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

<h3 data-start="541" data-end="595">Tryon's Podium</h3>
The young mare Jaguars Duende continued her upward trajectory at the Tryon leg of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing taking the win in the CCI4*-S class. It marked back-to-back CCI4*-S podium finishes for this pair, following a second place on debut at the level.
It was their speed cross country that set her ahead of the field that included established names like Tsetserleg and Direct Advance. Sharon White and Jags&nbsp;picked up 4.4 time faults, the fastest in the field, while the average for the class was 16 penalties. Kim Severson and Cooley Corraghy Diamond delivered a strong performance to secure second place, while rising stars Cole Horn and MBF Cooley Permission To Land rounded out the podium in third. Remarkably, it was only the pair&rsquo;s second CCI4*-S start together - and their first completion at the level - making the result a major milestone in their young partnership.
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<h3 data-start="541" data-end="595"> Jaguars Duende's International Wins</h3>
Their victory at Tryon CCI4*-S marked Jaguars Duende&rsquo;s fifth international win. That win follows up their 2nd place at Ocala for their four-star debut and a 5th at Carolina this spring - adding to a record that already included four other major wins :
<ul>
<li data-start="846" data-end="878">Maryland 5 Star CCI3*-L (2024)</li>
<li data-start="846" data-end="878">Tryon CCI3*-L (2024)</li>
<li data-start="846" data-end="878">Carolina CCI3*-S (2024)</li>
<li data-start="846" data-end="878">Virginia CCI2*-S (2022)</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a539dc4c-e4da-4705-9cbc-d80da46e794b.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (4)">
Across 14 international starts, they&rsquo;ve finished on the podium 9 times, showing their impressive consistency and form.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7695e7c7-80e7-40de-8969-29921fcd6037.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Tryon Recap (4)">
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<h2 data-start="1170" data-end="1221">&nbsp;</h2>
<h3 data-start="1170" data-end="1221">📈 The Rise in Numbers: Elo and What It Tells Us</h3>
A standout marker of their form? Jaguars Duende&rsquo;s Elo rating has surged from 338 to 625 since her international debut. Unlike most horses whose ratings fluctuate, Jags has only moved in one direction - up.
Elo is a performance rating system used by EquiRatings to track the strength of combinations over time. It goes beyond simple results &mdash; taking into account:
<ul>
<li data-start="1723" data-end="1751">The level of competition</li>
<li data-start="1723" data-end="1751">The&nbsp;strength of the field</li>
<li data-start="1723" data-end="1751">How&nbsp;consistently a horse finishes ahead of top-class rivals</li>
</ul>
The higher the rating, the more proven the horse is in big fields. And big jumps in Elo suggest a combination is trending in the right direction - fast.
Elo is not just a stat - it is a story of steady improvement and strong performances against increasingly tough competition. For Jaguars Duende, a rise of nearly 300 points since 2022 confirms what fans and selectors alike are noticing: this horse is exceptional. <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dec1cb6b-32c5-4046-818c-869addfa3f5c.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Tryon Recap (8)"> 
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<h3 data-start="0" data-end="306">What is next for Jaguars Duende?</h3>
At just 9 years old, Jags is on the brink of breaking into the top 25 Elo-rated horses in the USA, with her current score sitting just below Hallie Coon&rsquo;s Cute Girl (630 Elo). Based on her sharp upward trend and consistent form, we expect her to move into that elite tier at her very next outing.
What makes this even more remarkable is the age gap &mdash; the average age of the top 25 Elo horses is 14. If Jags breaks through, she&rsquo;ll be the youngest in the group. She&rsquo;s climbing fast, and doing it years ahead of schedule.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/bd664257-cba0-4e2c-9d65-3cbf266cbce7.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (5)">
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<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
&nbsp;
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
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<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">
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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>.

