, meaning it strips out the outliers and measures sustained quality.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">The West Coast factor</h2>
After Kentucky, the calendar likely takes Tamie home. She's normally California-based, and while she has made the journey east for the early season qualifiers in the lead up to Kentucky weekend and likely, to make a statement before Aachen - but what matters for the Series is what follows.
The late summer West Coast events of Rebecca Farm (July 15), Twin Rivers (September 17), and Woodside (October 2) bring smaller fields &mdash; and a smaller points scale &mdash; but wins and podiums are more attainable than they are in the wide-open fields of Carolina and Kentucky. Multiple horses on home turf makes that a realistic expectation, not just a possibility.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b4b1426e-0fc3-45ba-89be-28e45c559c5e.jpg?width=5172&amp;height=5606" alt="Kynan Kentucky 2024 Er Tamie Smith 3949">
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Call</h2>
This weekend will see qualifier 9 and 10 take place marking the halfway point with only 10 more to go. The EquiRatings model has Tamie as favorite and second favorite to win qualifier 9 and 11. She has more open scoring potential than anyone above her on the leaderboard.
Here is the EquiRatings prediction: Tamie Smith wins the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-world-cup-glory-for-farrington-historic-podium-for-simonson" 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">Join the Conversation</h3>
Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>
<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;

Tamie Smith and Kynan during the dressage phase

Six horses, two weekends: Why Tamie Smith is the Series favorite

Five horse-and-rider pairs with averages compressed within four points of each other. No one obviously dominant, and the combination that looks most formidable on paper isn't currently the combination you should trust most. That's the setup heading into this weekend's CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle qualifier at Del Mar.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-LWCI6" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Del Mar National Horse Show: CDI3* Freestyle Stats" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LWCI6/1/" height="528" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
G&uuml;nter Seidel and Equirelle lead the field on both average (72.863%) and personal best (76.615%), but those numbers are rosying the picture a bit. The PB dates to November 2021. They've yet to ride a freestyle this season, having withdrawn from the March freestyle at Del Mar after scoring a 61.391% in the Grand Prix the day before. Their most recent scoring freestyle &mdash; a 72.815% at Desert Dressage last December &mdash; represents the high end of what this pair has shown recently, and they've dipped into the 66% range on the other end. That's a wide window to make predictions from. A clean, connected ride puts them squarely in podium conversation, but they&rsquo;ve got to make it down the centerline.&nbsp;
Kristina Harrison-Antell and Finley are a different kind of question. Her FEI freestyle average of nearly 72% and PB of 75.470% &mdash; scored at the US Equestrian Open Finals last November &mdash; signal a combination that has been genuinely competitive at this level in recent memory. But the most recent result complicates that narrative: a 68.835% at this same venue in March, fourth of five, and well off her normal range. It may have been a one-off after four months without a freestyle start. It may not. Either way, this weekend starts to answer that. If the mid-72s version of this pair shows up, they are in the conversation for the win.&nbsp;
Interestingly, the newer partnership of Cyndi Jackson and Florisson might be the most predictable of the class. They won the last Del Mar freestyle at 70.915% &mdash; only their second FEI freestyle together as a combination. The first was a 69.465% in February. A modest body of work, but an upward line nonetheless. If they push above 71% this weekend, they are firmly in podium contention and ahead of schedule for a pair still figuring out what they can be.&nbsp;
Nadine Schwartsman and Royal Flash R finished second in March at 70.835% and have been a steady 69&ndash;70% combination over the past year. Royal Flash R has shown the tools for something bigger; whether this is the weekend that materializes is worth watching.
Claire Robinson and Glamour Boy are the only combination without a prior US Equestrian Open freestyle start, but a personal best of 71.090% suggests they're capable of knocking any number of these riders down a placing or two.
<h2 dir="ltr">Series Standings</h2>
Jackson currently sits 19th with 23 points and Schwartsman 27th with 16; a strong result this weekend moves both meaningfully toward the top-18 qualifying band. For Seidel and Harrison-Antell, who have one qualifier start each, this week alone won't change the picture much either way.

A grey horse and rider in navy show attire competing in a dressage arena at an evening event, with spectators and string lights visible in the background.

