<p>Welcome to the EquiRatings Archive, a treasure trove of timeless tales that celebrate the unique bond between horse and rider, the thrill of competition, and the beauty of this age-old tradition. Here, you'll find an extensive collection of stories from the world of equestrian sports, covering everything in show jumping and eventing.</p>

Main

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Rolex US Equestrian Open Final |</strong> Wellington, Week 12 <strong>| Countdown:</strong> 4 Weeks</p>
<p dir="ltr">Four weeks out from the Rolex US Equestrian Open Final and the 2026 challengers are becoming more clear. High Star Hero produced yet another McLain Ward Wellington win in what has been a difficult week after the loss of Imperial HBF.<br><br><em>"My team has rallied and put their heads down - it's been a grind, and I'm proud of them, proud of the horse, and proud to bring this home tonight."</em><br><br>The Winter Equestrian Festival has now crossed its halfway point and Saturday night's CSI5* $500,000 Modon Grand Prix helped sharpen the focus around the key challengers for the final.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Only five combinations made it through to the jump-off. The spread of nations they represented&mdash;USA, Colombia, Ireland, Germany, France&mdash;told its own story about the international character of Week 7 at WEF.&nbsp; The US Equestrian Open of Dressage the night before was won by Germany&rsquo;s<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/isabell-werth-sets-new-us-equestrian-open-of-dressage-record-in-wellington" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Isabell Werth</strong></a> and the top six placings were shared across six different nations.</p>
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<h3>The Winner: McLain Ward &amp; High Star Hero<br><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/81f507dd-c992-4a37-a315-1274112ff517.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1326" alt="Img L7339"><br><br></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Ward went first in the jump-off, set the target, and nobody caught him. His time of 39.14 seconds proved untouchable despite the best efforts of four who followed. He took an extra stride to the final fence and still won which bodes well for US fans hoping to see <strong>High Star Hero's</strong> raw footspeed in a month.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>"You always feel pressure, and all these guys are super-fast riders with very fast horses &mdash; I knew they were going to risk everything to win," </em>said Ward afterwards.<em> "I had to do what I thought was the winning plan, and the horse responded beautifully."</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">This was the fourth time Ward has won the WEF Week 7 Grand Prix &mdash; his previous three victories all came with <strong>HH Azur</strong> (2016, 2017, 2020). (Note:<strong> HH Azur </strong>remains the highest rated horse over the last 15 years in the US - they reached a peak Elo of 784 aged 12 in 2018. <strong>Greya</strong> is closing in on this). <br><br>McLain attributed his pattern of strong Week 7 results to a deliberate seasonal strategy:&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d7a13cc3-1db5-40bd-8b22-bc1fa1542c60.png?width=2000&amp;height=2000" alt="Example 1a. Front"></p>
<p dir="ltr">The man with more top level Wellington wins than any other rider will arrive at Week 12 with momentum, with a number of his horses in form, at a venue that he knows how to win. He will be one of the main hopes of keeping the Open title on home soil.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3 dir="ltr">Mark Bluman &amp; Landon de Nyze</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Second place went to a pair with no 5* 1.60m jump-off record - because Saturday night was their first 5* Grand Prix together. Bluman and Landon only became a combination in December, less than two months ago, and this was already their third top-three finish (two wins at 155 level since taking over the ride from Daniel).&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">They came within half a second of Ward.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e547760a-f4ca-4358-aa24-749cb9d2cfa7.png?width=2000&amp;height=2000" alt="Example 1a. Front (1)"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Landon de Nyze</strong>&mdash;a 13-year-old son of <strong>Comilfo Plus Z</strong> x <strong>Quadrillo</strong>&mdash;was previously ridden by his brother <strong>Daniel Bluman </strong>and before than <strong>Kent Farrington</strong> (with whom he won team gold and individual silver at the 2023 Pan American Games for the USA).&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>"I've never ridden a horse like this one in my life,</em>" said Bluman. <em>"I come from Colombia, and it's not a country with a horse background, so to be sitting here with people that I grew up watching riding horses, it means the world."</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">Very few 160 partnership debuts produce results this quickly. He has two wins at 155 level (4* and 5*). Nothing about Saturday night suggested this 160 debut was a ceiling.</p>
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<h3 dir="ltr">Shane Sweetnam &amp; James Kann Cruz</h3>
<p dir="ltr">A podium felt almost routine for the Kentucky-based, Irish combination. Their jump-off conversion borders on statistical anomaly: 18 clears from 21 rounds (86%), translating into 19 podium finishes from those jump-off appearances. Lets that sink in - 21 jump offs at 5*160 level and now 19 podium finishes.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse (<strong>Kannan</strong> x <strong>Cruising</strong>) is in impressive form. "<em>He hasn't knocked a fence in a Grand Prix since Dublin (August), and that's ridiculous,"</em> said Sweetnam. <em>"I'm blessed to have a horse that good - he really loves his job."</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">Like Bluman, he was disappointed not to win. He was candid about his own role:&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7f74b363-44d9-4b99-8c57-3fadea74f785.png?width=2000&amp;height=2000" alt="Example 1a. Front (2)"></em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Shane Sweetnam</strong> is loved in Ireland as a reliable, humble, and supremely talented, rider. There is huge belief that he knows exactly where to find more for the final. When this pair make it to a jump-off at this level, a top-three finish has become the expectation. Now, time for the win.</p>
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<h3 dir="ltr">Dont Miss: Richard Vogel &amp; Gangster Montdesir</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Vogel and <strong>Gangster Montdesir</strong> posted the fastest jump-off time of the night (37.34 seconds) but had four faults to go with it.They finished fourth. They won the season's opening 5* Grand Prix at Week 5 - the $500,000 Fidelity Investments CSI5*.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Gangster is only just turned 10. Their 5* 160 record now reads: five starts, five clear rounds, two wins (the first coming in Lyon last October).&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Vogel also expressed exactly why this venue matters to his preparation: <em>"Wellington is our home in the winter months. It's my fifth circuit here, and it has always been good to us, good to our horses. Every year, we can step up a couple of new, younger, exciting horses, and Gangster is the one this year."</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">History says that riders who win the Week 5 Grand Prix at WEF have historically gone on to exceptional seasons - Farrington and Greya's 2025 victory preceded a nine-win year; Fuchs and Clooney used their 2019 success as a springboard to seven 5* Grand Prix. The pattern around this class is hard to ignore, and Vogel has backed up the Week 5 trend this weekend.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3 dir="ltr">Nina Mallevaey &amp; Dynastie De Beaufour</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Mallevaey finished fifth in the Grand Prix with four faults in the jump-off at 39.53 seconds. <br>The top-ranked u25 rider in the world and the breakout star of 2025 has continued an unbelievable run of form with <strong>Dynastie De Beaufour.</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">This was their TWELFTH consecutive clear jumping round at CSI5* 1.60m, becoming only the fifth horse since 2010 to reach this run of consecutive clears. If she is clear next time out, she joins<strong> Big Star</strong> who made it to 13 in-a-row.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/38556da7-03fd-4132-8572-4e8f26aacaf6.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Us Open Dressage Grid Post"></p>
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<p dir="ltr">The absence of last year&rsquo;s winner <strong>Kent Farrington</strong> from the Grand Prix start list this week is also significant. Farrington, the world No. 2, is a name whose entry will reshape the complexion of any field they enter. If Farrington and <strong>Greya</strong> canter into the ring at Week 12, they will be carrying the weight of their elite record on their shoulders.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The broader point is this: the US field for Week 12 is not Ward and a supporting cast. It is Ward, Farrington, Kraut, Keenan, and a bench of depth that few nations will match. The international field will arrive with serious credentials. So will the Americans.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>The Rolex US Equestrian Open Final takes place during WEF Week 12, Wellington, Florida. Four weeks remain.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-werth-breaks-records-while-ward-wins-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></em></p>