Jaguars Duende is Climbing to the Top

Annie and Diarm sat down with James Alliston on the US Equestrian Open podcast&mdash;and it&rsquo;s a good one. From his record-breaking weekend at Twin Rivers to the horses in his string and the road to Morven Park, James shares it all.&nbsp; Listen to the full episode or keep reading for the highlights, stats, and standout storylines.
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<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36590375/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002180/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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<h3 class="" data-start="94" data-end="128">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="94" data-end="128">Twin Rivers and Teamwork</h3>
James turned heads at Twin Rivers with a standout performance: four horses finishing in the top five, including first, second, third, and fifth. He became just the fifth rider in 17 years to achieve this rare feat.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0c280dbb-c751-47c3-8077-0ee3c4e5745c.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Untitled Design (9)">
That success hasn&rsquo;t come in isolation&mdash;it&rsquo;s the result of a hardworking team behind the scenes. His wife, Helen, plays a pivotal role in the daily training and development of their horses, having produced several of James' horses up to three-star level herself. Their staff and students are essential in maintaining fitness programs and managing the chaos of show-day logistics, especially when multiple horses are competing in the same class. Even event organizers have played a part, adjusting schedules to help James juggle it all.
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<hr class="" data-start="722" data-end="725">
<h3 class="" data-start="727" data-end="768">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="727" data-end="768">Karma: Speed, Spark, and Star Power</h3>
Karma has become a fan favorite&mdash;and deservedly so. Karma brings serious energy both at home and in the ring. Dressage was tricky early on for the pair, but she&rsquo;s settled with experience and now shines at the top level. Looking ahead, James has his eye on Aachen if selected, with Montana and Morven Park also in the mix.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b83a5eb7-97e4-4f78-8f1e-55269fb7cf06.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="She Is a Fantastic Horse an Incredible Athlete, so Fast and an Amazing Jumper. I'm Hoping With Time and Mileage, We Can Just Take a Little Bit of the Edge off the Hotness. but It's Partly That Tha">
James&rsquo;s win at Twin Rivers with Karma wasn&rsquo;t just a highlight of the season&mdash;it marked a major career milestone. It was his 10th international four-star win since 2008, a number achieved by only seven U.S. riders in history.
What makes that stat even more impressive is the efficiency behind it. James has reached that milestone with fewer than 50 runs at the level&mdash;giving him the highest four-star win rate of any U.S. rider on the list, at 22%. Quietly consistent, deeply competitive, and now statistically elite.
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<hr class="" data-start="1380" data-end="1383">
<h3 class="" data-start="1385" data-end="1417">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="1385" data-end="1417">A Deep and Balanced String</h3>
There's Nemesis, making a strong comeback after injury, Paper Jam &mdash;a seasoned four-star veteran&mdash; and promising talents like Cora and Irish Pop who performed well at Twin Rivers.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/709bc7dd-7dc2-4cbd-9eca-68c3c3761632.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston">
Events like Rebecca Farm and Montana feature in his summer calendar as James positions his team for a final push toward the Open finale.
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<h3 class="" data-start="107" data-end="135">Learning from a Legend</h3>
James reflects on his journey in the U.S. that began with a gap year and turned into a career-defining chapter under Bruce Davidson Sr. Working on a farm full of young horses, racehorses, and elite-level talent, he absorbed everything&mdash;from horsemanship and fitness to feel and finesse.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/af037b8a-4057-4809-abd2-79317a7bad5f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (1)">
Bruce&rsquo;s style wasn&rsquo;t built on structured lessons but on immersion: ride, watch, learn, repeat. That intense, hands-on environment shaped James&rsquo;s foundation as a rider.
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<h3 class="" data-start="641" data-end="665">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="641" data-end="665">All In on the Open</h3>
James was immediately intrigued when the U.S. Equestrian Open launched&mdash;especially the idea of serious prize money. For horses not yet ready for five-star, it offers a real purpose and a clear target. Now sitting third on the leaderboard, James plans to contest as many qualifiers as possible and is eyeing a trip to Morven Park for the final. It&rsquo;s a competitive challenge&mdash;and one he&rsquo;s fully committed to.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f611e1de-723f-45e0-80df-da1c4db95b81.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (2)">
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>US Equestrian Open Leaderboard&nbsp;</h3>
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a37f0405-f149-414e-a21d-f585ccec3d83.png?width=733&amp;height=532" alt="Screenshot 2025 05 16 162737">
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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>🎙️&nbsp;Listen Now: James Alliston &amp; The Road to Morven</h3>
From Twin Rivers to leaderboard goals&mdash;James talks Karma, the Open, and what&rsquo;s next.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36590375/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002180/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
&nbsp;
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
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<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">
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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>.

