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

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

Lainey Wins and Micaela is on the Bubble

Virginia&rsquo;s Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival this weekend hosts Qualifier 18 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.&nbsp;Our entries for Saturday&rsquo;s Qualifier <span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">&ndash; the Grand Prix Freestyle <span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">&ndash; bring a few new faces to the Series and one key contender who could earn Final qualification this weekend.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/710aecfe-4503-4c40-bad4-30f3b625a885.png?width=1296&amp;height=1434" alt="Table showing the Grand Prix Freestyle Stats for entries in the 2025 Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival (Qualifier 18)">
Laine Ashker and Zeppelin made their Grand Prix (GP) Freestyle debut at last year&rsquo;s Dressage at Devon and have yet to contest another one&hellip;until now. Though among this field&rsquo;s least-experienced pairs, their sole GP Freestyle score (70.845%) is among this Qualifier&rsquo;s highest personal bests, showing potential for an impactful Series debut.
Though making her first Series appearance, a spot in the $200,000 Final is within reach for Ashker if she can produce three strong results. The current cutoff for the top 18 &ndash; who qualify for the Final &ndash; &nbsp;is 49 points. Getting to 49 is still a big ask for a Series debutant, but it&rsquo;s not impossible.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a62eb734-525e-474a-bfed-7fcd1d7ed159.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="How points are earned at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Qualifiers">
Meanwhile, Adriane Alvord and Selfmade are the most-experienced pair in the field and they come into the weekend with the best proven scoring potential, having scored a personal best GP Freestyle score of 76.750% at Dressage at Rose Mount 2023. In their several GP Freestyles since that winning performance, most of Alvord and Selfmade&rsquo;s scores have been in the high 60s, leaving the door open for their&nbsp;#MADFest2025 competitors. But, if Alvord &amp; Selfmade do secure the win on Saturday, Alvord will have 40 total series points and a Final qualification will be within touching distance.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Ticket to the Final?</h2>
Of our entries for Qualifier 18,&nbsp;Micaela Mabraga&ntilde;a is the highest-placed rider in the series, sitting 24th with 32 Series points. This is key because if Mabraga&ntilde;a and Belatrix RH place 2nd or 3rd on Saturday (earning 17 points), they will be right on the bubble for Final qualification with the necessary 49 points. With five more qualifiers after MAD, they could be knocked out but, for now, 49 points earns a critical top-18 spot (P.S. <a href="https://inside.fei.org/sites/default/files/Dressage%20US%20Equestrian%20Open%20Series%20Effective%201%20January%202025%20Updated%2010%20November%202024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">everyone tied for 18th at the end of the Series does qualify for the Final</a>). Of course, the 20 points earned for a win would place Mabraga&ntilde;a more-securely in the top 18 with a bit more wiggle room.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">How to Follow</h2>
The Grand Prix Freestyle (Qualifier 18) is this Saturday at MADFest:
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.midatlanticdressagefestival.com/">https://www.midatlanticdressagefestival.com/</a></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Live Scores: <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/show/254865/competition/dressage/7241700" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/show/254865/competition/dressage/7241700</a></li>
</ul>
And Friday's classes at MADFest can be livestreamed on the USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. Watch for free with a <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free USEF Fan Membership</a>.&nbsp;
<h2>Series Leaders Heading into Qualifier 18 at MADFest</h2>
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/ee725d73-81e9-45b6-95f4-fdf5513b60a3.png?width=617&amp;height=828" alt="Us Equestrian Open of Dressage Leaderboard Before Qualifier 18">
Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage"> 
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Image from overhead of a male dressage rider approaching the competition arena on a dark bay horse.

