Main

<p>Be the first to receive behind-the-scenes stories, event previews, competition results and much more!</p>

newsletter

Sign up for our US Equestrian Open Newsletter

<p dir="ltr">Super Bowl week is a big one.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">So this week, the US Equestrian Open podcast did something we don&rsquo;t normally do.&nbsp;We stepped outside equestrian sport.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.<br><br><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dec69256-85d0-4058-aa1b-d8d1fb507147.png?width=1449&amp;height=1108" alt="Superbowl 60"></p>
<p dir="ltr">We brought in four of the US Equestrian of Open of Eventing biggest voices to share their take:</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Aspen Farms (Qualifier 13) organizer <strong>Jonathan Elliott&nbsp;</strong></li>
<li dir="ltr">Terranova (Qualifier 2 and 5), Carolina (Qualifier 4) organizer <strong>Max Corcoran&nbsp;</strong></li>
<li dir="ltr">Aiken's <strong>Joanie Morris</strong></li>
<li dir="ltr">Course designer <strong>Morgan Rowsell</strong></li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr">Listen to the full episode <a href="https://pod.fo/e/387c28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a></p>
<p><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></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 1: Fans don&rsquo;t fall in love with sport. They fall in love with stories.</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Sure, we all loved <strong>Joe Montana </strong>but <strong>Tom Brady </strong>is generally considered the GOAT. When the group starts talking about <strong>Tom Brad</strong>y (and those Patriots fans love talking about<strong> Tom Brady</strong>) it&rsquo;s not the stats that make it interesting. It&rsquo;s the story.</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Joanie Morris</strong> puts it simply:&nbsp;<em>&ldquo;The best thing for me about Tom Brady is where he came from, right?&rdquo;</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Joanie follows it with the part that matters most for fandom:<em>&nbsp;&ldquo;He wasn&rsquo;t born a star, everyone thinking that he was gonna be this guy.&rdquo;</em></p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Max Corcoran </strong>adds the part every sport needs more of:&nbsp;<em>&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;</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 2: Big sports don&rsquo;t create one storyline. They create 100.</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Morgan Rowsell </strong>makes the point that the NFL is always doing the work for you. It never lets the story die.</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&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;</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 3: Access is everything</h2>
<p dir="ltr">A big part of the Open is access.<strong> Joanie Morris</strong> 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;</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&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;</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Access is what turns <em>&ldquo;watching&rdquo;</em> into <em>&ldquo;caring.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 4: Jeopardy is what makes sport addictive</h2>
<p dir="ltr">EquiRatings&rsquo; <strong>Diarmuid Byrne</strong> 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;</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;It has to feel like every competition has to feel like it means something to somebody.&rdquo;</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 5: Tribalism is not a problem. It&rsquo;s the engine.</h2>
<p dir="ltr">One of the most entertaining parts of the episode is that the trash talk starts immediately.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Joanie Morris, </strong>right out of the gate:&nbsp;<em>&ldquo;I feel like we&rsquo;re in for a good game and Elliot&rsquo;s gonna be sad again.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Morgan Rowsell </strong>is even more direct:&nbsp;<em>&ldquo;I like that he&rsquo;s gonna be sad.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Max Corcoran </strong>sums up what it feels like to be a Patriots fan:&nbsp;<em>&ldquo;Everybody hates the Patriots.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">And then the conversation turns into something genuinely useful.&nbsp;Joanie asks whether equestrian sport could build more local identity:</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&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;</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 6: Fans want to wear the sport</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Max Corcoran</strong> 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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Max says:&nbsp;<em>&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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Boyd Martin,</strong> last years Series and Final winner is an exception to this.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">It&rsquo;s not just &ldquo;merch.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s identity.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Lesson 7: Our sport is spectacular. We should be prouder.&nbsp;</h2>
<p data-start="493" data-end="576">This is where Diarm hits the most &ldquo;US Equestrian Open&rdquo; point of the entire episode.</p>
<p data-start="578" data-end="722">He explains that equestrian sport already has all the raw ingredients. The stories, the personalities, the jeopardy, the partnership, the drama.</p>
<p data-start="724" data-end="813">&ldquo;When you think of the depth of the backstories that are in our sport, we could do that.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="815" data-end="1107">And then he makes the bigger point: <strong data-start="851" data-end="904">we should stop being shy about how special it is.</strong> 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.</p>
<p data-start="1109" data-end="1171">So instead of dialling things down, we should do the opposite.</p>
<p data-start="1173" data-end="1261">We should be proud of the sport. Proud of the people in it. Proud of what it stands for.</p>
<p data-start="1263" data-end="1366">Because when you look at how other sports present themselves, they never apologise for their spectacle.</p>
<p data-start="1368" data-end="1477">&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;</p>
<p data-start="1479" data-end="1511">That&rsquo;s the Open&rsquo;s whole mission.</p>
<p data-start="1513" data-end="1604">Make it feel like it matters.<br data-start="1542" data-end="1545">Make it feel like sport.<br data-start="1569" data-end="1572">Make it feel like entertainment.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Bonus: The Super Bowl 60 predictions (and the confidence levels)</h2>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Morgan Rowsell</strong> goes for a defensive grind:&nbsp;<em>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s gonna be a low-scoring game. I think it&rsquo;s gonna be 17-14, the Patriots.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Max Corcoran </strong>is also on the Patriots, but sees a little more scoring:&nbsp;<em>&ldquo;I was going 21-24 Patriots.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Joanie Morris</strong> sticks with her original gut call:&nbsp;<em>&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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">And <strong>Jonathan Elliott,</strong> the lone Seahawks supporter on the panel, comes in with the boldest prediction of the entire episode:&nbsp;<em>&ldquo;31-10 Hawks, they take it convincingly. Convincingly.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Final Thoughts (and a Super Bowl-sized disclaimer)</h2>
<p dir="ltr">This episode is a Super Bowl preview.&nbsp;But it&rsquo;s also something more useful.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>More story.&nbsp;More access.&nbsp;More repetition.&nbsp;More jeopardy.&nbsp;More identity.&nbsp;And definitely more enthusiasm.</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Listen to the full episode <a href="https://pod.fo/e/387c28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></p>
<p><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></p>
<p><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></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p><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"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