Ward Wins in Wellington (Again)

Open Weekly Graphic with Stephanie Goodman & Elwenda DP cross-country 

The Open Weekly: Debut Wins in Eventing & New Venues in Dressage

<p><strong>Benjamin Ebeling</strong> and <strong>Bellena</strong> closed out the WEC spring season with authority, scoring a 76.190&mdash;their best ride to date, and the mare&rsquo;s all-time high. The win marked their second US Equestrian Open of Dressage victory, but this one felt different. The performance was bold, clean, and confident, set to a girl-power-themed freestyle featuring tracks like <em>Femininomenon</em>, <em>Rich Girl</em>, <em>Maneater</em>, and <em>Perfect</em>. The message was clear: this pair is Finals-ready.</p>
<p>This result solidifies Ebeling&rsquo;s position inside the top 18. He now sits tied for 12th with 57 points, and with just four qualifiers remaining&mdash;and one of them (TerraNova) right in his Florida backyard&mdash;it would take a significant shake-up to knock him out of Finals contention. More importantly, the performance suggests he won&rsquo;t just be making up the numbers in Thermal. He&rsquo;s proving he can win big classes against full fields, and he&rsquo;s done it twice this season. If this momentum carries into the fall, Ebeling could be a serious podium threat when the series wraps in California.</p>
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<p>Ben Ebeling talks family, freestyle, and the future of US dressage in a new podcast&mdash;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-ebeling-family-freestyle-future-of-US-dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listen now</a>.</p>
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<h2><strong>Marek Crosses 100</strong></h2>
<p>Finishing second on the weekend with a score of 75.620, <strong>Anna Marek</strong> officially became the first&mdash;and so far, only&mdash;rider to break 100 points in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. Her total now sits at 105, with all six of her qualifying rides complete. It&rsquo;s a landmark number, one that reflects the consistency and composure she&rsquo;s shown across multiple venues, multiple horses, and nearly every type of pressure.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e91b3c29-9936-47e1-a729-842436e6ae70.jpeg?width=993&amp;height=723" alt="Screenshot of the leaderboard with Anna Marek in first place on 105 points."></p>
<p>This ride didn&rsquo;t add a win to her tally, but it did reinforce Marek&rsquo;s position as the most successful rider in the series to date. That said, the gap is beginning to narrow. Ebeling&rsquo;s score this weekend topped hers, and while Marek remains the clear front-runner heading into the Finals, she&rsquo;s no longer operating in a vacuum. With just one series win under her belt, the question becomes: can she log another when it counts? Are these second-place finishes part of a deliberate training strategy, or the first signs of pressure peeking through? There&rsquo;s still every reason to believe Marek has what it takes to be the series&rsquo; inaugural champion, but for the first time, there&rsquo;s reason to ask. She now has two world-class Grand Prix horses to choose from heading into Thermal&mdash;depth no other rider in the field can match. Even so, the path to the title feels a little less certain than it did a month ago.</p>
<h2>A Debut Worth Watching</h2>
<p><strong>Christian Simonson</strong> and <strong>Fleau De Baian </strong>made their CDI freestyle debut this weekend and walked away with third on a score of 72.330%. Their test was composed and confident, especially impressive in a ten-rider field that included both seasoned competitors and emerging international talent. While several riders in the class were chasing Finals points, Simonson was riding to show he belongs in the conversation.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Already a decorated young rider with a European Tour bronze medal and mentorship under <strong>Adrienne Lyle</strong>, Simonson&rsquo;s transition into senior-level CDI competition is clearly well underway. With a podium finish on debut, he and Fleau De Baian are a pair to watch in future Series stops, even if this year&rsquo;s Finals are likely out of reach.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The Middle Gets Messy</h2>
<p><strong>Charlotte Jorst</strong> brought <strong>GPF&rsquo;s S-Express</strong> into the Grand Prix Freestyle spotlight this weekend for the gelding&rsquo;s debut at the level. The 10-year-old Westphalian gelding scored a 64.990. Not a headline-making number, but also not the point. Bringing a horse to the Grand Prix level and debuting a freestyle in a series of this caliber speaks to the depth of Jorst&rsquo;s program. She remains in 7th overall with 65 points and will likely head to the Finals aboard <strong>Zhaplin Langholt</strong>, a more experienced partner who has carried her to podium positions before.</p>
<p><strong>Eline Eckroth</strong> had a tougher weekend. After placing fifth in the Grand Prix, she dropped to 10th in the freestyle with a 62.535&mdash;her lowest score of the season. While shifts between the two phases are common, a five-place drop is unusual. Still, her leaderboard position is strong. She now sits in a tie for second with 86 points, a result of strategic entries in smaller fields earlier this season. Her leaderboard position reflects a season of smart scheduling and consistent entries, particularly in smaller fields. Whether that translates to success at the Finals is another question.&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>The Final Push Begins</strong></h2>
<p>The window for Finals qualification is closing. <strong>Nadine</strong> <strong>Schwartsman</strong>, <strong>Micaela</strong> <strong>Mabragana</strong>, and <strong>Brittney</strong> <strong>Simpson</strong> are locked in a three-way tie for 18th place, but with Schwartsman scheduled to ride in next week&rsquo;s qualifier, she&rsquo;s got the first shot to break from the pack. That Oregon qualifier marks the final stop before a long summer break, with the series resuming September 23 at Dressage at Devon.</p>
<p>Personal bests, photo finishes, and podium drama usually grab the headlines. But with limited chances left for anyone still chasing the cutoff, the narrative shifts. It&rsquo;s not about who&rsquo;s winning. It&rsquo;s about who&rsquo;s still in the fight.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fade3f77-cbac-402e-9d26-e7c84a8fc0fc.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="US Equestrian Open of Dressage Schedule"></p>

