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.

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The five highest-scoring tests of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage season all took place under the lights in Wellington, Florida, with top marks earned by Adrienne Lyle, Kevin Kohmann, Anna Marek and Julio Mendoza Loor. But with Mendoza Loor currently sitting 25th on the leaderboard and not yet qualified for the Final, this list focuses on the top-scoring American combinations we know are heading to Thermal. These freestyles showcased depth, difficulty, and the kind of creative ambition that has defined this year&rsquo;s Series. If this is what spring looked like, what might we see in November?
<h2 dir="ltr">1. Adrienne Lyle &amp; Helix &ndash; 80.600%</h2>
Event: Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10 Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.26
Adrienne Lyle&rsquo;s 80.600% at the only CDI5* on the US Equestrian Open calendar made history. It was the highest score of the season, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-helix-soar-to-five-star-victory">her personal best with Helix</a>, and the first time since 2021 that an American topped the podium at the AGDF 5*.
From the opening halt, the freestyle rode with ease and fluidity. Helix&mdash;a chestnut gelding by Apache&mdash;moved through the test with such grace that judge William Warren praised the effortlessness of their performance. High-difficulty transitions&mdash;like piaffe to extended trot and canter pirouette to extended canter&mdash;helped deliver an average difficulty mark of 9.26.
&ldquo;It felt easy, which is exactly what I was hoping for,&rdquo; Lyle said after the test.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">2. Adrienne Lyle &amp; Helix &ndash; 80.325%</h2>
Event: Global Dressage Festival 5 Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.18
A month earlier, the same duo put the Series on notice with <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-marek-and-rizvi-deliver-a-thrilling-night-of-freestyle-dressage">their first 80% of the season</a>. Set to a nostalgic mix of Stand By Me, Sweet Child O&rsquo; Mine, and The Way You Move, the freestyle was polished, powerful, and technically demanding.
Their average difficulty score of 9.18 reflected that ambition, and one judge gave a rare perfect 10 for musical interpretation. Even more impressive? Coming off a January score of 77.280%, this three-point leap showed just how much potential is hovering just below the surface.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">3. Kevin Kohmann &amp; D&uuml;nensee &ndash; 79.240%</h2>
Event: Palm Beach Dressage Derby Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.2
With the final World Cup ticket on the line, Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee delivered a career-best freestyle when it mattered most. Riding to Kygo&rsquo;s Stole the Show and Avicii&rsquo;s Wake Me Up, Kohmann opened with canter pirouettes directly from the halt and dropped a piaffe pirouette into the walk tour.&nbsp;
