Our Series Top Three are Among the World's Best in Europe this Weekend

During this brief break in the US Equestrian Open calendar, all three of our Series leaders are competing on the world stage at CHIO Aachen (Germany) this week. Aachen, like all of the US Equestrian Open qualifiers, is a CCI4*-S and its one of the toughest CCI4*-S events in the world. How might our Series leaders fare abroad?

Series Standings as of July 4th, 2025 (After Qualifier 14):

See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier, here.

Phillip Dutton with Possante and Denim

Current Series leader (in the $25K position) | 215 points

Possante and Phillip’s last international run was a second-place finish in the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S (Qualifier 11) where they earned 45 Series points. It was the pair’s third top-three placing at the level of their five CCI4*-S appearances together. CHIO Aachen is known for a cross country-course that surprises even the world’s best but if anyone knows how to handle whatever a cross-country course throws at you, it’s one Phillip Dutton.

Plus, together, this pair have never had a CCI4*-S cross-country jumping fault so there is a big opportunity for them to move up the Aachen leaderboard come Saturday. 

Possante’s younger stablemate at just 10 years-old, Denim finished fourth in this year’s Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S which was also his latest international outing. He is ranked as a reliable cross-country jumper and is the most-reliable show jumper in the field.

Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS

Currently second place in the Series (in the $15K position) | 185 Points

Jessica Phoenix & Freedom GS at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Paris Olympians Jess and Freedom GS are both making their CHIO Aachen debut. Freedom has earned Jess 80 of her 185 total Series points so far, doing so with a win at TerraNova this spring (Qualifier 6) and a third in the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S (Qualifier 11).

Jess is seriously targeting her string for the Series Final this October (Morven Park CCI4*-L) and this additional appearance on the European stage (after Paris) will only add even more valuable experience under Freedom’s belt, a horse who is a top contender for the Series-ending $200,000 prize pot. 

Caroline Pamukcu & HSH Blake

Currently third place in the Series (in the $10K position) | 155 Points

Caroline Pamukcu & HSH Blake at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

With She’s The One, Caroline won the latest Series qualifier at Maryland International (Qualifier 14) last weekend. Thanks also to a fifth place finish with HSH Tolan King, Caroline added 60 total Series points at that event, moving from fifth to third in the standings (and into the money positions).

Now, with her Paris Olympic mount and Pan American Champion, Caroline will want to get her groove back with her special HSH Blake: At Paris, they incurred 20 cross country points; they returned to international competition with a CCI3*-S in Carolina this spring - no issues there; but then they contested the Cosequin® Lexington 4*-S (Qualifier 11) in April and got a 15-point flag penalty. A clean cross country round here will be particularly important for this pair.

HSH Blake is rated as one of the fastest horses in the CHIO Aachen field and it's typically tight for time at the venue. Blake's speed will be of great advantage on the Aachen leaderboard if paired with a clear round, which their both well-able to produce. 

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