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In only her second Grand Prix Freestyle as a senior, accomplished 21-year-old Erin Nichols earned her first international freestyle victory at TerraNova, scoring 72.140% aboard her 16-year-old KWPN gelding, Elian Royale. While this marks a new milestone at the senior level, Nichols is no stranger to the spotlight&mdash;she&rsquo;s a former triple gold medalist at the North American Youth Championships and a winner of multiple international U25 classes, including freestyle victories on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nichols placed second in Friday&rsquo;s Grand Prix with a 68.848%, just behind USA&rsquo;s Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena (69.109%). While Ebeling opted to ride in the Grand Prix Special, it was Nichols and Eline Eckroth contesting the Freestyle the next day.
While not an overall personal best, the 72.140% is right in line with Nichols&rsquo; average across her freestyle performances&mdash;most of which came during her successful run in the Under 25 ranks. That makes this weekend&rsquo;s test a senior-level personal best, and an important benchmark as she builds her r&eacute;sum&eacute; at the top level. Although the field was small, the win is a clear milestone for Nichols, who has her sights set on future U.S. team appearances and dreams of representing her country at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
<h2>Eckroth Climbs the Leaderboard</h2>
Eckroth&rsquo;s second-place finish&mdash;earned in a modestly contested class&mdash;was enough to propel her from 11th to 4th in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings. She edges out early-season favorite Felicitas Hendricks, who is likely returning to Germany now that the Wellington circuit has wrapped. Like Karen Lipp, currently ranked third overall, Eckroth is gaining ground through consistent 2nd- and 3rd-place finishes at smaller shows. It&rsquo;s a reminder that Series points don&rsquo;t always come from big wins&mdash;smart scheduling can pay off, especially with cash prizes going to the top 18 riders at the end of the qualifiers. The biggest payday, however, will come at the Finals, where those top 18 will face off in Thermal, California, this November.
<h2>Ocala Could Shake Things Up</h2>
The TerraNova weekend may have featured a small field, but it gave Nichols another career milestone to add to her already impressive resume. It also shuffled the standings in favor of Eckroth, who will compete again next weekend against third-place rider Karen Lipp at the World Equestrian Center&rsquo;s CDI4* Freestyle. With the two riders only four points apart, Ocala&rsquo;s outing could significantly reshape the leaderboard&mdash;potentially even knocking Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger out of second place.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on&nbsp;<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.

Horse and rider trot away from the camera in an upper level dressage test.