It was a freestyle that blended risk with rhythm, earning an 80% from the judge at B and an overall average difficulty of 9.2. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/a-cool-breeze-a-fiery-freestyle-kohmann-and-dnee-shine-in-wellington">Under the lights</a>, it felt more like a quiet schooling session than a pressure ride. D&uuml;nensee looked relaxed, Kohmann composed. If they can stay above the cutoff line this fall, this pair will arrive in Thermal as both a crowd favorite and a serious threat.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">4. Anna Marek &amp; Fayvel &ndash; 78.785%</h2>
Event: Global Dressage Festival 5 Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.56
With an average difficulty score of 9.56, Anna Marek and Fayvel delivered one of the most <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-marek-and-rizvi-deliver-a-thrilling-night-of-freestyle-dressage">ambitious freestyles of the year</a>. It was bold, technical, and downright fun.&nbsp;
Choreographed to BOOM by X Ambassadors and Coincidance by Handsome Driver, the test featured technical risks: a half-circle of two-tempis straight into ones, followed by pirouettes into extended trot. A small mistake in their final extension likely kept them just shy of the 80% mark.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s so easy to ride,&rdquo; Marek said after the test. &ldquo;I have to ride the brake a little bit and say, &lsquo;Not so much, buddy!&rsquo;&rdquo;
If Marek decides to bring Fayvel to Thermal, she may want to ease off that brake and let the gelding&rsquo;s explosive power shine through.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">5. Anna Marek &amp; Fire Fly &ndash; 77.755%</h2>
Event: Global Dressage Festival 3 Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.0
Rounding out the top five is a <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/us-riders-marek-and-kohmann-dominate-a-chilly-night-in-wellington">theatrical crowd favorite</a>. This Stranger Things-themed freestyle turned heads early in the season, and earned Marek her first Series win. Fire Fly&rsquo;s expressive gaits paired perfectly with a cinematic rendition of Running Up That Hill, and the routine scored as high as 80.075% from one judge.
&ldquo;This is my favorite freestyle venue,&rdquo; Marek said after the test. &ldquo;You can feel the atmosphere, and the horses get excited in a really good way.&rdquo;
The choreography walked the line between dramatic and disciplined, and for a horse that once struggled under pressure, this ride showed that Marek can now tap into his brilliance without the worry of him boiling over.
<h2 dir="ltr">Looking Ahead</h2>
These five rides were early markers of what the US Equestrian Open of Dressage is capable of delivering: high-level execution, creative risk, and scores that push into the 80s. They set the standard for the kind of riding it will take to win in Thermal.
Next week, we shift the spotlight from freestyles to the athletes themselves. Who&rsquo;s building the strongest case for the Series title? Who&rsquo;s averaging the highest scoring rides?&nbsp;
Spoiler alert: every rider on this list will be there.

