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

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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<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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<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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<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.
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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>
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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>.
</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:
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&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;
&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>.&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)">
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<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.

Small But Mighty: Qualifier 20 Carries Weight Beyond Its Size

We&rsquo;re over halfway through the first ever US Equestrian Open of Eventing - 12 Qualifiers done, eight to go. That&rsquo;s eight more chances to take the Series lead, or at least finish in the money (i.e. the top three). 
<ol>
<li>June 12th: Aspen Farms</li>
<li>June 27th: Maryland International</li>
<li>July 16th: The Event at Rebecca Farm</li>
<li>Sep 11th: The Fork at Tryon</li>
<li>Sep 18th: Plantation Field International</li>
<li>Sep 19th: Twin Rivers Fall International</li>
<li>Sep 25th: Stable View Oktoberfest</li>
<li>Oct 3rd: Woodside Fall International</li>
</ol>
Right now,&nbsp;Phillip Dutton is at the top of the table (215 points) but his closest threat, Jessica Phoenix, is just 30 points behind him (185). Is that gap surmountable? Absolutely. Here are two main reasons why:
1. You don&rsquo;t need a string of top placings to haul in 30 points. You just need to finish anywhere from 3rd to 5th place at any one Qualifier.
2. Gains of up to 130 points at a single event have been recorded&nbsp;so far in the Series. Jess herself earned 75 points at TerraNova earlier this year by placing first &amp; second at that event.
<h3>Current Series Leaders (After Qualifier 12 of 20):</h3>
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>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/44d77235-5934-41a7-9436-ec12f002966b.png?width=497&amp;height=675" alt="Leaderboard Before Aspen Farms (1)">
<h2>Don't Count Your Chickens, Phillip</h2>
Not only is it possible for Jess to overtake Phillip, it&rsquo;s reasonably within reach for several of our Series leaders.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Last year, Jess took two horses to Maryland International and four to Plantation Field - both among our remaining eight Qualifiers this season. If she can repeat her third place Maryland result from last July (Aeronautics), she'll gain 30 points right there. Boom. Enough to equal Phillip. From there, she'll just need a 10th place finish (or higher) at Plantation to secure the solo lead. Of course if she goes to Maryland and places first or second, that single result will put her in front.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>West-Coaster&nbsp;James Alliston (3rd on the leaderboard) earned 125 of his Series points by taking full advantage of California's Twin Rivers Qualifier in April. With the Twin Rivers Fall International among our last eight events, will he make a bid for more points? James did compete in the 2021, 2023&nbsp;and 2024 Twin Rivers Fall CCI4*-S so its seems to be a well-liked stomping ground for him.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Last year, Boyd Martin (4th on the leaderboard) brought two horses to the fall running of The Fork CCI4*-S and three entries to Plantation Field CCI4*-S, two events in this year's autumn Qualifiers. If those two 2024 results were part of this year's Open, Boyd would have earned 25 more points. A repeat effort this year wouldn't earn him the lead but it would put him in the top three as it stands (<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a spot that earns $10,000 come season-end</a>).</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Likewise, Caroline Pamukcu (5th on the leaderboard) contested The Fork CCI4*-S and Plantation Field CCI4*-S last fall, with Plantation Field in particular being a frequent stop for her over the years.&nbsp; This year alone, Caroline has competed six different horses at the CCI4*-S level, giving her options for racking up points over a selection of our remaining eight Qualifiers.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Let&rsquo;s Break it Down</h2>
1. What points are up for grabs in the remaining Qualifiers? Here&rsquo;s what can be banked depending on field size:&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c529e9e5-8120-4a83-9139-e0715ef07d4d.png?width=1080&amp;height=847" alt="Points Available at Each Eventing Qualifier">
2. What&rsquo;s possible? Here is how each of our current leaders reached their points tally. Between just the five of them, you&rsquo;ll notice six different instances of a rider earning 70+ points at a single event, not to mention&nbsp;James Alliston&rsquo;s 125-point haul at Twin Rivers and Boyd Martin grabbing 130 points at Stable View.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f68b9879-7ba2-453b-977b-78edb789c40a.png?width=1350&amp;height=1686" alt="The Current Us Equestrian Open Leaders and How They Got There (1)">
<h2>What's&nbsp;on the line?</h2>
Prize money. And in a sport where the vast majority of pros lead...let's say...less-than-opulent lifestyles, substantial winnings are particularly appreciated. After all the Qualifiers are a wrap, this is how the prize money is divvied:
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Series winner: $25,000</li>
<li>2nd place: $15,000</li>
<li>3rd place: $10,000</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Big Finale</h2>
And then there's the CCI4*-L Final at Morven Park in October. Series standings do not determine Final qualification. Instead, riders just need to complete any one of the Qualifiers with an MER, or a rider can even buy into the Final for $5,000 (provided they meet CCI4*-L pre-requisites). Any $5K buy-ins will be added to the Final's $200,000 prize-pot.
Now&nbsp;that's prize money. We can expect to see a strong field in the Series finale.
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<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">
<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 two women watching a competition from the supporters' platform. The image is from behind the women & the words "Team Dutton" are on both of their matching jackets. One woman wraps her arm around the other's shoulders.