Del Mar's April Qualifier Has The Most Interesting Questions

In this week&rsquo;s&nbsp;US Equestrian Open Podcast, Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne dig into the biggest narratives shaping the series right now. From a new dressage leader to a potential Boyd Martin masterclass in eventing, the episode sets the stage for an exciting stretch of the season.
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Here are five storylines from the podcast that make this week&rsquo;s episode worth a listen.
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<h2 data-start="658" data-end="701">1.Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn Takes the Dressage Lead</h2>
The <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dressage leaderboard </a>has a new name at the top&nbsp;and it&rsquo;s a story that has been building for a while.
Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino delivered a standout weekend, including a personal best in the Grand Prix Special and a freestyle victory, moving her past Christian Simonson to take the series lead.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/26f73d45-9ce2-4dd7-899b-c777fe4b02e1.png?width=1240&amp;height=714" alt="Bo Iwm Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage ">
For the Annie and Diarm, it&rsquo;s also a reminder of how the Open helps turn riders into household names for fans following the journey week to week.
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&ldquo;Ge&ntilde;ay became a real household name from an Open point of view last year&hellip; the interviews were great, the frequent competing, and the opportunity again, as we're talking about that name recognition, that really helped.&rdquo; - Diarmuid Byrne
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What makes this story even stronger is the East Coast-West Coast element. Vaughn picked up results in Florida earlier in the season before heading back west and winning again. Proof that the series truly spans the country.
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<h2 data-start="1599" data-end="1651">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="1599" data-end="1651">2. The Jumping Final Is Suddenly Three Weeks Away</h2>
The calendar has crept up quickly.&nbsp;In just three weeks, the Rolex US Equestrian Open Final of Jumping will crown a champion and the tension is building.
Annie and Diarm highlight how the season has evolved into a fascinating showdown between US riders and a strong international contingent arriving to challenge them.
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&ldquo;What's really exciting for us from an Open point of view and from an individual final at Wellington point of view is that there there is so many individual superstars now in the US. And of course, as we saw last year, the international talent will come and take them on." - Diarmuid Byrne
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Names like&nbsp;Ben Maher, Richard Vogel, Shane Sweetnam, and Daragh Kenny are part of that international pressure. But the US riders have momentum and they want to keep the Open title on home soil.
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<h2 data-start="2355" data-end="2407">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="2355" data-end="2407">3. The US Nations Cup Win Adds Fuel to the Fire</h2>
Momentum matters and the US team got a big boost at Wellington last week.&nbsp;The United States claimed the CSI04* Nations Cup, reinforcing the idea that the Florida-based US riders are in strong form heading toward the Open final.
One of the standout performances came from Callie Schott, who delivered another reliable round, jumping double clear, as part of the winning effort.
<blockquote data-start="2754" data-end="2862">
&ldquo;There is strength and depth in these wins. These wins are important. The US tend to do pretty well here. I think this is their 11th win over the last 25 years at Wellington Nations Cups. I think it does show a lot of the depth that's available." - Diarmuid Byrne
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<h2 data-start="3032" data-end="3077">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="3032" data-end="3077">4. Eventing Returns With a Stacked Field</h2>
While dressage and jumping have been building their narratives, eventing is finally back on the Open calendar this weekend at Bouckaert.&nbsp;And it&rsquo;s not easing into the season.
The entry list includes series leader Lucienne Bellissimo, Caroline Pamukcu, Tamie Smith and defending Open champion Boyd Martin, who arrives with an entire string of competitive horses.
<blockquote data-start="3446" data-end="3595">
&ldquo;It is a corker of a field. There are so many excellent entries and it will be, assuming everyone starts, in the higher tier of points. So a lot to play for and we've got some really incredible entries here." - Annie Bishop 
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With valuable points on offer early in the season, the leaderboard could shift quickly after this weekend.&nbsp;
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<h2 data-start="3710" data-end="3758">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="3710" data-end="3758">5. Boyd Martin Could Shake Up the Leaderboard</h2>
If there&rsquo;s one storyline the podcast keeps circling back to, it&rsquo;s Boyd Martin&rsquo;s depth of horsepower.
Martin arrives with serious depth: Fetiche Des Rouges, Kolbeinn, Commando 3, and Cooley Nutcracker, with the latter two entering as the highest-rated horses in the field.&nbsp;
For Diarmuid Byrne, that opens the door for a huge leaderboard opportunity,
<blockquote data-start="4077" data-end="4214">
&ldquo;If you look back on how this played out last year in terms of winning the series, Boyd tended to weigh in on big heavy weekends, maybe three times in the season. Twice or three times in the season, he took jumps of up to 100 points at a time." - Diarmuid Byrne
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With multiple rides capable of landing near the top of the leaderboard, Martin could emerge from the weekend as a major contender in the <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2026 Open standings.</a>
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/40305520/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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Five Storylines Discussed on This Week’s US Equestrian Open Podcast