Composite image of Anna Marek, Adrienne Lyle, and Kevin Kohmann

The Top Five Tests of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage (So Far) 

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.

Lyle, Marek, and Rizvi Deliver a Thrilling Night of Freestyle Dressage

With the Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) behind us, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage shifts into a new phase. Riders now face geographically dispersed events, a significant mid-year break, and tough decisions around international competition.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c5764cda-d700-4051-93da-8bca9f1c478d.jpg?width=3157&amp;height=2128" alt="Sketch of riders at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival">
From the sketchbook of artist Cheri Isgreen.&nbsp;
<h3>The Geography Game: Moving Beyond the Palm Beach Bubble</h3>
The power of Wellington is hard to overstate. Of the 29 riders who have completed at least two qualifiers&mdash;the minimum needed to be eligible for the Finals&mdash;21 of them have competed in at least one AGDF qualifier. If the series ended today, a large percentage of qualified riders would trace their points directly back to Wellington. That density of opportunity gave early-season competitors a meaningful head start.
Now, with just five of the remaining eleven qualifiers taking place in Florida, the series shifts into a more decentralized phase.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">
Current series leader Anna Marek is perfectly poised to capitalize on this. Sitting at 88 points after five qualifiers, Ocala-based Marek is shifting her full focus to the series after missing a World Cup Finals berth. With one more high-performing qualifier, she could become the first rider to surpass 100 points, likely securing her spot as series leader heading into the Finals.
In contrast, Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger (85 points) may see her second-place standing slip as she heads back to Europe. Her points total is now fixed, leaving her vulnerable to riders who remain active domestically.
<h3>The International Gamble: Risks vs. Rewards</h3>
Several prominent contenders&mdash;including Adrienne Lyle (5th in the standings), Kevin Kohmann (8th), and Ge&ntilde;ay&nbsp;Vaughn (16th)&mdash;are currently in Basel for the World Cup Final, kicking off Europe's outdoor dressage season. For riders with aspirations beyond the US Equestrian Open, international competitions in Europe offer prestige and national team opportunities for events like the Pan American Games and the Olympics.
Yet, these benefits come at a cost. Series points can only be earned domestically, placing riders who choose extended European campaigns at significant risk. Vaughn, particularly, faces a pivotal decision: return to the limited West Coast events or potentially miss out on critical qualifying points.
<h3>On the Bubble: Who's Safe and Who's Not?</h3>
The Series Finals in Thermal, California, boasts a significant $200,000 prize pool, reserved for the top 18 riders after qualifying events. While riders like Marek, Eger, and Karen Lipp (70 points) seem securely qualified, several top-scoring riders face uncertainty.
Lyle, despite holding the series' highest freestyle score (80.600%), sits precariously at 57 points with only three qualifiers completed. Similarly, Kohmann (79.240% PB, 52 points) and Vaughn (75.150% PB, 40 points) should comfortably qualify based on their performances so far&mdash;but only if they return home to actively compete in series qualifiers. Without prioritizing stateside events, their impressive resumes alone won't guarantee a spot in the Finals.
Also at risk are Ecuador&rsquo;s Julio Mendoza Loor (78.520% PB, 37 points) and Sweden&rsquo;s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfv&eacute;n (75.515% PB, 42 points), both heading to Europe for the summer season.
<h3>Quiet Weekends, Big Implications</h3>
Qualifier 14 might not feature a star-studded lineup, but its outcome could significantly impact the standings. Eline Eckroth, currently tied 11th with 49 points, can vault into fifth place with a win. Such weekends, quieter on paper, often profoundly influence the final leaderboard.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-aZawz" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: TerraNova Dressage I" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/aZawz/1/" height="390" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
As the US Equestrian Open moves forward, adaptability, strategic insight, and careful planning will distinguish those who thrive from those who falter.
Tune in to Qualifier 14 this weekend&mdash;every point matters as riders navigate this new landscape. Catch all the action Saturday night on the USEF Network.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a>!
<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;

