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Isabell Werth is in Wellington.&nbsp;
I could, frankly, end the preview there. Place your bets on the German "Queen of Dressage" &mdash; World No. 2, the most decorated Olympic equestrian athlete of all time, holder of 14 Olympic medals across seven Games, eight of them gold. That&rsquo;s a pretty safe bet, right?
It is, but it comes with a small caveat. Werth has not arrived on an Olympic-tested mount. If she had, the preview would end here and the story would write itself. Instead, she rides Special Blend 3 who is making his FEI Grand Prix Freestyle debut this week. What we know of their potential comes from a single German national freestyle in 2025: 79.850%.&nbsp;
Because Werth is campaigning Special Blend 3, the "Isabell Factor" is less a guaranteed victory and more a legendary bomb dropped into an already volatile field.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Rest of the Field</h2>
The field itself would be notable without Werth in it. All 11 horses have scored over 70% in the Grand Prix Freestyle at least once. Two have cleared 80%: Jewel's Goldstrike with Julio Mendoza Loor (PB: 84.230%) and Harmony's Giulilanta with Susan Pape (PB: 81.745%). Three more are within one percent of that line &mdash; Bellena with Benjamin Ebeling (79.930%), Duenensee with Kevin Kohmann (79.240%), and Special Blend 3 (79.850%, national competition). Five combinations have reached ten or more Grand Prix Freestyle starts.&nbsp;
The predictions this week are, to be direct about it, a genuine mess.
Who wins depends on which metric you trust most. By averages, it's Pape. By ceiling, it's Mendoza Loor. By starts and venue familiarity, it's Kohmann. By rider experience, it's Werth. And none of that has touched the reigning US Equestrian Open of Dressage champion, Benjamin Ebeling. While his December performance was below average, his trajectory since last June has been consistently upward. Writing them off because of a December result would be a mistake.
That's five legitimate arguments for five different winners. In the same class.&nbsp;
And that's before we get to Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Caroline Darcourt, who are perfectly capable of making Friday's podium more complicated.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Case for Each</h2>
Susan Pape and Harmony's Giulilanta lead the field on averages &mdash; just under 80% in the freestyle &mdash; and Pape holds the US Equestrian Open of Dressage record score outright: 81.745%, set at AGDF 3 in January. Her freestyle body of work with this horse is small (three starts), but the direction of travel is unmistakable: 78.290% in November, 79.805% in December, 81.745% in January. The pair are technically very strong, and in freestyle, that's the best position to be in. The choreography bonuses are there to reward good work, not paper over bad.
Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel's Goldstrike have the highest personal best in the field &mdash; 84.230% &mdash; which is nearly two and a half points above anyone else's personal best. His average of 77.6% sits below Pape's, but his ceiling is a reminder that averages don't always determine outcomes.&nbsp;
Kevin Kohmann and Duenensee bring 20 starts together, the most of any combination entered. Twenty starts is a kind of knowledge that doesn't show up in raw data. That&rsquo;s experience, mileage, and familiarity with atmosphere. They average 75.4% &mdash; lower than the leaders &mdash; with a PB of 79.240%, and Kohmann knows this horse and this venue as well as anyone in the ring.
Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena are the defending champions. Ignoring their outing in December, they&rsquo;ve been on a consistent upward trajectory since last June. Their average is 76%, their PB is 79.930%, and their partnership isn&rsquo;t yet a year old.&nbsp;
Then there is Isabell Werth and Special Blend 3. The pair have no prior freestyle data at the FEI level which means no average to anchor the prediction &mdash; just a national score of 79.850%, a partnership that is clearly still developing, and one of the most accomplished riders in the history of the sport. They do, however, have a body of four FEI Grand Prix Specials, the test unequivocally known to be the most difficult test of the dressage discipline. Horses and riders consistently score below their Grand Prix average in the test. Isabell and Special Blend 3 average 71.3% in the Grand Prix. The Special? 72.4%. A full percentage point higher than the basic Grand Prix test. If that&rsquo;s what they can do with a test of technical landmines, imagine what they can do when they can choreograph the moves to the horse&rsquo;s strengths.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">A Personal Pick</h2>
From a strictly data-driven standpoint, you can argue this class five different ways. So who the heck is the pick for favorite?
If I have to pick a name, I&rsquo;m giving the nod to Susan Pape. The averages are hers, as is the momentum.
The 81.745% personal best is both the highest recent score in the field and backed by a clear progression: 78% in Germany in November, 79% in Britain in December, then 81% in Wellington less than a month ago. Her Grand Prix scores consistently land in the 70s providing the technical foundation needed to let the freestyle choreography shine. And her Grand Prix Special scores, too, trend slightly above the Grand Prix.&nbsp;
Whether she can keep her momentum &mdash; and whether I've just made the most moronic prediction in equestrian sport &mdash; with the "Queen of Dressage" breathing down her neck is a question for Friday night.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Watch the Action</h2>
Watch all Friday Night Stars action on <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18412/adequan-global-dressage-festival-vii">USEF Network</a>. The freestyles begin Friday at 7:00 ET. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.

