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Super Bowl week is a big one.
Even if you don&rsquo;t follow football all year, you still feel it. The build-up. The noise. The Half-time Show (Its Bad Bunny this year). The tribalism. The sense that this one game is bigger than the game. It&rsquo;s where we hope to get the Open to.&nbsp;
So this week, the US Equestrian Open podcast did something we don&rsquo;t normally do.&nbsp;We stepped outside equestrian sport.
Not because we want to become a football channel, but because the Super Bowl is one of the best examples on the planet of how to turn sport into a fan experience. <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dec69256-85d0-4058-aa1b-d8d1fb507147.png?width=1449&amp;height=1108" alt="Superbowl 60">
We brought in four of the US Equestrian of Open of Eventing biggest voices to share their take:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Aspen Farms (Qualifier 13) organizer Jonathan Elliott&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">Terranova (Qualifier 2 and 5), Carolina (Qualifier 4) organizer Max Corcoran&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">Aiken's Joanie Morris</li>
<li dir="ltr">Course designer Morgan Rowsell</li>
</ul>
Listen to the full episode <a href="https://pod.fo/e/387c28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/39988155/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/28427a/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 1: Fans don&rsquo;t fall in love with sport. They fall in love with stories.</h2>
Sure, we all loved Joe Montana but Tom Brady is generally considered the GOAT. When the group starts talking about Tom Brady (and those Patriots fans love talking about Tom Brady) it&rsquo;s not the stats that make it interesting. It&rsquo;s the story.
<blockquote>
Joanie Morris puts it simply:&nbsp;&ldquo;The best thing for me about Tom Brady is where he came from, right?&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Joanie follows it with the part that matters most for fandom:&nbsp;&ldquo;He wasn&rsquo;t born a star, everyone thinking that he was gonna be this guy.&rdquo;
<blockquote>
Max Corcoran adds the part every sport needs more of:&nbsp;&ldquo;He was back up, running, riding the bench and just worked hard and just, and studied it and was ready to go when he was tapped.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
That&rsquo;s not just football. That&rsquo;s sport. We have seen plenty of people wait for their chance in the Open and go for it.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 2: Big sports don&rsquo;t create one storyline. They create 100.</h2>
Morgan Rowsell makes the point that the NFL is always doing the work for you. It never lets the story die.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;What a lot of these other larger, more well-funded sports do, especially in football, is that there&rsquo;s just a constant story and there&rsquo;s constant buildup. There&rsquo;s, you know,&nbsp;Drake Maye&rsquo;s shoulder. So let&rsquo;s talk about that for three news cycles.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
That&rsquo;s the machine. And it&rsquo;s a reminder: the NFL doesn&rsquo;t just have fans because it&rsquo;s big. It&rsquo;s big because it keeps giving fans something to follow. Our job with the Open is to keep creating the stories. Our sports aren&rsquo;t short on them.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 3: Access is everything</h2>
A big part of the Open is access. Joanie Morris raised something we have talked a lot about as part of our 2026 planning. Modern sports bring us fans even closer to the action - and not just to the sport.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s feeling like you&rsquo;re right there, right. It&rsquo;s the sideline mics. It&rsquo;s the guys mic&rsquo;d up. It&rsquo;s the cameras are so close to the players and the coaches and the emotions are, you know, so you&rsquo;re living the emotions in real time in those big games.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
That&rsquo;s something we will work on for the Open. We want to capture more behind the scenes action, more stable chat, more families and friends helping us shape the stories.&nbsp;
Access is what turns &ldquo;watching&rdquo; into &ldquo;caring.&rdquo;
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<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 4: Jeopardy is what makes sport addictive</h2>
EquiRatings&rsquo; Diarmuid Byrne talks about the importance of sport mattering. Not every qualifier will be a Super Bowl of course but within each class there will be an angle. It matters to someone, in some way - you have to find it.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;It has to feel like every competition has to feel like it means something to somebody.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
That&rsquo;s the Open in one sentence.&nbsp;And it&rsquo;s also why Super Bowl week works.&nbsp;Because everyone knows the stakes.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 5: Tribalism is not a problem. It&rsquo;s the engine.</h2>
One of the most entertaining parts of the episode is that the trash talk starts immediately.