black dressage horse wearing a double bridle 

After Wellington: Navigating the New US Equestrian Open Landscape

The German rider and his 11-year-old Westphalian gelding have been nothing short of spectacular over the last 12 months, and as they prepare to defend their title, their record suggests they will be one of the biggest threats under the lights at WEF 12&rsquo;s finale week.
<h2>The Journey to the Top</h2>
Kukuk and Checker 47 have enjoyed a meteoric rise on the international circuit, with a string of top performances that have solidified their place among the sport&rsquo;s elite.
They started 2025 with a statement win in the WEF 3 NetJets CSI4* Grand Prix, setting the tone for what could become an exceptional campaign. Looking back at the past 12 months of their career, one of their biggest triumphs came in March 2024, when they captured the Rolex Grand Prix during WEF 12 at Wellington International. That win not only earned them one of the most coveted titles in North America but also cemented Kukuk&rsquo;s reputation as a master tactician in high-pressure situations. Later in the year, they went on to achieve their biggest career milestone to date&mdash;winning the Individual Olympic Gold Medal in Paris 2024.
Since that career-defining night, Kukuk has strategically managed Checker 47&rsquo;s schedule, ensuring the gelding peaks at the right moments.&nbsp;
<h2> A Champion's Mindset</h2>
Speaking about his approach to WEF 12, Kukuk remains laser-focused on the five-star offerings as he spends his first full season competing in Wellington. "Checker has jumped three Grand Prix events here and three clear rounds. That&rsquo;s a great sign heading into Rolex Finale week," Kukuk stated.
Despite finishing as runner-up to Kent Farrington in a recent Wellington Grand Prix, Kukuk was quick to recognize the strengths of his mount. "My basic instinct told me after I came out that it wasn&rsquo;t enough today, and I knew exactly who was going to beat me," he remarked, acknowledging the competitive depth in Wellington&rsquo;s elite fields.
<h2>Defending the Title at the Rolex US Equestrian Open</h2>
For Kukuk and Checker 47, the mission is clear: to defend their title in the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Rolex Grand Prix at WEF 12.
As the reigning Olympic Champion, Kukuk will not only be defending his Wellington title but also carrying the pressure of his recent gold medal success.&nbsp;
Kukuk will also be one of the biggest challengers from outside the United States looking to take on the Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix. The top American riders, including former winners and rising stars, will be determined to keep the title on home soil, but Kukuk and Checker 47 have already proven they can beat the best in high-stakes environments.
As Wellington prepares to host this groundbreaking championship finale, Kukuk and Checker 47 are positioned to make history once again. Will they rise to the occasion under the Saturday Night Lights, or will a new champion emerge? The answer awaits at Wellington International in April.
&nbsp;
<hr>
About the Series Born from a commitment by the US Equestrian Board in July 2023, the US Equestrian Open aims to grow the sport's awareness, exposure, and fan engagement. With $1 million in prize money and extensive media coverage on ESPN and the USEF Network, this series is designed to:
<ul>
<li>Provide a structured, prestigious championship format.</li>
<li>Attract a broader audience.</li>
<li>Enhance competition opportunities for athletes.</li>
</ul>
Stay connected with the US Equestrian Open on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the USEF Network for live event updates, stories, and results. Use #USEquestrianOpen to share your own experiences and connect with fellow fans.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1ba79d22-0b13-4687-b1e5-5dc0cd708aee?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="P. 4 Jumping">
For sponsorship and media inquiries, please contact:
Carly Weilminster: cweilminster@usef.org Layson Griffin: lgriffin@usef.org