A black horse in a dressage bridle with US Equestrian Open branding

Werth is in Wellington — Here's Why It's Not a Foregone Conclusion

<h2 dir="ltr">Show Jumping: A First 5* 160 Win Puts Mimi Gochman in the Open Spotlight</h2>
The US Equestrian Open Final: Wellington, Week 12 | Countdown: 5 Weeks
The $300,000 Longines FEI World Cup&trade; qualifier at the World Equestrian Center, Ocala saw the 21-year-old rising star Mimi Gochman out-jump a field of Olympic veterans. In a high-pressure jump-off, Gochman delivered the performance of her career aboard Iron Maiden, jumping the only double clear to win her first-ever 5* 160 Grand Prix/World Cup. The victory was a massive statement for the home nation, with Gochman beating Brazil&rsquo;s Eduardo Pereira de Menezes and Ireland&rsquo;s Cian O&rsquo;Connor.
Gochman&rsquo;s dominance in Ocala isn't a flash in the pan but rather the continuation of a red-hot 2026 run. Just nine days prior, she claimed the CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup with Inclen BH. With two horses in winning form and confidence clearly building, she has moved firmly into contention for the US Equestrian Open title. With just six weeks until the Rolex finale in Wellington, the question now is whether she can sustain that momentum against the likes of World Number One Scott Brash and home-turf hero Kent Farrington.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/93f7dc6e-604b-4d1d-913d-73eddaee42db.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">Eventing: Heavy Hitters Headline Bouckaert</h2>
Next Qualifier: Bouckaert Equestrian | Countdown: 2 Weeks
The road to the 2026 Series heads to Georgia, with entries closing today for the first qualifier of the new year. Last week we looked at the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-first-wef-5-dressage-momentum-and-bouckaert-takes-shape" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early names on the list</a>, and since then the field has grown to 26 confirmed combinations in the CCI4*-S - meaning the winner will walk away with a full 50 points.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ec2bc08c-7c88-4dc3-a5e7-4fd9617950fd.png?width=3204&amp;height=2600" alt="Qualifiers With More Than 25 Starters (1) (1) (1)"> It&rsquo;s a serious field to open 2026 - the kind that sets the tone for the season ahead. Here are a few standout names on the list.
Lucienne Bellissimo: The current Series leader arrives for the first time&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-flag-for-the-frontrunner">officially flying the American flag</a>. Bellissimo brings a two horses to the 4* with Kitsch Couture HPK and Easter Star WM, who makes her move up to the level. Her October winner, Dyri, will contest the Open Intermediate alongside Qatar M as she builds her depth for the 2026 title race.
Waylon Roberts: Currently third in the series standings, the Canadian veteran brings forward Chevalier. The new ride for Roberts in 2025 (previously campaigned by Karl Slezak) finished in the top four in all four of their international starts. This streak includes a victory in the CCI3*-S at The Fork at Tryon last September.
Buck Davidson: Currently sitting in fifth place on the Series leaderboard, Buck returns with Cooley Candyman and Cerafino D. Cerafino D already has a podium finish at this venue from October&rsquo;s opening qualifier, making him a proven competitor on this track.
Caroline Pamukcu: A top-three finisher in last year&rsquo;s series, Pamukcu brings three contenders including the notoriously fast HSH Double Sixteen. The thoroughbred was one of only two horses to win multiple qualifiers during the 2025 series. As the defending champion of this exact event, he returns to the venue where he secured victory last March by recording the fastest cross country time of the day. Pamukcu also brings HSH Connor and King&rsquo;s Especiale.
Boyd Martin: The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/reigning-us-open-of-eventing-champion-boyd-martin-named-2025-usef-international-equestrian-of-the-year">2025 Series and Final winner</a> is leaving nothing to chance, arriving with four entries. His string includes 5* superstar and previous qualifier winner Commando 3, and Cooley Nutcracker, fresh off a 3rd place finish at Pau 5*. Keep an eye on his 4* debutants Fetiche Des Rouges and Kolbeinn; both horses jumped double clear at every international start last season, with Kolbeinn winning the 3*-L at Bromont.
With two weeks to go, Bouckaert is shaping up to be a pivotal qualifier. Lucienne Bellissimo arrives with the series lead but Caroline Pamukcu and Boyd Martin bring depth, experience, and serious firepower. If she wants to extend her advantage, she&rsquo;ll have to earn it.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c23492d7-840b-47ef-9003-9f9fdbe46459.png?width=1240&amp;height=714" alt="E Fens Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Eventing (1)">
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/eventing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/254e09dd-d92e-4194-986b-baf0dbd8460b.png?width=1080&amp;height=158" alt="Read More Eventing"></a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">Dressage: Davis Capitalizes as Mendoza Loor Withdraws</h2>
Next Qualifier: Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival 7 | The Final: Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November)
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9d63989b-5f1c-4c8a-a6b8-f7d4d31a3eaa.png?width=697&amp;height=850" alt="Screenshot 2026 02 17 130211">
A four-horse Grand Prix Freestyle at World Equestrian Center&ndash;Ocala shifted before it even began when pre-show favorite Julio Mendoza Loor withdrew. No reason was given, though he is entered to compete in Wellington this week, suggesting a possible change in target. His absence left the door open, and Meagan Davis stepped through it.
Davis and Toronto Lightfoot won on a new personal best of 73.685%, narrowly ahead of Claire Darnell and Harrold S. Darnell improved nearly three percentage points from her previous outing at this venue&mdash;an unusually large gain at this level&mdash;and finished just 0.2 percentage points behind Davis. Two of the five judges had Darnell in first place.&nbsp;
For Davis, it was her first Series appearance since finishing third at Dressage at Devon last September. The progression with Toronto Lightfoot has been steady. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re just checking off goals left and right with Toronto,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Getting the personal best up there on the screen&mdash;that&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;m looking for.&rdquo; She noted a mistake in the one-tempis but pointed to stronger second ones and twos on the line. The focus, she said, is continued improvement with an eye toward Europe later this year.
Charlotte Osborne, last month&rsquo;s WEC winner, finished fourth this time. Even so, her second appearance of the season moves her into fifth on the overall Series leaderboard with 21 points. Darnell now sits tied for seventh on 20.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a4c58000-e0fd-49b4-9d9d-af592ae7ed6c.png?width=1240&amp;height=806" alt="H Y6 Nq Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage (1)">
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a>
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<h2 data-path-to-node="4">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-path-to-node="4">Stay in the Loop with The Open Weekly</h2>
Thanks for joining us for this week's edition! Don't forget: a fresh update of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/the-open-weekly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Open Weekly</a> drops on the site&nbsp;every Tuesday.
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">Join the Conversation</h3>
Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>
<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast</a>.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/40144145/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/28427a/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Open Weekly Graphic with Mimi Gochman jumping