Vying for the Final at #MADFest

As the spring dressage shows draw to a close, we took a closer look at the horses delivering the best freestyle performances so far. The leaderboard race has been exciting to watch week after week, with both international and US riders jockeying for position. But the overall rankings only tell part of the story. Which horses have delivered standout performances? Which ones are consistently showing brilliance?
We reviewed the top six horses in the Series based on their average freestyle scores and found that the same combinations also account for the season&rsquo;s highest-scoring rides (though in a slightly different order).
Here&rsquo;s a closer look at the combinations leading the way in 2025.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-6OTwQ" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Top Horses in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6OTwQ/4/" height="599" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Top Six Horses</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">1. Helix (Adrienne Lyle)</h3>
Age: 13 Breed: KWPN Sex: Gelding Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center Bloodlines: Apache x Jazz Best Series Score: 80.600% Helix is the only horse to break the 80 percent barrier in the Series so far&ndash; and he&rsquo;s done it twice. His season-best 80.600% not only marked a personal best but also secured victory at the CDI5* at Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10. That prestigious event, the only 5* held in the Western Hemisphere, was the first time in four years that an American rider topped the podium. Despite their dominance, Adrienne Lyle and Helix&rsquo;s partnership is relatively new. They debuted their first freestyle together just a year ago at TerraNova, scoring 72.560%. Since then, they&rsquo;ve been on a steep upward trajectory, winning two Series legs and representing the US at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
<h3 dir="ltr">2. D&uuml;enensee (Kevin Kohmann)</h3>
Age: 16 Breed: Hanoverian Sex: Gelding Owner: Diamante Farms Bloodlines: Dancier x Davignon I Best Series Score: 79.240%
D&uuml;nensee&rsquo;s career-best freestyle score came at the perfect moment. It was during the historic Palm Beach Derby at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, which also served as the final World Cup Qualifier. Only one ticket to Basel remained for the Americans, and D&uuml;nensee faced off against Anna Marek and Fire Fly in a high-stakes showdown. Both delivered strong tests, but &ldquo;Denzel&rdquo; was in a league of his own: calm, fluid, and fully locked in. Their audience-favorite freestyle had spectators clapping along into the final halt. Kohmann&rsquo;s personal best of 79.240% earned him the win, the Series points, and the final World Cup berth. He later placed tenth overall at the World Cup Final, the highest-ranked American.
<h3 dir="ltr">3. Fire Fly (Anna Marek)</h3>
Age: 15 Breed: KWPN Sex: Gelding Owner: Janet Simile Bloodlines: Briar Junior x Oo Seven Best Series Score: 77.755%
Fire Fly is an impressive horse to watch. Hot, sensitive, and remarkably talented, it is no wonder he was shortlisted for the Paris Olympics with Marek aboard. Their dramatic freestyle, set to the Stranger Things soundtrack, is a performance worthy of the international stage. Their season-best came at AGDF 3, when Marek edged out Kohmann by just 0.21 percent. Although he has only started twice in the Series, Fire Fly has been remarkably consistent. Both outings, he scored in the high 70s and finished on the podium. His career average is 75 percent, reflecting a partnership that continues to trend upward. The progress is paying off. Between her two mounts, Marek has held the top spot on the leaderboard for more than two months.
<h3 dir="ltr">4. Fayvel (Anna Marek)</h3>
Age: 15 Breed: KWPN Sex: Gelding Owner: Cynthia Davila Bloodlines: Zizi Top x Houston Best Series Score: 78.785%
Marek is incredibly well positioned, with the ride on two Grand Prix superstars. While Fire Fly is flashy, hot, and commands attention, Fayvel is bold, reliable, and intelligent. He might lack the electric charisma of his stablemate but makes up for it with power, rideability, and calm focus under pressure. He transitioned to Marek&rsquo;s competitive string later in life when his owner suffered an injury that took her out of the saddle. Despite entering the top level at an older age, Fayvel quickly proved himself a powerhouse. He took Marek to the 2024 World Cup Final, where they finished as the highest-ranked American pair in ninth. Despite having the third highest Series score, Fayvel has yet to log a win this season. He came close in Week 10, trailing Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike by just 0.04 percent. As the long-time Series leader, Marek is all but guaranteed a place in the Final. With two stellar horses in her barn, the only question now is which one she will choose. You can learn more about both of Marek&rsquo;s horses in the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-podcast-anna-marek-on-passion-patience-and-performance">US Equestrian Open Podcast</a>.
<h3 dir="ltr">5. Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike (Julio Mendoza Loor)</h3>
Age: 14 Breed: KWPN Sex: Gelding Owner: Julio Mendoza Loor Bloodlines: Bretton Woods x Scandic Best Series Score: 78.520%
Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike have only competed in two legs of the Series, but they made those appearances count earning a first and second place. Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike was Mendoza Loor&rsquo;s Paris Games mount where they finished individual 27th. Their week 10 Series debut in Ocala was their first outing since the games. The following week, they finished second to Lyle and Helix in the CDI 5* in Wellington. Before coming to Mendoza Loor, &ldquo;Goldie&rdquo; was deemed too difficult to ride. A $20 sale price and 24/7 turnout later, he has become a powerful international competitor and one of the highest-scoring horses in the Series.
<h3 dir="ltr">6. Drombusch OLD (Felicitas Hendricks)</h3>
Age: 14 Breed: Oldenburg Sex: Gelding Owner: Felicitas Hendricks Bloodlines: Destano x Dimaggio Best Series Score: 78.200%
Felicitas Hendricks and Drombusch OLD came into the season as favorites after sweeping the freestyle classes at AGDF in 2024. Their first 2025 outing in Wellington also marked their debut in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifiers. They came out strong, earning their season high of 78.200%. Hendricks and Drombusch have been together since the gelding was six, and they won the Under-25 European Championship in 2023. Drombusch is particularly impressive in freestyle, where their floorplan is known for a strikingly high degree of difficulty, including 20 one-time changes down the centerline.
<h2 dir="ltr">Poised for the Final</h2>
Despite each of these six horses posting the highest scores in the Series so far, only five of them are currently in contention for a Finals spot. Mendoza Loor and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike only have two qualifier appearances. The results were strong&mdash;first and second place&mdash;but that only puts the pair on a score of 37. Mendoza Loor planned to summer in Europe, so unless he returns to the qualifiers in the fall, we might not see the pair in Thermal come November.
The remaining five horses are not just Series frontrunners but likely Finals contenders. Their consistency, scoring power, and ability to deliver under pressure have defined the season so far. With only two qualifiers left this spring before the summer break, these combinations are well-positioned to secure their places for Thermal. And once there, this group is poised to battle for the Final&rsquo;s podium positions. While many factors can influence the road to the Final, if early-season form is any indication, these are the horses to watch when the Series culminates in November.