Joanie Morris, right out of the gate:&nbsp;&ldquo;I feel like we&rsquo;re in for a good game and Elliot&rsquo;s gonna be sad again.&rdquo;
Morgan Rowsell is even more direct:&nbsp;&ldquo;I like that he&rsquo;s gonna be sad.&rdquo;
Max Corcoran sums up what it feels like to be a Patriots fan:&nbsp;&ldquo;Everybody hates the Patriots.&rdquo;
And then the conversation turns into something genuinely useful.&nbsp;Joanie asks whether equestrian sport could build more local identity:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Is there a way with some of these riders and horses and stories to tie them geographically a little bit more locally to build a more local fan base?&rdquo;
</blockquote>
We love this and we want to lean in more this year. We want to start referencing more where people come from and who they represent. Identity is so important and we want to lean in more to things which help fans connect.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 6: Fans want to wear the sport</h2>
Max Corcoran gives the most practical example of something equestrian sport is missing.&nbsp;She talks about a sports fan parent who found it strange that equestrian fans can&rsquo;t buy anything that represents who they love.
Max says:&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really interesting, most of the time, if you go to a baseball game, a basketball game, anything, you can buy your favorite player&rsquo;s jersey or you can buy your favorite player&rsquo;s anything. But in the equestrian world, you can&rsquo;t do that because they don&rsquo;t have it.&rdquo;
Boyd Martin, last years Series and Final winner is an exception to this.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Boyd is the first person I think that I know of, in equestrian that has actually bridged that gap and you can buy his, his, you know, rugby shirts now.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s not just &ldquo;merch.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s identity.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 7: Our sport is spectacular. We should be prouder.&nbsp;</h2>
This is where Diarm hits the most &ldquo;US Equestrian Open&rdquo; point of the entire episode.
He explains that equestrian sport already has all the raw ingredients. The stories, the personalities, the jeopardy, the partnership, the drama.
&ldquo;When you think of the depth of the backstories that are in our sport, we could do that.&rdquo;
And then he makes the bigger point: we should stop being shy about how special it is. We are one of the few sports in the world that can genuinely say we lead with care. We don&rsquo;t just talk about horse welfare, we champion it globally. We show it. We invest in it. We hold ourselves to it.
So instead of dialling things down, we should do the opposite.
We should be proud of the sport. Proud of the people in it. Proud of what it stands for.
Because when you look at how other sports present themselves, they never apologise for their spectacle.
&ldquo;And then you look at, say, college game day in the US&hellip; and then you feel like there&rsquo;s no need to calm down.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s the Open&rsquo;s whole mission.
Make it feel like it matters. Make it feel like sport. Make it feel like entertainment.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Bonus: The Super Bowl 60 predictions (and the confidence levels)</h2>
We couldn&rsquo;t do a Super Bowl preview episode without forcing everyone to put their money where their mouth is.&nbsp;And the range of predictions is&hellip; wide.
Morgan Rowsell goes for a defensive grind:&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s gonna be a low-scoring game. I think it&rsquo;s gonna be 17-14, the Patriots.&rdquo;
Max Corcoran is also on the Patriots, but sees a little more scoring:&nbsp;&ldquo;I was going 21-24 Patriots.&rdquo;
Joanie Morris sticks with her original gut call:&nbsp;&ldquo;I was going 17-13 Patriots&hellip; but that feels too close to Morgan. I&rsquo;m gonna go... no I&rsquo;m sticking with it.&rdquo;
And Jonathan Elliott, the lone Seahawks supporter on the panel, comes in with the boldest prediction of the entire episode:&nbsp;&ldquo;31-10 Hawks, they take it convincingly. Convincingly.&rdquo;
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<h2 dir="ltr">Final Thoughts (and a Super Bowl-sized disclaimer)</h2>
This episode is a Super Bowl preview.&nbsp;But it&rsquo;s also something more useful.
It&rsquo;s four of the Open&rsquo;s biggest voices, plus Diarm and Annie, describing the gap between equestrian sport and the biggest fan machine on earth, and spelling out what we can steal.
More story.&nbsp;More access.&nbsp;More repetition.&nbsp;More jeopardy.&nbsp;More identity.&nbsp;And definitely more enthusiasm.
Because if football has taught us anything, it&rsquo;s that people don&rsquo;t fall in love with &ldquo;results.&rdquo;&nbsp;They fall in love with what the results mean.
Listen to the full episode <a href="https://pod.fo/e/387c28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/39988155/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/28427a/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-freestyle-west-coast-momentum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