Why Phillip Can't Count His Chickens

After 20 qualifiers, the leaderboard for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage has finally turned red, white, and blue. Anna Marek (105 points), Kristina Harrison-Antell (86), and Eline Eckroth (86) now hold the top three spots in a series that has, until recently, been defined by international domination. For the first time since Week 1, Americans control the podium positions. But getting there was anything but straightforward.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Disrupted Start</h2>
Qualifier 1 saw Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn lead the way, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/genay-vaughn-gino-clinch-grand-prix-freestyle-win-with-new-personal-best" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claiming victory in Thermal</a> and becoming both the first winner and the first American to top the leaderboard. She remained at the top through Week 3, first tying with Germany's Felicitas Hendricks in Week 2, then sharing the lead with both Hendricks and Charlotte Jorst in Week 3. By Week 4, the tide had shifted. Hendricks claimed the top spot on the leaderboard, with Tinne Vilhelmson Silfv&eacute;n in second and Evelyn Eger in third, a European sweep of the standings even though none had won that week's event outright.
Week 4 Leaderboard <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e286c51b-e04e-41f6-b23e-7c861b4c040a.png?width=499&amp;height=516" alt="Leaderboard from week Four showing Hendricks in first">
That moment marked the start of a six-week drought for the American flag. Throughout the Adequan Global Dressage Festival and early WEC qualifiers, the top five remained packed with international riders. Danielle Gallagher (CAN) <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/gallagher-and-eckroth-deliver-career-best-rides-at-qualifier-five" target="_blank" rel="noopener">swept the early WEC events</a>. Hendricks and Eger took turns leading the standings. Even when Americans scored well, they were often second or third to an international winner.
The volatility at the top was fueled by a scoring system built for consistency, but early results were shaped by riders still early in their seasons, many of whom had competed only once at that point. For the first eight qualifiers, ties dominated the top five. Week 8 was the first time there were distinct riders in first through fourth place. But even then, three riders were still tied for fifth. It wouldn&rsquo;t be until Week 15 that the leaderboard showed a fully separated top five.
Week 8 Leaderboard <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/78d0bcf9-2d32-4010-909f-f4f7b30938cc.png?width=499&amp;height=404" alt="Leaderboard from week 8 showing a that there were finally no ties in first-fourth place">
<h3 dir="ltr">The Turnaround</h3>
Qualifier 10 marked the beginning of a power shift. Anna Marek&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/down-to-the-decimal-mendoza-loor-wins-closest-finish-in-series-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second-place finish</a> behind Julio Mendoza Loor earned her enough points to overtake Eger on the leaderboard. From there, more Americans began climbing. Although international riders still held space in the top five, their grip was slipping.
By Week 15, the leaderboard finally produced a fully separated top five. The following weeks saw rapid change: in Week 17, Kristina Harrison-Antell jumped from sixth to second, displacing Gallagher entirely. Two weeks later, Eline Eckroth pulled into a tie for second. And in Week 20, Vaughn <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/four-for-four-vaughns-streak-continues-at-devonwood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reentered the top five</a> with 80 points, reclaiming her position among the leaders. By the start of the summer break, seven of the top ten were Americans, and Eger had dropped to fourth.
Week 20 Leaderboard <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/445b3e55-36f5-4ebe-9d89-e0b7ec6cd55f.jpg?width=499&amp;height=369" alt="Leaderboard from week 20 showing the top ten riders">
<h3 dir="ltr">The Three Who Rose</h3>
Americans now hold the top three spots, and Marek, Harrison-Antell, and Eckroth have each carved their own path to the front of the standings.
For Marek, the season has been a mix of brilliance and near-misses. Despite high scores and freestyle flair, she often found herself just edged out. In Qualifier 10, her second-place finish behind Mendoza Loor earned her enough points to finally overtake Germany's Evelyn Eger on the leaderboard. Over the course of six qualifiers, Marek has never placed below third. Four of those rides scored over 77%, including a win on 77.755%. Her partnerships with Fire Fly and Fayvel have been among the most electric and consistent of the season. Marek is the only rider campaigning two mounts, a flexibility that strengthens her position in the race for the overall series lead.
Harrison-Antell has earned her 86 points entirely on the West Coast. She was often chasing Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn, but when Vaughn went to Europe for the World Cup Final, Harrison-Antell stepped into the winner&rsquo;s circle herself. Her consistency in smaller West Coast fields has made her a quiet powerhouse&mdash;scoring between 70.9% and 72.7% in four of her five starts, with one off week dipping to 68.1%. When adjusting for that off-character ride, Harrison-Antell is a reliable 72% scorer, which is exactly the kind of consistency that puts you at the top of this leaderboard.
Eckroth wasn&rsquo;t on anyone&rsquo;s radar early in the season, but she&rsquo;s been steadily stacking results while others sat out. By continuing to show up, especially in weeks with thinner fields, she capitalized on every opportunity to climb the leaderboard. She picked up a personal best in <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/us-open-of-dressage-a-three-way-tie-at-the-top" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Qualifier 7</a> and added points in small-field weekends like <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/nichols-claims-first-senior-freestyle-victory-at-terranova" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Qualifier 13</a>. She&rsquo;s the only rider in the current top five without a freestyle win, but consistency alone put her into a tie for second heading into the break.
The leaderboard, once dominated by international names, now tells a different story. Americans have fought their way back into control, but the margin is slim. And now the question is: can they hold the line?
We&rsquo;ll be watching.
Starting next week, we&rsquo;ll dig into the rides and scores that built this leaderboard, and into the data that turned a scoreboard into a season-long story.