Nichols Claims First Senior Freestyle Victory at TerraNova

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

black dressage horse wearing a double bridle 

After Wellington: Navigating the New US Equestrian Open Landscape

Wellington&rsquo;s winter circuit drew to a close this weekend, marking a turning point in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. While the Series standings held mostly steady, the podium featured fresh faces and standout performances. Kasey Perry-Glass led an all-female top three with power and poise&mdash;each rider showcasing a partnership built on feel, finesse, and growing trust.
2016 Rio Olympian Kasey Perry-Glass sat atop the podium on Heartbeat W.P.&mdash;a mount she debuted at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival a year ago. Although their final score of 75.915% was not a PB, it was three points above their average, showing that the pair is starting to figure one another out. She and the 13-year-old KWPN gelding rode to a cinematic soundtrack featuring a heartbeat motif that nodded to the horse&rsquo;s name. The heroic music fit Heartbeat&rsquo;s powerful movement. At 17.1hh, he is a large horse for any rider, but especially for 5&rsquo;4&rdquo; Perry-Glass.
&ldquo;To be able to make him a small woman&rsquo;s ride has been a journey. There was a lot of power and a lot to contain, but I&rsquo;m starting to be able to manage it,&rdquo; explained Perry-Glass. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about figuring out what works for him, but once I get in the ring, he&rsquo;s a true showman.&rdquo;
The idea of learning to speak a horse&rsquo;s language&mdash;and figuring out what works for them&mdash;was a thread that connected all three riders on this week&rsquo;s podium.
&ldquo;[Hawtins San Floriana] is really the first trained horse I&rsquo;ve taken over the ride on, and I found that a bit tricky,&rdquo; said Ashley Holzer, a four-time Canadian Olympian who now rides for the United States. Despite riding to freestyle music they received just three days before the class, they earned on a combination-best score of 74.840%. Although Holzer initially struggled to find a bond with the mare, she felt they started to find their groove in recent weeks.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve started to feel that she&rsquo;s speaking my language,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;She really tries so hard, and it&rsquo;s special when you feel a horse start to become your teammate.&rdquo;
Camille Carier Bergeron and 15-year-old mare Finnl&auml;nderin&rsquo;s strengthening partnership came third on a score of 73.370%. The 25-year-old rider explained last month that after the Paris Olympics, this year has been all about fine-tuning the freestyles and having fun in the process. She&rsquo;s been a steady presence in Wellington this season, consistently scoring well. She currently sits seventh on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard with 54 points from four out of six possible qualifying results.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5f272c11-abe5-4d5a-b837-ccd222a08c3f.png?width=496&amp;height=522" alt="Screenshot of the leaderboard for spots 1 thru 10.">
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next</h2>
April kicks off its weekly qualifiers at TerraNova, an equestrian facility in Myakka City, Florida. The CDI3* follows last weekend&rsquo;s US Equestrian Open of Eventing qualifier, also held at the venue.
With just three combinations entered in the freestyle, it&rsquo;s a smaller field&mdash;but not an irrelevant one. A strong result could vault a lesser-known rider into the top five of the overall Series standings. And with Wellington now behind us, the second half of the season begins under a new set of conditions&mdash;shaped less by winter circuit regulars and more by who keeps showing up throughout the rest of the season.

Dressage horse and rider riding an extended trot

Perry-Glass Closes AGDF with a Win on Heartbeat

<hr>
Wellington&rsquo;s star-studded winter season comes to a close tomorrow night with the final US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifier at this iconic venue. Even without some of the biggest names in attendance, there&rsquo;s plenty of intrigue as we close the chapter on Wellington's dressage circuit. From leaderboard shakeups to career milestones, here&rsquo;s what to keep your eye on at AGDF 12.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-vIhvR" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats:&nbsp;Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival 12" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/vIhvR/1/" height="942" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">1. Evelyn Eger&rsquo;s new ride could reclaim the lead</h2>
After a commanding season aboard 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Tabledance 3, Evelyn Eger brings a new horse to the stage&mdash;Dancing Darkness 4. While this will be their freestyle debut, the pair logged a 72.326% in the Grand Prix Special earlier this month, suggesting they have the chops to land in the top five. That&rsquo;s all it would take for Eger to retake the series lead from Anna Marek. If it works out, she&rsquo;d join Marek as one of just two riders this season to lead the standings on two different horses.
<h2 dir="ltr">2. Camille Carier Bergeron&rsquo;s tenth freestyle could be her best yet</h2>
With nine FEI Grand Prix Freestyles under their belt, Camille Carier Bergeron and Finnl&auml;nderin will hit double digits this weekend&mdash;and they&rsquo;re doing it with momentum. Their personal best of 77.280% is second-highest in the field, and their most recent outing here earned a 75.325%. That score placed them just behind World Cup&ndash;bound Kevin Kohmann and series leader Anna Marek. A repeat performance could not only earn them the win, but also launch them into the top five on the Series leaderboard.
<h2 dir="ltr">3. Naima and Statesman bring 113 tests of experience to the ring</h2>
While Naima Moreira Lalibert&eacute; and Statesman are new to the US Equestrian Open Series, they&rsquo;re far from inexperienced. Statesman has logged 113 FEI-level tests&mdash;this weekend will be his 114th. That kind of mileage, paired with a personal best of 77.860%, makes them serious contenders. Their average (73.379%) already places them in the top five of this field. A win wouldn&rsquo;t change the leaderboard standings&mdash;but it could throw a wrench in the climb for Eger, Carier Bergeron, and Karen Lipp.
<h2 dir="ltr">4. Karen Lipp could move into third with another solid ride</h2>
Karen Lipp may not be the flashiest name on paper, but she&rsquo;s quietly become one of the Series&rsquo; most consistent performers. With 60 points from five starts, she&rsquo;s already in fourth place&mdash;and a top-five finish this weekend could move her into third. Riding Infinity, she&rsquo;s averaging 71.676% and has proven that steady, solid performances are a powerful strategy in a Series that rewards persistence as much as brilliance.
<h2 dir="ltr">5. Susan Dutta joins the double-digit freestyle club</h2>
Susan Dutta and her 14-year-old gelding Don Design DC will notch their 10th FEI Grand Prix Freestyle together this weekend. With a personal best of 73.950%, the pair are poised to contend for a top-five finish. Dutta has developed Don Design from a five-year-old to a seasoned international competitor over the years. And yes&mdash;that&rsquo;s the Susan Dutta behind the Dutta Corporation, one of the most recognized names in global horse transport.
<h2 dir="ltr">6. Kasey Perry-Glass returns aboard Heartbeat W.P.</h2>
Best known for her Olympic team bronze in Rio and team silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games aboard Goerklintgaards Dublet, Kasey Perry-Glass is back in international competition with a new mount: Heartbeat W.P., a 13-year-old KWPN gelding. The pair debuted in February with back-to-back wins in the CDI3* Grand Prix and Special, and recently posted a personal best of 76.290% in the Freestyle. With the highest average in the field (74.728%), Perry-Glass could be a podium spoiler if she continues this upward trajectory. She may not be chasing Series points&mdash;but don&rsquo;t be surprised if she makes headlines anyway.
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While it may not have the headline names of earlier qualifiers, this weekend&rsquo;s field is full of riders with something to prove&mdash;and plenty of chances to shake up the Series standings. It&rsquo;s the last AGDF qualifier, and for some, it could be their last best shot before the season&rsquo;s second half kicks off.
Catch all the action Friday night on the USEF Network. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a>!
<h1 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h1>
For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