The Open Weekly: Breakthrough Wins at WEC and a Stacked Bouckaert Field

Five combinations from four nations contest this week&rsquo;s qualifier, but only one rider looks poised for first.
Julio Mendoza Loor enters this week&rsquo;s Grand Prix Freestyle at WEC Ocala operating in a scoring range the rest of the field hasn&rsquo;t seen. Recent qualifiers have largely been decided in the low-70s band, so when a combination can reliably produce 75% or better, the predictions become obvious. The spotlight focuses. It becomes that rider&rsquo;s class to lose, and they don&rsquo;t need a miracle to win it.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Tier of His Own</h2>
This week, Mendoza Loor is that rider.&nbsp;
He and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike average 77%, with a personal best of 84.230%. You don&rsquo;t hit those numbers by accident. That requires repetition, and lots of it.
The pair have 16 FEI freestyles together. They have repeatedly scored 78&ndash;80% across venues and seasons, including two Series wins last year and a victory at WEC last March. This is an established partnership with Olympic mileage and a long scoring record at the top end. An easy favorite.
No other combination in this field averages above 73%.
That separation is not subtle. In recent qualifiers, winning scores have frequently landed in the low 70s. A pair capable of delivering a high-70 test does not need to stretch for a personal best to control this class. Mendoza Loor&rsquo;s average already sits where most of this field&rsquo;s peak ambitions lie.
Could someone produce an outlier performance? Of course. But the rest of the field will need to find something remarkable to pull off an upset.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-BSvns" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: WEC Ocala February Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BSvns/1/" height="528" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Ride for Second</h2>
The remaining combinations operate inside a narrow scoring window where the order can shift with a slightly more uphill extended trot or a more settled collected walk. Across this group, the separation between second and fifth sits within roughly three percentage points.
By the averages, Claire Darnell and Harrold S should be the clear pick for second. They average 72.9% together and have reached 77% once in the past. But here's the problem with this scoring band: the data doesn't always hold. Two weeks ago in Ocala, they finished second on 70.5%&mdash;just 0.2% behind Charlotte Osborne and Fruhlingszauber, who won with a 70.775% personal best.
When most of the field lives between 70 and 73%, small variations matter more than long-term trends. A couple of points below average is enough to reshuffle the entire podium. One slightly tense walk transition, one loss of rhythm in a pirouette, and second becomes fourth.
That scoring compression has been a consistent feature of recent qualifiers. Several combinations who regularly score above 75% have focused more heavily on the Special this season. The result is that many freestyle podiums are being decided inside that low-70s band. This is not a commentary on quality. It simply reflects what the top-end talent is choosing to prioritize this season.
But when an established high-scoring combination does enter a freestyle, none of that volatility matters. The predictions become immediately clear.
This week, Mendoza Loor and Jewel's Goldstrike take that role.
If they perform to their established average&mdash;and there is no indication that they won't&mdash;"Goldy" will be cantering with a blue sash on Saturday. If they somehow do not, well&hellip; we'll have a lot to unpack next week.