US Equestrian Open CrossOver with Superbowl

The Open X Super Bowl LX: 7 Lessons

Lucienne Bellissimo has spent much of her career flying the British flag. In 2026, she&rsquo;s doing something new - leading the U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series as an American.
After officially becoming a United States citizen in late 2025, Bellissimo now represents the US as she sits atop the 2026 Open leaderboard following the first two qualifiers, both contested with Dyri and Kitsch Couture HPK at the tail end of last season.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c23492d7-840b-47ef-9003-9f9fdbe46459.png?width=1240&amp;height=714" alt="E Fens Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Eventing (1)">
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<h3 data-start="893" data-end="937">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="893" data-end="937">A Long-Term Commitment Comes Full Circle</h3>
Originally from England, Bellissimo has based her life, business, and competitive career in the United States for many years. Her decision to change nationality reflects a long-term personal and professional commitment to American eventing - one built gradually rather than overnight.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;It is such an honor to now be an American citizen. Becoming part of a culture that celebrates big dreams feels like the right&nbsp;home.&nbsp;The support of my husband and stepchildren through this chapter has been so inspiring, and I will&nbsp;give my all to make them and America proud in the next chapter of my eventing career."
</blockquote>
Becoming a US citizen allows Bellissimo to align her competitive ambitions with the country she has called home, including her long-term goal of representing Team USA at the highest level of the sport.&nbsp;
<h3 data-start="2019" data-end="2050">Experience at the Top Level</h3>
Bellissimo brings decades of top-level experience into this new chapter. She has competed internationally at CCI4* level since 2006 and has ranked as high as ninth in the US Eventing Rankings, alongside appearances inside the top 50 of the FEI world rankings.&nbsp;
Beyond competition, she is also the founder of Horse Scout Group and has spent more than 20 years developing and sourcing elite event horses - experience that continues to shape her depth and durability at the top of the sport.
<h3 data-start="2582" data-end="2615">A New Flag, the Same Ambition</h3>
Nationality may have changed, but Bellissimo&rsquo;s competitive direction remains clear. With her sights set on a CCI5* future and a strong start to the US Equestrian Open Series already in hand, she enters 2026 as both a proven campaigner and a new face for Team USA.
As the season unfolds, Bellissimo&rsquo;s Open campaign will be followed not just as a points race but as the beginning of a new era under a new flag.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-freestyle-west-coast-momentum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
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<h3 data-start="2884" data-end="3030">Listen to Lucienne Bellissimo on the US Equestrian Open Podcast last year.</h3>
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37875415/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/28427a/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar">
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&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