Six Horses Everyone Will Be Chasing in Thermal

Charlotte Jorst and Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn each claimed victory in this week&rsquo;s doubleheader at Qualifier 17. Both riders, who began the week outside the top 18 cutoff for a Finals berth, are now comfortably inside the qualifying cutoff. With the final spring qualifiers approaching, every point now carries weight.
<h2 dir="ltr">TerraNova: A Nail-Biter Finish</h2>
At TerraNova, Jorst and Zhaplin Langholt topped the Grand Prix Freestyle with a 74.085%&mdash;just shy of their personal best and nearly three percentage points above their season average. The polished, confident ride earned the highest individual judge&rsquo;s mark of the day from the judge at B. Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena narrowly missed the win with a 73.985%, making this one of the closest finishes in series history. Devon Kane and Vamos secured third place with a 72.705%.
<h2 dir="ltr">Pacific Coast: Vaughn Makes History</h2>
On the West Coast at Pacific Coast Dressage, Vaughn and Gino returned from their World Cup Finals debut to win with a 74.040%. The pair has now won all three of their series starts&mdash;the first rider in the series to win three legs&mdash;and extended their California winning streak to eight. G&uuml;nter Seidel and Jack took second with a combination-best 73.510%, and Kristina Harrison-Antell and Finley placed third on 72.715%.
<h2 dir="ltr">Leaderboard Shifts as Vaughn Climbs Ten Places</h2>
Kristina Harrison-Antell climbed from sixth to second overall with 86 points after another consistent top-three finish. She displaced Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger, who had held onto second place for weeks. However, the biggest positional jump this week belongs to Vaughn, who rose ten places&mdash;from 19th to ninth&mdash;after her Pacific Coast win.
G&uuml;nter Seidel moved into a tie for seventh with 64 points, rising eight places. His combination-best performance with Jack helped secure his Finals position within the top 18.
Vaughn&rsquo;s jump into ninth (60 points) now puts her solidly inside the Finals cutoff after beginning the week outside the qualifying zone. Devon Kane also moved up, now sitting 10th with 59 points following her TerraNova podium finish. Charlotte Jorst advanced from outside the cutoff to 12th place with 55 points, creating a comfortable margin above the line that should hold through the season.
Benjamin Ebeling remains just outside the cutoff but could clinch a Finals berth with another podium finish at WEC in two weeks.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Road Ahead</h2>
Only two qualifiers remain this spring: the Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival in Lexington, Kentucky (May 15), and the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage in Oregon (May 29). After that, the series pauses until late September. The remaining schedule favors East Coast riders, especially those based in Florida, offering more scoring opportunities for competitors like Ebeling, Kane, and Jorst. Riders near the cutoff&mdash;or those aiming to improve their prize money standings&mdash;will need to capitalize on the final spring starts before the Finals in November.
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/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">