US Equestrian Open CrossOver with Superbowl

The Open X Super Bowl LX: 7 Lessons

<p dir="ltr">With just days remaining until the US Open Final at Morven Park, course designer&nbsp;<strong>Derek di Grazia&nbsp;</strong>is putting the finishing touches on what promises to be another challenging test for the 38 horse-and-rider combinations entered in the competition.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For di Grazia, whose courses are consistently praised by riders for bringing out the best in their horses, the journey to Morven Park represents both a return to his roots and a showcase of one of America's most spectacular venues.</p>
<p><em><strong>Listen to Derek di Grazia on the US Equestrian Open Podcast now.</strong></em></p>
<p><iframe title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38394845/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></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">Early Inspiration at Pebble Beach</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Di Grazia's love affair with eventing began at the&nbsp;<strong>1969 US Open at Pebble Beach, California.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">"The biggest thing that really impressed me was just watching what these horses did because I had just never seen anything like it.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">That competition, featuring legendary names like&nbsp;<strong>the</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Woffords, the Plumbs,</strong>&nbsp;and<strong>&nbsp;Kevin Freeman,</strong>&nbsp;showcased the sport at its highest level on the West Coast. The young di Grazia was hooked, drawn to the stories of how "rugged and difficult&rdquo; the sport was.</p>
<p dir="ltr">His early riding education was comprehensive, encompassing not just eventing but polo, fox hunting, and show jumping. The transition from West to East Coast came during his college years at Georgetown University, where he began training with the legendary<strong>&nbsp;Jimmy Wofford.&nbsp;</strong>His breakthrough moment came at&nbsp;<strong>Ledyard Farm in 1977,&nbsp;</strong>competing in poor conditions against top European riders.</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">"It was pouring rain and very, very wet for the cross country, but we were one of the few that made it inside the time on the cross country and we ended up actually in fourth place at the end."</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">That result gave him confidence that he could make it in this sport - setting the stage for a successful competitive career that would eventually inform his approach to course design.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">A Horse-First Philosophy</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Going back to his years in the saddle, Di Grazia understands firsthand the immense work required to bring a horse to top-level competition and he's acutely aware of how vulnerable these horses are to injury. Because of this, horse welfare remains at the forefront of every decision he makes when designing his cross-country courses.&nbsp;This philosophy drives every decision he makes:&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">"In the end for me, it's about making these courses so that they are fair for the horses and that as much as possible trying to make the ground conditions - the wear and tear on the horses - as minimal as possible."</p>
</blockquote>
<h3 dir="ltr">The Art and Science of Design</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Each venue presents unique challenges and opportunities, something that keeps di Grazia passionate about his craft.</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">"Every venue is different. We all know that. And so they all sort of require different things. And to me, that's what makes course design actually exciting for me, because there's new things you can do in different places and just the way you use the ground."</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Derek also emphasizes that course design is far from a solo effort, highlighting the builders and decorators who bring his vision to life and ultimately make the course look its best.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Discovering Morven Park's Potential</h3>
<p dir="ltr">When di Grazia first visited Morven Park as a course designer, he was immediately struck by the venue's possibilities.</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">&ldquo;It was so wonderful to be able to come and see this place and see the venue. But you know, I just start thinking about,&nbsp; four longs and, and, know, even five star, I mean, you start looking at this ground and you start drooling because it's just such an amazing place&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">The venue's placement in the calendar had historically limited its exposure, often conflicting with other major competitions. But since the introduction of the CCI4*-L format in 2021, di Grazia has seen riders rediscover this historic venue and watched the quality of the entries improving year on year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">What to Expect at Morven Park</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Derek has proven he can build tough time tests, most recently having only one rider making the time over his track at Burghley. Historically, Morven Park sees an average of&nbsp;<strong>10% of starters</strong>&nbsp;finish inside the optimum time. With a field of 38 competitors, we can expect<strong>&nbsp;3 to 4 riders&nbsp;</strong>inside the time. However, it has varied from year-to-year, with<strong>&nbsp;25%</strong>&nbsp;making the time last year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With Morven Park hosting the inaugural US Equestrian Open of Eventing, we can expect that the challenge is set to be anything but easy - a true test across all three phases designed to ensure the strongest combination is crowned the champion.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3><em>Listen to Derek di Grazia on the US Equestrian Open Podcast now.</em></h3>
<p><iframe title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38394845/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></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