New Flag for the Frontrunner

The US Equestrian Open of Eventing was designed to connect the country's top CCI4*-S competitions into a year-long championship. But there's an inherent tension in the format: American eventing is split down the middle, with the sport's traditional power centers&mdash;Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania&mdash;clustered on the East Coast, while the West operates almost as its own circuit.
It's not just geography. It's logistics, it's culture, and increasingly, it's strategy.
This raises a compelling question heading into the 2026 series: Can a West Coast-based rider actually win it all?
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<h2 dir="ltr">The West Coast Disadvantage (Or Is It?)</h2>
There are five West Coast venues in the Open series&mdash;Twin Rivers, Galway Downs, Rebecca Farm, Aspen Farms, and Woodside&mdash;hosting six total qualifiers. Yes, that's fewer events than the East Coast offers. And yes, West Coast fields tend to be smaller. In fact, none in 2025 exceeded 12 starters.
But here's what the numbers actually show: it's absolutely winnable from the West.
Under the Open's points structure, wins at qualifiers with fewer than 25 starters earn 40 points instead of 50. Six West Coast wins? That's 240 points. Last year, Boyd Martin won the series with 260 points - just 20 more. Phillip Dutton's second-place finish came in at 235 points.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0c791596-b15d-4a2b-8862-2e998a744a81.png?width=3204&amp;height=2600" alt="Qualifiers With More Than 25 Starters (1)">
The gap isn't insurmountable. In fact, it's small enough that one strategic East Coast trip&mdash;say, Kentucky with two horses&mdash;can close it entirely.
And we've already seen it work. Tamie Smith and James Alliston both finished high on the 2025 leaderboard despite being West Coast based. They didn't need to dominate the East Coast circuit - they just needed to dominate their circuit, then supplement strategically.
That's not a disadvantage. That's a blueprint.
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Kentucky Factor</h2>
The great equalizer? The Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at Kentucky Horse Park, which consistently draws huge entries. It's the one East Coast event where West Coast riders routinely make the trip and now with the US Open in the mix it's for good reason. A strong result will guarantee you high points, and if you bring multiple horses, it's a chance to bank serious totals in a single weekend.
In 2025, Tamie Smith, James Alliston, Molly Duda, and Tommy Greengard all made the pilgrimage east for Kentucky.
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Contenders</h2>
If a West Coast rider is going to break through in 2026, it'll likely be one of these four. Each brings a different approach, but all have the horsepower to compete.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5054259c-98f2-4311-b0ee-621211562860.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1242" alt="K3de 539">
<h3 dir="ltr">Tamie Smith: The Rebecca Farm Specialist</h3>
Tamie Smith doesn't just compete at Rebecca Farm in Montana - she owns it. Across 13 CCI4*-S starts there, she's posted 11 top-three finishes, including multiple wins. Her record there is nothing short of dominant, and in a series where consistency matters, that's a built-in advantage.
This year, Smith brings three confirmed 4* horses: Lillet 3, Kynan, and Danito. But the wildcard is D'Luxe Steel, a rising star who's won both his CCI3* attempts. If he steps up to 4*, Smith has a serious string.
The strategic play? Rack up points at Rebecca Farm and Woodside, make a calculated Kentucky run with multiple horses, and let the numbers stack up.
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c0635902-1735-4dd1-b2f4-de2ad532e3a4.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1174" alt="K3de 548">
<h3 dir="ltr">James Alliston: The Volume Shooter</h3>
James Alliston's 2025 campaign was a masterclass in sheer volume. He competed six different horses at CCI4*-S level, including three wins. His breakout star was HMR Rolan, who won back-to-back 4* events on his four-star debut - a breakthrough that immediately marked him as a serious contender for 2026.
Alliston also has proven commodities in Paper Jam, Nemesis, Cora, and Karma, and Irish Pop. That depth gives him flexibility: he can double-up at West Coast events, absorb an off day with one horse, and still stay competitive.
Twin Rivers has been particularly kind to Alliston. He won<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/west-side-story"> six consecutive editions</a> between 2021 and 2025, and with the venue hosting two Open legs, Alliston has a serious chance to rack up points.
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c56ba19f-73a9-4a5f-8cf8-4933666e11d2.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1067" alt="Web 25 Bicton Usa Duda 8412">
<h3 dir="ltr">Molly Duda: The Rising Threat</h3>
Molly Duda campaigned two horses at 4* in 2025&mdash;Disco Traveler and Carlingford&rsquo;s He&rsquo;s A Clover&mdash;but her string is building. Jutopia impressed at the three-star level with Duda, including a one-off second-place finish at Rebecca Farm&rsquo;s CCI4*-S with Tamie Smith.
If 21-year-old Duda steps up with Jutopia and continues developing her other prospects, she could quietly accumulate enough points to challenge for a podium spot. She won't win on volume, but she doesn't need to - she just needs clean, consistent performances.
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2f20b1e6-fa98-4a8e-bd75-b47d1eb70e6b.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1222" alt="K3de 540">
<h3 dir="ltr">Tommy Greengard: The Commitment Question</h3>
Tommy Greengard was on track to have a stellar 2025 series before his campaign stalled mid-season. In fact, at the time we thought<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/tommy-greengard-the-west-coast-contender-who-could-win-it-all"> he could win the whole thing.</a> With Joshuay MBF and That's Me Z, he showed he had the horses and the talent but not the sustained commitment across enough qualifiers.
In 2026, the question is simple: will he go all-in?
If Greengard commits to the full calendar, doubles up strategically, and makes a Kentucky appearance, he's got a legitimate shot. But as we saw last year, potential and execution are two different things.
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<h3 dir="ltr">The Dark Horse: Kaylawna Smith-Cook</h3>
Don't sleep on Kaylawna Smith-Cook, Tamie's daughter. She competed at CCI4*-S level from 2021-2023 and currently has three horses campaigning successfully at CCI3* level: Piccadilly's Pride ME, Dealas, and Coco Chanel.
If even one of those horses steps up to 4* this season, Kaylawna becomes a contender - especially if she mirrors her mother's approach of picking her spots carefully and executing when it counts.
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Path to Victory</h2>
So can a West Coast rider win the 2026 US Equestrian Open? The blueprint exists:
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Dominate at home.&nbsp;Win or podium at all six West Coast qualifiers. Even at 40 points per win, that's 240 points.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Double up strategically.&nbsp;Bring multiple horses to high-point qualifiers like Kentucky. Two horses in the top five at a single event can net 85+ points in one weekend.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Play the volume game.&nbsp;You need depth. No single horse will win the series; it's always going to be a string effort.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Don't overthink the East Coast. You don&rsquo;t need to bounce around states like Pennsylvania and Virginia. One or two well-timed trips east can be enough if your West Coast foundation is solid.</li>
</ol>
Tamie Smith, James Alliston, Molly Duda, and Tommy Greengard all have the tools. The question is whether they'll commit to the strategy and whether 2026 will be the year a West Coast rider takes it all.
Stay tuned. The series starts in less than two months, and the West has something to prove.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-freestyle-west-coast-momentum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/39988155/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/28427a/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Is the US Equestrian Open Winnable from the West Coast?