New Podcast: James Alliston and The Road to Morven Park

With a personal best score, Laine Ashker and Zeppelin earned a decisive win at the Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival. Just behind them, Micaela Mabraga&ntilde;a and Belatrix RH delivered when it counted &mdash; their runner-up finish was enough to secure a spot in the US Equestrian Open Final (for now).&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal">A convincing win for a dual-discipline athlete</h2>
Two Grand Prix (GP) Freestyles, two 70+ scores. This weekend at the Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival, in only their second GP Freestyle, Laine Ashker and the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding Zeppelin won with a 73.015% and were the only pair to break into the 70s. It was a personal best for them as Ashker and Zeppy outdid their previous GP Freestyle result of 70.845% from last year&rsquo;s Dressage at Devon. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJxhRecSGTb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">Ashker and Zeppelin have been together since Zeppy was just four years old</a>, making their convincing win even sweeter. The pair won this weekend&rsquo;s Qualifier by 4.390 percentage points over the second-placed pair Micaela Mabraga&ntilde;a &amp; Belatrix RH. That is one of the largest winning margins in the US Equestrian Open so far.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2a28d693-7966-4b7e-8803-158c2a247e7d.png?width=1368&amp;height=2432" alt="The Winning Margins of All Qualifiers to Date. US Equestrian Open of Dressage.">
Ashker is well known in eventing circles, having formed one of those famous five-star eventing partnerships with her beloved, and now retired, Anthony Patch. On any given day on Instagram, you&rsquo;ll see her training the likes of Zeppelin for dressage or the up-and-comer Lovedance for eventing, a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how Lainey pursues excellence in both disciplines.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal">A finalist added! (for now)</h2>
Coming into this Qualifier with 32 Series points, Micaela Mabraga&ntilde;a needed to finish third or higher to secure a place in the Final. She met the brief. With&nbsp;Belatrix RH, Micaela finished second and brought her points tally to 49. That puts her in equal-18th place on the Series leaderboard and&hellip;well&hellip;that is right on the bubble: only the top&nbsp;18 riders&nbsp;at the end of the Series earn a ticket to the&nbsp;$200,000 Final&nbsp;in November.
How Micaela got to 49:
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<ul>
<li>Gold Coast Opener (Qualifier 3) - 2nd with Belatrix RH:&nbsp;17 points</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>WEC Ocala Dressage II (Qualifier 7 East) - 5th with Belatrix RH: 15 points</li>
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<ul>
<li>Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival (Qualifier 18) - 2nd with Belatrix RH: 17 points</li>
</ul>
With five more Qualifiers still to go &ndash; and only four on the east coast &ndash; there will be opportunities for Micaela to solidify her Final qualification with added points. &nbsp;But there will also be opportunities for others to bump her out of the top 18&hellip; That next threat comes this weekend at the WEC Ocala May dressage show which hosts Qualifier 19.
<h2>Who's Qualified for the Final so Far (after Qualifier 18 of 23)</h2>
The top 18 riders at the end of the Series are eligible for the $200,000 Final. All riders tied for 17th right now make up the 17th, 18th and 19th athletes and sit in qualifying positions (everyone tied for 18th does qualify). See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier, <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
&nbsp;<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8c6f6c8c-f528-4aee-b66b-e90534e91944.png?width=700&amp;height=1363" alt="Who Is Qualified for the Final so Far. The Us Equestrian Open of Dressage .">
<h2 class="MsoNormal">What's Coming Up</h2>
Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage"> 
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Color image of Laine Ashker and the chestnut horse Zeppelin on a victory lap in a dressage arena