A rider saluting during a dressage test aboard a chestnut horse.

One Last Dance in Wellington

The US Equestrian Open is an exciting new competition series that launched in late 2024, showcasing the three Olympic equestrian disciplines: dressage, eventing, and jumping.&nbsp; Designed to elevate the sport&rsquo;s visibility, engagement, and fan experience, the series will bring together elite athletes and top horses to compete for the discipline titles of US Equestrian Open Champion.&nbsp;&nbsp;
With more than $1 million in prize money and extensive media coverage from USEF Network and ESPN, the US Equestrian Open promises thrilling competition and unparalleled exposure for the sport. This premier series aims to set a new standard in equestrian sport, delivering world-class competition and captivating audiences across the globe.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>2025 US Equestrian Open Finals Schedule:&nbsp;</h3>
<blockquote>
Jumping Final: March 25-30 at the WEF Rolex Finale Week in Wellington, Fla.&nbsp;
Eventing Final: October 9-12 at the Morven Park CCI4*-L in Leesburg, Va.&nbsp;
Dressage Final: November 13-16 at the Thermal CDI5* in Thermal, Calif.&nbsp;
</blockquote>
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<blockquote>
&ldquo;The launch of the US Equestrian Open marks an exciting new chapter for equestrian sport in the United States, and we welcome Great American Insurance Group as an official sponsor and supporter of this initiative,&rdquo; said Bill Moroney, US Equestrian Chief Executive Officer. &ldquo;Their longstanding commitment to the equine industry and dedication to supporting horse owners, athletes, and professionals makes them ideal for this series.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;We are thrilled to collaborate with USEF for the inaugural US Equestrian Open competition series,&rdquo; said Anne King, Divisional Assistant Vice President, Great American Equine Mortality. &ldquo;This relationship reflects our deep commitment to the sport and its incredible community. We wish all the competitors the best of luck and look forward to celebrating their dedication, talent, and passion for equestrian excellence.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
<h3>About Great American Insurance Group&nbsp;</h3>
Great American Insurance Group&rsquo;s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the operations of Great American Insurance Group are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses. Great American Insurance Company has received an &ldquo;A&rdquo; (Excellent) or higher rating from the A.M. Best Company for more than 115 years and is currently rated &ldquo;A+&rdquo; (Superior). The members of Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), also based in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFG&rsquo;s common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFG. Policies are underwritten by Great American Insurance Company, Great American Assurance Company, and Great American Security Insurance Company, authorized insurers in all 50 states and the DC.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4def42c5-5a3c-4d2d-a9c5-7b6f757148ec.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Great American Advert">