Julio Mendoza Loor rides Goldy in a winner's lap around the arena at the Pan American Games

Jewel in the Crown: Goldstrike Set to Shine

<h3 dir="ltr">Show Jumping: Vogel Takes the First 5* of WEF 2026 as the World No. 1 Battle Shifts</h3>
The US Equestrian Open Final: Wellington, Week 12 | Countdown: 6 Weeks
The first of four CSI5* weeks at the Winter Equestrian Festival set a high-stakes tone for what to expect as the circuit builds toward the Rolex finale. Germany&rsquo;s Richard Vogel claimed the $500,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix (1.60m) with the 10-year-old stallion Gangster Montdesir. It was a clinical performance for the rising superstar, marking his fourth clear round from four 5* starts (100% clear rate at the level).
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/297524eb-1727-4b63-bc11-aa562354867f.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1424" alt="Img L8956 (1)">
Kent Farrington (USA) was the first to find the path to a clear round in the evening, leading a total of eight combinations into the jump-off. While Farrington and Greya ultimately finished 5th after a pole down, their time of 40.43 seconds was the fastest of the night. It was a solid showing for the home nation, with Lillie Keenan and Argan de Beliard finishing 4th and Spencer Smith taking 6th with Keeneland.
As we suspected in last week&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-freestyle-west-coast-momentum">Open Weekly</a>, the battle for the World No.1 spot was on. Great Britain's Scott Brash has now officially overtaken Kent Farrington to become the new Longines World Number One. This marks exactly 10 years since Brash last held the position. With Brash in fantastic form in Doha&mdash;winning five Grand Prix titles this January alone&mdash;the question remains whether he will make a rare trip to Florida for the ultimate head-to-head with Farrington for the US Equestrian Open title on American soil.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/93f7dc6e-604b-4d1d-913d-73eddaee42db.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a>
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<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">Dressage: A Winning Debut for G&oacute;mez Molina and Servus Ymas&nbsp;</h3>
Next Qualifier: World Equestrian Centre (WEC) February Dressage - 2/11/26 | The Final: Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November)
AGDF&rsquo;s Friday Night Stars was held on an unusually cold, blustery Wellington night, but the conditions did little to unsettle Pablo G&oacute;mez Molina (ESP) and Servus Ymas. The pair won the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 74.490%, marking their first FEI freestyle together and G&oacute;mez Molina&rsquo;s first Big Tour victory.
A win on debut at this level is uncommon, particularly when it comes with a horse stepping into a CDI4* environment for the first time and a freestyle originally choreographed for a different partner. &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s really special because we struggled a little bit to find our groove last year,&rdquo; G&oacute;mez Molina said. &ldquo;We already felt a progression, and I think this just confirmed that we keep growing.&rdquo;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4f2d8584-ab2f-49fb-9781-346d6cd55eec.png?width=909&amp;height=1101" alt="Screenshot 2026 02 10 144916">
Devon Kane finished second on 74.235%, with Susan Dutta third on 72.985%. With a small field and early-season timing, points were modest but still meaningful. Dutta added eight points to her existing Open total, while G&oacute;mez Molina&rsquo;s first Series appearance put both riders on 15 points. That result slots them into a seven-way tie (yes, seven) for eighth place on the leaderboard, while the top seven positions remain unchanged for now.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d2b162d1-db95-4337-bb53-bae7adbf61ea.png?width=1240&amp;height=806" alt="S Ichi Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage (1)">
For G&oacute;mez Molina, the result marked his first Open qualifier appearance since finishing tenth at AGDF 3 in 2025 aboard Ulises de Ymas - a horse who, fittingly, is also Servus Ymas&rsquo;s sole traveling companion. Servus Ymas, the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, has been produced by G&oacute;mez Molina since age five and is known for being powerful, sharp, and very much his own character. The freestyle, originally built for Ulises de Ymas, was used here as a test of how Servus might handle the demands of the level. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no better place to try those things than here,&rdquo; G&oacute;mez Molina said.
If a mid-70s score is what the pair can produce with a borrowed program, future outings with a freestyle built specifically for Servus Ymas will be worth watching.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a>
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<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">Eventing: Early Bouckaert Entries Roll In</h3>
Next Qualifier: Bouckaert Farm - 3/5/26 | Countdown: 3 Weeks
The series returns to Georgia next month for the Bouckaert Equestrian International (March 5-8). Early entries are beginning to roll in, and we already have five pairs confirmed for the first qualifier of 2026.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Zach Brandt &amp; Direct Advance: Ocala-based Brandt contested three qualifiers last year with Direct Advance. The now fifteen-year-old jumped double-clear twice for two top-10 finishes.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Mia Farley &amp; Phelps: Last year, Farley used this event as a prep run for the Kentucky 5* with a slower cross-country round that added 22 time penalties. It is always a pleasure to see fan-favorite Phelps back out, particularly in the cross-country phase.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Olivia Dutton &amp; Jewelent: Jewelent will contest his first 4* with Olivia, having previously been campaigned at the level by her father, Phillip Dutton.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Ali Kuhn &amp; Little Hail: This 15.1hh OTTB captured hearts at last year&rsquo;s Kentucky 4* with a clear cross-country round and their signature pink cross-country colors. They will contest their second four-star at Bouckaert.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Jan Byyny &amp; Beautiful Storm: Having contested three qualifiers and the Final last season, this is a long-established combination, with Byyny producing the 11-year-old Thoroughbred since he was three</li>
</ul>
Keep a close eye on the entry list for Lucienne Bellissimo. As our current Series leader, she won the opening qualifier at Bouckaert last October with Dyri. As of last week, Bellissimo now officially <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-flag-for-the-frontrunner">represents the United States after changing her nationality from Great Britain.</a> Her decision to change nationality reflects a long-term personal commitment to the country she has called home for many years.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c23492d7-840b-47ef-9003-9f9fdbe46459.png?width=1240&amp;height=714" alt="E Fens Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Eventing (1)">
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/eventing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/254e09dd-d92e-4194-986b-baf0dbd8460b.png?width=1080&amp;height=158" alt="Read More Eventing"></a>
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<h2 data-path-to-node="4">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-path-to-node="4">Stay in the Loop with The Open Weekly</h2>
Thanks for joining us for this week's edition! Don't forget: a fresh update of&nbsp;The Open Weekly&nbsp;drops on the site&nbsp;every Tuesday.
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">Join the Conversation</h3>
Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>
<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast</a>.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/40068020/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/28427a/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Open Weekly Promotion Poster with Lillie Keenan Jumping