Jorst and Vaughn Vault Into Finals Contention with Coastal Wins

For the second time this season, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage unfolds on both coasts, with qualifiers at Pacific Coast Dressage in Temecula, California, and TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City, Florida. Only six qualifiers remain before the Finals in November, and leaderboard points are at a premium.
This weekend could bring a pivotal shift in the Series standings. Two-time winner Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn is chasing a historic third victory. Ben Ebeling looks to solidify his Finals contention. Kristina Harrison-Antell and Devon Kane are poised to break into the top ranks. Eline Eckroth&rsquo;s strategy could vault her into third overall. And G&uuml;nter Seidel aims to secure his Finals ticket with a promising new mount.
As the leaderboard&rsquo;s Top 18 cutoff tightens, every percentage point matters.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-Fo3Dv" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Current US Equestrian Open standings - 30th April 2025" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Fo3Dv/2/" height="554" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Vaughn Chases a Record Third Win</h2>
Two victories earlier this year propelled Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn into a three-way tie for the series lead this spring. She currently sits 19th after missing recent qualifiers, but another strong finish would push her safely into Finals qualification. Since returning from the FEI World Cup Final in Basel &mdash; where Vaughn and Gino earned a respectable 73.765% in their World Cup Finals debut &mdash; she now makes her first US Equestrian Open appearance since February. All eyes will be on the pair&rsquo;s return this weekend.
Because of the small field size, simply completing her freestyle will be enough to move Vaughn into the Top 18 &mdash; displacing another rider from Finals contention. A win at Galway Downs this weekend would also make her the first three-time qualifier winner this season. Gino&rsquo;s current freestyle average stands at 73.051%, with a personal best of 75.150%.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-py3IH" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: Pacific Coast CDI" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/py3IH/1/" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Ebeling Targets Another Win</h2>
Ben Ebeling and Bellena made a statement at their only US Equestrian Open outing this season, taking the win with a 75.740%. Though Ebeling sits outside the Top 18 due to limited starts, another high-scoring win at TerraNova would put him within striking distance. One more qualifier after this would make him a serious Finals threat. It&rsquo;s not just about qualifying, either. With scoring power already demonstrated, Ebeling could pose a legitimate challenge to current series leader Anna Marek when the Finals roll around.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-zzV5v" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: TerraNova Dressage 3" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/zzV5v/1/" height="597" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Leaderboard Movement Mayhem</h2>
On the East Coast, Charlotte Jorst, Devon Kane, and Eline Eckroth are all poised to make leaderboard moves at TerraNova.
Jorst and Zhaplin Langholt return to the entry list this weekend. She has competed in three qualifiers this season, winning at Gold Coast and finishing fourth in the same event where Ebeling claimed victory. Because of the smaller field sizes this week, simply completing her freestyle will earn Jorst enough points to move into the Top 18 &mdash; pushing out one of the current riders.
Devon Kane and Vamos are projected to finish third at TerraNova based on their average of 73.193%. A result in that range would push Kane solidly into the Top 10, a significant jump after spending much of the season hovering around the leaderboard bubble.
Eline Eckroth, who has quietly climbed the standings through tactical scheduling, stands to benefit once again. Though her freestyle averages remain modest at 69.680%, simply completing her ride &mdash; even in last place &mdash; will earn enough points to surpass Karen Lipp and take over third place in the overall standings.
While the East Coast riders aim to solidify or improve their positions, the West Coast lineup is poised for even bigger leaderboard shifts.
Kristina Harrison-Antell, who won the last West Coast qualifier, also returns this weekend. If she finishes third or better, she will move into second overall in the Series standings, ending the long hold Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger has had on the runner-up position since Week 8.
G&uuml;nter Seidel brings a new mount, Jack, to the freestyle arena. While Jack has limited experience at this level, his recent Grand Prix Special results suggest he&rsquo;s ready for the challenge. Seidel is projected to finish fourth this weekend, which would earn him 15 points &mdash; enough to secure a place inside the Top 10 and comfortably above the Top 18 cut line.
Tune in to the USEF Network this weekend for coast-to-coast action as the US Equestrian Open of Dressage continues its thrilling march toward the Finals. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for free</a>!
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
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>.
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.