US Equestrian Welcomes Great American Insurance Group as the Official Equine Insurance Sponsor of the US Equestrian Open

In their first competition since last summer&rsquo;s European circuit, Anna Buffini and Fiontini clinched the Grand Prix Freestyle win at the Del Mar Dressage Affaire with a score of 73.235%. A narrow margin separated Buffini from her longtime coach, G&uuml;nter Seidel&mdash;just 0.155%.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Smooth Return for Dressage&rsquo;s Favorite &lsquo;-inis&rsquo;</h2>
It was a quiet class in sunny Southern California, with only four combinations entered in the freestyle. While eight riders completed the Grand Prix this weekend, the field split between Special and Freestyle divisions. This marks Buffini&rsquo;s first appearance in a US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifier, and her win earns her 20 points&mdash;putting her alongside three other riders tied in the standings. With only two West Coast qualifiers remaining, Buffini could still climb the leaderboard&mdash;but unless she plans to head East for additional shows, her path to the Finals may be limited.
Their final score of 73.235% this weekend marked a steady, if not spectacular, return. Although Fiontini boasts one of the highest personal bests in the field&mdash;an 83.410% earned earlier in her career under a previous rider&mdash;Buffini is still forging her own path with the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare.
Buffini acquired Fiontini in late 2021 but kept the mare largely out of the spotlight for the first two years of their partnership, focusing instead on building trust and fine-tuning the basics. It wasn&rsquo;t until February 2024 that the pair made their international debut at the CDI3* in Del Mar, where they finished second in both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special . The mare, a triple World Young Horse Champion, has passed through the hands of some of Europe&rsquo;s most prolific male riders. In Buffini&rsquo;s program, she&rsquo;s found a quieter cadence&mdash;one that prioritizes partnership over pressure.
Sunday&rsquo;s result gives them a strong foundation to build from this season. The test wasn&rsquo;t without its quirks&mdash;most notably, a wide spread in the scoring for their extended canter. One judge awarded an 8, while others gave 5s and even 4s, suggesting a possible miscommunication or moment of misinterpretation. Still, the performance was enough for the win.
<h2 dir="ltr">Seidel Shows His Hand</h2>
G&uuml;nter Seidel and Equirelle posted a 73.080%, a marked improvement from their last US Equestrian Open outing, where they earned a 68.695%. This time, two judges&mdash;at H and C&mdash;actually placed Seidel in first, awarding him 74.200% and 75.175%, respectively. Those were the highest individual scores given in the class.
Their test was clean and cohesive, with no major weak spots. The 16-year-old KWPN mare looked relaxed and rideable, and the pair&rsquo;s degree of difficulty averaged 9.16&mdash;just edging out Buffini&rsquo;s 9.12&mdash;making a strong case that Seidel delivered the more technically ambitious ride of the day.
<h2 dir="ltr">Standings Update</h2>
Canada&rsquo;s Brittney Simpson and her mount Kartsevo Goldfinch placed third on a 72.010%, while Kristina Harrison-Antell and Finley rounded out the field with a 68.140%. The result brings both Simpson and Harrison-Antell to a tie for ninth place in the overall US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings, each sitting on 49 points.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/bfa610aa-0a22-4f19-8ee2-f7bed19800bc.png?width=491&amp;height=609" alt="Screenshot of the leaderboard as of march 24, 2025">
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next</h2>
While this weekend didn&rsquo;t dramatically shake up the leaderboard, Seidel&rsquo;s upward trajectory is one to watch. With only two more West Coast qualifiers remaining, his path to the Finals may require a few cross-country miles&mdash;but if he wins another qualifier and picks up additional points out East, he could position himself for a return trip to Thermal this fall.
Qualifier 13 takes place this Friday in Wellington, Florida, during the final week of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Tune in live to the USEF Network to watch the action unfold.
<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">