WEC Belongs to Ebeling 

<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The US Equestrian Open rolls into Rebecca Farm this weekend with a field headlined by <strong>Tamie Smith </strong>and her superstar <strong>Mai Baum.&nbsp;</strong>Mai Baum arrives with a huge win chance for what could be a fairytale finish to their top-level career. They will very likely lead the first phase, but with finishing on your dressage score at Rebecca Farm proving nearly impossible and several fast horses in the field, this competition is far from a foregone conclusion.</p>
<p data-start="303" data-end="528" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">It also marks a key moment in the season: the <strong data-start="349" data-end="411">last US Equestrian Open qualifier before an almost two-month break. There will be</strong>&nbsp;<strong data-start="423" data-end="457">five more qualifiers remaining</strong> in the Series after this weekend, before riders return to Morven Park for a big-money final in early October.&nbsp; <strong data-start="218" data-end="236">James Alliston</strong> is entered with Paper Jam and prove the biggest threat to a Tamie fairytale. Provided they complete, it looks likely that they will overtake Caroline Pamukcu and sit in the Series top-three going into the final stretch.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Listen to the 'Rebecca Farm Preview Show' on US Equestrian Open Podcast now.</em></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37402990/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/0a317e/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
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<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5"><strong>The Mai Baum Factor</strong></h2>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">There should be <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/mai-baum-returns-to-rebecca-farm-for-his-farewell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a lot of coverage of Mai Baum</a> this weekend, regardless of the result. The horse that ended the long wait for a home-nation Kentucky winner, a horse that has helped bring home medals and a horse that took us all on a journey of the highest highs and lowest lows.<a href="https://pod.fo/e/2fb864" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> You can listen to Tamie, Alex, Eric and Ellen discuss their journey here.&nbsp;</a><br><br>They now return to Rebecca Farm for one final top-level appearance together, a decade after claiming their first CCI4* victory at this very event&mdash;in only their second four-star as a partnership.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">They will surely lead the first phase, perhaps by some margin. Looking at their last six international runs as a guide, they have an outstanding <strong>EquiRatings 6 Run Average (6RA) of 24.3</strong>. And Tamie&rsquo;s track record at Rebecca Farm speaks volumes &mdash; she holds four of the top 10 dressage scores at this venue, each delivered on a different horse, including Mai Baum. It would not be a shock for them to set the venue record.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3 class="cgHgbA nxe3IQ Xp24Nw PanoWQ"><strong><span class="OYPEnA">The top 10 </span><span class="OYPEnA">dressage scores a</span><span class="OYPEnA">t the last 10 Rebecca Farm CCI4*-S</span></strong></h3>
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<p data-start="0" data-end="426" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">It is very possible that Tamie is in a 1-2 position after dressage. She will also have<strong> Jutopia</strong> - a ride Tamie is progressing while Molly Duda is on the US Development Tour.&nbsp; Tommy Greengard's That's Me Z is also one to watch for a high twenties (projected within the top 4 starting scores).&nbsp;</p>
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<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5"><strong>The (Near) Impossibility of Finishing on Your Dressage Score</strong></h2>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">When you have an almost certain strong leader in the first phase, we begin to seek out a key element of what makes sport so special: jeopardy.&nbsp;<br><br>Let's start with Mai Baum. Tamie Smith and Mai Baum&rsquo;s record at the 4*-S level suggests some penalties will be added. They have never made the time together at this level &mdash; likely a strategic choice rather than a limitation in speed &mdash; but it leaves the door wide open for faster rivals.<br><br>Here's a statistic:&nbsp;<strong>Half of the last 10 winners were leading after dressage</strong> - which means half weren't. The winning range at Rebecca Farm spans from 30.7 to 58.3, with an average winning score of 40.6.&nbsp;</p>
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<p data-start="0" data-end="345" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Since 2008, 235 riders have taken on the CCI4*-S at Rebecca Farm &mdash; and only one has ever finished on their dressage score. That standout performance came from <strong>Karen O'Connor</strong> and <strong>Mandiba</strong> in 2010, when they held onto their dressage score of 29.5 from start to finish, winning by a remarkable 9.8 marks. It&rsquo;s a reminder that even if Tamie and Mai Baum deliver a low score in the first phase, this win won&rsquo;t be handed to them &mdash; Rebecca Farm doesn&rsquo;t make it easy.</p>