black dressage horse going into an arena 

Leaderboard Drama Looms at Qualifier 17

Since January, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage has crisscrossed the country with 16 qualifiers scheduled&mdash;including two doubleheader weekends. That leaves six qualifiers and seven freestyle classes to go before we reach the Final in Thermal, California. Only the top 18 combinations will qualify&mdash;and only their top six scores count.&nbsp;
Right now, Anna Marek leads with 88 points, but Evelyn Eger is close behind at 85. Karen Lipp has quietly climbed into third, and Eline Eckroth is following closely on fourth. The cutoff line is crowded, and one strong ride could still change everything.
<h2 dir="ltr">7 Moments That Shaped the Series So Far</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. The 80% Club</h3>
Adrienne Lyle and Helix&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-helix-soar-to-five-star-victory">delivered a masterclass</a> under the lights at the CDI5* in Wellington, earning a career best of 80.600%. It&rsquo;s one of only two scores to break the 80 barrier so far. The other one? Also earned by Lyle and Helix at AGDF Week 5.
<h3>2. Double Trouble</h3>
Week 7&rsquo;s East/West <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/us-open-of-dressage-a-three-way-tie-at-the-top">doubleheader made history</a>: Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Denielle Gallagher became the series&rsquo; first two-time winners on opposite coasts, both securing top spots on the leaderboard in the same weekend.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">3. Comeback Queen</h3>
P.J. Rizvi&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-marek-and-rizvi-deliver-a-thrilling-night-of-freestyle-dressage">returned to the CDI arena after a six-year break</a>, piloting Vanilla Ice to a 76.585% in their first freestyle&mdash;complete with a cameo by the real Vanilla Ice.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">4. The Heartstopper</h3>
At WEC March, Julio Mendoza Loor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/down-to-the-decimal-mendoza-loor-wins-closest-finish-in-series-history">edged out</a> Anna Marek by just 0.04%&mdash;the narrowest margin of the series. Mendoza scored 75.860%, Marek 75.820%. That&rsquo;s the definition of a photo finish.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">5. The Consistency Climber</h3>
Without a win to her name, Karen Lipp has used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/unpredictable-but-pivotal-why-wec-could-reshape-the-leaderboard">a string of steady top-10s</a> to earn 77 points and climb to third overall. Call it the long game, and she&rsquo;s playing it well.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">6. The Spoiler Threat</h3>
Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/a-cool-breeze-a-fiery-freestyle-kohmann-and-dnee-shine-in-wellington">delivered a show-stopping 79.240%</a> to win AGDF 9&mdash;and punch their ticket to Basel for the World Cup Final. They&rsquo;ve only shown twice, but both rides were class.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">7. Breakout Pair</h3>
Eline Eckroth and Daphne only debuted at Grand Prix in November. Fast forward five months, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/nichols-claims-first-senior-freestyle-victory-at-terranova">they&rsquo;re sitting fourth</a> on the leaderboard with three podium finishes and a new personal best of 71.055%.
<h2 dir="ltr">On the Edge: Who&rsquo;s Climbing, Who&rsquo;s Slipping</h2>
The riders between 15th and 25th are in precarious territory. Some have just enough to squeak into Thermal. Others need one more shot to qualify&mdash;or risk missing the cut. Here&rsquo;s where things stand:
<h3 dir="ltr">In (for now)</h3>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Devon Kane (42 pts, 17th) &ndash; Three starts, solid scores, and Florida-based. She&rsquo;s likely to show again&mdash;and just one more decent result could lock her in.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Tinne Vilhelmson Silfv&eacute;n (42 pts, 17th) &ndash; Also on three starts, but now back in Europe. Unless she makes a return stateside (unlikely), she&rsquo;s at serious risk of being overtaken.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Out (but not far)</h3>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn (40 pts, 19th) &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/genay-vaughn-gino-clinch-grand-prix-freestyle-win-with-new-personal-best">One of only three riders with two wins</a>. But she hasn&rsquo;t been seen since February Del Mar, and the leaderboard&rsquo;s catching up fast.</li>
<li>Julio Mendoza Loor (37 pts, 20th) &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/marek-takes-aim-at-series-lead-in-ocala-showdown">A consistent contender</a>, but reportedly off to Europe for the summer. If he&rsquo;s gone, he&rsquo;s likely done with the series.</li>
<li>Charlotte Jorst (35 pts, 21st) &ndash; <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/us-equestrian-open-welcomes-one-of-the-countrys-top-amateur-riders">Winner at Gold Coast Opener</a> and fourth in Ocala. A top 5 finish at any of the remaining qualifiers could sneak her back into the top 18.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Kasey Perry-Glass (30 pts, 24th) &ndash; Two starts. Two huge scores (76.290% and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/perry-glass-closes-agdf-with-a-win-on-heartbeat">75.915%</a>). If she rides again and lands even a modest third score, she&rsquo;ll be a real Finals threat.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Benjamin Ebeling (20 pts, 30th) &ndash; He&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/bellena-dances-to-victory-but-the-leaderboard-holds-its-breath">won his debut Grand Prix Freestyle</a>. But he&rsquo;s only got one score. He likely needs two more starts&mdash;and strong ones&mdash;to qualify. If he shows up, he could really shake things up. He&rsquo;s got the talent and horsepower to make a Finals podium play.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>On the Horizon</h2>
Competition resumes this weekend for the series' second dual-coast doubleheader. In Florida, Benjamin Ebeling, Kasey Perry-Glass, and Charlotte Jorst all have a chance to add a much-needed twenty points to their overall score. In the West, Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn returns to competition fresh off the World Cup Finals.&nbsp;
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/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">

Kevin Kohmann and Dünensee walk out of the dressage arena in Wellington

The Final Stretch: Seven Classes Remain in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage

With just one California qualifier left on the calendar, Kristina Harrison-Antell and her longtime partner Finley seized their moment in Del Mar. The pair topped Sunday&rsquo;s Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 72.180%, earning Harrison-Antell her first career win in a CDI Grand Prix Freestyle&mdash;and her first Big Tour win of any kind in three years, following a Grand Prix victory the day before.
She and the 15-year-old KWPN gelding have been together from the start. Harrison-Antell purchased Finley as a coming three-year-old and has developed him up the levels herself. For the California native, earning her first freestyle victory at a venue like Del Mar&mdash;one she competed at often in her junior years&mdash;was a full-circle moment.
With this result, Harrison-Antell moves into sixth place on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard with 69 points, likely securing a ticket to the Final in Thermal, California this November.
<h2 dir="ltr">Leaderboard Implications Beyond the Win</h2>
The field in Del Mar was smaller than usual, but still yielded meaningful leaderboard movement. Nadine Schwartsman and Royal Flash R finished second with a personal best of 69.935%, a result that&mdash;while below the typical freestyle benchmark&mdash;adds valuable points to her season total. With consistent appearances across multiple qualifiers, Schwartsman is quietly building a strong case for a Finals berth.
Laura DeCesari and Rossi rounded out the podium in third with a score of 66.845%, just ahead of G&uuml;nter Seidel and Equirelle. While Seidel&rsquo;s freestyle didn&rsquo;t land as hoped, a fourth-place finish in the small field added enough to push him into 15th on the leaderboard with 47 points. That keeps him within the current Finals cutoff, but his position remains vulnerable. A fifth-place or better result at Galway Downs in May would help secure his spot as the leaderboard tightens.
Meanwhile, Anna Buffini and Fiontini&mdash;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/coach-vs-student-round-two-the-del-mar-rematch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">favorites heading into the weekend</a>&mdash;were eliminated during the Grand Prix and did not advance to the freestyle. Buffini later explained on Instagram that while she didn&rsquo;t feel anything wrong in the moment, &ldquo;after reviewing the video, it&rsquo;s clear the judges made the right call.&rdquo; The elimination likely ends her chances of climbing the leaderboard, especially as the remaining qualifiers begin to fan out across the country.
With 16 qualifiers down and <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">just seven remaining</a>, the leaderboard is tightening. The top names have begun to pull away, but the final slots for the $250,000 Final are still very much in play.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Series Continues</h2>
The US Equestrian Open has its first break in qualifiers next week but returns with a dual-coast, double-header on May 1. West Coast riders like Seidel and Harrison-Antell will have a chance to reinforce their leaderboard standing in Temecula, California, at Pacific Coast Dressage, while East Coast contenders such as Karen Lipp, Anna Marek, and Denielle Gallagher head to TerraNova in Myakka City, Florida.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">