The US Equestrian Open Eventing Series is back at Bouckaert Farm in Fairburn, Georgia. It is the first qualifier of 2026 and the third event in the series, and this venue has built up quite a history since the four-star short first ran here in 2013. Thirteen years, multiple editions per year in some cases, and a winners list that has some big names. Below is every winner on record.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2795f882-47bd-4849-8238-1d588d31ee11.png?width=1348&amp;height=2262" alt="O U6n R Previous Winners of Bouckaert Cci4 S ">
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Previous Winners Returning This Week</h3>
Lucienne Bellissimo is the most recent winner, having taken the 2025 Autumn edition with&nbsp;Dyri. This result formed part of her series lead and marked Dyri's return to four-star short competition after stepping back due to a confidence knock earlier in the year. She returns this week with Kitsch Couture HPK.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Double Sixteen won this event twelve months ago and return as major contenders. HSH Double Sixteen is a very fast horse, and with inside-the-time rates at this venue sitting at just 2%, that speed is a huge asset. If the optimum time is as demanding as it has been in recent years, they are likely to be well-placed. Caroline also brings HSH Connor and King's Especiale this weekend.
Buck Davidson won here in 2017 with the iconic Copper Beach. Though his connection to this venue runs deeper than that single result. Buck has 18 starts at Bouckaert, more than any other rider in the event's history and 5 clear of the next most frequent starter, Nilson Moreira Da Silva (13). This weekend's two entries, Cerafino D and Cooley Candyman, will take his career total here to 20. He also holds the record for most cross-country clears at this venue with 12, and the venue dressage record of 25.1 set with Carlevo in 2022.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-bouckaert-opens-vaughn-takes-the-lead-and-cook-shines-at-wef" 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">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>.
</section>

Bouckaert Farm: Who's Won & Who's Back?