The Open Weekly: The First WEF 5*, Dressage Momentum, and Bouckaert Takes Shape

This week&rsquo;s qualifier brings a five-entry Grand Prix Freestyle field that&rsquo;s intimate, but not predictable. Devon Kane, Michael Klimke, and Susan Dutta arrive with averages and personal bests just close enough to keep us guessing, even if one combination enters as a narrow statistical favorite.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-ny6DN" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: AGDF 5" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ny6DN/1/" height="542" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Kane: The Narrow Favorite</h2>
Devon Kane and Vamos enter with the strongest numbers in the class, carrying a 72% average across nine FEI freestyles and a personal best of 75.305%. Friday marks their first freestyle of the season after a summer spent competing in Europe and rolling out a reworked floorplan.
Their average comes with a pesky asterisk, however. A single mid-60s score from Hagen last summer &mdash; the result of a missed element in their first outing with the new choreography &mdash; is dragging down their average more than their form would suggest. Without that mix-up, Kane and Vamos are sitting on an average closer to 73%, which is far more in line with what they typically deliver.
That puts them in the precarious position of &ldquo;favorite.&rdquo; It does not, however, give them much room to be casual about it.
<h2 dir="ltr">Klimke &amp; Dutta: Not Far Behind</h2>
Michael Klimke and Susan Dutta are the two riders most capable of keeping Kane from a casual romp in the Wellington area this weekend.
Klimke is contesting his third of four counting legs in the Open, which means any finish improves his leaderboard position, while a win would move him into a tie with Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn. Klimke and Harmony&rsquo;s Fado debuted their FEI freestyle earlier this season with a 71.445%. It&rsquo;s only one score, but it places them right alongside Kane and Dutta on raw numbers, even without a long freestyle resume behind it. And, as most dressage fans know, it&rsquo;s rarely wise to count out a Klimke.
Dutta and Don Design DC return for their second Open appearance of the year, currently ranked 21st with seven points. While they sit just outside the finals cutoff line, any finish this weekend would move them into that range, but their scoring ability keeps them firmly in the podium discussion.
Dutta&rsquo;s personal best of 73.950% sits comfortably within reach of Kane. Her average trails both Kane and Klimke slightly, but not by a margin that removes first place from the equation. A ride near, or just beyond, that personal best would be enough to topple the statistical order.
<h3 dir="ltr">Tune In</h3>
With Kane, Klimke, and Dutta clustered tightly on averages and personal bests, this shapes up as a competitive podium for such a small field. Kane carries the edge on depth of results, but the numbers leave little room for error.&nbsp;
The freestyles begin Friday at 8:15 ET, live on the <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18401/adequan-global-dressage-festival-v">USEF Network</a>. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.
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Susan Dutta rides Don Design DC during a Grand Prix dressage test, wearing U.S. colors in the arena.