white horse trotting in a dressage arena and dressage gear

Kristina Harrison-Antell Clinches First Freestyle Victory in Del Mar

One of America&rsquo;s most decorated dressage mentors and his star student go head-to-head again this weekend in Del Mar. The last time Anna Buffini and G&uuml;nter Seidel met here, Buffini edged her longtime coach for the win. But on that day, it was Seidel&mdash;not Buffini&mdash;who received the highest individual judge score of the class. Now, just two California qualifiers remain before the series heads east, and both riders return to a familiar arena with different goals on the line.
Buffini returns with Fiontini, a <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/a-quiet-stage-a-legendary-mare">triple World Young Horse Champion</a> who once posted an 83.410% freestyle under Patrik Kittel. Buffini&rsquo;s best with the mare sits at 73.235%&mdash;a strong result, but still shy of Fiontini&rsquo;s proven potential. This season is about whether she can unlock the brilliance embedded in that record.
Seidel, meanwhile, isn&rsquo;t chasing redemption. With three Olympic appearances and a resume full of World Cup Finals, his return is about rhythm and refinement. After a three-year freestyle hiatus, he and Equirelle posted a shaky 68.695% at the Del Mar Opener in February before rebounding to 73.080% in March&mdash;just 0.155% behind Buffini at their last faceoff.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Test Decided by Tenths</h2>
That March faceoff&mdash;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/buffini-returns-seidel-surges-a-tight-finish-at-the-del-mar-affaire">Qualifier 12</a>&mdash;was one of the closest finishes of the season. Buffini won the class on 73.235%, but Seidel earned the day&rsquo;s highest single judge score: a 75.175%. More than half of the movements were separated by less than a tenth of a point on average. It was, in every sense, a test decided by the slimmest margins.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-0GzTl" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Movement-by-Movement: Buffini vs. Seidel in Del Mar" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/0GzTl/4/" height="794" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Split Bars" data-external="1"></iframe>
Buffini won more of the directly comparable movements, especially in trot work and artistry. Her final halt carried an average margin of +1.8. Her extended trot was another highlight, netting her a +0.9 edge. She also led the field in rhythm&mdash;a 0.28-point advantage that helped tilt the artistic panel in her favor.
But her weaknesses were just as pronounced. In extended canter, Buffini lost by an average of 1.8 points. Her half-pass left (&ndash;0.5) and canter pirouette right (&ndash;0.3) were additional soft spots. More telling than the averages, though, was the judging spread. Her extended canter was scored as low as a 4.0 and as high as an 8.0. One judge gave her an 8 in the half-pass right while another gave a 6. At position H, one judge consistently diverged&mdash;awarding an 8 where others gave 5s, and later handing out a 5 where most gave 7s.
Seidel, by contrast, was steady. Across all 25 matched movements, no score differed by more than 1.5 points between judges. His ride was measured and deliberate, and the panel stayed in agreement from start to finish. His extended canter remained his biggest win, and his musicality continued to shine.
Despite the difference in style, the two riders finished nearly tied in overall artistic averages. Buffini led in rhythm and choreography. Seidel edged ahead in degree of difficulty and music. Their totals were separated by just 0.02 points before coefficients were applied. It was, essentially, a draw&mdash;but one that revealed two very different strengths.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-6OqPx" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Buffini vs. Seidel: The Artistic Edge" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6OqPx/2/" height="455" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Grouped Bars" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Leaderboard Picture</h2>
Although the student-versus-mentor rematch headlines the weekend, it&rsquo;s Kristina Harrison-Antell who may have the most to gain. She sits 12th on 49 points. With just five riders in the field, she&rsquo;s guaranteed at least 15 points&mdash;likely enough to push her into the top ten.
Seidel, currently holding 32 points, would move to 52 with a win. And if he competes again at Galway Downs in a few weeks, a fourth result would likely secure his place in the Final.
Buffini is still on the outside looking in when it comes to the leaderboard. But two strong results&mdash;this weekend and at Galway&mdash;could change that. She&rsquo;ll need top-two finishes at both, and she&rsquo;ll need to deliver tests that show not just potential, but polish.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-ksVwv" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: Del Mar National Horse Show" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ksVwv/1/" height="528" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
Technically, the West Coast season wraps at the Ginny Rattner Memorial in Oregon at the end of May. But with Del Mar and Galway Downs marking the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">last two California qualifiers</a>, the travel questions are real. Riders looking to avoid a 2,000-mile haul to the East Coast will need to make these final stops count.
Watch the freestyle Sunday at Del Mar Horse Park. The class starts at 10:30 a.m. Pacific on USEF Network. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.