From Competitor to Course Designer: Derek di Grazia's Journey to Morven Park

<p dir="ltr">Mai Baum, known to his connections as &lsquo;Lexus&rsquo; will compete in his final upper-level competition this weekend at Rebecca Farm&mdash;the very same class he won 10 years ago at this Montana venue, marking what was only his second four-star with rider Tamie Smith and their first four-star victory together.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The poetic symmetry of Mai Baum's farewell couldn't be more perfect. A decade ago, he launched what would become a legendary partnership with Smith by winning the Rebecca Farm CCI4*-S. Now, after one of the most impressive US eventing careers, he returns to the same competition, for his final farewell.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Listen to the 'Mai Baum Special' on US Equestrian Open Podcast now.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37307655/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/1787d4/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Career Defined by Excellence</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The numbers alone tell an extraordinary story. With 33 international starts, 20 podium finishes, and 13 wins, Mai Baum achieved a peak EquiRatings Elo of 833&mdash;the highest of any U.S. event horse in the past 15 years and ranking among the top 15 worldwide over that span.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/67a9aeb8-b39d-49ee-947e-cee480d34327.png?width=1150&amp;height=664" alt="Screenshot 2025 07 14 120819"></p>
<p dir="ltr">The horse's international career began in 2013 with Alexandra Ahearn. The next year at only his second international event, he had his first win in the CCI2*-S at Galway Downs. That victory marked the beginning of what would become a special relationship with the California venue&mdash;Tamie returned with him four times, in which they took the win every time.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b8f397ef-3550-4463-9e2d-b7979ad9712c.png?width=1688&amp;height=784" alt="I Aa K6 "></p>
<p dir="ltr"><br>For all of Mai Baum&rsquo;s accolades and podium finishes, his story was never written with medals in mind.&nbsp;<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8d4b834c-771d-44a7-8c34-662cbeffb011.png?width=1080&amp;height=540" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (9)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Dressage Mastery</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Perhaps no statistic better illustrates Mai Baum's consistency than his dressage record with Smith. Across 29 internationals together, they never scored in the 30s. Their best test came at Tryon in 2021 with a score of 20.4, while their worst was still a respectable 29.9 at Arville in 2021.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/150ba00e-34da-4d59-965a-86fee7da5b79.png?width=1688&amp;height=1320" alt="Ua Wi4 Mai Baum S Top 10 Dressage Tests"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Five-Star Prowess</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Mai Baum's five-star record reads like a masterclass in big-competition performance. Across five attempts at the level (Kentucky 2021, Badminton 2022, Pratoni 2022 World Games, Kentucky 2023, Maryland 2024), he finished in the top 10 four times. Only a mid-course retirement at Maryland 2024 disrupted their otherwise perfect record, with Tamie choosing to pull up when Mai Baum showed signs of fatigue.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a705d953-ef4b-4e7f-a0ec-d3279b97a364.png?width=1924&amp;height=822" alt="Hey Un Mai Baum S Cci5 Record (1)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">The pinnacle came at Kentucky 2023, where Mai Baum and Tamie Smith became the first American pair to win since Phillip Dutton in 2008. Pre-competition, EquiRatings had highlighted them as the ones to beat, giving them a 66% win chance and an 88% shot at the podium.&nbsp; Despite this, it was still no easy feat. Sitting in third after dressage (24.2), they delivered a textbook cross-country round where they made the time &mdash; a decisive move that secured their 3.6-penalty victory.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Final Chapter</h2>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Rebecca Farm is a fitting stage for Mai Baum&rsquo;s farewell &mdash; the site where his brilliance at the highest-level first truly emerged. In 2015, it was here, in the mountains of Montana, that Mai Baum won the CCI4*-S on just his second start at the level.</p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aa03986c-8b82-4527-98eb-77ddcf2f12f6.png?width=1080&amp;height=554" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (7)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">According to the <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/rebecca_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Prediction Centre,</a> they arrive this weekend with a 61% win chance and an 85% podium chance, practically identical to their Kentucky odds in 2023.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/rebecca_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a9eebb6f-3354-4691-ad01-46a40e13db0d.png?width=720&amp;height=820" alt="Screenshot 2025 07 14 125127"></a><br><br></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Legacy Beyond Statistics</h2>
<p dir="ltr">While Mai Baum's achievements speak for themselves but his impact extends far beyond ribbons and rankings.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d405773a-a361-425d-9996-d1a3cf8eb057.png?width=1080&amp;height=537" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (6)"></p>
<p dir="ltr">This weekend at Rebecca Farm, the eventing community will witness the end of an era. Mai Baum may be stepping down from the upper levels, but his legacy will endure for many years to come. That it happens where his greatest chapter began makes this farewell all the more fitting.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h2>Listen to The US Equestrian Open Podcast Now</h2>
<p>Tamie Smith, Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell relive the moments that made Lexus unforgettable: from a German auction to Kentucky glory, from heartbreak to heroics.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37307655/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/1787d4/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Mai Baum Returns to Rebecca Farm for His Farewell

<p>Maryland International at Loch Moy kicks off tomorrow for the 14th qualifier of the US Equestrian Open. It is a stacked field and with a good amount of entries, it is looking to be a hot competition.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Prediction Centre&nbsp;</h3>
<p>The<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/maryland_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> EquiRatings Prediction Centre</a> gives Caroline Pamucku a 50% overall win chance at Maryland. But don't count out Jennie Brannigan and Connery &ndash; the 2023 winners are back after having the fastest cross-country time of day. Hard ground is forecast this weekend, so a quick cross country round will be key &mdash; minimising time penalties could really shake up the leaderboard.</p>
<p><a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/maryland_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ac7f2c40-61f4-41e3-a4ec-c14d1ae02c76.png?width=775&amp;height=916" alt="Screenshot 2025 06 26 102919"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Maryland Fan Guide</h3>
<p>If you want to know more on the competitors&mdash; from the best dressage horses to the fastest cross-country combinations &mdash; check out the <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/maryland-lochmoy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maryland Fan Guide</a>. It breaks down all the must-know stats and stories to follow this weekend.<br><br><a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/maryland-lochmoy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/14ce1955-86c7-497c-ac17-e7090d244d73.png?width=484&amp;height=658" alt="Screenshot 2025 06 26 105115"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Maryland Preview Podcast</h3>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37111980/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/1787d4/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne dive into the entries, tactics, ground conditions, and more on this week&rsquo;s podcast &mdash; from Jennie Brannigan stepping up with Kismet for their four-star debut to Caroline Pamukcu and Arden Wildasin, who could make a serious push for the podium with their speed. Tune in to the US Equestrian Open podcast for all the details.<br><br><br></p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Podcast graphic for the US Equestrian Open Podcast