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

For more than a decade, EquiRatings metrics have been flagging future 5* and championship horses while they were still competing at 3*. And the latest numbers suggest the biggest future players in the US Equestrian Open aren&rsquo;t coming from nowhere, they&rsquo;ve been hiding in plain sight all along.
<h3>1. HPR</h3>
Think of the High Performance Rating (HPR) as the metric that measures individual brilliance. It answers one specific question: &ldquo;How impressive was that particular ride?&rdquo; Traditional scoring only tells you who finished first, but the HPR strips away the "noise" to reveal the true quality of a performance.&nbsp;
Unlike a standard penalty score, HPR accounts for variables that raw results miss. It weighs field strength, course difficulty, winning margins, and even the judging. Because of this, a horse finishing fifth in an Olympic-caliber class can earn a higher HPR than a win at a weak local event.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Elo</h3>
If HPR is the stopwatch that catches a spike in brilliance, Elo is the market. It measures long-term consistency over a horse's entire career.
The system is self-correcting and works like a points exchange. You gain significant points for beating a high-rated opponent and you lose more for underperforming against a weaker field. Over time, the rating converges on the horse's true competitive level and long-term consistency.
While HPR isolates a single moment of greatness, Elo reveals who is consistent, world-class competitor.
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To test whether the data really does spot greatness early, we analyzed HPR and Elo scores from US horses aged 7-10 competing at the three-star level across three snapshots in time: roughly 10 years ago, five years ago, and today.
<h2>The Proof: 2014-2016</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">The "Time Machine" View</h3>
RF Scandalous recorded a 92 HPR in the CCI3*-L at Ocala in 2015 while still an emerging name. That performance with Marilyn Little foreshadowed both team and individual gold at the Pan American Games later the same year, followed by top-five finishes at Luhm&uuml;hlen 5* (2017) and Kentucky 5* (2018).
Matching that number was Mai Baum (Tamie Smith), who logged a 92 HPR at Jersey Fresh&rsquo;s CCI3*-S. Long before his landmark Kentucky 5* victory, the data already marked him as exceptional. He would go on to become the first US winner of Kentucky in 15 years and the highest-rated US horse ever recorded on the EquiRatings Elo.
Fernhill Fugitive, ridden by Phillip Dutton, recorded one of the highest Elo ratings in this cohort during the period - a level of consistency that later translated into two top-ten finishes at the Kentucky 5*. Copper Beach also stood out on Elo at just nine years old under Buck Davidson. After a series of top-level wins, he went on to partner rising star Cosby Green through her first five-star appearances.
Even beyond the headline names, the pattern holds. Elite 3* HPRs (90+) and high Elo&rsquo;s correlate strongly with big 5* performances, championship appearances, and Hall of Fame careers.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Validation: 2018-2021</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">The Current Titans</h3>
Fast-forward five years and the picture sharpens. The data highlights many familiar names&mdash; Chin Tonic HS, FE Lifestyle, Jump Jet, Cooley Quicksilver&mdash;two recent contenders at the US Equestrian Open Final stood out.
As a 3* horse, Miks Master C&nbsp; topped the list with the highest-rated performance of this group with a 97 HPR at Maryland's CCI3*-S. At the time, he was piloted by Maya Black, then being produced by Liz Halliday all the way to a 3rd place at Kentucky 5* before Boyd Martin took the ride and won the inaugural US Equestrian Open Final.
The Elo also identified&nbsp;Off The Record early. He sat near the top of this cohort&rsquo;s Elo table thanks to a string of high‑placing runs for Will Coleman. This combination then went on to a string of impressive results but most notable an Aachen victory, a World Championship team silver medal and most recently, a 2nd place finish at the US Equestrian Open&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Prediction: 2024-2025</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">The Future of the US Equestrian Open</h3>
Turn to the present.
<h3 dir="ltr">Highest Rated Performances (HPR)</h3>
Conner, ridden by Isabelle Bosley, leads the pack with a massive 96 HPR at the 2025 Maryland CCI3*-L. This performance line puts the 8-year-old in the same rarified air as past legends at this level.
The &ldquo;90+ Club&rdquo; also includes performances from names like Rockett 19 and Alyssa Phillips, Shanroe Cooley with Boyd Martin, and Jaguars Duende ridden by Sharon White.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4374c84f-c313-4f65-a387-b03a7ff8462a.png?width=1704&amp;height=1234" alt="S Bt3 O the Highest Rated Performances From 7 to 10 Year Olds at Cci3 2024 Amp 2025 ">
<h3 dir="ltr">Highest Elo Ratings</h3>
While HPR measures single-event brilliance, the EquiRatings Elo tracks cumulative strength, which of course favours older horses rather than younger. Jaguars Duende (Sharon White) currently tops the leaderboard for 7 to 10-year-olds, followed closely by Tamie Smith&rsquo;s Lillet 3.&nbsp;
Fernhill Bertus is the only 8-year-old to feature - an impressive achievement given he has to rank ahead of older horses who&rsquo;ve had far more opportunities to build Elo points. He&rsquo;s been remarkably consistent, never recording an international jumping penalty in either show jumping or cross-country, and capped his season with a top-10 finish at Maryland&rsquo;s CCI3*-L. It&rsquo;s a combination firmly worth watching as the years progress.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/51801cb1-ea73-4cd6-800d-d70f601edb9a.png?width=1520&amp;height=890" alt="Jbrad the Highest Rated Us 7 to 10 Year Olds Based on the Equiratings Elo ">
Looking across a decade of data, the pattern is consistent: when US 7- to 10-year-olds post HPRs in the 90+ range or carry high Elo ratings, they go on to the sport&rsquo;s biggest stages. On that basis, the future US Equestrian Open winners could come from any of the horses listed above.
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For more on the future stars of the US Equestrian Open, listen to the latest podcast episode!
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/39904235/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/28427a/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Read this week's Open Weekly article <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-results-and-early-signals-from-the-winter-circuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.jpeg?width=1280&amp;height=1600" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