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<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5"><strong>Speed Horses to Watch</strong></h2>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">The cross-country phase has been historically influential, with just 60% of riders achieving a clear round over the last 10 years. More tellingly, only 3% manage to finish inside the optimum time - making time penalties almost inevitable for most of the field.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e8986802-36e2-4a3f-80d0-d2ede483ee26.png?width=1080&amp;height=752" alt="Portrait Usef Blog Covers   Ev &amp; Dr (4)"><br>Can anyone make the time? Probably one person. <strong>James Alliston </strong>has an outstanding record of making the time at this level. Their clear rate at CCI4*-S level is an incredible 31%. For context, Tamie Smith's is 8%.</p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><strong>Tommy Greengard</strong> may be new to this level with just five 4*-S starts, but he&rsquo;s already delivered a clear inside the time, albeit with <strong>Joshuay MBF.</strong> Greengard has shown he has the pace and precision to be a contender. Not so long ago, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/tommy-greengard-the-west-coast-contender-who-could-win-it-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diarm suggested he could win the entire series</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="cgHgbA nxe3IQ Xp24Nw PanoWQ"><strong><span class="OYPEnA">The fastest cross country horses in the field&nbsp;</span></strong></h3>
<p><em><strong><span class="OYPEnA">Based on EquiRatings Top Speed Percentage</span></strong></em></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7867fa07-c874-49ef-906d-658d84873b25.png?width=660&amp;height=1056" alt="Speed Horses"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5"><strong>The Final Phase Factor</strong></h2>
<p data-start="28" data-end="360">Show jumping on Sunday has played a decisive role at Rebecca Farm in recent years &mdash; but not always in the way you&rsquo;d expect. Over the last 10 runnings, only 20% of riders have delivered a clear round in the final phase. Yet a perfect round isn&rsquo;t essential for victory &mdash; 7 of the last 10 winners had at least one rail on the final day.</p>
<p data-start="362" data-end="555">Two combinations to keep an eye on this Sunday are <strong data-start="413" data-end="452">Lizzie Hoff </strong>and <strong data-start="413" data-end="452">HSH Limited Edition</strong> and <strong data-start="457" data-end="496">Jack Curtis </strong>with<strong data-start="457" data-end="496"> Luska Candy Clover</strong>, both arriving with good jumping records at the level below.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="DF_utQ _682gpw _0xkaeQ">
<div class="aF9o6Q _0yZ6Qg">
<div class="AModoQ">
<div>
<div>
<div class="AdBbhQ hGbcYA rLWGlw _7rUwsA" lang="en">
<h2 class="cgHgbA nxe3IQ Xp24Nw PanoWQ"><span class="OYPEnA">The most reliable&nbsp;</span><span class="OYPEnA">show </span><span class="OYPEnA">jumpers&nbsp;</span><span class="OYPEnA">in the field</span></h2>
<p><em><strong><span class="OYPEnA">Based on the adjusted average of their SJ penalties</span></strong></em></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/52d7be0a-d5d6-4efd-b6e5-6729079b650f.png?width=1102&amp;height=1048" alt="Showjumping Horses"></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5"><strong>Who wins?</strong></h2>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">According to the<strong>&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/rebecca_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>EquiRatings Prediction Centre</strong></a>,<strong> Tamie Smith</strong> enters on 61% win chance and an 85% shot at the podium. She sits far ahead of the next most-likely winners <strong>James Alliston</strong> and <strong>Paper Jam</strong> on 13% and <strong>Rebecca Braitling </strong>with <strong>Caravaggio </strong>on 6%. <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/rebecca_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5d449b0a-7598-4910-91ee-8a5e2b259911.png?width=720&amp;height=820" alt="Screenshot 2025 07 14 125127 (1)"></a></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="whitespace-normal break-words">Want to know more about Rebecca Farm?</h2>
<p>We've crunched all the numbers, analyzed every stat, and uncovered the key storylines you need to know before Rebecca Farm kicks off this weekend. From dressage averages to cross-country clear rates, speed percentages to show jumping reliability - it's all in our comprehensive form guide.<strong> </strong>Check it out <strong><a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/rebeccafarm2025/#who-wins-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="whitespace-normal break-words">When and where to watch?</h2>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">Competition begins Thursday with dressage across two days, cross-country will be on Saturday afternoon, and show jumping on Sunday. In a sport where anything can happen, Rebecca Farm's challenging track record suggests we're in for another thrilling finish.<br><br>You can catch all the action <strong data-start="29" data-end="84">live on the USEF Network, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV</strong>, streaming free with a <strong data-start="108" data-end="131">USEF Fan Membership</strong> &mdash; check it out<strong> <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/16709?utm_campaign=main_slider_content&amp;utm_medium=cmh_content_slider&amp;utm_source=clipmyhorse&amp;utm_term=2025%2BOcala%2BSummer%2BSeries%2BII%2BCSI3%252A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a></strong></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal break-words">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Rebecca Farm CCI4*-S Preview