Kukuk & Checker 47: The Biggest International Threat to the US Equestrian Open Grand Prix

This week&rsquo;s US Equestrian Open qualifier at the Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival brings two chances to earn valuable leaderboard points: the CDI Freestyle and the CDIO Freestyle&mdash;the latter doubling as a Nations Cup event, where riders compete for their country rather than just themselves.&nbsp;
With national pride and leaderboard points on the line, the CDIO has drawn the bigger field. And while the battle for top scores should be fierce, realistically, it&rsquo;s a fight for second place. Felicitas Hendricks is in a league of her own.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0797145e-d12f-41a5-b700-72f19876344a.png?width=1332&amp;height=1440" alt="Table showing the Grand Prix Freestyle Stats for entries in the 2025 Fei Nations Cup Cdio3 Adequan Global Dressage Festival 7">
It&rsquo;s not just Hendricks&rsquo; personal best (79.105%) that makes her the overwhelming favorite &mdash; it&rsquo;s her consistency. With an average of 77.491%, she&rsquo;s not just leading; she&rsquo;s doing so with a cushion. For anyone to overtake her, it would take both an above-average, personal-best performance from a competitor and a rare underperformance from Hendricks and 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Drombusch OLD. That&rsquo;s a tough equation to bet against.
The one competitor who could put up a fight is fellow countrywoman Evelyn Eger, a rider who is currently leading the Series in a three-way tie. Eger and 12-year-old Oldenburg mare Tabledance 3 have an average of 73.771%, which is nearly four percentage points behind Hendricks. Their personal best of 77.085%, however, does put them within striking distance. That result came in May of last year, when she came fourth, behind Ingrid Klimke (3rd), Andrina Suter (2nd), and Isabell Werth (1st), the current FEI Dressage World No. 1.
If Eger can pull off an upset, she will outright lead the Series on a score of 60. But if the final results give a Hendricks-Eger 1-2, the leaderboard would again be tied, with both riders at 57.
While the CDIO Freestyle will be a battle for national pride, the smaller CDI 3* class is a different story. With just three entries, US rider Karen Lipp is the clear frontrunner.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b02bf52d-f824-4432-8b29-b72e6dc855bd.png?width=1332&amp;height=772" alt="Table showing the Grand Prix Freestyle Stats for entries in the 2025 Cdi3 Adequan Global Dressage Festival 7">
As a frequent competitor in the Series qualifiers, Lipp has 30 points under her belt, meaning a win would guarantee she&rsquo;s the first rider to break the 50-point threshold. This would also vault her to the top of the leaderboard, where she&rsquo;d have sole possession of the number one spot&mdash;but likely only for a few hours, as the Nations Cup is scheduled to start immediately after the 3* concludes. Unless Hendricks and Eger both have wildly uncharacteristic days, it is unlikely Lipp will remain on top for long.
So, the real question: does anyone shake up the standings? Will Eger deliver a PB? Does Lipp get her moment at the top of the leaderboard &mdash; however brief?
Or are we simply living in a Drombusch world?
The CDI3* is set to start at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, with the FEI Nations Cup immediately following. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Become a USEF Network Fan</a> for free to stream the upcoming qualifiers live!
<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.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/313059f5-aa3c-4b83-b2e7-8aa565f17d7c.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Show Calendar for the 2025 Us Equestrian Open of Dressage Series">
&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;