The Crystal Ball: How Data Predicts the Next Generation of US Superstars

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

The achievement acknowledges a year in which Martin demonstrated remarkable consistency across the sport's biggest stages. Among his seven international wins throughout 2025, Martin <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/mikki-dora-and-six-boyd-will-and-caroline-three-exciting-partnerships-from-the-us-equestrian-open-eventing-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed victory in the inaugural US Equestrian Eventing Open Final</a> at Morven Park aboard Miks Master C.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dafa659e-8368-4605-9714-ddddb542436a.jpg?width=1016&amp;height=1366" alt="Boyd Martin League 290">
Martin recorded a total of 24 top-five FEI finishes with 11 different horses during the season. This included three podium places at five-star. Cooley Nutcracker was third at Pau. Commando 3 was second at Kentucky and third at Maryland. Commando 3 proved to be a very reliable player throughout the year, clocking multiple podium finishes. These results include a win at an early US Open qualifier at Stable View, contributing points to the series leaderboard, ultimately concluding with Martin <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjJS4kDKxX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winning the overall series,</a> as well as the final event.
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPjJS4kDKxX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/64afa3c8-e29a-466b-a9c7-301d62573412.png?width=1022&amp;height=926" alt="Blog Cover Boyd Martin (1)"></a>
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Boyd Martin grew up in Australia to an Australian father and an American mother. In his acceptance speech at the Pegasus Awards on Thursday night, he recalled when his parents brought him to get his American passport as a child: &ldquo;At the time I thought, &lsquo;why the heck would I ever need an American passport&rsquo;... little did I know that that decision would ultimately change my life&rdquo;.
As a young rider, Martin made the move across the world from Australia to America. He said in his speech: &ldquo;I always wondered how I'd compare to the best in the world&rdquo;. 
This year, he proved that he&nbsp;is the best in the world. A defining moment of Boyd Martin&rsquo;s phenomenal 2025 season came at the beginning of May, when he became the first American eventing athlete to hold the No. 1 spot at the top of the FEI World Rankings in 21 years. He finished the year ranked globally as No. 2 with 537 points and will surely be fighting to get back on top in 2026.
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Martin has been an important member of the Defender US Eventing Team for many years. In 2025, he helped them to earn their third consecutive podium place at CHIO Aachen. Aachen is set to host the World Championships in 2026. Team USA will be eying up that gold medal, having taken home the silver at last World Championships in Pratoni in 2022.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f74880b9-1269-4a4f-a18c-2770ae816486.jpg?width=5518&amp;height=4059" alt="2026 Iw Annual Meeting 135">
Speaking on his representing America, Martin said, &ldquo;In 2010, I was faced with one of the hardest decisions of my life and it was to change my nationality to represent America. I soon realized when I got to America that this is my home. I also wanted to support the country that was supporting my career. I also felt it was wrong for the owners that had poured so much support into me, being a rider with a different flag. It was the greatest decision I ever made&rdquo;.
Boyd Martin is a proud representative of America and a worthy recipient of the International Equestrian of the Year award. We look forward to seeing him contest the US Equestrian Open Series in 2026.
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Hear from Boyd Martin on winning the 2025 Series of US Equestrian Open of Eventing on The US Equestrian Open Podcast.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38467250/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/4c414c/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Boyd Martin: USEF International Equestrian of the Year