Horse and rider pictured from above entering a competition arena

Buffini Returns, Seidel Surges: A Tight Finish at the Del Mar Affaire 

Only four horses are entered in this week&rsquo;s qualifier, but don&rsquo;t let the numbers fool you. &ldquo;Small field&rdquo; does not equal &ldquo;small story.&rdquo; From a US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard perspective, this show won&rsquo;t be the most consequential event of the season. But it will, however, feature one of the most celebrated horses in the entire Series: Fiontini.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Living Legend</h2>
The 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare has one of the most consistent records in the sport. In 15 Grand Prix starts, she&rsquo;s dipped below 69% just twice. In the freestyle, she consistently scores in the mid-70s to 80s, no matter the rider. A Triple World Young Horse Champion (2015&ndash;2017), Fiontini isn&rsquo;t just good; she&rsquo;s reliably brilliant.
Over the course of her career, she&rsquo;s been ridden by some of Europe&rsquo;s top male riders: Severo Jurado L&oacute;pez, Andreas Helgstrand, and Patrik Kittel. Now, she&rsquo;s owned and ridden by 30-year-old US team rider Anna Buffini&mdash;one of the youngest athletes to represent the US at a World Championship in recent years. After purchasing the mare, Buffini joked that it was time to turn Fiontini into a &ldquo;lady&rsquo;s ride.&rdquo;
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-Bh1Wn" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Fiontini's Grand Prix Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Bh1Wn/1/" height="646" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">A New Chapter</h2>
Buffini first saw Fiontini competing with Kittel at Aachen. It only took one test ride for her to fall in love with the mare&rsquo;s big heart and immense talent. But transitioning Fiontini to Buffini&rsquo;s lighter riding style became a project of patience and tact. She was used to stronger leg aids and, at first, would shake her sides like she had flies on them when Buffini applied pressure.
So began the process of teaching her to respond to subtler cues&mdash;a new language for horse and rider. With the help of her longtime coach G&uuml;nter Seidel (also entered in this weekend's class), they opted for a long runway: two full years out of the spotlight, focused on trust, softness, and feel.
Buffini, who has a large social media following, chose to keep Fiontini&rsquo;s training private. Fans were eager to see the mare return to competition, but Buffini stayed steady in her approach.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;When she&rsquo;s ready, we&rsquo;ll come out.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Measured Return</h2>
That moment came 11 months ago&mdash;at this very venue. They scored 72% in the Grand Prix and 72.447% in the Grand Prix Special, a notoriously difficult test. In both, they placed second to decorated U.S. Olympian Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper. The Special was particularly close: four of the five judges placed Buffini ahead of Peters, who won by a razor-thin 72.766%.
Buffini and Fiontini debuted their freestyle the following month, again in Del Mar, earning a 76.210%. Judges rewarded the mare&rsquo;s expressive, expansive gaits with 8s for extended walk, trot, and canter. Their floor plan earned a 9.16 average degree of difficulty. The question now: in the year since we&rsquo;ve seen them perform this freestyle, have they dialed that difficulty up even further?
<h2 dir="ltr">A Delicate Dance</h2>
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-xKbdJ" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats:&nbsp;Del Mar Dressage Affaire&nbsp;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/xKbdJ/1/" height="459" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
With only four riders in Sunday&rsquo;s freestyle class, Buffini and Fiontini are the clear favorites. This is a chance to polish the freestyle, push the degree of difficulty, and test Fiontini&rsquo;s firepower. Seidel is the only one who could realistically challenge her. Equirelle&rsquo;s personal best&mdash;76.615%&mdash;actually edges out Buffini&rsquo;s PB on Fiontini (76.210%), but Seidel&rsquo;s last outing suggests they&rsquo;re still shaking off some freestyle rust.
Still, Seidel is a veteran, and you can never fully count him out.
Under Buffini, Fiontini is no longer just a powerhouse. She&rsquo;s expressive, responsive, and joyful in the ring. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s really become my horse,&rdquo; Buffini said after their debut. This weekend, Del Mar gets to see that magic in action.
For the West Coast, it&rsquo;s a reminder that top sport lives here too&mdash;even with smaller fields. Fiontini&rsquo;s presence brings eyes and gravitas to the Series. And for fans, it&rsquo;s a rare chance to see one of the most celebrated dressage mares of the modern era compete on home turf.
Fiontini might not be &ldquo;on the comeback&rdquo;&mdash;she never really left. But Del Mar might be where we see her new era begin.
Watch Buffini and Fiontini&rsquo;s return to the freestyle arena this Sunday&ndash;stream it live on the USEF Network. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to catch the action.