Maryland CCI4*-S Preview

<p data-start="348" data-end="790">As the US Equestrian Open of Dressage breaks ahead of its final stretch, one of the season&rsquo;s most captivating partnerships sits in the top five: Genay Vaughn and her partner, Gino. With four wins from four starts, a freestyle rooted in the music of her childhood, and a leaderboard surge that has her closing in on the top, Vaughn's season so far has blended personal expression with elite performance.</p>
<p data-start="792" data-end="845"><em data-start="488" data-end="559" data-is-last-node="">Tune in to hear Genay in her own words or catch the highlights below.</em><br><br></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36950420/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/000a80/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p data-start="792" data-end="845">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="852" data-end="893">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="852" data-end="893"><strong data-start="859" data-end="893">Gino: The Star of His Own Show</strong></h3>
<p data-start="112" data-end="377">The bond between Genay and Gino isn&rsquo;t just strong, it&rsquo;s the foundation of everything. Their connection goes far beyond training sessions or test scores. It&rsquo;s the rhythm of their everyday life that builds the deep understanding you see every time they enter the ring.</p>
<p data-start="112" data-end="377"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9e942aaf-0d5c-4393-9208-ec328865b8bb.png?width=1080&amp;height=875" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics"></p>
<p data-start="594" data-end="869" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Since bringing Gino home as a six-year-old, Genay has built their partnership with patience and care. Their original freestyle was designed to keep things comfortable, but with Gino now stronger and more confident, they&rsquo;re ready to push the boundaries heading into the final.</p>
<p data-start="594" data-end="869" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="1586" data-end="1634">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1586" data-end="1634"><strong data-start="1599" data-end="1634">High Performance Starts at Home</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1636" data-end="1852">Genay&rsquo;s team isn&rsquo;t made up of the usual coaches and grooms - it is her family. Her mom is her trainer, which although it is intense to train, work, and live together, Genay says she wouldn't want it any other way. Her dad, a former Major League Baseball player, brings the high-performance mindset and support to the table. The entire family farm is built on a shared ambition and a relentless drive for success.</p>
<p data-start="1636" data-end="1852"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0f01eb7c-01dc-4ef8-80ed-7ff94978dc3f.png?width=1080&amp;height=870" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (4)"></p>
<p data-start="2028" data-end="2184">It&rsquo;s a rare dynamic: personal trust mixed with professional expectation. There&rsquo;s no hiding in a family of competitors and no shortage of motivation, either.</p>
<p data-start="2028" data-end="2184">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2191" data-end="2232">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2191" data-end="2232"><strong data-start="2198" data-end="2232">Freestyle with a Personal Beat</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405">One of the most talked-about freestyles on the circuit this season? Genay and Gino&rsquo;s. Freestyle dressage is all about self-expression, and Genay has mastered that art. Their freestyle music feels as bold and distinctive as the rider herself. The scores speak for themselves - it&rsquo;s clearly striking a chord with both judges and fans alike.</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/42164377-dc19-43f0-abb0-6cfc9406bee3.png?width=1080&amp;height=864" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (3)"></p>
<p data-start="2607" data-end="2731">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2738" data-end="2780">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2738" data-end="2780"><strong data-start="2745" data-end="2780">The Leaderboard</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">With <strong data-start="2787" data-end="2800">80 points</strong>, Genay Vaughn currently sits in <strong data-start="2833" data-end="2846">5th place</strong> on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard, just behind Evelyn Eger and tied contenders in second. Anna Marek leads with 105 points, but it isn&rsquo;t over yet. If Genay continues her form, the Desert Final could see major movement.</p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076"><a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0b2ea0c7-e18b-4f83-a7c1-dc7cbd2f442f.png?width=733&amp;height=1032" alt="Screenshot 2025 06 11 123623"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2782" data-end="3076">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2782" data-end="3076"><strong data-start="3423" data-end="3464">Want to hear from the leader herself?</strong></h3>
<p>Check out our podcast with Anna Marek on passion, patience and performance.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/35371080/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002580/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><br><br></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Dressage</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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"></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>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;</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

New Podcast: Genay Vaughn lives in Gino's world

<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36687545/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/003f80/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p data-start="374" data-end="729">Ben Ebeling is one of the brightest young stars in American dressage - but he didn&rsquo;t always plan to be here. He started out in the show jumping world, doing his first Grand Prix over fences before he ever entered a Grand Prix dressage arena, and only truly pivoted because he asked his father to teach him how to do a pirouette.</p>
<p data-start="731" data-end="904">His father was delighted when Ben asked to learn his first pirouette - finally, a sign he might be turning toward dressage. But Ebeling had other plans. He only wanted the movement to help him turn tighter in his jump offs, not yet realizing he'd just taken his first real step toward a new discipline. Although he misses the show jumping ring, Ben credits it with shaping key parts of his riding, especially his ability to handle hotter, more sensitive horses, a skill that&rsquo;s served him well in the dressage arena.</p>
<p data-start="731" data-end="904">This season, Ebeling is campaigning Bellena, a Grand Prix mare produced by his father, Jan Ebeling, and recently handed over to Ben. Their growing partnership has quickly become one of the most compelling stories on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard.<br><br></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Progress Over Podiums</h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Ben&rsquo;s connection with Bellena is still new. They began competing together in Wellington, where they faced a few mistakes early on, simply because they didn&rsquo;t know each other well yet. But now, with each competition, things are starting to come together and the pair is showing real progress.</p>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">However, Ben isn&rsquo;t chasing ribbons. He is chasing progress. He finds just as much joy in the daily training as in the big competitions, saying he gets the same thrill from a young horse nailing its first flying change as he does riding down the centerline at Aachen.<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/95473147-9593-4061-bbd6-fca82482ced4.jpg?width=1078&amp;height=644" alt="Img 1372"></p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Family Legacy and Traditions</h3>
<p>Ben&rsquo;s journey in dressage has been shaped by the quiet strength and experience of his father, Jan Ebeling. A respected competitor and coach, Jan has guided Ben from childhood through to Grand Prix level, offering a steady presence both in the arena and beyond it.</p>
<p>Their relationship balances high-performance ambition with a grounded, supportive dynamic and a few light hearted family traditions along the way. One of their long-running rituals is that the winner buys dinner and the loser buys ice cream. After years of buying ice cream, Ben finally bought dinner last week - a small moment that speaks volumes.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8560c575-cb1e-474b-bc80-9f25ebf29b78.jpg?width=1073&amp;height=567" alt="Img 1375"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br>Ben and the US Equestrian Open of Dressage<br><br></h3>
<p data-start="107" data-end="332">Now, Ebeling has his eyes on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage final. With points already on the board and a big freestyle coming up at WEC, the road to Thermal is officially in motion.</p>
<p data-start="334" data-end="735" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">He believes the series is pushing the sport in the right direction, offering a championship that feels fresh and fan-focused - something akin to a World Cup but rooted in the US circuit. His fan-focused perspective is exactly why this series exists.<br><br></p>
<p data-start="334" data-end="735" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/781baea3-bc7e-4ce2-a8d3-015fa16b534f.jpg?width=1079&amp;height=567" alt="Img 1373"></p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="58" data-end="126">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="58" data-end="126">🎧&nbsp;<strong data-start="61" data-end="126">Listen Now</strong></h3>
<p data-start="128" data-end="263">Hear more on Ben's training, freestyles, and what makes the US Equestrian Open such an exciting step for dressage fans and riders alike.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36687545/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/003f80/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Dressage</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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"></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>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;</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