<p>For the first time this season, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage splits in two, with qualifiers unfolding on both coasts this weekend. Riders will face off in Ocala and Del Mar, marking the first West Coast qualifier since opening weekend. Below are six key storylines to follow as the competition unfolds.</p>
<h3>1. This weekend marks the series&rsquo; first doubleheader</h3>
<p>With two qualifiers happening simultaneously, competitors on both coasts are fighting for valuable series points. The World Equestrian Center in Ocala hosts&nbsp;<em>Qualifier 7 - East</em>, while Del Mar Horse Park in California sees the return of West Coast action for <em>Qualifier 7 - West</em>&mdash;the first in the region since opening weekend.<br><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/17bb66f7-85cb-46de-8eb4-c41f72005e04?width=1364&amp;height=1326" alt="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats for WEC Ocala "></p>
<h3>2. Familiar names and new entrants are in the mix</h3>
<p>Week One winner <strong>Genay Vaughn</strong> is competing again on&nbsp;<strong>Gino </strong>in Del Mar, and Week Five winner <strong>Denielle Gallagher</strong> is returning with&nbsp;<strong>Come Back de Massa</strong> in Ocala. Both riders have a chance to become the <strong>first double winner of the series</strong>&mdash;and if either of them succeeds, they will tie <strong>Evelyn Eger</strong> for first place in the standings.&nbsp;<br><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b18f60dc-0ca7-49ef-84fd-a0c82902406b?width=1364&amp;height=1280" alt="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats for Del Mar Dressage Opener"></p>
<h3>3. Vaughn and Gino are on an upward trajectory.</h3>
<p>Although the pair are technically third based on averages, their consistent scoring improvements put them in strong contention for first place this weekend. If they achieve a new combination best, they will be well within reach of challenger&nbsp;<strong>G&uuml;nter Seidel&rsquo;s</strong> averages. Vaughn and Gino won Qualifier One on a score of 75.150%, while Seidel and <strong>Equirelle&rsquo;s</strong> average freestyle score sits at 75.423%&mdash;putting Vaughn within striking range of a victory.<br><br></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8af5861b-1a9c-4343-9358-1dafb929a37f?width=1204&amp;height=912" alt="Qn Ybw Genay Vaughn Gino S Freestyle Scores"></p>
<h3>4. Three-time Olympian G&uuml;nter Seidel enters the series competition on Equirelle</h3>
<p>The pair last competed at the FEI level in November 2024, when Seidel piloted Equirelle to first place in the Grand Prix Special. However, before that, they had not appeared in an FEI arena since 2021, which was also the last time they completed a freestyle. At that event, they finished second with a score of 76.615%, their combination-best. While they may be shaking off some rust this weekend, it&rsquo;s hard to count them out as podium contenders. With the highest average in the field (75.423%) and Seidel&rsquo;s decades of experience, they are well-positioned to impress this weekend<br><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d6d0d51a-e05e-4433-b601-00fcd93fa2ba?width=1204&amp;height=1472" alt="A table examining G&uuml;nter Seidel's career highlights"></p>
<h3>5. The East Coast qualifier is wide open, with the top three entrants separated by less than one percentage point.&nbsp;</h3>
<p><strong>&bull; Hatsjie B (James Koford) </strong>&ndash; 71.808%<br><strong>&bull; Dee Clair (Caroline Stevenson)&nbsp;</strong>&ndash; 71.378%.<br><strong>&bull; Come Back de Massa (Denielle Gallagher)&nbsp;</strong>&ndash; 70.748%</p>
<p>Although&nbsp;<strong>Dee Clair&rsquo;s</strong> personal best is 76.100%, that score came with rider <strong>Anna Marek</strong> in 2021. This will be Stevenson&rsquo;s first FEI freestyle aboard Dee Clair, though they have completed four freestyles at the national level.</p>
<h3>6. Three horses are making their FEI Grand Prix Freestyle debut this weekend</h3>
<p>On the East Coast, <strong>Etanga </strong>(ridden by <strong>Alexandra Dominguez Thomas</strong>), and on the West Coast, <strong>Flower-power </strong>and <strong>Iniesto</strong> (both ridden by<strong> Laura de Cesari</strong>) will make their first appearances.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With two qualifiers running simultaneously for the first time, this weekend&rsquo;s competition could have a major impact on the series standings. With top contenders looking to solidify their positions and new faces entering the mix, both coasts promise an exciting showdown as the road to the US Equestrian Open Finals continues to unfold. Both freestyle classes take place Saturday, February 15. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Become a USEF Network Fan for free</a> to stream the upcoming qualifiers live!&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
<p dir="ltr">For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4bcc5e89-799b-4ab1-85d0-23b457ed5fa2?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Show Calendar for the 2025 Us Equestrian Open of Dressage Series"></p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

Picture of horse and rider from above as they enter the arena. They are dressed in gear for Dressage.