Anna Buffini riding Fiontini in the extended trot

A Quiet Stage, A Legendary Mare

For the first time in four years, an American rider stood atop the podium at the only CDI5* dressage competition in the Western Hemisphere. Adrienne Lyle and Helix delivered a career-best 80.600% in the Grand Prix Freestyle at Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10, securing a decisive victory ahead of their upcoming World Cup Final appearance in Basel, Switzerland in April.
With a technically demanding freestyle that emphasized precision and harmony, Lyle and the 13-year-old KWPN gelding (by Apache x Jazz) rose to the occasion, besting a field that included some of the biggest names in the sport. Judge William Warren (USA), who presided over the competition from C, praised Lyle&rsquo;s ride for its harmony and effortless execution.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;It felt easy, which is exactly what I was hoping for,&rdquo; Lyle said.
</blockquote>
&ldquo;I wanted one more chance to get in an environment like this before we head to the World Cup. My main goal was to have a quiet, harmonious ride, and he felt like he did the whole thing effortlessly&mdash;didn&rsquo;t even break a sweat&mdash;and walked calmly back to his stall.&rdquo;
Despite their dominant performance, Lyle and Helix are still a relatively new partnership, having made their Big Tour debut just under a year ago before representing the United States at the Paris Olympics last summer.&nbsp;
<h2>Mendoza Loor Takes Second in Second Outing</h2>
Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike continued their strong return to competition, finishing second on 78.520%. The 12-year-old KWPN gelding (by Bretton Woods x Watermill Scandic), affectionately known as &ldquo;Goldie,&rdquo; is fresh off a win in Ocala last weekend, making this just his second show since the Paris Olympics last year.
Mendoza Loor, known for his infectious enthusiasm, was thrilled with the result.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m always happy. If I have to lose against somebody, I&rsquo;m happy to lose to Adrienne,&rdquo; he said.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m so grateful to be competing in the five-star with mega riders and horses.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Goldie, once deemed too difficult to ride, was purchased by Mendoza Loor for just $20 as an eight-year-old. The key to unlocking his potential? 24/7 turnout, which has transformed him into the powerful, expressive competitor seen in the arena today.
<h2>Marek Podiums, Stays Atop the Leaderboard</h2>
Anna Marek and Fayvel claimed third place with a 77.135%, further solidifying Marek&rsquo;s dominance in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Series. With 88 points, she remains firmly in first place, having now collected scores across six qualifiers.
While Marek is a regular at Friday Night Stars, this week still carried a different kind of pressure. &ldquo;I usually come in and I don&rsquo;t look at the crowd after doing so many Friday night freestyles, but this was exciting,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The really great thing about Fayvel is that he&rsquo;s the same, and I can trust him to go in any atmosphere. I know that I can have a clean test on him now at the Grand Prix, but now that he is mature and strong, we&rsquo;re working on the details of making everything just a little bit better.&rdquo;
Marek, who has been splitting her scores across Fayvel and Fire Fly, is one of the busiest riders in the Series, having competed in half of the East Coast qualifiers so far.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a5c8894b-1fda-4afb-857a-692db83abe82.jpeg?width=990&amp;height=1102" alt="US Equestrian Open of Dressage Standings as of March 17, 2025">
<h2>Eger &amp; Kohmann Climb the Standings</h2>
With her fifth-place finish (76.755%), Evelyn Eger remains second in the Series standings with 75 points, keeping the pressure on Marek as the season progresses. Unlike Marek, Eger has relied solely on Tabledance 3 for her scores, making her one of the most consistent competitors in the series.
Felicitas Hendricks also remains in contention, finishing sixth on 76.435%, keeping her in third place overall (64 points).
Meanwhile, Kevin Kohmann delivered a crowd-favorite performance, finishing fourth on 76.965% with D&uuml;nensee. Spectators judged their test the highest of the night, showing just how popular their freestyle has become. With this performance, Kohmann continues to climb the US Equestrian Open standings, now sitting seventh with 52 points.
Lyle, despite competing in just three qualifiers, has already moved into a tie for fifth (57 points) alongside Denielle Gallagher&mdash;a testament to the strength of her performances.
<h2>Next Stop Del Mar</h2>
Next week, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage heads back to the West Coast for the Del Mar Dressage Affaire, marking the first qualifier on the West Coast since Week 7.
With the season now past its midway point, the pressure is on for riders looking to solidify their Series standings. Watch it all unfold as the Series shifts to Del Mar.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4d17c7b1-a53e-4de7-89f7-670b5abd23fa.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Schedule of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifiers">