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

The Open Weekly: This Week’s Results, Leaderboard Moves, and What’s Next

As we look forward to the 2026 season, four US-based combinations have established themselves as serious prospects for this year's US Equestrian Open series. These nine-year-old horses and their riders have built impressive records over the past two years and are ready to make their mark at the highest level.
The Elo is EquiRatings' overall performance rating that measures a horse's performance across all three phases - the higher the number, the stronger the horse. Here are the top-rated US nine-year-olds heading into 2026.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9c092754-1442-430e-806c-811f2979a658.png?width=1472&amp;height=950" alt="N Ty Xq the Highest Rated Us Nine Year Olds Based on the Equiratings Elo ">
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<h3 dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/16cadbb1-e935-45da-aa17-c0cf08e41609.jpg?width=3744&amp;height=2496" alt="Sch 4232 Photo Credit to Sherwood Holmes for Liz Crawley Photography"></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">Cooley Corraghy Diamond &amp; Kimberly Severson (555 Elo)</h3>
At the top of the table is Cooley Corraghy Diamond on an Elo of 555. The nine-year-old gelding has been a model of consistency, never placing outside the top 10 across his international finishes in 2024 and 2025. His jumping record is nearly flawless; he&rsquo;s been clear cross-country every time, with no showjumping round accumulating more than four faults.
The partnership have already tackled four-star competition, with four starts at CCI4*-S level including a runner-up finish at Tryon in May 2025. These impressive results suggest Kim and Cooley Corraghy Diamond are ready for the US Open's demanding tracks.
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<h3 dir="ltr">That's Me Z &amp; Tommy Greengard (516 Elo)</h3>
That's Me Z finished in the top 20 at the Le Lion d'Angers 7-Year-Old World Championships. The gelding backed up that performance with a strong 2025 campaign as an eight-year-old, completing four events at CCI4*-S level and claiming three podium finishes.
Tommy and That&rsquo;s Me Z deliver when it counts. With championship experience and consistent four-star results already on their record, this combination could be one to watch as a nine-year-old in 2026.
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<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">Conner &amp; Isabelle Bosley (496 Elo)</h3>
Conner has yet to step up to four-star, but his three-star resume speaks volumes. The gelding closed out 2025 with a win at Maryland's CCI3*-L, posting the highest HPR of the year (96) at three-star-long on US soil. The 2025 season delivered three international wins and one runner up finish, with clear showjumping rounds every time out.
Isabelle has built a partnership with winning form. If they make the move to four-star in 2026, they'll arrive with a proven track record.
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<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">MBF Silver Bridge &amp; Caroline Pamukcu (491 Elo)</h3>
Despite a cross-country retirement at their first international event of 2025, MBF Silver Bridge bounced back to finish in the top 10 at every subsequent start. The nine-year-old gelding consistently delivered sub-30 dressage scores and never had more than four showjumping faults across the season.
The horse is in capable hands; Caroline finished third in the US Equestrian Open series last year. While they have yet to tackle four-star, the consistency and quality suggest they could be ready to make that step in 2026.
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<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">Looking Ahead</h3>
These four combinations have proven themselves at three-star level and are emerging at four-star. With the horses now in their nine-year-old season, we could potentially see them challenging for US Equestrian Open qualifiers in 2026.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar">
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