Lainey Wins and Micaela is on the Bubble

It&rsquo;s back to Tryon for the twelfth leg of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing&mdash;and with just one event scheduled in May, this weekend will be one to watch. From leaderboard shakeups to breakout performances, there&rsquo;s plenty on the line at a venue known for delivering drama.
The full breakdown is now live on the US Equestrian Open Podcast&mdash;but here&rsquo;s your snapshot of what you need to know ahead of Tryon.
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<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36471130/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/003580/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<h2 data-start="539" data-end="565">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="539" data-end="565">Lets Take a Look at the&nbsp;<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/tryon_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prediction Centre</a></h2>
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<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/tryon_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fce526ba-d6ab-43c6-853e-f4371ca0b816.png?width=916&amp;height=943" alt="Screenshot 2025 05 07 154220"></a>
<h3 data-start="539" data-end="565">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="539" data-end="565">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="539" data-end="565">Boyd Martin - Tsetserleg TSF</h3>
Boyd Martin heads to Tryon as the new FEI World Number One &mdash; and with 135 points on the US Open leaderboard, he&rsquo;s within striking distance of the top three. A win here could shake things up while also securing his position in the FEI rankings.
He brings forward Tsetserleg TSF, or &lsquo;Thomas&rsquo; &mdash; the most experienced horse in the field. With an Olympic appearance to many 5* completions including a podium in 2019, Thomas has a huge fan following. It&rsquo;s no surprise they top the Prediction Centre this weekend with a 27% win chance.
<h3 data-start="940" data-end="1184">Sara Kozumplik - Rock Phantom</h3>
One of the early stars of the US Open Series, Rock Phantom and Sara Kozumplik took the win at Bouckaert in 2024 &mdash; and now they&rsquo;re back and heading to Tryon. This marks their&nbsp;first 4 star of the season, with Sara returning to the saddle after a minor injury kept her out of Kentucky. The numbers speak for themselves as they sit second on the Prediction Centre with a 16% win chance.
<h3>Caroline Pamucku - Redfield Dexter and HSH Tolan King</h3>
It&rsquo;s a two-horse attack from Caroline Pamukcu this weekend &mdash; and together, her chances are looking strong.&nbsp;Redfield Dexter comes in with a 13% win chance after a standout performance at Ocala, where he completed his first CCI4*-S and finished fifth. With that milestone behind them, we expect they may take the handbrake off cross-country and have a serious shot at the podium.
HSH Tolan King, the more seasoned of the two, edged his stablemate for fourth at Ocala and carries a 12% win chance into Tryon. Together, Caroline&rsquo;s duo gives her a combined 25% shot at the win &mdash; not a bad hand to be playing.
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<hr>
<h2 data-start="1629" data-end="1649">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="1629" data-end="1649">Ones to Watch</h2>
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<ul>
<li data-start="1653" data-end="1771">Sharon White &amp; Jaguars Duende: Still new at the level, but flashy and full of potential. The team here is excited about this horse and you should be too.</li>
<li data-start="1653" data-end="1771">Kim Severson &amp; Cooley Corraghy Diamond: Young, green, but growing - this combination is one to keep an eye on.</li>
<li data-start="1653" data-end="1771">Laine Ashker &amp; Lovedance: While it's a 4* debut for the horse, this pair looks to put on an impressive performance.</li>
</ul>
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<h2 data-start="1516" data-end="1760">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="1516" data-end="1760">The US Equestrian Open Leaderboard</h2>
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4f864eb7-9bb9-4afb-9eb8-23aa7c97a7f1.png?width=493&amp;height=373" alt="Screenshot 2025 05 07 161651">
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<hr>
<h2 data-start="3732" data-end="4026">🎙️&nbsp;Listen Now:&nbsp;The Tryon Preview Show</h2>
Dive deeper into Tryon with Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne on the latest US Equestrian Open Podcast.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36471130/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/003580/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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<section class="wysiwyg col-span-12 lg:col-span-6 lg:col-start-4">
<h1 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h1>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
&nbsp;
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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<hr>
&nbsp;
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>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<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">
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
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>

New Podcast: The Tryon Preview Show

Jess talks to us this week on the US Equestrian Open Podcast reflecting on one of her best seasons to date. She currently sits second in the series, 30 points behind the leader Phillip Dutton but crucially, with one less counting result. By the time she has that final counting result in place, she may well be leading the Open.
Listen to our chat with Jess:
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36737995/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/000680/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> 
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/71866007-f682-45d6-96b8-0aa4edcc2eb7.png?width=934&amp;height=1169" alt="Us Equestrian Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of 30 May 2025">
<h2><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fbef1f43-a203-4d44-be6c-bd1a81eec137.png?width=1920&amp;height=1080" alt="Jessica Phoenix on her recent form"></h2>
<h2>TerraNova Triumph: A Rare 1&ndash;2&nbsp;</h2>
Earlier this spring, Jess delivered a performance for the ages at The Event at TerraNova, taking 1st and 2nd in the CCI4*-S. Her top mare, Freedom GS, won on 39.1&mdash;while Fluorescent Adolescent placed second on 40.4.
That 1&ndash;2 finish is as rare as it gets:
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt left 322.2pt;">Only the 6th time it&rsquo;s been done on U.S. soil in a field of 20+ starters</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt left 322.2pt;">Just the 15th time ever in the U.S.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt left 322.2pt;">The 81st time globally since 2008</li>
</ul>
Both scores rank in her top 10 CCI4-S finishes* over the past 18 seasons&mdash;marking a career high, not just a season peak.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1fceb6f8-27ab-44d2-a1d3-63fe07b8e4a0.png?width=602&amp;height=749" alt="Jess Phoenix Top First Phase Scores">
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Freedom is there to win,&rdquo; Jess told us on the podcast. &ldquo;I just guide her and stay out of the way.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fb5dc003-ca12-46ef-b2c9-6e6e7c845d73.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Jess on Freedom">
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Open Standings: The Race Heats Up</h2>
Jessica's five counting scores include:
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt left 322.2pt;">1st at&nbsp;TerraNova &ndash; March 2025 (40 pts)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt left 322.2pt;">2nd at TerraNova &ndash; March 2025 (35 pts)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt left 322.2pt;">1st at Ocala International (40 pts)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt left 322.2pt;">3rd at Ocala International (30 pts)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt left 322.2pt;">3rd at Kentucky Three-Day Event (40 pts)</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/afa67de0-c334-4e3d-aa81-4ddd6669cc9f.png?width=1920&amp;height=1080" alt="Jessica Phoenix Quote about difficulty of eventing">
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/54d8710e-a65d-4fae-9508-c0c711140ad3.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Jess Pav Quote">
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Final Stop: Morven Park</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/04ebc166-9d71-4fa6-a19c-c83c29425c17.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Us Quotes Mor">
Morven is where it all comes together: a world-class facility, a four-star long-format test, and the US Open Final. Jess is planning to bring &ldquo;almost every horse we have.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Freedom GS will love it&mdash;she feeds off the energy.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
&nbsp;
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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<hr>
&nbsp;
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>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<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">
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Image of Jessica Phoenix riding the bay horse Freedom GS and pumping her first in the air. A broad smile is seen under the brim of her helmet. The pair had just completed a show jumping round at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

"We’ll take almost every horse we’ve got.”