Close-up image of a bay horse's face as it looks into the camera contentedly. The horse wears a dressage bridle with a browband bedazzled in red, white, and blue. A rider in dressage gear sits on the horse's back.

A Fight for Second Place? Hendricks Looks Untouchable in Qualifier 8

The evening air was crisp by Florida standards, dipping into the low 70s as a cool breeze drifted through the showgrounds. The sky burned orange behind a tapestry of palm trees. In the fading light, the first riders entered the warm-up arena, their movements quiet and deliberate. Horses and riders moved in quiet concentration, warming muscles, refining aids, and dissolving any lingering tension as they prepared for their dance under the lights.
<h2 dir="ltr">Under Pressure</h2>
By the time Kevin Kohmann entered the arena at 8:44 p.m., the sky had fully darkened, and the stands were packed with spectators. If he felt nervous about this high-pressure ride, it didn&rsquo;t show. He and 16-year-old D&uuml;nensee looked cool and confident in warm-up, nailing their piaffes and extensions. When &ldquo;D&uuml;nee&rdquo; missed a change, Kevin calmly brought him back to walk, reset, and produced a perfect line of ones on their next attempt.
It paid off &mdash; his test was breathtaking and ultimately secured him the win. Under the lights, the pair looked like they were simply having a late-night schooling session that a couple hundred people happened to be invited to. As their freestyle drew to a close, the audience clapped in time with the music before erupting into cheers at his final salute. As they left the arena, both horse and rider beamed, waiting for the scores.
The judges awarded Kohmann a personal best of 79.240%, with the judge at B scoring him an 80%. His score sheet was littered with 8s, including high marks for the trot half-pass, and one judge gave a 9 for his entrance and halts. With this win, he secured the final North American ticket to Basel for the World Cup Finals.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s helping me every day in the ring. I cannot thank the horse enough.&rdquo; &mdash; Kevin Kohmann
</blockquote>
His freestyle victory came on the heels of another personal best in the Grand Prix the day before. &ldquo;I know I said &lsquo;no pressure,&rsquo; but there was a little pressure sitting next to me here right now,&rdquo; Kohmann joked, nodding toward fellow competitor Anna Marek.
<h2 dir="ltr">All In</h2>
<blockquote>
"Following Kevin, I had nothing to lose..."
</blockquote>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7a9d0a78-5e3c-4ab7-817b-69333e8edeb0.jpg?width=3464&amp;height=2309" alt="Anna Marek and the bay horse Fire Fly during a dressage test in competition.">
Anna Marek &amp; Fire Fly. Photo by Shannon Brinkman
Marek and Fire Fly finished second with a score of 77.640%. The pair was electric yet fluid, and Fire Fly is truly a horse to see in person. Flashy and beautiful on the livestream, his animated movement in person is next level. He embodies the &ldquo;floating horse&rdquo; &mdash; his passage so light it looks as though he doesn&rsquo;t touch the ground. For a horse that has struggled with the piaffe in the past, Friday night&rsquo;s performance showed no signs of it. Marek said she feels like she can ask for more now &mdash; and he answers without hesitation.
Their Stranger Things-themed freestyle is a dramatic, high-energy performance that perfectly matches Fire Fly&rsquo;s animated power. Anticipation hung in the air as Marek trotted down the final centerline. Tentative cheers floated on the breeze, hesitant at first, as if the crowd didn&rsquo;t want to disrupt the energy. When Marek hit her salute, the arena erupted in applause.
&ldquo;Following Kevin, I had nothing to lose,&rdquo; Marek explained. &ldquo;So I was just like, &lsquo;I&rsquo;ll just go for it and take some risks I might not normally do on Fire Fly.&rsquo; But today, it all worked. He was really, really good. I was proud of him.&rdquo;
Kohmann and Marek have a friendly rivalry that pushes them to be better every time they step into the ring. It adds pressure &mdash; but the right kind.
&ldquo;I was trying to scare him a little bit yesterday,&rdquo; Marek joked. &ldquo;Oh Kevin, I&rsquo;m coming for you.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Bring it on,&rdquo; Kevin laughed in response.
&nbsp;
<hr>
Marek&rsquo;s second-place finish makes her first reserve for the World Cup Final in Basel. Now that the World Cup qualifiers are wrapped up, she shifts her focus to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, with her sights firmly set on the final in Thermal, California, at the end of the year.
<h3>Top 10 Placings on the Series Leaderboard after the Palm Beach Derby:</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/daad2cec-cb26-4933-978d-b062e57337fa.png?width=543&amp;height=948" alt="Leaderboard for the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage as of 3 March (after Qualifier 9)">
The Palm Beach Derby&rsquo;s conclusion shakes up the leaderboard. Karen Lipp&rsquo;s sixth-place finish earned her 10 points, putting her in a tie for the overall lead with Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger. Marek now sits behind them on 54 points, tying her with Felicitas Hendricks. Meanwhile, Camille Cartier Bergeron&rsquo;s third-place finish earned her 17 points, bringing her season total to 37. That result ties her for 10th place alongside Kohmann and Adrienne Lyle.
<h2 dir="ltr">What's Next</h2>
Next week, the qualifiers continue up north in Ocala, FL, at the World Equestrian Center March Dressage Show.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.
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;