6 Key Things to Know About Qualifier 7's Doubleheader

<p dir="ltr">Last weekend at The Fork,&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoEwwLDYCw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boyd Martin soared to the top of the Open leaderboard</a></strong> after securing a 120-point haul. <strong>Phillip Dutton</strong>, on 215 points, is now sitting pretty in second place. But, while Boyd is fairly out of reach this late in the Series, Phillip&nbsp;<em>can </em>be caught and if he is, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it will cost him $5,000</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr"><em><strong>Prize money come Series end:</strong></em></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><em>1st - $25,000</em></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;"><em>2nd - $15,000</em></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;"><em>3rd - $10,000</em></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">One rider with a good shot at catching Phillip is&nbsp;<strong>James Alliston</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>James is competing in this weekend's Qualifier 18 - Twin Rivers - and&nbsp;<strong>he&rsquo;s won the last five editions of the event.</strong></p>
<p><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9b4f52ba-a85f-4a2a-84c1-76355322fce3.png?width=1190&amp;height=1670" alt="Last 10 Winners of Twin Rivers Cci4 S">&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">This time, James brings forward a CCI4* first-timer,&nbsp;<strong>HMR Rolan</strong>. But looking at Rolan&rsquo;s results, so far he has handled everything in stride. James has taken Rolan around four internationals and, across all four, Rolan has added just 4 penalties to his dressage score, just a single rail. That&rsquo;s it.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5b88af88-2748-4fa6-9b81-40791d070065.png?width=1400&amp;height=736" alt="Cm Ob F Hmr Rolan S International Appearances (1)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">On their latest outing last month - a national event - James and Rolan were crowned <strong>USEA Open Intermediate Champions</strong> and before that, they finished second in the Rebecca Farm CCI3*-L.</p>
<p>Now, facing Rolan's first CCI4*, the pair compete against five other combinations and according to EquiRatings Predictive Analytics,<strong><a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/twinriverssep2025/predictions--records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> they have a 35% chance of winning</a></strong>.</p>
<p>That&rsquo;s important because<strong> a win here would take James from 145 Series points to 185 points and equal third in the Series.</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Then, after Twin Rivers, there is one last qualifier on the West Coast - Qualifier 20: Woodside. The Woodside Fall International is an event James has started 24 times before, including two entries in the CCI2*-S last year. He hasn&rsquo;t contested the CCI4*-S there since 2020 but he may be incentivized to enter this year - given the horse power - if it gives him a chance to secure more Open winnings.&nbsp;</p>
<h1><strong>The Scenario</strong></h1>
<p dir="ltr">Say James wins Twin Rivers this weekend to sit on 185 points coming into Woodside. To then catch Phillip on 215, James would need to place third or higher at Woodside (30+ Series points) to meet or exceed Phillip. Now, from 2020 onward, the number of Woodside 4*-S starters has ranged from 2 (2024) to 15 (2020), so placing third this year may be more or less straightforward depending on the number of this year&rsquo;s entries.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<h1><strong>Other Challengers</strong></h1>
<p>Another qualifier going on this weekend is the East Coast&rsquo;s Plantation Field. Of that field, <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> and <strong>Jennie Brannigan</strong> are the two that could join James in a race for the Open podium.</p>
<p><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2e11d825-95cc-4c7c-8ac9-a0d18a33031a.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="West Side Story leaderboard notations"> </strong></p>
<p><em>All to say</em>, the Series ain't over. The checks aren&rsquo;t written. Stay tuned.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h1><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h1>
<p>The Final in a snapshot. For full Series details, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head to our quick guide</a>.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e95e199-0e64-4508-aaa5-7039e5d08293.png?width=2160&amp;height=2700" alt="Final Snapshot for Open Eventing Blogs"></p>
<h3><strong>Current Series Standings (Sep 18, 2025):</strong></h3>
<p><span style="color: rgb(109, 114, 114);"><em>See the full, updated series standings and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em></span></p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dfc13b24-b6dc-4dab-ac88-91d5d46150e5.png?width=721&amp;height=557" alt="Eventing Leaderboard as of 18 Sep 2025"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full <strong>Series calendar </strong>below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Image of James Alliston jumping the dark bay horse Karma over a cross country fence during competition.

West Side Story

<p>Kent Farrington has done what only Kent Farrington has ever done before. With victory in the $340,000 CSI5* Grand Prix of Greenwich aboard Toulayna, the world no. 1 secured his eighth five-star Grand Prix/World Cup triumph of 2025, matching the unprecedented tally he first set in 2017.</p>
<h2>History Repeats Itself, With a Twist</h2>
<p>In the modern era of show jumping, consistency at the very top is one of the sport&rsquo;s hardest currencies. Since 2010, no rider other than Farrington has managed to amass eight five-star Grand Prix or World Cup wins in a single calendar year. Martin Fuchs (2019) and McLain Ward (2010) came close, but only Farrington has scaled the summit. Twice.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ea454955-bc3b-41c8-b0b3-aed61501a437.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Usef Jumping Graphics 2025 (21)"></p>
<p>This latest victory in Greenwich, achieved by just three-hundredths of a second over Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V., was the perfect snapshot of what makes Farrington unstoppable: speed, precision, and the nerve to execute under pressure.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Greya Joins the Legends</h2>
<p>It isn&rsquo;t just Farrington rewriting history this year, his superstar mare Greya is doing the same. With her latest Grand Prix win in Williamsburg, the 11-year-old Oldenburg (Colestus x Contender) captured her sixth five-star victory of 2025, matching the legendary record set by Gazelle in 2017. Remarkably, both mares have been guided to these milestone seasons by Farrington, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest championship managers of horses in modern show jumping. With history still unfolding, Greya&rsquo;s campaign could yet surpass Gazelle&rsquo;s benchmark and stand alone at the very top.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/204b935d-44bc-4581-ad1c-99937e60f2a6.png?width=1200&amp;height=600" alt="1"></p>
<h2>Rivalries and Records</h2>
<p>Farrington and Bluman have been locked in a season-long battle across Major League Show Jumping and beyond, trading blows in Toronto, Traverse City, and now Greenwich. While Bluman once again pushed him to the limit, Farrington&rsquo;s composure in the jump-off brought his season tally to an extraordinary eight wins.</p>
<p>Behind the stats lies a remarkable storyline: Farrington&rsquo;s triumphs have come aboard multiple horses, led by Greya, with whom he has taken 6 of those wins and Toulayna, the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare co-owned with Rabbit Root Stables. The mares&rsquo; blend of scope and speed has been the cornerstone of Farrington&rsquo;s dominance in 2025.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2f5016af-b017-4a7f-92b4-8eb6707474d8.png?width=1200&amp;height=600" alt="2"></p>
<h2>The Making of a Modern Legend</h2>
<p>What sets Farrington apart isn&rsquo;t just his ability to win, it&rsquo;s his ability to do it again, and again, across different arenas, continents, and lineups of the world&rsquo;s best. From Wellington to Traverse City, from Toronto to Greenwich, 2025 has been a masterclass in sustained brilliance.</p>
<p>Eight five-star Grand Prix victories in one year is a number most riders can scarcely imagine. For Kent Farrington, it is not just a record, it is a signature.</p>