No Margin for Error for Devon Kane in This Week’s Freestyle

<h3 dir="ltr">Dressage: Osborne Claims Ocala Freestyle</h3>
Next Qualifier: Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival 5 - CDI4* | The Final: Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November)
The Grand Prix Freestyle at World Equestrian Center&ndash;Ocala drew a three-horse field, limiting the points on offer. The weekend&rsquo;s most notable result came from Charlotte Osborne (GBR) and Fruhlingszauber, who produced the highest score of the class.
Osborne and Fruhlingszauber won on 70.775 percent, setting a new personal best in just the pair&rsquo;s second FEI Grand Prix Freestyle together. They finished narrowly ahead of pre-show favorites Claire Darnell and Harrold S on 70.560 percent. Darnell and Harrold S entered the weekend with the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/claire-darnell-enters-as-favorite-at-wec-ocala-cdi3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strongest statistical profile in the field</a>, averaging 73.569 percent across four freestyle starts with a personal best of 77.015.
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUQxBKYEbuS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c6dea697-f831-41d8-95f9-2a6f9f2343df.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="100+ Club Season Openers Graphics"></a>
Sylvia Gugler and Vulkano 14 completed the podium on 66.600 percent. While the small field capped points, Gugler&rsquo;s second Open appearance of the season was enough to move her from within the top 20 to seventh on the Series leaderboard following her earlier start at Gold Coast.
Next week brings the return of Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino, who will have an opportunity to challenge for the top leaderboard spot with Christian Simonson and Indian Rock not contesting the freestyle.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/68dc7bad-b3e7-4798-a77d-6aeab3c0ada6.png?width=1240&amp;height=806" alt="S Ichi Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage ">
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Eventing: The West Coast Awakens at Galway Downs</h2>
Next Qualifier: Bouckaert Farm | Countdown: 4 Weeks
We are now just one month away from the action returning! While the national season kicked off in Florida two weeks ago, the West Coast officially joined the fray this weekend at Galway Downs. The Temecula tracks provided the first real opportunity of 2026 for California-based Open contenders to shake off the cobwebs and put their off-season homework to the test.
Tamie Smith made an emphatic statement to start her year, campaigning a massive string of seven horses. Of particular interest for the Open is Lillet 3. The 10-year-old mare, who successfully stepped up to the four-star level last year, currently sits as the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-crystal-ball-how-data-predicts-the-next-generation-of-us-superstars">second-highest rated US ten-year-old.</a> Only the recently returned Jaguars Duende (Sharon White) sits higher in that age bracket. Smith and Lillet 3 secured a win in the Open Intermediate division, finishing on a score of 32.4. With six Open Qualifiers on the West Coast in 2026, Lillet 3 is very likely a horse that will secure big points for Smith this season.&nbsp;
Another pair lining up for a big 2026 is Galway Downs-based Erin Kellerhouse and Bon Vivant GWF. After an impressive 2025 campaign that included four podium finishes in five international starts at the 3* level, this pair look primed for a four-star step-up. They won the Intermediate/Preliminary division, finishing on their dressage score of 33.1.
While these results set a high bar for form and fitness, West Coast riders must remain patient until Galway Downs International at the end of March to officially put points on the board when the US Equestrian Open of Eventing finally arrives on the West Coast.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a8c33f23-f4e4-48f0-b943-54753a1eec22.png?width=1240&amp;height=714" alt="E Fens Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Eventing ">
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/eventing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/254e09dd-d92e-4194-986b-baf0dbd8460b.png?width=1080&amp;height=158" alt="Read More Eventing"></a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Show Jumping: A big weekend in Desert and a British challenger emerges</h2>
The US Equestrian Open Final: Wellington, Week 12&nbsp; | Countdown: 7 Weeks
At the Desert International Horse Park, the CSI5*-W $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup&trade; Thermal turned into a masterclass for the home nation. In a seven-horse jump-off, American riders locked out the podium. Kyle King claimed the top spot aboard Kayenne Z, followed closely by Karl Cook on the ever-consistent Foxy de la Roque in 2nd. Kaitlin Campbell rounded out the top three with Karius.
Irish riders were again the ones to beat at Wellington International and the leaderboard featured some familiar faces from last year&rsquo;s Open Final. The MARS Equestrian CSI4* Grand Prix win went to Shane Sweetnam (IRL) with a first big win for Coriaan van Klapscheut Z.&nbsp; Bertram Allen (IRL) finished second with Qonquest de Rigo - a combination which finished fifth in last year&rsquo;s final.&nbsp;
Scott Brash (GBR) doesn&rsquo;t often go to Wellington. In fact, it has been over 10 years since we saw him and Hello Sanctos win a 160 Grand Prix there in 2014 during Week 12. All eyes will be on the Kent Farrington v Scott Brash story if we do see an entry emerge. Brash is in remarkable form. He extended his Doha run with victory in Sunday&rsquo;s CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix aboard Hello Jefferson, marking his fifth Grand Prix win of the 2026 season (three at 5* level) and capping a January that simply does not happen in modern show jumping. Backed by a string that includes Hello Jefferson, Hello Folie, Hello Mango and Hello Chadora Lady, Scott Brash sits world number two with real momentum in the rankings race. If he does choose to return to Wellington, it will set up a huge battle to keep the trophy on home soil.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/93f7dc6e-604b-4d1d-913d-73eddaee42db.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a>
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<h2 data-path-to-node="4">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-path-to-node="4">Stay in the Loop with The Open Weekly</h2>
Thanks for joining us for this week's edition! Don't forget: a fresh update of&nbsp;The Open Weekly&nbsp;drops on the site&nbsp;every Tuesday.
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">Join the Conversation</h3>
Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>
<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast</a>.
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The Open Weekly: Freestyle Wins, West Coast Returns, and Momentum Builds