Lucienne Bellissimo was clear about her goals for 2026: &ldquo;I want to try and win Stable View with Dyri, and I want to try and win the four-star long US Open Final.&rdquo;
And last weekend, she turned the first half of that goal into a result.
Bellissimo &amp; Dyri led the Stable View CCI4*-S from start to finish. A 27.7 dressage score put them just ahead of&nbsp;Boyd Martin's Commando 3, who sat second on 28.5. That's no small marker to be ahead of. Commando 3 sits inside the top 20 highest-rated horses in the world on the <a href="https://www.equiratings.com/top-horses/eventing-current" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Elo</a>, and last year finished on the podium at both Maryland and Kentucky 5*.
Yet still,&nbsp;Dyri outscored him in the first phase. From there, Bellissimo just had to hold it and she made it look easy, adding nothing across either jumping phase to finish on her dressage score (FOD) and claim victory.
It sounds straightforward. The numbers prove it's not.
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWy01KtEQRR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/be1c7cef-a41b-4b75-acb4-90d982ca6158.png?width=907&amp;height=1105" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 07 122810"></a>
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">How Hard Is a Result Like This at Stable View?</h2>
The cross-country time here is notoriously hard to catch - only ten combinations have ever made it across the history of the class (since 2018). This weekend produced two of those rare exceptions.&nbsp;Dyri was one. The other was Waylon Roberts &amp; Fernhill Salt Lake, a combination that are building quite the reputation for being fast.
And then there's the FOD. Across nearly 400 starters in the history of Stable View's CCI4*-S, only four combinations have ever finished on their dressage score (FOD). Lucienne Bellissimo &amp; Dyri are the fourth.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/99ceaa80-d7be-4ba9-ad7a-5e79f4cca94a.png?width=1196&amp;height=800" alt="V V2hy the Four Combinations Which Have Finished on Their Dressage Score Fod at Stable View S Cci4 S ">
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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]">What About in the Context of the Series?</h2>
Before this weekend, Waylon Roberts &amp; Fernhill Salt Lake's clear inside the time at TerraNova in November had been the only such round in the entire 2026 Series. This weekend added two more making it just three inside-the-time rounds from 153 starts.
Even more impressively, Bellissimo &amp; Dyri are the first combination to finish on their dressage score (FOD) in the entire the 2026 Series. Don't expect many more - in the 2025 Series, just four FODs came from 349 runs. A rate of 1.1%. It is, by any measure, an elite group.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/87097d32-8751-4d2d-bc62-591812f71d45.png?width=1748&amp;height=614" alt="W A0 Jf the Four Fod S From the 2025 Series Qualifiers Nbsp (1)">
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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]">A Record That Keeps Growing</h2>
This was Bellissimo &amp; Dyri's third four-star win together, and their second at this venue, having previously won at Stable View in September 2024.&nbsp;They have been nothing but consistent in the 2026 Series so far:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/bellissimo-and-dyri-make-it-five-in-a-row-at-bouckaert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a win at Bouckaert</a>, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/terranova-closes-the-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second place at TerraNova,</a> and now first again at Stable View. Three starts. Three podium finishes. And an FOD to top it all off.
It is also Bellissimo's first major result <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-flag-for-the-frontrunner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">competing under the American flag. </a>Having spent much of her career representing Great Britain, she officially became a United States citizen in late 2025 - a decision that reflected years of building her life, her business, and her competitive career on US soil. "It is such an honor to now be an American citizen," she said at the start of the season. "Becoming part of a culture that celebrates big dreams feels like the right home."
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1be6de07-bc17-4724-a44c-45d5baf4941d.jpg?width=3287&amp;height=2633" alt="Use F8383">
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Series Picture</h2>
Stable View had looked like an opportunity for both Caroline Pamukcu and Boyd Martin to pull away at the top. Neither left with points. Boyd withdrew Commando 3 and Cooley Nutcracker before cross-country following a fall in the CCI3*-S. Pamukcu's HSH Double Sixteen was eliminated in the show jumping, and HSH Connor had a cross-country refusal.
Bellissimo would have won regardless. Her performance never required their misfortune. But a weekend that was supposed to consolidate the top of the leaderboard instead blew it wide open. With Kitsch Couture HPK also finishing ninth, Bellissimo collected points across two combinations.&nbsp;
Caroline Pamukcu leads on 145 points. Lucienne Bellissimo sits five back while Wayon Roberts climbs into third. The gap that stood at 50 points entering the weekend is now five. Lucienne has a serious chance to win both the Series and the Final. Don't miss the journey.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f4765071-b39f-4352-b414-d08d41ee2de5.png?width=1046&amp;height=1228" alt="Xtyk1 Series Leaders After Stable View Qualifier 7 ">
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-fods-personal-bests-lucienne-bellissimo-and-devon-kane" 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">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;
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<h3>The Mission of the Open&nbsp; </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.&nbsp; 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;.
The&nbsp;US Equestrian Open&nbsp;spans the three Olympic disciplines&mdash;Jumping, Eventing, and Dressage&mdash;with USEF contributing $200,000 in prize money to each final to ensure high-stakes competitive integrity. The Jumping Final took place at Wellington International from&nbsp;March 24&ndash;29, 2026. Next stop will be&nbsp; the Eventing Final at Morven Park from&nbsp;October 8&ndash;11, 2026.&nbsp;The season concludes with the Dressage Final at the Desert International Horse Park from&nbsp;November 11&ndash;15, 2026. You can follow along with the qualifiers, the unfolding stories and sport updates at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.usequestrianopen.org</a>, on our video series&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkdGSxID6G_eceNlWgvqIuspJsKrSqCq2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Road</a>, and on our&nbsp;<a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weekly podcast</a>.&nbsp;
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Lucienne Belissimo and Dyri competing at Kentucky 5* in 2025.