Eight and Great: Kent Farrington Rewrites the Record Books

Open weekly graphic featuring the US Nations Cup Team

The Open Weekly: Aachen Week & the 100th Aga Khan

<p>In a recent episode of the<strong> US Equestrian Open of Eventing Podcast, Annie Bishop </strong>sat down with eventing star<strong> Sharon White </strong>and <strong>EquiRatings' Diarmuid Byrne </strong>to discuss one of the most exciting horses in the sport today &mdash; Jaguars Duende.&nbsp;<br><br>The US Equestrian Open Podcast is available <a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on all podcast channels here</a> and you can check out Sharon's <a href="https://pod.fo/e/2ac78a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode here.&nbsp;</a></p>
<h2 class="p-rich_text_section"><strong data-stringify-type="bold">A Mare with Confidence and Character</strong></h2>
<p>Sharon White describes Jaguars Duende as<strong> fiercely independent and confident,</strong> traits she believes are essential for success.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"She shows up to work every day. She likes her job, she likes doing things well, and she goes along with my motto: If you're going to do something, do it well.<strong> That&rsquo;s what makes her so special &mdash; she finds enjoyment in working hard."<br></strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Her determination is evident not only in competition but also in training. Sharon enjoys that Jaguars Duende isn&rsquo;t afraid to express herself, even if it means bucking her off every now and then!</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I like that she has enough confidence to try and tell me to go fly a kite sometimes."</p>
<p>"If you&rsquo;re gonna do something, do it well, otherwise don&rsquo;t bother to do it. Which includes bucking me off, by the way! That&rsquo;s one of her favorite things too &mdash; which I love, right? Because I like that she has enough confidence to try and tell me to go fly a kite sometimes."</p>
</blockquote>
<h2><strong><video controls="controls" width="600" height="300"><source src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c66e89fb-6000-4eed-9ed9-9ef123b671cb" type="video/mp4"></video></strong></h2>
<h2><strong>A Remarkable Journey from an Unlikely Start</strong></h2>
<blockquote>
<p>"When I first saw the videos, I was like, 'I wouldn&rsquo;t buy that.'"</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Jaguars Duende&rsquo;s journey began when Sharon purchased her as a three-year-old, sight unseen. However, she admits her first impressions weren&rsquo;t exactly glowing.</p>
<p>"When I first saw the videos, I was like, 'I wouldn&rsquo;t buy that. Just being honest.' And then when she came over, I thought, 'I don&rsquo;t know. I don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen.'"</p>
<p>Despite initial doubts, White recognized that Jaguars Duende needed time and patience. She focused on helping her develop confidence and strength rather than rushing her progress. <strong>That patience has certainly paid off, as she has developed into one of the most exciting horses in US eventing today.</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I&rsquo;ve always thought big picture with her. It&rsquo;s not about the immediacy of what you&rsquo;re going to do this weekend. It&rsquo;s: what am I going to do three years from now? That&rsquo;s what really interests me."</p>
</blockquote>
<h2><strong>A Stellar Competition Record</strong></h2>
<p>Jaguars Duende has quickly become one of the sport&rsquo;s most talked-about rising stars. Diarmuid shared the impressive statistics:</p>
<ul class="p-rich_text_list p-rich_text_list__bullet p-rich_text_list--nested" data-stringify-type="unordered-list" data-list-tree="true" data-indent="0" data-border="0">
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0"><strong data-stringify-type="bold">11 international starts, nine podium finishes </strong>(the other two starts were withdrawals before cross-country)</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0"><strong data-stringify-type="bold">Three wins in her last four competitions</strong></li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0"><strong data-stringify-type="bold">A victory in the Maryland 5 Star CCI3*-L to close out the 2024 season</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>These numbers are staggering, but White admits she rarely focuses on them.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It's hard to read the label when you're inside the box. You don't even realize what's happening until you step back and look at that pile of blue ribbons. I was cleaning out the barn and found this pile of ribbons, and I thought, 'Holy moly, they're all Jags!'"</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 class="p-rich_text_section"><strong><video controls="controls" width="600" height="300"><source src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/40daeed9-fdb5-437d-be20-7123a08e2d76" type="video/mp4"></video><br><br>The Road Ahead: US Equestrian Open and Beyond</strong></h2>
<blockquote>
<p>"With horses, you never really know. You make a plan, but they tell you what&rsquo;s next."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Jaguars Duende is set to make her first appearance at <strong data-stringify-type="bold"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/about-the-us-equestrian-open-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bouckaert</a></strong>. While the US Equestrian Open remains a possibility, White emphasizes the journey will be dictated by what Jags tells her.</p>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">"The US Equestrian Open is exciting because it brings so much fun into the sport. There&rsquo;s so much talk about it, so much anticipation. You look at the calendar and think, &lsquo;Could this be an option?&rsquo; But with horses, you never really know. You make a plan, but they tell you what&rsquo;s next."</strong></p>
<p>White&rsquo;s philosophy remains centered on <strong>patience and trusting the process</strong>. Every step of Jaguars Duende's career has been carefully planned to ensure she moves up when she&rsquo;s ready. With continued growth and strong performances, her future looks incredibly bright.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong data-stringify-type="bold">"My Little Pegasus"</strong></h2>
<p>Jaguars Duende is more than just a top competitor; she&rsquo;s a horse with presence, personality, and a devoted team behind her. Sharon White&rsquo;s dedication to her long-term success is evident, and as she steps into 2025, fans will be eagerly following along to see just how far she can go.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong data-stringify-type="bold">"She doesn&rsquo;t mind digging deep when she has to, and I love that.</strong> That&rsquo;s something you need in a great horse. When she started to give me that feeling, I would call her my little Pegasus, because suddenly, she had wings."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With a stellar track record and a team committed to her development, Jaguars Duende is a name to remember. As the season unfolds, we&rsquo;ll all be watching to see where her journey takes her.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>What&rsquo;s Next in the Open?</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Having kicked off in 2024, the US Equestrian Open qualifiers will pick back up in March when the leaderboard battle continues at Bouckaert.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/145ad0e6-6356-4cd4-98f7-394e78b6afdb?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series"></p>
<p dir="ltr">For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.</p>
<h3><strong>Series Standings at the End of 2024:</strong></h3>
<p><em style="font-size: 93%; color: #999999;">See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em></p>
<p><em style="font-size: 93%; color: #999999;"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024"></em></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Stay Connected</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

Photo of Sharon White during an awards ceremony. She is seen from the torso up behind her horse's ears, who she sits on while smiling very broadly, still in her show jumping kit.

