Aspen Farms Preview: Big Moves in a Small Field
Aspen Farms is back - with qualification for the final on the line and a cross country course that takes no prisoners, it’s all to play for. Read the preview, see the data, and hear who is tipped to win.
The US Equestrian Open of Eventing heads to Aspen Farms this weekend for the thirteenth CCI4*-S qualifier before the $200K Final in October. Here’s what to watch for across all three phases and which combinations have the numbers (and the speed) to contend.
The Start List
A small field, doesn't mean it won't be competitive...
- Karen O’Neal & Clooney 14 (USA) - Karen arrives at Aspen with the 11-year-old Clooney 14, fresh off a fourth-place finish at the CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers. After narrowly missing the podium there, she’ll be determined to move up a place (or two) this weekend.
- Tommy Greengard & Joshuay MBF (USA) - This is Tommy’s first four-star run with Joshuay MBF since 2023. They missed the 2024 season but returned strong at the CCI3* level earlier this year. With two 4*-S starts under his belt this season on That’s Me Z, Tommy comes in sharp and competition-ready.
- Cristina Rennie & Flight Of The Arabesque (CAN) - This will only be the second CCI4* for both horse and rider but their debut last year couldn’t have gone better: a double clear and a second-place finish. Cristina started strong and will be aiming high again at Aspen.
- Renee Kalkman & Flame Eternal (CAN) - Coming off a podium finish at the CCI3*-L at Twin Rivers, this experienced pair arrives with momentum. The 14-year-old proved his pace with no time penalties there and on Aspen's cross country course, that could be the edge they need.
Dressage: Can They Start Strong?
Only 2 of the last 10 dressage leaders at US CCI4*-S events have gone on to win. A good start matters but you’ll need to stay strong through jumping too.
Joshua MBF enters with the lowest 6RA (29.6) in the field meaning he’s the most proven dressage performer on recent form. But don’t count out Clooney 14 or Flight of the Arabesque, who both sit comfortably in the low-to-mid 30s range.
Show Jumping: The Decider?
With only 30% of rounds clear at U.S. CCI4*-S events, this is where many dreams unravel. Aspen’s 2024 edition saw just one clear round in this phase.
Who jumps clean? Clooney 14 and Joshua MBF are the most reliable jumpers on paper, both averaging just 1.3 penalties across their last 6 FEI runs.
Cross Country: Need for Speed
Clear and fast is rare at this level in Aspen. Jonathan Elliot described the course on this week’s US Equestrian Open Podcast as educational, but still a challenge.
"It's there to prep them and get them ready for something else, but it's no cream puff either. That's kind of always been our philosophy across the levels. It's important for people to see a standard and get that sense of accomplishment from doing it."
Across the last 10 CCI4*-S competitions on US soil, only 2% of cross-country rounds finished clear and inside the time. In 2024, no one made the time at Aspen. Can anyone do it in 2025?
Although Flame Eternal and Flight of the Arabesque are the fastest in the field by Top Speed Percentage (79% and 77%, respectively). Clooney 14 could be one to watch - in this class last year, she posted the fastest round of the day, only adding 1.2 time penalties.
So who wins?
The EquiRatings Prediction Centre gives Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 the edge with a 57% win chance, but in a field this small, it’s still anyone’s game. A small mistake in any discipline is all it takes to turn the leaderboard upside down.
Want to read more about Aspen Farms?
Read the full form guide here to see all the stats, stories, and insights before the competition starts.
Want to hear more about Aspen Farms?
For more on Aspen Farms, listen to Jonathan Elliot on this week’s US Equestrian Open Podcast as he shares the inside story behind how the venue got its name, the deep family roots behind the event, and about the tradition of champagne and oysters.
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