A dressage rider pats her bay horse after a test.

Coach vs. Student, Round Two: The Del Mar Rematch

In their Grand Prix Freestyle debut as a pair, Benjamin Ebeling and the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare Bellena delivered a winning performance under the lights at the April CDI4* in Ocala. Their bold, girl-power-themed freestyle scored 75.740%&mdash;just 0.365 percentage points shy of the mare&rsquo;s personal best, earned with Benjamin&rsquo;s father, Jan Ebeling, in 2022.
<h2 dir="ltr">Bellena&rsquo;s Breakout Win</h2>
Despite only receiving the music two days prior, Ebeling and Bellena looked at home in the arena. Clapping erupted as they trotted down the final centerline to &ldquo;Femininomenon&rdquo; by Chappell Roan, closing a clean, high-energy ride that also featured &ldquo;Rich Girl&rdquo; by Gwen Stefani and &ldquo;Maneater&rdquo; by Nelly Furtado.
&ldquo;I think that was my best ride ever,&rdquo; Ebeling beamed after the test. &ldquo;The mare is such a powerhouse."
<blockquote>
"I think this girl really loves to dance.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
In the four months since their debut in Wellington, Ebeling and Bellena have placed in the top five in every start. With the second half of the season underway and only three Florida qualifiers remaining, the pair still have the scoring power&mdash;and the opportunity&mdash;to make a serious run at the Finals. Even with three fifth-place finishes, they&rsquo;d be sitting on 65 points&mdash;enough to stay in the hunt for a Finals berth. Sixty-five points wouldn&rsquo;t guarantee a Finals berth, but with the top 18 advancing&mdash;and many contenders opting to skip qualifiers outside their home regions&mdash;it&rsquo;s a realistic benchmark. Ebeling, based in Wellington, is also strategically positioned to capitalize as the series begins to stretch across the country.
But geography isn&rsquo;t their only edge&mdash;their advantage also lies in technical brilliance and high execution. Friday&rsquo;s test had a single 6.0, with all other marks 6.5 or higher. One judge even awarded a rare 9.0 for their extended trot&mdash;a mark that speaks to the pair&rsquo;s polish, power, and precision. And if this is what they can do with a freestyle they&rsquo;ve ridden only once, imagine what&rsquo;s possible when they&rsquo;ve had time to refine it.
<h2 dir="ltr">Another Top Finish for Gallagher</h2>
Denielle Gallagher and her Lusitano gelding, Come Back de Massa, continued their strong run in Ocala, securing second place with a score of 72.685%. The pair have been a consistent force at the WEC dressage shows this season, finishing in the top three in all of their 2025 appearances. This performance nearly eclipsed their personal best&mdash;just 0.255 percentage points shy of the score they posted in February at this same venue. Their freestyle, set to the nostalgic Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron soundtrack, continues to be a crowd favorite and a signature of Gallagher&rsquo;s expressive style.
This latest result cements Gallagher firmly inside the top five on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard, despite having competed in just four qualifiers. With two wins, a second, and a third to her name, her record now rivals that of current leader Anna Marek, who holds 88 points from five qualifiers.
<h2 dir="ltr">Lipp&rsquo;s Strategic Climb</h2>
Karen Lipp successfully defended her third-place position in the overall standings, finishing third in the class with a score of 71.345%. The result allowed her to drop a previous 10-point finish in favor of this 17-point placing&mdash;netting an additional 7 points and tightening the leaderboard race.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/52538ac1-caaf-404c-b7f7-1642fe51636d.png?width=986&amp;height=730" alt="Leaderboard as of April 13, 2025">
<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/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">
<hr>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at USEquestrianOpen@usef.org.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at cweilminster@usef.org.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at lgriffin@usef.org.&nbsp;

Close up image of a dressage rider's leg and torso riding an extended trot.