Kevin Kohmann & the bay horse Dünensee during a dressage test in competition.

A Cool Breeze, a Fiery Freestyle: Kohmann and Dünee Shine in Wellington 

Since 2010, only one rider has ever won more than two five-star Grand Prix classes in a single WEF season. That record belongs to McLain Ward, whose historic 2016 and 2020 campaigns set a benchmark in Wellington&rsquo;s International Arena. For those back-to-back victories, he had been riding different horses, so up until this year not a single horse had ever won five-star Grands Prix in WEF during the same season. Since last weekend, Kent Farrington&rsquo;s Greya has challenged that legacy, with back-to-back five-star victories during the Winter Equestrian Festival in 2025.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e173d4e6-80b4-46f4-98ac-f696a1a22d51.png?width=1250&amp;height=1180" alt="Riders With Multiple Five Star Grand Prix Victories in One Wef Season (1)">
<h2>A Historic Feat at WEF</h2>
In 2016, McLain Ward became the first rider to ever win back-to-back five-star Grands Prix during the same WEF season. He picked up the first of his wins that season riding Rothchild, fresh off their Pan-American Individual victory. Two weeks after that WEF win, he repeated that performance on 10-year-old HH Azur, with whom he had already won a five-star Grand Prix in Calgary the previous year.&nbsp;
Four years later, McLain showed he wasn&rsquo;t finished writing history in Wellington. He started the 2020 season off by winning the five-star Grand Prix riding Noche de Ronda during WEF 5. Since her 2016 Grand Prix victory, HH Azur had only continued to improve on her incredible form, helping Team USA claim Team Silver at the Rio Olympic Games and winning the 2017 World Cup Finals. It was therefore no surprise when McLain claimed his second five-star Grand Prix victory of the 2020 Wellington season riding HH Azur during WEF 7.
For years, McLain Ward remained the only rider to ever claim more than one five-star Grand Prix victory in one WEF season and no horse had ever managed to achieve this.
That all changed last weekend. While Kent Farrington became the second rider to win more than 1 five-star Grand Prix during the same WEF season, his 11-year-old mare Greya has become the first horse to achieve this incredible milestone.
<h2> Greya: Continuously Writing History</h2>
Following on the back of an incredible 2024 season, Kent Farrington&rsquo;s Greya has continued her superb form into the 2025 season. They started the year off with a victory in their first five-star Grand Prix during WEF5. Two weeks later, the pair repeated this performance with another Grand Prix win during WEF7. This puts Greya in the history books as the first horse to win more than one five-star Grand Prix during the same Wellington season.
Farrington attributes Greya&rsquo;s success to her unique attributes: "Her foot speed across the middle of the course and her ability to sprint to the next fence make her very hard to catch. She's ultra careful, so you can run at the jumps at speed, and she's an incredible competitor&mdash;she's a great modern show jumper."
Despite these back-to-back five-star wins, Farrington insists that Greya has yet to fully peak: "She's coming of age now where she can really compete, and I'm proud of what she's showing she can do. I've always thought a lot of this horse, and I&rsquo;m enjoying the moment."
Greya has strengthened her position as the highest-rated US horse on an Elo rating of 772. She currently ranks as eighth in the world.
<h2> Chasing a Record-Breaking Third Victory</h2>
With WEF 12&rsquo;s Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix still ahead, Farrington and Greya have a chance to achieve what no other horse or rider since 2010 has done&mdash;win three five-star Grand Prix events in a single WEF season.
As the festival&rsquo;s biggest event looms, all eyes will be on this incredible partnership. Can they break new ground and etch their name even further into WEF history? If their performances so far are any indication, the answer might just be a resounding yes.
&nbsp;
<hr>
About the Series Born from a commitment by the US Equestrian Board in July 2023, the US Equestrian Open aims to grow the sport's awareness, exposure, and fan engagement. With $1 million in prize money and extensive media coverage on ESPN and the USEF Network, this series is designed to:
<ul>
<li>Provide a structured, prestigious championship format.</li>
<li>Attract a broader audience.</li>
<li>Enhance competition opportunities for athletes.</li>
</ul>
Stay connected with the US Equestrian Open on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the USEF Network for live event updates, stories, and results. Use #USEquestrianOpen to share your own experiences and connect with fellow fans.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1ba79d22-0b13-4687-b1e5-5dc0cd708aee?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="P. 4 Jumping">
For sponsorship and media inquiries, please contact:
Carly Weilminster: cweilminster@usef.org Layson Griffin: lgriffin@usef.org