The January CDI3* at Ocala&rsquo;s World Equestrian Center is perhaps not the flashiest stop on the Open calendar, but it has consistently appeared in the early-season plans of riders who go on to have meaningful years. It is also a venue the Series returns to often. This is the seventh Open qualifier held in Ocala across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, making it one of the most frequently used sites in the Series. Only Wellington appears more often.
This year&rsquo;s January competition draws just four combinations, which limits the points on offer. With fewer than five starters, the winner will earn 15 Open points, reflecting the Series&rsquo; lowest points allocation system.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">A Proven Venue for Strong Seasons</h2>
Recent seasons have shown a clear pattern at this venue: riders who score well here tend to build from it. Last year&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/gallagher-and-eckroth-deliver-career-best-rides-at-qualifier-five" target="_blank" rel="noopener">January CDI3* </a>&nbsp;was won by Denielle Gallagher, who returned <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/us-open-of-dressage-a-three-way-tie-at-the-top" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two weeks later and won again</a>. Those results formed a substantial portion of her early-season scoring and contributed to a ninth-place finish on the 2025 Open leaderboard.
The venue has also featured prominently in campaigns that reached the top of the standings. Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/bellena-dances-to-victory-but-the-leaderboard-holds-its-breath" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won two Open legs here in 2025</a>, using Ocala as an early scoring base before expanding their schedule elsewhere. More recently, Christian Simonson and Indian Rock won the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/simonson-and-indian-rock-start-2026-on-top" target="_blank" rel="noopener">December CDI</a> at this venue, a result that counted toward the current season and marked the first stop on Simonson&rsquo;s World Cup Final qualification run.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Statistical Favorite in a Close Field</h2>
Claire Darnell and Harrold S enter the weekend with the strongest statistical profile in the field. The pair has four freestyle starts, averaging 73.569 percent, with a personal best of 77.015. That high score was earned in a class that included Steffen Peters and Anna Buffini, both of whom went on to score over 80 percent, placing Darnell third in what was, at the time, a top-end domestic field.
While that personal best stands well above the rest of this group, Darnell&rsquo;s average score places her closer to the pack than the headline number alone suggests. She arrives as the most proven combination, but not one insulated from pressure if others deliver clean tests.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-q0M6R" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: WEC - Ocala January CDI3*" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/q0M6R/1/" height="459" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
Behind her, the remaining three combinations are closely grouped on paper. Charlotte Osborne and Fr&uuml;hlingszauber, Jodie Kelly-Baxley with Grayton Beach, and Sylvia Gugler aboard Vulkano 14 all carry freestyle averages within roughly two points of one another. Osborne and Gugler will each be contesting only their second FEI freestyle with their current mounts.
In a four-horse field, any personal best from that trio would likely secure a podium finish, and a particularly clean test could challenge for the win.
<h2 dir="ltr">Tune In</h2>
The freestyle takes place Saturday, January 31 at 7:40 p.m. ET. Catch the action live on <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18395/cdi3-wec-january-dressage-presented-by-hampton-green-farms">USEF Network</a>, and <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.
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A dressage rider in a navy tailcoat and white breeches rides a dark horse in collected work, shown from behind, with US Equestrian Open Dressage branding overlaid.