Jaguars Duende: Sharon White on Her Rising Star of US Eventing

<p>Since 2010, the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) has hosted 59 five-star Grands Prix, drawing the best showjumpers in the world to Wellington, Florida. These elite competitions serve as key battlegrounds for top riders, offering a preview of Olympic, World Championship, and Nations Cup success. EquiRatings' Elo Field Strength metric, which averages the top 25 Elo ratings in a competition, provides a unique insight into just how tough each of these Grands Prix have been. The data reveals that some of the fiercest battles in WEF history have taken place in the past few seasons&mdash;including multiple events from 2025 making it into the top 10.</p>
<p>So, which competitions had the most stacked fields? And who emerged victorious against the toughest opposition?</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/64e1a0e5-2cee-458a-873d-4db785a7b948.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Usef Jumping Graphics 2025 (1)"></p>
<h1>2025: A Year for the Record Books</h1>
<p>Out of the 59 five-star Grands Prix at WEF since 2010, three from the 2025 season have already made the top 10 based on Elo Field Strength, solidifying this year as one of the most competitive in Wellington history.</p>
<h3>Emilie Conter &amp; Portobella Van de Fruitkorf Stun a Star-Studded Field</h3>
<p>Last weekend&rsquo;s CSI5 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix (WEF 9)* reached an Elo Field Strength of 716, ranking it among the top three toughest Wellington competitions on record. The entry list read like a who&rsquo;s who of showjumping, featuring:</p>
<ul>
<li>Reigning World Champions <strong>Henrik von Eckermann &amp; King Edward</strong> (810)</li>
<li>Reigning Olympic Champions <strong>Christian Kukuk &amp; Checker 47</strong> (760)</li>
<li>US Olympic Team Silver Medalists <strong>McLain Ward &amp; Ilex</strong> (731)</li>
</ul>
<p>Yet, it was U25 rider Emilie Conter and her 10-year-old mare Portobella Van de Fruitkorf who stole the show, claiming their first-ever five-star Grand Prix victory in one of the toughest fields ever recorded at WEF.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It hasn't sunk in yet; I'm super happy with my horse and my team for making this happen," a beaming Conter said post-victory. "I saw a really long [distance] to the last oxer, and I heard Helena [Stormanns] scream 'go get it!', so I took it. I didn&rsquo;t think it was going to be enough to beat these other riders, but I looked up and saw that I was in first.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The moment was made even more special with Conter&rsquo;s grandparents in the crowd, and her groom, Lisa Sorg, earning the Double H Farm Grooms Award for her exceptional care of Portobella Van de Fruitkorf.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Kent Farrington &amp; Greya: The Dynamic Duo</h3>
<p>US star Kent Farrington and Greya have been rewriting WEF history in 2025. Both of their five-star Grand Prix victories this season made the list of highest Field Strengths ever recorded at Wellington, proving just how dominant they have been.</p>
<p>With these wins, Farrington became only the second rider to secure multiple five-star Grand Prix victories in a single WEF season. Meanwhile, Greya became the first horse to achieve this feat&mdash;cementing her status as one of the circuit&rsquo;s most formidable competitors.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1>The Rolex Grand Prix: Where the Best Meet the Best</h1>
<p>The CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix consistently draws the strongest fields of the WEF season.</p>
<p>2024&rsquo;s edition was the highest-rated five-star Grand Prix at WEF since 2010 with an Elo Field Strength of 718. It was <strong>Christian Kukuk &amp; Checker 47</strong> who took the win in this class and later went on to win individual gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.</p>
<p>The previous year, it was also a German combination that took top honours in the Rolex Grand Prix at the Wellington International. Richard Vogel rode the then only 9-year-old <strong>Cepano Baloubet</strong> to victory in challenging weather conditions to beat out the competition with an Elo Field Strength of 714.</p>
<h1>An Underdog Victory in a Field of Champions</h1>
<p>2021&rsquo;s WEF 5 Grand Prix was another showdown of champions with an Elo Field Strength of 717, the second-highest ever-recorded at the Wellington International.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The start list included <strong>Ben Maher&rsquo;s Explosion W</strong>, who would later claim Olympic gold in Tokyo, and <strong>Martin Fuchs &amp; Clooney 51</strong>, the reigning European Champions at the time. Despite the depth of talent, it was <strong>Shane Sweetnam &amp; Alejandro</strong> who took the win, entering this class as the 16th rated combination of the field.</p>
<h1><br>What&rsquo;s Next at Wellington International?</h1>
<p>With the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix, US Equestrian Open Final just around the corner, all eyes are on Wellington International to see if 2025 will continue its trend of setting new records for competitiveness.</p>
<p>Can Kent Farrington &amp; Greya make it a third victory? Will another young star emerge, as Emilie Conter did? Or will a proven champion like Christian Kukuk defend their dominance?</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>About the Series</strong><br>Born from a commitment by the US Equestrian Board in July 2023, the US Equestrian Open aims to grow the sport's awareness, exposure, and fan engagement. With $1 million in prize money and extensive media coverage on ESPN and the USEF Network, this series is designed to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Provide a structured, prestigious championship format.</li>
<li>Attract a broader audience.</li>
<li>Enhance competition opportunities for athletes.</li>
</ul>
<p>Stay connected with the US Equestrian Open on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the USEF Network for live event updates, stories, and results. Use #USEquestrianOpen to share your own experiences and connect with fellow fans.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1ba79d22-0b13-4687-b1e5-5dc0cd708aee?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="P. 4 Jumping"></p>
<p><strong>For sponsorship and media inquiries, please contact:</strong></p>
<p>Carly Weilminster: cweilminster@usef.org<br>Layson Griffin: lgriffin@usef.org</p>

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