Writing History at WEF: Greya's Back-to-Back Five-Star Grand Prix Wins

Wrigley Field, Madison Square Garden, Arrowhead Stadium. Like some of the most well-known sporting venues, eventing venues can adopt personalities of their own.
Stadiums are compared on fan decibel levels, seating capacity, or audience experience. Eventing venues are compared on cross country difficulty, field strengths, or arena footing (to name a few). With several ways to parse apart events, this time we&rsquo;re boiling it down to winning margins: how many points does the victor win by?
Winning margins are a function of several variables: the strength of the field, the size of the field, and the conditions on cross-country day, for example. But as one, big, high-level analysis, its insightful and interesting. So here we go.
<h2>Parameters</h2>
We looked at winning margins within these boundaries.
Venues: <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/about-the-us-equestrian-open-series">US Open venues</a>
<h3>Level:</h3>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>CCI4*, since all qualifiers are at that level</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Separately, we also looked at Morven Park CCI4*-L since that is the location and level of the final.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Timeframe:</h3>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">2019-2024</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Why 2019? Because modern scoring started in 2019 so it allows the cleanest apples-to-apples comparison. (The dressage multiplier was gone starting in 2018 and, starting in 2019, SJ time penalties went from 1 penalty per second to the current 0.4 per second.)</li>
</ul>
<h2>The narrowest victories come at Tryon</h2>
The narrowest victory in the list comes from Tryon in April 2022 when both&nbsp;Doug Payne (Vandiver) and Phillip Dutton (Z) both finished on a score of 30.8. Doug started on a dressage score of 30 (Phillip 28) but Doug was closer to the time with just 0.8 added compared to Z&rsquo;s 2.8. Both jumped clear. Both ended up with a HPR (High Performance Rating) of 97 &ndash; one of the highest ever recorded at the venue. That rating is driven a number of factors but primarily, who they beat and by how much. That day, Vandiver and Z finished ahead of Aachen winner Off The Record (Will Coleman) and Boyd Martin&rsquo;s Tsetserleg. &nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c8787753-9fb6-4db8-b872-e956f5ab83eb.png?width=1252&amp;height=2542" alt="Table showing the 10 Smallest Largest 4S Winning Margins at Us Open Venues">
Later the same year, we saw another narrow victory, this time from&nbsp;Julie Wolfert with SSH Playboy finishing on 55.3, just ahead of Ariel Grald and Forrest Gump 124 on a score of 55.4. This was a different quality of field, and a differently rated performance with a winning HPR of 57.&nbsp; Emily Beshear&rsquo;s 0.1 winning margin in the opening leg of the US Equestrian Open with Rio de Janeiro is joint second on the list.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dbdb4ab1-a525-4ee7-8959-8dfdd4396cbc.png?width=1116&amp;height=1414" alt="Table showing the average 4S Winning Margins at the Us Open Venues">
<h2>Small Fields, Big Wins</h2>
Lauren Billys holds the biggest winning margin in our list when she dominated a small field in Twin Rivers back in 2019. Castle Larchfield Purdy started on a score of 29.8 and only added a couple of cross country seconds to finish on a score of 30.6. Liza Horan was second that day with a score of 66.8. The win didn&rsquo;t translate to a big rating, coming in at 52.&nbsp; Karen O&rsquo;Neal (Clooney 14) had a big win at Aspen Farms in June last year, finishing 23.5 marks ahead of Sophie Click and Quidproquo. The winning rating was 46 &ndash; again coming from the small field ad without some of the superstars.
<h2>What about the final, a CCI4*-L?</h2>
This October, the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/about-the-us-equestrian-open-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Open final will take place at Morven Park as a CCI4*-L</a>. There will be (at least) $200,000 in prize money on the line. So how close might it be when deciding the biggest chunk of the winnings?
Well, historically, the winner of Morven Park CCI4*-L has triumphed by just 0.6 penalties to as much as 10.4. That 10.4 margin, produced by&nbsp;Boyd Martin and Commando 3, was largely thanks to the pair's fast and clean cross country round (fastest of the day) on a day when only seven of the 14 starters finished the course. On the other hand, 12 of the 16 starters completed last year's cross country with Julie Wolfert and SSH Playboy going on to win by 1.0 point, a victory earned by finishing on their dressage score.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/31003839-e2e6-44d4-af56-512d34df36d5.png?width=1068&amp;height=824" alt="table showing the Winning Margins in the Morven Park 4L and how they've Ranged From 0 6 to 10 4 Points">
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next in the Open?</h2>
Having kicked off in 2024, the US Equestrian Open qualifiers will pick back up next Friday, March 7th&nbsp;when the leaderboard battle continues at <a href="https://bouckaertfarm.com/equestrian-events/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bouckaert</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/145ad0e6-6356-4cd4-98f7-394e78b6afdb?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series">
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>.
<h3>Series Standings at the End of 2024:</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/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024">
<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.
&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;

Profile image of Doug Payne & the bay horse Vandiver clearing a show jumping obstacle

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