Claire Darnell Enters as Favorite at WEC Ocala CDI3*

The Open Weekly: Results and Early Signals from the Winter Circuits

The Wellington CDI5* qualifier is a notable date on the North American Dressage calendar. Outside of the newly created <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final</a>, it remains the only CDI5* held in the region&mdash;a status it has carried since the Global Dressage Festival launched in 2009. This year&rsquo;s edition draws an internationally experienced freestyle field, with six Olympians contesting Thursday&rsquo;s Grand Prix to qualify for either the Special or the Freestyle later in the weekend.
With none of the current top three on the Open leaderboard entered, the points picture focuses squarely on opportunity through the middle of the field. Riders sitting between fourth and fifteenth have ample room to shuffle positions.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-ZIIjN" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: AGDF 3" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ZIIjN/1/" height="693" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Susan Pape and a Statistical Edge</h2>
On paper, Great Britain&rsquo;s Susan Pape arrives with the strongest freestyle numbers in the field. Pape and Harmony&rsquo;s Giulilanta have contested just two FEI Grand Prix Freestyles together, producing an average of 79.048% and a personal best of 79.805%.
The limited sample size is worth noting, but those scores still stand apart from the rest of the field. If Pape delivers something close to her established range, she positions herself clearly at the top of the class. This weekend also marks the first appearance by a British rider in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, adding a new flag to the Series.
<h2 dir="ltr">Anna Marek Returns to the Freestyle Ring</h2>
Anna Marek returns to the freestyle ring for the first time this season with Fayvel. Their last freestyle appearance came at the Open Final last year, where they finished third on a 77.830%, behind Felicitas Hendricks and <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-and-bellena-save-their-best-for-last">Ben Ebeling</a>.
Their FEI freestyle average currently sits at 75.966%, with a personal best of 78.995%. Those numbers keep them firmly in podium range, particularly in a field without the Open&rsquo;s current leaders. The primary question this week is simply how quickly they settle back into freestyle competition after a break from the test.
<h2 dir="ltr">Caroline Darcourt and the Mid-70s Conversation</h2>
Caroline Darcourt and Lord Django sit just behind Marek on paper, but their numbers reinforce how tight that grouping is. Their freestyle average of 75.333% trails Fayvel&rsquo;s by a narrow margin, and their personal best of 78.170% sits just below Marek&rsquo;s top score.
They were last seen at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-3-preview-get-used-to-hearing-about-indian-rock">AGDF 1</a>, finishing fourth on a 75.695%. That score aligns closely with their established range and reflects the kind of consistent mid-70s performance that often keeps the combination competitive when others make mistakes.
<h2 dir="ltr">Frederic Wandres with Championship Credentials&nbsp;</h2>
Frederic Wandres enters the freestyle with significant championship credentials despite piloting a mount with some of the least amount of experience. Verrenberg, the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding, has only two FEI Grand Prix Freestyles to his name, but he is ridden by a member of Germany&rsquo;s 2024 Olympic gold medal team.&nbsp;
The pair arrive off a strong showing at last week&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/down-the-road-from-wellington">Gold Coast Opener</a>, where Wandres won the Grand Prix on a 71.326% and returned the following day to win the Grand Prix Special on a higher 72.298%. Scoring higher in the Special than the Grand Prix is notable and points to the technical accuracy we&rsquo;ve come to expect from the Germans. In theory, that should translate well to the freestyle that builds upon a strong technical base with artistry and musicality.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Experience Lower Down the Order</h2>
Ashley Holzer and Hawtins San Floriana round out the group of realistic contenders. The mare has steadily improved her freestyle marks, most recently earning a personal best of 75.010% at AGDF 1, placing them squarely within the mid-70s range occupied by several podium threats.
Holzer, a three-time Olympian, joins fellow Canadian Olympian Chris von Martels in adding depth and experience to Friday&rsquo;s freestyle lineup.
<h2 dir="ltr">What to Watch</h2>
Friday&rsquo;s freestyle brings together a mix of proven international riders and developing freestyle partnerships in a prestigious CDI5* setting. Catch the action live on <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18391/adequan-global-dressage-festival-iii">USEF Network</a> starting at 7:15 p.m. ET. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.
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Close-up of a dressage horse wearing a crystal-trimmed ear bonnet during competition

Wellington CDI5* Draws International Freestyle Field

The Open Weekly graphic featuring an image of Boyd Martin on his horse. 

Dressage