New Podcast: Ben Ebeling on Family, Freestyle, and the Future of US Dressage

Piazza di Siena sets the stage for one of the most prestigious Grands Prix of the year. Ben Maher&rsquo;s Point Break meets Martin Fuchs&rsquo; Leone Jei, while last year&rsquo;s winner Karl Cook returns with Caracole de la Roque.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f02cb62a-fb74-4c0e-8693-e61f736ba84a.png?width=1518&amp;height=1518" alt="A2 Adq Win Chances Form Guide Sunday Copy (1)">
&nbsp;
<h1>The Favourites</h1>
<h3>Point Break vs Leone Jei</h3>
Two of the Top 10 Elo-rated horses in the world will go head-to-head in Sunday&rsquo;s Rolex Grand Prix of Rome. EquiRatings Predictive Analysis puts them as joint favourites for the win this afternoon allocating each a 12% chance at the win.
Ben Maher&rsquo;s Point Break has had a fast ascent up the ratings in recent months with incredible performances and steady consistency at the highest level, highlighted by a runner-up finish at World Cup Finals in Basel last month. The 11-year-old stallion currently ranks as the second-highest rated horse in the world with an Elo rating of 789, second only behind the record-breaking King Edward (813). As Point Break competes in his 40th round at five-star 160 level today, he has maintained a superbly consistent record, staying clear 62% of the time. With this consistency and a World #2 rider on his back, many eyes will be drawn to this remarkable stallion.
One pair will not make it easy for them, however. Martin Fuchs &amp; Leone Jei already have 6 five-star Grand Prix victories on their record and are always hungry for more. The pair have jumped more than double the amount of five-star 160 rounds (81) in their career together than Ben Maher &amp; Point Break have, at a clear consistency of 52%. Fuchs&rsquo; white wonder currently ranks as the eighth highest-rated horse in the world on an Elo of 773.
<h1> The Challengers</h1>
<h3>Can the US score the double?</h3>
Fresh off Friday&rsquo;s Nations Cup victory, the US riders will likely be in full form for Sunday&rsquo;s Rolex Grand Prix. Title defenders, Karl Cook &amp; Caracole de la Roque, return with an 8% chance to add a second consecutive Rome Grand Prix title to their tally. The pair were a part of Sunday&rsquo;s Nations Cup team and produced a Round 2 clear to contribute to that victory. The pair has shown remarkable consistency throughout their partnership having maintained a five-star 160 clear rate together of 63%.
Cook &amp; Caracole will not be the only US pair to keep an eye on this afternoon. Olympic partnership, McLain Ward &amp; Ilex, are among the favourites to win with a 5% chance at victory, while we may not rule out Laura Kraut and her 11-year-old mare Bisquetta, who finished as runner-up in the US Equestrian Open Final, Rolex Grand Prix of Wellington last month.
<h3> The hometown heroes</h3>
Riding the high of their podium finish in Friday&rsquo;s Nations Cup, the Italian crowd will be backing their home riders for a win in Sunday&rsquo;s Grand Prix. One of their favourites will undoubtedly be Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Delta del&rsquo;Isle, who produced a beautiful Round 1 clear on Friday. With proven successes in the Rolex series, this pair will want to bring their best out on home soil today.&nbsp;
<h1>Ones to Watch</h1>
With a win chance of 8% on paper, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmerman and Iron Dames Dubai du Cedre are among the favourites for the win in today&rsquo;s Rolex Grand Prix. Their relatively new partnership however has only seen them compete in 5 rounds at five-star 160 level together. Their first clear at this level came in Friday&rsquo;s Nations Cup here in Rome. If this pair has found their rhythm together, they could become a pair to beat.

Can Team USA turn Friday’s Nations Cup win into a Rome double?