Fast, flawless, and the first of the 2026 Series: Lucienne Bellissimo & Dyri deliver at Stable View

Three weeks from now, Wellington International will host the Rolex US Equestrian Open Final, the climax of a 12 weeks of showjumping at WEF. But before that, there is one more five-star Grand Prix to run. Saturday night's CSI5* $500,000 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix is the last chance for combinations to prove they are arriving to Week 12 with momentum, form, and a statement already made under the lights.
It is also, historically, a Grand Prix that makes new stars. Eight of the last ten winners were claiming their first-ever CSI5* Grand Prix victory when they crossed the timers in Wellington. The course is tougher than almost anywhere else on the global circuit with a 16% Round 1 clear rate over the past decade, against a global five-star average of 28&ndash;35%. Whoever wins here on Saturday night will have earned it.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Who are the US Contenders?</h2>
Kent Farrington &amp; Greya are the form combination of the WEF season and arguably one of the most in-form combinations in the world right now. Greya is currently the third-highest rated horse globally on the EquiRatings Elo system and will be the ones the rest of the field are measuring themselves against. Together, this partnership have nine five-star Grand Prix and carry a 58% predicted clear probability tonight, the highest in the field. Their jump-off record is equally imposing: 11 clears from 15, nine wins, a 60% win rate once they reach the second round. A win here would be the perfect statement of intent ahead of the Open Final.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e906ea7f-bd51-44a6-8ee7-1fd12b2d4106.png?width=1362&amp;height=1488" alt="X6d Ek Wef 9 the Ones on Form ">
Marilyn Little &amp; La Contessa are the form horse of the US squad coming into this week. Four clears from their last five rounds at five-star level. This is an 80% strike rate, the highest recent clear rate of any combination in tonight's field. Most recently, they jumped a double clear in last weekend's CSIO4* Nations Cup that helped seal Team USA's victory. Little has been building quietly and convincingly.&nbsp;
McLain Ward &amp; High Star Hero already have their Week 7 5* 160 Grand Prix win on the board this season. In a jump off, they remain one of the most dangerous combinations in the field. Six clears from eight jump-offs, four wins, a 63% podium rate. Ward's experience in a speed round is a known quantity at this level. Their Round 1 clear rate of 43% suggests the first round can be a slightly bigger hurdle than for some of their rivals but if they make the jump-off, the numbers say they are very likely to finish on the podium.
Laura Kraut &amp; Bisquetta bring five-star pedigree and experience. A 52% clear rate at this level, a Rolex Grand Prix of Dublin win, and a 47% predicted clear probability tonight. Bisquetta has already shown she can jump clear when a course asks hard questions and this one will.
Callie Schott &amp; Garant are perhaps the quietest name in the US group, but the data is not quiet. An Elo rating of 752, a double clear in last weekend's CSIO4* Nations Cup, and a 44% predicted clear probability. Garant is one of the highest-rated horses in the field and Schott's composure on course has been consistent throughout the season. A strong result here would add real weight to their Week 12 credentials.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8e07536e-28ef-4029-ba97-5415ac650bf6.png?width=1362&amp;height=1488" alt="X6d Ek Wef 9 the Ones on Form (1)">
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<h2 dir="ltr">Who are the International Threats?</h2>
The US does not have this to itself. Darragh Kenny &amp; Eddy Blue sit second in predicted clear probability at 56%, fractionally behind Farrington. Eddy Blue's 58% non-jump-off clear rate at this level is elite. They sit only behind Farrington on the EquiRatings Prediction Centre with a 9% win chance. Daniel Bluman &amp; Corbie V.V. arrive with momentum: eight clears in their last nine top-level starts, a CSI4* Grand Prix win in Ocala as their most recent outing, and a 64% clear rate over 14 rounds. In a jump-off, Bluman is a proven operator. Their win probability sits equal to Bisquetta and Dallas Vegas Batilly. This is a combination that cannot be written off.
Ben Maher &amp; Katanga V/h Dingeshof represent the broadest five-star CV in the international group. Seven jump-off clears from 13 (54%), nearly half resulting in a podium. The 2024 Olympic gold medallist partnership is competing in their first five-star Grand Prix of 2026 - rustiness or sharpness, Saturday night will tell.&nbsp;
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Forty combinations are set to start. EquiRatings predicts six clear rounds, well below the global five-star average, in a class that has consistently delivered a small, hard-fought jump-off. Around 51% of those who make it to the second round have historically gone double clear here. The margin between winning and the rest is rarely more than a fraction of a second.
Three weeks from now, the US Equestrian Open Final takes centre stage. Before that, Saturday night in Wellington offers the last word in the five-star conversation and the combinations who deliver it will carry that confidence into Week 12.

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