Anna Marek atop Fire Fly in the trot at an international dressage competition.

After the Drought: How the Americans Took Back the Leaderboard

Personal bests, high scores, and a celebrity cameo made for an electric night at the Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival&rsquo;s Friday Night Stars. Under the warm Florida evening sky, Adrienne Lyle and Helix delivered a stunning performance, earning a career-best 80.325% to claim victory. Anna Marek and Fayvel followed closely in second, while P.J. Rizvi rounded out the podium in an inspiring comeback ride aboard her non-warmblood mount, Vanilla Ice.
<h2 dir="ltr">Adrienne Lyle &amp; Helix &mdash; A Combination-Best Performance</h2>
Lyle and Zen Elite Equestrian Center&rsquo;s Helix put on a masterclass under the lights. Their winning score of 80.325% &mdash; a combination best &mdash; marked a three-point improvement from <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/Hendricks-Drombusch-OLD-Remain-Undefeated-in-Wellington-Freestyles">their last outing at this same venue</a>, where they scored 77.280%. The Paris 2024 pair looked more composed than ever, with their freestyle victory coming on the heels of a strong Grand Prix win the day before.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I am just so thrilled with him. That is hands down the best feeling he&rsquo;s ever given me,&rdquo; Lyle said. &ldquo;He just felt so effortless. I felt like I didn&rsquo;t have to push for anything.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/ondemand/event/15333/competition/320656/adequan-global-dressage-festival-5/fei-world-cup-grand-prix-freestyle?start_at=12936977&amp;utm_source=clipmyhorse&amp;utm_medium=cmh_content_lane&amp;utm_campaign=event_highlights&amp;utm_term=Adrienne%2BLyle%2B%252B%2BHelix%2BON%2BTOP%2521&amp;utm_content=f65e779cf2cf3ccfeb2ff9611372132e">Performing to a nostalgic mix</a> featuring &ldquo;Stand By Me,&rdquo; &ldquo;The Way You Move,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Sweet Child O&rsquo; Mine&rdquo;, Lyle and Helix delivered a freestyle packed with technical and artistic brilliance. Their degree of difficulty averaged 9.18, and their piaffe-passage transitions&mdash;an area of focus this season&mdash;earned a 9 from one judge.
It&rsquo;s not often you see a perfect 10 in dressage, but Lyle did just that, with the Judge at B awarding a 10 for music and interpretation.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Anna Marek &amp; Fayvel&mdash;A Strong Second Place</h2>
After withdrawing from competition just a week ago in Ocala, Marek and Cynthia Davila&rsquo;s Fayvel returned in top form, earning a 78.785%&mdash;just shy of their personal best (78.995%). Their freestyle was electric, set to a soundtrack featuring &ldquo;BOOM&rdquo; by X Ambassadors and &ldquo;Coincidance&rdquo; by Handsome Driver.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I can take risks, and we made this freestyle with so many combinations in a row. As difficult as it is, he&rsquo;s still so easy to ride,&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Marek, a Paris Olympic shortlist rider, took risks with a challenging floor plan, including a half-circle of two-time changes straight into one-time changes. Fayvel&rsquo;s power surged in the final extended trot, leading to a slight bobble that cost them a few marks, but it didn&rsquo;t overshadow an otherwise stellar performance.
&ldquo;I can take risks, and we made this freestyle with so many combinations in a row. As difficult as it is, he&rsquo;s still so easy to ride,&rdquo; Marek explained. &ldquo;I ride the brake a little bit and say, &lsquo;Not so much, buddy!&rsquo;&rdquo;
With this performance, both Marek and Lyle remain firmly in contention for a US team spot at the World Cup Final in April.
<h2 dir="ltr">P.J. Rizvi &amp; Vanilla Ice &mdash; A Comeback Story for the Books</h2>
<blockquote>
&ldquo;My goal was to prove to myself that I could get back on a horse..."
</blockquote>