New Podcast: Ben Ebeling on Family, Freestyle, and the Future of US Dressage

<p>Annie and Diarm sat down with James Alliston on the US Equestrian Open podcast&mdash;and it&rsquo;s a good one. From his record-breaking weekend at Twin Rivers to the horses in his string and the road to Morven Park, James shares it all.&nbsp; Listen to the full episode or keep reading for the highlights, stats, and standout storylines.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36590375/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002180/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="" data-start="94" data-end="128">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="94" data-end="128">Twin Rivers and Teamwork</h3>
<p class="" data-start="149" data-end="363">James turned heads at Twin Rivers with a standout performance: four horses finishing in the top five, including first, second, third, and fifth. He became just the fifth rider in 17 years to achieve this rare feat.</p>
<p class="" data-start="149" data-end="363"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0c280dbb-c751-47c3-8077-0ee3c4e5745c.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Untitled Design (9)"></p>
<p class="" data-start="365" data-end="961">That success hasn&rsquo;t come in isolation&mdash;it&rsquo;s the result of a hardworking team behind the scenes. His wife, Helen, plays a pivotal role in the daily training and development of their horses, having produced several of James' horses up to three-star level herself. Their staff and students are essential in maintaining fitness programs and managing the chaos of show-day logistics, especially when multiple horses are competing in the same class. Even event organizers have played a part, adjusting schedules to help James juggle it all.</p>
<p class="" data-start="365" data-end="961">&nbsp;</p>
<hr class="" data-start="722" data-end="725">
<h3 class="" data-start="727" data-end="768">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="727" data-end="768">Karma: Speed, Spark, and Star Power</h3>
<p class="" data-start="769" data-end="949">Karma has become a fan favorite&mdash;and deservedly so. Karma brings serious energy both at home and in the ring. Dressage was tricky early on for the pair, but she&rsquo;s settled with experience and now shines at the top level. Looking ahead, James has his eye on Aachen if selected, with Montana and Morven Park also in the mix.</p>
<p class="" data-start="769" data-end="949"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b83a5eb7-97e4-4f78-8f1e-55269fb7cf06.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="She Is a Fantastic Horse an Incredible Athlete, so Fast and an Amazing Jumper. I'm Hoping With Time and Mileage, We Can Just Take a Little Bit of the Edge off the Hotness. but It's Partly That Tha"></p>
<p class="" data-start="173" data-end="402">James&rsquo;s win at Twin Rivers with Karma wasn&rsquo;t just a highlight of the season&mdash;it marked a major career milestone. It was his <strong data-start="296" data-end="343">10th international four-star win since 2008</strong>, a number achieved by only seven U.S. riders in history.</p>
<p class="" data-start="404" data-end="698">What makes that stat even more impressive is the efficiency behind it. James has reached that milestone with fewer than 50 runs at the level&mdash;giving him the <strong data-start="560" data-end="628">highest four-star win rate of any U.S. rider on the list, at 22%</strong>. Quietly consistent, deeply competitive, and now statistically elite.</p>
<p class="" data-start="404" data-end="698">&nbsp;</p>
<hr class="" data-start="1380" data-end="1383">
<h3 class="" data-start="1385" data-end="1417">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="1385" data-end="1417">A Deep and Balanced String</h3>
<p class="" data-start="1418" data-end="1644">There's Nemesis, making a strong comeback after injury, Paper Jam &mdash;a seasoned four-star veteran&mdash; and promising talents like Cora and Irish Pop who performed well at Twin Rivers.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1418" data-end="1644"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/709bc7dd-7dc2-4cbd-9eca-68c3c3761632.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston"></p>
<p class="" data-start="1803" data-end="1939">Events like Rebecca Farm and Montana feature in his summer calendar as James positions his team for a final push toward the Open finale.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1803" data-end="1939">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p class="" data-start="1803" data-end="1939">&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="" data-start="107" data-end="135">Learning from a Legend</h3>
<p class="" data-start="136" data-end="634">James reflects on his journey in the U.S. that began with a gap year and turned into a career-defining chapter under Bruce Davidson Sr. Working on a farm full of young horses, racehorses, and elite-level talent, he absorbed everything&mdash;from horsemanship and fitness to feel and finesse.</p>
<p class="" data-start="136" data-end="634"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/af037b8a-4057-4809-abd2-79317a7bad5f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (1)"></p>
<p class="" data-start="136" data-end="634">Bruce&rsquo;s style wasn&rsquo;t built on structured lessons but on immersion: ride, watch, learn, repeat. That intense, hands-on environment shaped James&rsquo;s foundation as a rider.</p>
<p class="" data-start="136" data-end="634">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="" data-start="641" data-end="665">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="641" data-end="665">All In on the Open</h3>
<p class="" data-start="666" data-end="1130">James was immediately intrigued when the U.S. Equestrian Open launched&mdash;especially the idea of serious prize money. For horses not yet ready for five-star, it offers a real purpose and a clear target. Now sitting third on the leaderboard, James plans to contest as many qualifiers as possible and is eyeing a trip to Morven Park for the final. It&rsquo;s a competitive challenge&mdash;and one he&rsquo;s fully committed to.</p>
<p class="" data-start="666" data-end="1130"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f611e1de-723f-45e0-80df-da1c4db95b81.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="James Alliston (2)"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>US Equestrian Open Leaderboard&nbsp;</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a37f0405-f149-414e-a21d-f585ccec3d83.png?width=733&amp;height=532" alt="Screenshot 2025 05 16 162737"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>🎙️&nbsp;<strong data-start="48" data-end="99">Listen Now: James Alliston &amp; The Road to Morven</strong></h3>
<p>From Twin Rivers to leaderboard goals&mdash;James talks Karma, the Open, and what&rsquo;s next.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36590375/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002180/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