Adrienne Lyle and Helix entering the arena at the Paris Olympics

Lyle & Helix Soar to Five-Star Victory

As the only CDI5* in Wellington&rsquo;s winter circuit&mdash;and the only 5-star qualifier in the Series&mdash;Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10 promises a night of top-tier competition, featuring a star-studded cast of horses and riders. The staggering $150,000 prize pool has drawn competitors from around the globe, with nearly every entry boasting an international championship appearance on their r&eacute;sum&eacute;.
With a stacked field, we could see some of the highest scores and narrowest margins of the season so far.
<h2>The Midseason Leaderboard Battle</h2>
With four qualifiers behind her, Anna Marek holds a comfortable 11-point lead as the Series reaches its midway mark. She has a solid margin, but it&rsquo;s not untouchable. German riders Evelyn Eger and Felicitas Hendricks have a chance to overtake her this weekend, but everything would have to go right for them&mdash;and very wrong for Marek. If either of them wins the class and Marek finishes outside the top ten, they would overtake her lead&mdash;an unlikely but not impossible scenario. After all, Marek and Fayvel <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-5-preview-a-wide-open-field" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retired from Qualifier 5</a> back in January.
Still, Marek has been the most consistent rider in the series, placing first or second in all four of her qualifier performances. Her lead is likely safe this weekend, but the gap could shrink dramatically if she finishes outside the top five.
<h2>Breaking 80%: The Riders on the Brink</h2>
Adrienne Lyle and Helix are the only pair to <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-marek-and-rizvi-deliver-a-thrilling-night-of-freestyle-dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">score above 80%</a> in a freestyle this year. That result came in Qualifier 6, when Lyle won with 80.325%. While Julio Mendoza Loor is the only other rider in this field who has hit that mark in the past, four more combinations are knocking on the door:
<ul>
<li>Kevin Kohmann (PB 79.240%)</li>
<li>Felicitas Hendricks (PB 79.105%)</li>
<li>Anna Marek (PB 78.995%)</li>
<li>Tinne Vilhelmson Silfv&eacute;n (PB 78.080%)</li>
</ul>
With so many riders on the cusp of 80%, expect at least one new PB this weekend.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d0eae42e-7469-4067-99d5-6832a5341b33.png?width=1372&amp;height=2104" alt="Table showing the personal best and average scores for all horses in the field this week.">
<h2>Momentum, Pressure, and the Fight for a Repeat Win</h2>
A win this weekend would make Mendoza Loor the first rider to claim back-to-back victories in the series&mdash;a feat no one has achieved in 11 qualifiers. His 84% personal best makes him the statistical frontrunner, and after outscoring Marek in Ocala last week, he has momentum on his side.
But Mendoza Loor isn&rsquo;t the only one peaking at the right time. Kevin Kohmann, fresh off securing his World Cup Final ticket, is another major contender. His win in AGDF 8 showcased his ability to deliver under pressure, and with a 79.240% PB, he has the scoring power to challenge for another podium.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Eger has been a Wellington fixture, competing in each qualifier at this venue. The Friday Night Stars atmosphere can be electric, with lights, music, and a high-energy crowd. Both she and Tabledance 3 are well-adjusted to these conditions, which could give her an advantage over series newcomer Pablo Gomez Molina.
So far, five riders have won here this season&mdash;proof that no single competitor dominates Wellington. That trend could continue, or we could see the season&rsquo;s first repeat winner.
<h2>Every Tenth Counts</h2>
One thing is certain&mdash;nothing at Wellington comes easy. Every win is earned. Nothing is guaranteed, and the fight for the top is relentless.
The data says Mendoza Loor is the frontrunner, but as we learned in <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-8-recap-when-the-numbers-dont-tell-the-whole-story" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Week 8</a>, sometimes the numbers don&rsquo;t tell the whole story.
With 13 combinations in the Freestyle and so many clustered in the high 70s, every tenth of a percent is going to matter. Watch Friday Night Stars live at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on the USEF Network&mdash;<a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.