Anna Marek stands to become the first rider to break 100 points in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage series.
She plans to do it at the World Equestrian Center (WEC), a pivotal venue that&rsquo;s been the site of both triumph and heartbreak this season. While Marek enters the weekend as the clear favorite, she isn&rsquo;t untouchable. Around her, others are chasing redemption, qualification, or the chance to matter in a crowded leaderboard.
<h2 dir="ltr">Marek&rsquo;s Moment</h2>
Marek rides Fayvel this weekend&mdash;a bold and reliable mount who carried her to ninth at the 2024 World Cup Finals, where they finished as the top-ranked American pair. Fayvel has stayed sharp in 2025, delivering scores that put him among the best in the series. He&rsquo;s the third-highest scoring horse in the series, logging a 78.785% in Week 6. This weekend, he returns with the highest personal best and highest average freestyle score in the field.
But this ride is about more than just breaking 100 points.
WEC has been a pivotal stop in Marek&rsquo;s 2025 season, and one that hasn&rsquo;t always gone her way. In Week 4, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-5-preview-a-wide-open-field" target="_blank" rel="noopener">she retired Fayvel</a> from the Grand Prix qualifier, losing her chance to become the series&rsquo; first back-to-back winner. Then in <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/down-to-the-decimal-mendoza-loor-wins-closest-finish-in-series-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Week 10</a>, she was edged out of first by Ecuador&rsquo;s Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike. Marek finished just 0.040% behind him&mdash;75.860 to 75.820&mdash;the smallest winning margin in series history. WEC has held that title ever since.
This weekend, Marek has the chance to rewrite that story. A win would make her the first to break 100 points, her first qualifier win aboard Fayvel, and only the fifth rider in the series to win multiple legs. With Fayvel&rsquo;s personal best of 78.995%, she could also become just the second rider in the series to break 80%.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-0YhFA" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: World Equestrian Center May Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/0YhFA/1/" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Enter the Disruptor</h2>
Benjamin Ebeling might be the most dangerous rider in the class, not due to a long campaign, but because he&rsquo;s done more with two starts than most have with six. He partners with Bellena, a 14-year-old Hanoverian mare who began her career under his father, Olympian Jan Ebeling. Ben and Bellena debuted earlier this year, and have placed in the top five in every outing. They won their freestyle debut at WEC with a 75.740%&mdash;just 0.365 off the mare&rsquo;s lifetime best.
That number matters. It&rsquo;s one thing to inherit a proven horse; it&rsquo;s another to bring out their best. We&rsquo;ve seen that narrative play out all season&mdash;top-scoring horses handed to new riders, only to fall short. Ebeling is one of the few to flip the script by tapping into Bellena&rsquo;s established potential.
Despite only two qualifying scores, his leaderboard position (23rd) is deceptively low. A fifth-place finish this weekend likely puts him within the top 18. Should he qualify, he&rsquo;s a legit podium threat at the Finals in Thermal.
Based on averages and personal bests, Bellena is the second-highest rated horse in the field. But Ebeling can&rsquo;t get complacent. Charlotte Jorst is close behind.
<h2 dir="ltr">Jorst&rsquo;s Jump</h2>
The US Equestrian Open of Dressage awards two prize pools: the $200,000 Final purse in Thermal and a $50,000 season standings payout. Charlotte Jorst has her eyes on both.
Currently in 12th, she stands to double her payout with a top-five finish and triple it with a win. Her mount, Zhaplin Langholt, has scored in the low-to-mid 70s all season. The exception? You guessed it&mdash;WEC. In Week 15, she finished fourth with an uncharacteristic 68%, while Ebeling scored his breakout win.
Jorst is a lock for Finals qualification, but this weekend is a chance to climb the standings and carry momentum into the summer break.
<h2 dir="ltr">Riding the Math</h2>
While Marek, Ebeling, and Jorst lead this week&rsquo;s narrative, a few riders on the edge still merit a mention:
● James Koford sits in 26th. A podium finish could sneak him into the Finals, but against this field, it&rsquo;s a long shot. Still, if you&rsquo;re a fan of an underdog bet, Koford deserves a nod.
● Anna Merritt needs a top-10 finish to crack back into the top 18. Her average (66.572%) doesn&rsquo;t exactly signal Finals form, but she&rsquo;s one of only nine riders in the field with FEI freestyle experience. With twelve entries and points awarded to just the top ten, there&rsquo;s little room for error. If she does move up, it&rsquo;ll be more a product of the math than the performance.
● Eline Eckroth will secure her sixth qualifying score with a top-10 finish. That would vault her into a tie for second place overall. Her placings suggest podium potential&mdash;three seconds, a fifth, and a seventh&mdash;but most of those came in small fields. This 12-rider roster is the largest she&rsquo;s faced. She only broke into the 70% for the first time earlier this year (yes, at WEC), but has hovered in the upper 60s since. A podium would be a surprise. It would also be a sharp reply to those of us saying she&rsquo;s coasted on small fields.
<h2>Tune In</h2>
From near misses to breakout wins, WEC has been the backdrop to some of the series&rsquo; most pivotal moments. It&rsquo;s where Marek nearly made history, and where she now returns to finish the job. It&rsquo;s where Ebeling made his series debut, and proved he belonged in the conversation. It&rsquo;s where Jorst logged her lowest freestyle score of the season, an outlier in an otherwise consistent campaign. And it&rsquo;s the last time this season anyone will ride here under the US Equestrian Open banner.
Whatever the outcome, this qualifier is no routine stop. Tune in to the USEF Network live on Saturday, May 24 at 6 p.m. EDT. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Become a fan member and watch for free</a>!
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Qualifier 19: Where the Arena Decides