New Podcast: James Alliston and The Road to Morven Park

<p>It&rsquo;s back to Tryon for the twelfth leg of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing&mdash;and with just one event scheduled in May, this weekend will be one to watch. From leaderboard shakeups to breakout performances, there&rsquo;s plenty on the line at a venue known for delivering drama.</p>
<p>The full breakdown is now live on the <strong>US Equestrian Open Podcast</strong>&mdash;but here&rsquo;s your snapshot of what you need to know ahead of Tryon.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36471130/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/003580/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 data-start="539" data-end="565">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="539" data-end="565">Lets Take a Look at the&nbsp;<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/tryon_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prediction Centre</a></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/tryon_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fce526ba-d6ab-43c6-853e-f4371ca0b816.png?width=916&amp;height=943" alt="Screenshot 2025 05 07 154220"></a></p>
<h3 data-start="539" data-end="565">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="539" data-end="565">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="539" data-end="565">Boyd Martin - Tsetserleg TSF</h3>
<p class="" data-start="112" data-end="311"><strong>Boyd Martin</strong> heads to Tryon as the new <strong>FEI World Number One</strong> &mdash; and with <strong>135 points</strong> on the US Open leaderboard, he&rsquo;s within striking distance of the top three. A win here could shake things up while also securing his position in the FEI rankings.</p>
<p class="" data-start="313" data-end="564">He brings forward <strong>Tsetserleg TSF</strong>, or &lsquo;Thomas&rsquo; &mdash; the most experienced horse in the field. With an Olympic appearance to many 5* completions including a podium in 2019, Thomas has a huge fan following. It&rsquo;s no surprise they top the Prediction Centre this weekend with a <strong>27% win chance</strong>.</p>
<h3 data-start="940" data-end="1184">Sara Kozumplik - Rock Phantom</h3>
<p>One of the early stars of the US Open Series, <strong data-start="168" data-end="184">Rock Phantom</strong> and <strong data-start="189" data-end="207">Sara Kozumplik</strong> took the win at Bouckaert in 2024 &mdash; and now they&rsquo;re back and heading to Tryon. This marks their&nbsp;first 4 star of the season, with Sara returning to the saddle after a minor injury kept her out of Kentucky. The numbers speak for themselves as they sit second on the Prediction Centre with a <strong data-start="527" data-end="545">16% win chance.</strong></p>
<h3>Caroline Pamucku - Redfield Dexter and HSH Tolan King</h3>
<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">It&rsquo;s a two-horse attack from <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> this weekend &mdash; and together, her chances are looking strong.&nbsp;<strong>Redfield Dexter</strong> comes in with a <strong>13% win chance</strong> after a standout performance at Ocala, where he completed his first CCI4*-S and finished fifth. With that milestone behind them, we expect they may take the handbrake off cross-country and have a serious shot at the podium.</p>
<p><strong>HSH Tolan King</strong>, the more seasoned of the two, edged his stablemate for fourth at Ocala and carries a <strong>12% win chance</strong> into Tryon. Together, Caroline&rsquo;s duo gives her<strong> a combined 25% shot at the win</strong> &mdash; not a bad hand to be playing.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 data-start="1629" data-end="1649">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="1629" data-end="1649">Ones to Watch</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li data-start="1653" data-end="1771"><strong data-start="1653" data-end="1686">Sharon White &amp; Jaguars Duende</strong>: Still new at the level, but flashy and full of potential. The team here is excited about this horse and you should be too.</li>
<li data-start="1653" data-end="1771"><strong data-start="1774" data-end="1816">Kim Severson &amp; Cooley Corraghy Diamond</strong>: Young, green, but growing - this combination is one to keep an eye on.</li>
<li data-start="1653" data-end="1771"><strong data-start="1901" data-end="1917">Laine Ashker</strong> &amp; <strong data-start="1931" data-end="1945">Lovedance:</strong> While it's a 4* debut for the horse, this pair looks to put on an impressive performance.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 data-start="1516" data-end="1760">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-start="1516" data-end="1760">The US Equestrian Open Leaderboard</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p class="" data-start="1516" data-end="1760"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4f864eb7-9bb9-4afb-9eb8-23aa7c97a7f1.png?width=493&amp;height=373" alt="Screenshot 2025 05 07 161651"></p>
<p class="" data-start="1516" data-end="1760">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 data-start="3732" data-end="4026">🎙️&nbsp;Listen Now:&nbsp;The Tryon Preview Show</h2>
<p class="" data-start="3732" data-end="4026">Dive deeper into Tryon with Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne on the latest <strong data-start="578" data-end="608">US Equestrian Open Podcast</strong>.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36471130/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/003580/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p class="" data-start="1516" data-end="1760">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<section class="wysiwyg col-span-12 lg:col-span-6 lg:col-start-4">
<h1 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h1>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
</section>