Bellena Dances to Victory, but the Leaderboard Holds Its Breath

This weekend&rsquo;s qualifier shifts to the World Equestrian Center, with three of the current top six US Equestrian Open of Dressage riders set to compete. Leaderboard movement is inevitable&mdash;yet the field is notably missing star power: no Olympic team members, no reigning series leaders. Still, this week is a rare one. It&rsquo;s both unpredictable and important. And there&rsquo;s no scenario where the leaderboard doesn&rsquo;t shift.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Five to Watch</h2>
Five riders stand to make an impact this weekend, each with a unique twist on the series narrative.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Benjamin Ebeling &amp; Bellena</h3>
Benjamin Ebeling and 14-year-old mare Bellena are arguably the favorites based on personal bests and averages. Bellena holds the highest PB in the field&mdash;76.105%, earned with Ebeling&rsquo;s father, Jan Ebeling&mdash;and a competitive average of 73.441% in the Grand Prix Freestyle. The caveat? This marks Benjamin and Bellena&rsquo;s series debut&mdash;and their first Grand Prix Freestyle together. If they come anywhere near Bellena&rsquo;s past peak, they could take the win. That wouldn&rsquo;t just launch Ebeling onto the leaderboard in stylish fashion&mdash;it would also block riders like Eline Eckroth, Denielle Gallagher, or Karen Lipp from earning those critical 17&ndash;20 point finishes.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Charlotte Jorst &amp; Zhaplin Langholt</h3>
Charlotte Jorst is one of the most accomplished amateur riders in the US, having competed at the 2016 World Cup Finals and made the Olympic shortlist in 2021. She returns this weekend aboard 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Zhaplin Langholt. While they&rsquo;ve entered two qualifiers this year, they&rsquo;ve only earned points in one. That single result, however, was a big one&mdash; a win at the Gold Coast Opener in January that netted 20 points. The following weekend, they posted a strong 72.800% at AGDF 3, but narrowly missed the placings in a stacked field, finishing 11th. With just one qualifying score, Jorst is only just getting started in the series. But if Zhaplin Langholt lands on the podium, as expected, she&rsquo;ll almost certainly vault into the top 15. She&rsquo;s not a title contender yet, but she can absolutely steal points from those who are. That&rsquo;s the trouble for riders like Lipp. It&rsquo;s not just about who climbs, it&rsquo;s about who gets bumped.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">3. Karen Lipp &amp; Infinity</h3>
Karen Lipp currently sits third on the leaderboard with six of six qualifying results logged. That means she can only gain points by dropping her lowest score: a 10. Lipp&rsquo;s consistency has been impressive. All of her scores have come from deep fields at Wellington, where she&rsquo;s placed 6th through 10th in all but one of her qualifying results&mdash;a win in the CDI3* during Week 8. Despite cracking the top five just once, that steady accumulation has carried her into the leaderboard top three. To gain any ground, Lipp must place 5th or better, and even then, only a win would improve her total by the full 10 points, bringing her to 80. She can&rsquo;t catch Anna Marek or Evelyn Eger this week, but a podium keeps her in range. With the AGDF season now over and many top riders abroad, Lipp could find herself in more forgiving fields. Her average of 71.451% puts her well within top-five potential here.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">4. Eline Eckroth &amp; Daphne</h3>
If Lipp is the series&rsquo; consistency queen, Eline Eckroth is chasing results through a different strategy: podiums in smaller fields. Eckroth and her 14-year-old mare, Daphne, have made smart use of the series format. Their scores may not always be flashy, but final placings matter more in this series&mdash;and so far, that&rsquo;s working in Eckroth&rsquo;s favor. They&rsquo;ve earned three top-three finishes in four qualifiers. She enters this weekend with two scores still to add. Even a finish at the bottom of the standings (7th) would earn her 10 points, bringing her to 76. Although unlikely, a second-place finish to anyone other than Lipp would propel her into the overall top two. And if she makes the podium again next week, she&rsquo;s a legitimate threat for the series lead.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">5. Denielle Gallagher &amp; Come Back de Massa</h3>
With only three qualifying results so far&mdash;two of them wins&mdash;Denielle Gallagher may be the most dangerous rider in the field. She currently sits sixth overall with 57 points. A third win this weekend would tie her with Eger at 77. But unlike Eger, Gallagher has not yet maxed out her six scores. With two more qualifying results still to come, she has plenty of room to rise. Her potential path? A win here takes her to 77. A solid podium next week could launch her into the 90s&mdash;above Marek. With her trajectory and remaining opportunities, Gallagher may be the dark horse in the race to the Final.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a7ba8c4c-ce1e-4095-9594-d67272edac9f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="graphic showing how the scoring works: 1st 20 points, 2nd-3rd 17 points, 4th-5th 15 points, 6th-10th 10 points">
<h2 dir="ltr">Depth of the Field</h2>
Qualifier 15&rsquo;s scoring spread is notable. The difference between the highest and lowest average Grand Prix Freestyle score is 6.6%&mdash;a sizable gap. But that spread narrows significantly when you focus on the top five contenders. Less than three percentage points separate Come Back de Massa (the fifth-highest average) and Bellena (the highest). Zhaplin Langholt, ranked second on averages, is only 0.875% ahead of Hatsjie B. At this level, one mark, from a single judge, can be the deciding factor.&nbsp;
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-HAEyM" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: WEC - Ocala April Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/HAEyM/1/" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
This may not be a star-studded cast, but it&rsquo;s a pivotal week for leaderboard restructuring. Whoever wins here doesn&rsquo;t just collect points&mdash;they shift the pressure onto the riders sitting out, especially those hoping to coast on early-season success. As the second half of the season rolls along, Ocala offers an opening to gain ground&mdash;or to get passed. The race to Thermal is far from over, and this weekend&rsquo;s results will help define who&rsquo;s still in it. <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/16321" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tune in Friday night</a> for live coverage of the freestyle action.&nbsp;
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dressage rider entering the ring seen from the back. Riding a black horse.

Dressage