This Year's 9-Year-Olds on Track for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing

The US Equestrian Open of Eventing is reshaping elite competition in the United States. Launched in 2024 by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), this season-long championship series offers a structured points race across 20 qualifying events, culminating in a $200,000 final.
For new fans discovering the sport in 2026, here's everything you need to know about how the series works, why it matters, and what makes it one of the most significant developments in American eventing.
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">What is the US Equestrian Open of Eventing?</h2>
The US Equestrian Open of Eventing is a season-long championship series organized by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Think of it like a points race across multiple competitions, similar to NASCAR or professional golf tours, where athletes accumulate points throughout the season to qualify for a winner-takes-all finale.
The series is part of a broader US Equestrian Open initiative that also includes Dressage and Jumping disciplines, all designed to build momentum and mainstream excitement ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">How Does The US Equestrian Open of Eventing Work?</h2>
The format is straightforward: there are 20 qualifying events which are held at venues all across the United States at the CCI4*-S level.
At each qualifier, riders earn points based on their final placings. The more competitive the field (qualifiers with more than 25 starters award higher points), the more points are up for grabs. After the qualifying season concludes, the rider who accumulates the most points from their best six qualifier results wins the series and claims a $25,000 prize, with second and third place earning $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.
But that's not all.
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<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4d7a4cd4-8c72-44a6-8990-0fd99b9284be.jpg?width=2704&amp;height=2134" alt="Img 5414 (2)"></h3>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Big Finale</h2>
Riders who complete at least one series qualifier with a Minimum Eligibility Result (MER) can qualify for the US Equestrian Open Final or they can buy into the final for $5,000, which gets added to the prize pot. The final is a CCI4*-L competition held each October at Morven Park International in Leesburg, Virginia, featuring a staggering $200,000 in prize money.
That's right: $200,000 - the highest-ever prize pot offered at this level of eventing.
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<h2>Why Does The US Equestrian Open Matter?</h2>
Historically, American riders seeking tough top-level competition often traveled to Europe. The US Equestrian Open creates a world-class alternative on home soil, keeping elite talent stateside while providing fans with a structured season they can follow from start to finish.
The series creates an opportunity for fans to create a deeper connection to equestrian sport by delivering a premier, unified championship series that engages a broader fanbase through top-level competition, storytelling, and dynamic entertainment. Real-time leaderboards track the season-long race, creating narratives fans can follow as riders climb the standings toward that $200,000 finale.
The series also marks eventing's push toward mainstream sports visibility. The finals are broadcast on ESPN and the USEF Network, bringing the sport to audiences who might never have watched eventing before.
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7654c5c3-bc6e-4fb1-8053-85a096ae56ba.jpg?width=3328&amp;height=4160" alt="Boyd Martin With Us Open Trophy.. Credit Devyn Trethewey Us Equestrian. From Open Final 2025 (1)">
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Inaugural Champion of the US Equestrian Open</h2>
The first-ever US Equestrian Open Final took place October 9th-12th 2025 at Morven Park. Four-time Olympian Boyd Martin rode Miks Master C to victory, edging out Will Coleman and Off The Record after they had a single rail in the final show jumping phase. The dramatic finish showcased exactly the kind of high-stakes competition the series was designed to deliver.
Boyd Martin also won the overall series title, earning the $25,000 series prize in addition to his final victory.&nbsp;Phillip Dutton claimed second place in the series standings ($15,000), with Caroline Pamukcu rounding out the podium in third ($10,000).
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Following the 2026 Series</h2>
With two qualifiers happening at the end of the 2025 season, this year's qualifying events will kick off again with Bouckaert International on March 5th and run through early October, culminating in the final at Morven Park October 8-11, 2026. Real-time leaderboards track point standings throughout the season, making it easy for new fans to follow the championship race as it unfolds.
Whether you're completely new to eventing or a longtime fan looking for elite competition, the US Equestrian Open offers an accessible entry point to one of equestrian sport's most demanding disciplines&mdash;with prize money, prestige, and the coverage to match.
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar">
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Eventing