New Podcast: The Tryon Preview Show

<p class="" data-start="120" data-end="499">From new personal bests to leaderboard shakeups, the<strong> Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S</strong> delivered a weekend packed with momentum shifts and standout moments. <strong>Will Coleman</strong> and <strong>Off the Record</strong> led from the very first phase, but there were big moves happening just behind them as<strong> Phillip Dutton, Jessica Phoenix,</strong> and <strong>Allison Springer</strong> made major statements in the US Equestrian Open Series.</p>
<p class="" data-start="501" data-end="674">The full breakdown is now live on the US Equestrian Open Podcast&mdash;but here&rsquo;s your snapshot of everything that went down in Kentucky, and what it means for the road ahead.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36353425/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/1744d4/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3 data-start="686" data-end="1136">Coleman and Off the Record Lead from Start to Finish</h3>
<p class="" data-start="686" data-end="1136"><strong>Will Coleman </strong>and&nbsp;<strong>Off the Record</strong> were the stars of the show. They came out swinging with a 21.8 in the first phase&mdash;Timmy&rsquo;s best ever score at any level&mdash;and never gave up the lead. They added only 7.2 time penalties on cross-country (the fastest of the day) and just added four faults on Sunday in the showjumping, to defend Will's title at the Kentucky 4*-S. From start to finish, it was smooth, stylish, and a perfect example of what this partnership can do when they&rsquo;re on song.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1138" data-end="1217">This win wasn&rsquo;t just another notch on the belt&mdash;it was a record-defining moment:</p>
<p class="" data-start="1138" data-end="1217">🏆 Will's 16th career CCI4*-S win (15 of them on U.S. soil, plus CHIO Aachen)</p>
<p class="" data-start="1138" data-end="1217">🏆<em> </em>Off The Record&rsquo;s 6th CCI4*-S win</p>
<p class="" data-start="1340" data-end="1398">🏆 Will&rsquo;s second win in five runnings of the Kentucky 4*-S</p>
<p class="" data-start="1401" data-end="1474">🏆 Enough to move Will into the global top 10 for CCI4*-S wins since 2008</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="1476" data-end="1937">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1476" data-end="1937">Dutton and Phoenix Secure Key Podium Finishes</h3>
<p class="" data-start="1476" data-end="1937">And while Coleman took the win,<strong> Phillip Dutton</strong> stole the spotlight when it came to the series storyline. He came into Kentucky on top of the US Equestrian Open standings with 175 points&mdash;and both of his rides delivered.&nbsp;<strong>Possante</strong> finished second,<em> </em><strong>Denim </strong>took fourth, and together they helped push his season total to 215 points. That makes Dutton the first rider this year to break the 200-point barrier, and he now sits 30 points clear at the top of the table.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1939" data-end="2306">There was some speculation about whether Phillip&rsquo;s horses had the speed to challenge this field&mdash;and while both picked up time penalties, context matters. <strong>Off the Record</strong> was the fastest with 7.2; Phillip&rsquo;s horses weren&rsquo;t far behind.<strong> Possante </strong>and <strong>Denim</strong> both posted top-six cross-country times, proving that when it counts, they can absolutely turn up the heat.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2308" data-end="2707">Just behind them, <strong>Jessica Phoenix</strong> quietly climbed the podium into third place with<em> </em><strong>Freedom GS,</strong> adding 40 points and bumping her series total to 185. That makes her the closest challenger to Dutton&rsquo;s lead, and with a few more key results, she&rsquo;s well within striking distance. Her Ocala performance, her podium here&mdash;Jess is on a tear this season and proving she&rsquo;s got the firepower for a serious series run.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2308" data-end="2707">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2308" data-end="2707">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2308" data-end="2707">No May Moon Shines in Kentucky</h3>
<p class="" data-start="2709" data-end="3240">But the biggest mover of the weekend?<strong><em> </em>No May Moon. Allison Springer</strong> and her crowd-favorite mare delivered one of the standout performances of the competition. They started in 25th after dressage, then rocketed up to finish fifth. It was one of the fastest cross-country rounds on the day, followed by a clear jumping round. This wasn&rsquo;t a fluke&mdash;this was a star stepping fully into the spotlight. With a string of strong recent performances,<strong> No May Moon</strong> could be the sleeper pick for the finale.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2709" data-end="3240">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="3242" data-end="3639">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="3242" data-end="3639">Leaderboard Update: It&rsquo;s Still All to Play For</h3>
<p class="" data-start="3242" data-end="3639">The <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaderboard</a> looks different now, and it&rsquo;s shaping into a real race. <strong>Phillip</strong> leads on 215,<strong> Jess</strong> follows with 185, and<strong> James Alliston</strong> holds third with 145. Riders like C<strong>aroline Pamukcu, Ema Klugman</strong>, and <strong>Allison Springer </strong>are still in the hunt, especially as we head into the second half of the series. The full top ten is here&mdash;and it&rsquo;s tight enough to expect fireworks over the coming qualifiers:</p>
<p><a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/bd3f74f7-7a71-401e-939c-d2d10ce477ce.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Kentucky  Recap"></a></p>
<p class="" data-start="3732" data-end="4026">So what&rsquo;s next? More qualifiers, more movement, and all eyes on Morven Park, where the $200K showdown will bring the best back together. With<strong> Off the Record</strong> in this kind of form, <strong>Phillip</strong> pushing the pace, and <strong>Jess </strong>quietly stacking points, it&rsquo;s anyone&rsquo;s game.</p>
<p class="" data-start="3732" data-end="4026">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p class="" data-start="3732" data-end="4026">&nbsp;</p>
<h3 data-start="3732" data-end="4026">🎙️<strong> Listen Now: </strong><strong data-start="455" data-end="501">The Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S Review&nbsp;</strong></h3>
<p class="" data-start="3732" data-end="4026">Dive deeper into the wins, surprises, and leaderboard drama on the latest&nbsp;<strong data-start="578" data-end="608">US Equestrian Open Podcast</strong>.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36353425/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/1744d4/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h1 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h1>
<hr>
<h1 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h1>
<h1 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