Genay Vaughn closed the spring season the same way she started it: on top. She extended her perfect record in the US Equestrian Open to four wins in four starts, making her the only undefeated rider in the Series so far. She also did it with flair, earning a career-best freestyle score of 75.875%.
<h2>Consistency: Vaughn&rsquo;s Sharpest Weapon&nbsp;</h2>
Vaughn may be the undisputed queen of West Coast dressage, but she&rsquo;s quickly becoming a name to watch across the country. Four wins in four starts is impressive, but it&rsquo;s her consistency that&rsquo;s most telling. With each outing, she&rsquo;s either matched or exceeded her average, quietly pushing it higher over time.&nbsp;
She&rsquo;s now undefeated in five of of her last six competitions, with the only exception being her debut performance at the FEI World Cup Final in Basel, where she finished a respectable 14th.
<h3>Her scores this season:</h3>
- Desert Dressage II, January 2025 &ndash; 75.150% (previous PB) - HITS Del Mar Dressage Opener, February 2025 &ndash; 74.370% - FEI Dressage World Cup Final, April 2025 &ndash; 73.765% (14th overall) - Pacific Coast CDI, May 2025 &ndash; 74.040% - Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage, May 2025 &ndash; 75.875% (new PB)
Vaughn now sits fifth on the overall leaderboard with 80 points. She is well within reach of the Series leaders as the fall season approaches.
<h2>Devonwood Delivers Three Top-10 Riders</h2>
Nadine Schwartsman finished second with a score of 68.835%, followed by Brittney Simpson in third with 63.685%. Despite the small field, second and third place both earn 17 Series points, which moves Schwartsman and Simpson into a tie for eighth on 66 points.
All three riders from Devonwood now sit inside the Series top 10. While it&rsquo;s unlikely any of them will fall out of Finals qualification range (top 18), their leaderboard positions remain in play heading into the final stretch.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4c272705-d386-4648-bc0e-891c192d1e21.jpeg?width=993&amp;height=735" alt="Screenshot of the current leaderboard showing Vaughn now in 5th place">
<h2>The East Coast Conundrum</h2>
With the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage Show marking the end of the spring season, the US Equestrian Open now pauses for summer break. The Series returns September 23 with the prestigious Dressage at Devon, followed by TerraNova Dressage II (October 16) and Tryon Fall Dressage 3 (October 23).
All three remaining qualifiers are on the East Coast, which greatly favors riders based in the region. That&rsquo;s important because it&rsquo;s actually the East Coast combinations who are most at risk of falling out of Finals qualification. West Coast regulars like Vaughn, Schwartsman, Simpson, Harrison-Antell, and Seidel are now securely inside the top 11, and while movement is still possible, they&rsquo;re trending safely toward Thermal.
While the top 11 riders are likely safe, positions 12 through 18 remain vulnerable. The leaderboard remains close in that range, and movement from just one or two riders could easily shift others down&mdash;or out.
Adrienne Lyle, tied for 14th on 57 points, represented the US at the World Cup Final this spring and holds the two highest freestyle scores in the Series&mdash;both above 80%&mdash;and remains the only rider to break that barrier this season. She should qualify, but her position isn&rsquo;t locked in.
She&rsquo;s tied with Benjamin Ebeling, a late arrival to the Series who&rsquo;s made a rapid impact since his April debut. With strong results and upward momentum, he&rsquo;s emerged as a potential podium contender in Thermal if he can secure his ticket there.
Kevin Kohmann, another of the US&rsquo;s World Cup Final competitors, currently sits in 17th. He likely needs another outing to stabilize his position. Jan Ebeling, currently holding the final qualifying spot at 18th, is similarly vulnerable and could easily be pushed out if anyone below him returns to the arena this fall.
As the Series heads into its summer break, many riders will turn their focus to training, rest, and&mdash;possibly&mdash;overseas competition, either to gain experience in deeper fields or build momentum ahead of the Final. The leaderboard will hold for now, but three fall qualifiers are more than enough to bring upheaval. For riders hovering near the edge, September will arrive with both opportunity and pressure.