In perhaps the most wholesome moment of the night, P.J. Rizvi and Vanilla Ice finished third in their first-ever CDI together, scoring 76.585%. The result was emotional in more ways than one &mdash; this was Rizvi&rsquo;s first CDI in six years after a life-altering accident, one that left her being told she&rsquo;d never ride, walk, or drive again. Simply getting back in the saddle was the goal &mdash; third place was just the cherry on top.
&ldquo;My goal was to prove to myself that I could get back on a horse, and he&rsquo;s a complete confidence builder,&rdquo; Rizvi said. &ldquo;I really pushed hard for this, and I honestly did it for pure fun. It was our first CDI and my personal best score. I&rsquo;m in shock. I heard a lot of clapping and screaming; this was so much fun.&rdquo;
Their icy freestyle music featured &ldquo;Cold as Ice&rdquo; by Foreigner and &ldquo;Ice Ice Baby&rdquo; by Vanilla Ice (Robert van Winkle)&mdash;who was <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFy82_budDv/?hl=en">in attendance</a> as a personal friend of Rizvi&rsquo;s and also helped to present awards.
As the final ride of the night, the crowd was already buzzing, but their energy only intensified for Rizvi. Her freestyle had spectators on their feet, clapping and cheering &mdash; a rare sight in the traditionally reserved sport of dressage.
<a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/ondemand/event/15333/competition/320656/adequan-global-dressage-festival-5/fei-world-cup-grand-prix-freestyle?start_at=12937046" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch their full performance here.</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Night to Remember</h2>
<blockquote>
"Tonight was awesome.&rdquo; - Judge Debbie Rodriguez
</blockquote>
Qualifier Six delivered everything fans could hope for &mdash; career-best performances, emotional comebacks, and leaderboard drama. With US riders sweeping the top four spots, the competition has never been tighter. But in a major leaderboard shakeup, Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Edger now leads with 40 points, while Marek, Lyle, and Felicitas Hendricks sit in a three-way tie for second.
<h3>Top 10 Placings on the Series Leaderboard after Qualifier 6:</h3>
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>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8306e922-979c-4e5d-a345-fa15c958e3d4?width=493&amp;height=962" alt="The Top 10 Placings on the US Equestrian Open Dressage Leaderboard After Qualifier 6 (AGDF 5)">
"I couldn&rsquo;t have asked for a better class,&rdquo; said Judge at C, Debbie Rodriguez. &ldquo;Seeing Helix relax as he walked by me before the test was awesome. You knew the test was going to be good, and it didn&rsquo;t disappoint. Watching Anna come in and have that confident partnership with her horse, that was a treat, too. Then P.J. came in to finish the night and it was sheer fun; whether you&rsquo;re a dressage person or not, it made everyone clap. Tonight was awesome.&rdquo;
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next?</h2>
The leaderboard battle continues as the US Equestrian Open shifts to the West Coast for the Del Mar Opener in historic Del Mar, California. This is a critical opportunity for West Coast riders to shake up the standings and make their mark.
<a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Become a USEF Network Fan for free</a>&nbsp;to stream the upcoming legs live!
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>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fcad386e-3e1c-4ac0-8c47-efcc188f58bd?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Show Calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage Series">
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
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.
And stream the action live by becoming a <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USEF Network Fan</a> for free.
&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Adrienne Lyle entering the dressage arena of the Paris 2024 Olympics riding the liver chestnut horse Helix. The image is taken from directly in front of them with the Palace of Versailles in the background. Adrienne smiles. Helix has pleasant expression.

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