Anna Marek in her show attire smiling during a dressage test

Clash of the Titans

With just 0.04 percentage points separating them, Week 10&rsquo;s qualifier was a tight battle for first place. Ultimately, Julio Mendoza Loor took the win aboard his Paris Games mount, Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike, despite a music error that forced them to restart their test. New to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifiers&mdash;but not new to the sport&mdash;Mendoza Loor rode to an upbeat, bold soundtrack, earning a score of 75.860%. Finishing second was Anna Marek aboard Fayvel, a 14-year-old gelding. This finish puts Marek and the US flag back atop the leaderboard.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e9eaf549-50ba-4fec-995a-c082ff590f4c.png?width=491&amp;height=496" alt="Top 5 riders in the US Open of Dressage as of Feb 9, 2025. (1) Anna Marek (2) Evelyn Eger (2) Karen Lipp (4) Denielle Gallagher (5) Felicitas Hendricks">
Mendoza Loor&rsquo;s high-energy freestyle music particularly suited &ldquo;Goldie&rsquo;s&rdquo; trot work. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding scored exceptionally well in the piaffe and passage, earning 8.0s from most judges. A stumble during one of the flying changes cost them a few marks, likely making the final score even closer than it would have been otherwise. This marked their return to competition after placing 27th individually at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
&ldquo;There were a lot of highlights tonight in the test,&rdquo; Mendoza Loor said. &ldquo;After the line of the one-tempis, he was really there in what I was asking him to do. His performance was amazing."
Marek, fresh off a second-place finish in Wellington last weekend on Fire Fly, delivered a strong test to a freestyle featuring the punchy, rhythmic &lsquo;BOOM&rsquo; by X Ambassadors and the playful, offbeat &lsquo;Coincidance&rsquo; by Handsome Driver. Her ride was remarkably consistent, with no movement receiving lower than a 7.0 from any judge.
The 0.04 percentage point margin between first and second place is the smallest in Series history, breaking the previous record of 0.210 percentage points, which was also set by Marek&mdash;though that time aboard Fire Fly&mdash;when she narrowly edged out Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee at Global Dressage Festival 3.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-LMZSy" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Winning MarginsUS Equestrian Open Dressage Qualifiers" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LMZSy/1/" height="539" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Range Plot" data-external="1"></iframe>
This second-place finish earned Marek 17 points in the Series standings, cementing her position at the top of the leaderboard. With the Final in Thermal, CA, this November, her focus is now on maintaining that lead as the qualifiers near their halfway point.
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next&nbsp;</h2>
The back-to-back qualifiers return to Wellington this weekend for Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10&rsquo;s CDI5*&mdash;a highly anticipated competition in Florida&rsquo;s winter circuit. The entry list is stacked, with top combinations poised to shake up the standings: Adrienne Lyle on Helix, Anna Marek on Fayvel, Evelyn Eger on Tabledance 3, Felicitas Hendricks on Drombusch OLD, Kevin Kohmann on D&uuml;nensee, Tinne Vilhelmson&nbsp;Silfv&eacute;n&nbsp;on Devanto, and Julio Mendoza Loor on Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike.&nbsp;
With Marek, Eger, and Hendricks separated by fewer than 20 points, the battle for the top spot is far from over.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b0ba4a7e-31a4-4a11-a147-7faa41ac9f1d.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2025 US Open of Dressage">

A bay horse in a double bridle walks out of the arena after a dressage test. 

Dressage