Four-for-Four: Vaughn’s Streak Continues at Devonwood

This weekend's US Equestrian Open of Dressage Qualifier 20 may feature just three combinations in the Grand Prix Freestyle, but its impact runs far deeper than the scoreboard. Held at the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage Competition in Sherwood, Oregon, the show stands as a testament to how grassroots passion and community investment can shape the future of dressage in the US.
Noah Rattner and his twin brother are carrying on the legacy of their late mother, Ginny, who built Devonwood in 1998 with a vision for a safe, welcoming, high-quality dressage venue in the Pacific Northwest. That vision has grown into a FEI 3* competition that plays a key role in the Series' West Coast calendar.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
"We might be small, but we&rsquo;re mighty," Rattner said.
</blockquote>
"The athletes competing here are all in the top 18, and the points they earn this weekend will reshape the leaderboard. That matters."
Devonwood embodies one of the US Equestrian Open's founding principles: that the sport's growth depends on accessibility and opportunity across all regions, not just within the elite circuits in Florida or California. "This isn&rsquo;t just someone throwing prize money at the sport," Rattner explained.
<blockquote>
"It&rsquo;s a long-term investment in growing dressage in North America."
</blockquote>
He&rsquo;s not wrong. The Ginny Rattner Memorial has become a vital stop for riders looking to earn series points without making the costly trek to the East Coast. But even before the Open series, Devonwood served a critical purpose: giving West Coast and Canadian riders access to high-quality international competition without the logistical and financial strain of traveling to Florida or California. It continues to attract athletes from as far as Calgary, maintaining a cross-border tradition that stretches back decades.
<h3 dir="ltr">The Unbeaten West Coast Queen</h3>
The unquestioned favorite this weekend is Genay Vaughn and her 14-year-old gelding, Gino. Since debuting their freestyle at TerraNova last May, they have won four of their last five freestyle starts. The only exception was their debut appearance at the World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland, where they finished 14th in a world-class field.
With three Series wins already under her belt, Vaughn is the only rider in the series with a perfect record. She currently sits tied for 10th on the leaderboard, but a win this weekend would launch her into a comfortable 5th place.
She began the year with an average of 70.990% and a personal best of 72.615%, numbers she&rsquo;s steadily raised through each 2025 appearance. Her current freestyle average stands at 73.22%, with a personal best of 75.150%, putting her in contention with top East Coast combinations.
Her results are a reminder that the West Coast isn&rsquo;t a side act&mdash;it&rsquo;s a serious threat.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-Smis6" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Smis6/1/" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h3 dir="ltr">Riders Earning Their Place</h3>
While Vaughn eyes the upper tier of the leaderboard, both Brittney Simpson (CAN) and Nadine Schwartsman (USA) are fighting to stay above the qualification line. The two riders are currently part of a three-way tie for 18th place, which is the final qualifying position for the Series Final in November.
This weekend, simply earning a podium finish could separate them from the cutoff line and secure a safer path to Thermal. It's a quiet but gritty kind of determination: early mornings, long drives, and the kind of commitment that doesn&rsquo;t make headlines. They're chasing points, building day by day, and proving that you can mount a Finals campaign from anywhere.
<h3 dir="ltr">Access is the Point</h3>
Small shows like Devonwood don&rsquo;t always get the spotlight, but they&rsquo;re essential to the sport&rsquo;s health. Take them away, and the path to the top narrows. Suddenly, Florida isn&rsquo;t just one option. It&rsquo;s the only option. And success depends less on talent and more on geography.
The US Equestrian Open pushes back against that kind of centralization. By valuing points equally no matter where they're earned, it invites a broader and more diverse dressage community to take part. That inclusivity comes with tradeoffs. Riders like Eline Eckroth, who rank high on the leaderboard despite lower averages, are making smart use of smaller venues. Others&mdash;like Genay Vaughn&mdash;face small fields too, but their scores show they can contend with the East Coast&rsquo;s best.
It raises a question without a clean answer: should leaderboard rank reflect consistency, competitive depth, or degree of difficulty?
If the Series weighted points based on field size, it would risk becoming a Florida-dominant leaderboard that rewards density but sidelines regions like the West Coast. Equal-point allocation may not always reflect head-to-head competition strength, but it protects the geographic and financial accessibility the Series was designed to promote.
That&rsquo;s why the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage Show matters. Not just because it fills a calendar slot, but because it fills a gap. It gives riders like Vaughn, Schwartsman, and Simpson a platform to build upon.&nbsp;
Because not everyone has the resources to chase full fields across the country.&nbsp;
But anyone who&rsquo;s ever hauled twelve hours for six minutes of feedback and a &lsquo;6 for impulsion&rsquo; has earned the right to chase something bigger.

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