New Podcast: Cosequin® Lexington CCI4*-S Review Show

<p class="" data-start="467" data-end="820">In this week&rsquo;s episode, Annie Bishop is joined by <strong>Sally Spickard</strong> (Eventing Nation), <strong>Sinead Maynard</strong>, and EquiRatings' <strong>Diarm Byrne</strong> to break down the field for the Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S. From bold predictions to heartfelt dark horse picks, it&rsquo;s your all-access pass to the names, numbers, and narratives that matter most.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36261295/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/0a317e/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p class="" data-start="467" data-end="820">&nbsp;</p>
<hr class="" data-start="822" data-end="825">
<h3 class="" data-start="827" data-end="858">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="827" data-end="858">🔺 The Big Three at the Top</h3>
<p class="" data-start="860" data-end="1209"><strong>Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Blake</strong>, <strong>Will Coleman &amp; Off The Record</strong>, and <strong>Alyssa Phillips &amp; Oskar </strong>currently dominate the top of the Prediction Centre &mdash; combining for nearly 70% of total win chance. But as Diarm reminds us, this doesn't mean everything. Past years have seen late lead changes, surprise poles, and big names fall short. This is not a field for safe bets.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1211" data-end="1423">Blake&rsquo;s star-making turn at Kentucky last year still lingers in Diarm&rsquo;s mind &mdash; not just the numbers, but the visual dominance across country. Can Caroline repeat with more pressure and more eyes this time around?</p>
<p class="" data-start="1211" data-end="1423">&nbsp;</p>
<hr class="" data-start="1425" data-end="1428">
<h3 class="" data-start="1430" data-end="1458">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="1430" data-end="1458">🐴 Dark Horses Lining Up</h3>
<p class="" data-start="1460" data-end="1720">Sure, the prediction models favor the big names &mdash; but the pundits are keeping close tabs on some serious spoilers. Sally flags <strong data-start="1587" data-end="1602">No May Moon</strong> as her one-to-watch: a gritty little mare with proven form and podium potential if she can stay close after dressage.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1722" data-end="1912">Annie&rsquo;s backing <strong data-start="1738" data-end="1751">Cute Girl</strong> to recapture form, while Sinead is excited to see <strong data-start="1802" data-end="1814">Invictus</strong>, <strong data-start="1816" data-end="1831">That&rsquo;s Me Z</strong>, and <strong data-start="1837" data-end="1848">Possante</strong> in action &mdash; all with solid backstories and momentum heading in.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1914" data-end="1997">And Diarm? He&rsquo;s still running spreadsheets, but even his data admits: it&rsquo;s wide open.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1914" data-end="1997">&nbsp;</p>
<hr class="" data-start="1999" data-end="2002">
<h3 class="" data-start="2004" data-end="2046">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="2004" data-end="2046">🌍 West Coast Energy, East Coast Stage</h3>
<p class="" data-start="2048" data-end="2365">There&rsquo;s a buzz around the West Coast riders making the trip: <strong data-start="2109" data-end="2142">Tommy Greengard </strong>and<strong data-start="2109" data-end="2142"> That&rsquo;s Me Z</strong>, <strong data-start="2144" data-end="2172">Taryn Hoffos </strong>and <strong data-start="2144" data-end="2172">Regalla</strong>, and <strong data-start="2178" data-end="2192">Molly Duda</strong> with <strong>Disco Traveler</strong> are among those crossing the country for a shot at this major 4*. With top-level experience overseas, these combos bring freshness &mdash; and fire &mdash; to a field full of veterans.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2367" data-end="2544">It&rsquo;s exactly what the US Equestrian Open is built for: mixing regions, highlighting talent, and giving fans a chance to see combinations they might not normally catch in person.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2367" data-end="2544">&nbsp;</p>
<hr class="" data-start="2546" data-end="2549">
<h3 class="" data-start="2551" data-end="2592">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="2551" data-end="2592">💻 Podium Picks &amp; Prediction Showdown</h3>
<p class="" data-start="2594" data-end="2931">As always, Annie and Diarm close out the episode with their podium predictions &mdash; and the scoring battle between them is heating up. Diarm&rsquo;s going for a head-heart hybrid: Blake to win, Off The Record second, and No May Moon sneaking into third. Annie&rsquo;s betting on Will and Timmy to get it done, with Cute Girl and Possante crashing the party.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2933" data-end="2994">Bonus drama? Caroline doesn&rsquo;t even make Annie&rsquo;s podium. Bold.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2933" data-end="2994">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="" data-start="3001" data-end="3018">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="" data-start="3001" data-end="3018">🎧 Listen Now</h3>
<p class="" data-start="3020" data-end="3157">It&rsquo;s all to play for in Kentucky. The Prediction Centre says one thing. The gut says another. And the horses? They&rsquo;ll have the final say.</p>
<p class="" data-start="3159" data-end="3225">This is where the leaderboard gets serious. This is why we follow.</p>
<p class="" data-start="3159" data-end="3225">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="" data-start="3988" data-end="4009">📣 Stay Connected</h3>
<p class="" data-start="4011" data-end="4252">Explore the latest&nbsp;<strong data-start="4030" data-end="4089"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/magazines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fan Guide</a></strong>, check the&nbsp;<strong data-start="4101" data-end="4168"><a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/?hsCtaTracking=907b4987-399b-4b9c-987d-14baa17bbf42%7Cc8942863-dac1-4a71-95b2-ee4f0be07dc6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prediction Center</a></strong>, and follow the series on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen/">Instagram</a>.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4254" data-end="4294"><strong data-stringify-type="bold">Don&rsquo;t miss a second of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event &mdash; streaming live on the USEF Network. All USEF members, including free Fan account holders, can watch the action without any added costs.</strong>&nbsp;Join now at <a href="https://www.usef.org/events/kentucky-three-day/?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=slider&amp;utm_campaign=k3de" target="_blank" rel="noopener">usef.org</a>.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36261295/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/0a317e/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

Podcast