Qualifier 1: From 60 to 30
Everything you'll need for the today's qualifier - startlist, form and formats.
Finally the day is here. The first of two qualifiers which lead us into the US Equestrian Open of Jumping Final.
How today’s qualifier works
Sixty horses and riders come forward in the CSI5* $116,100 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup, the first official qualifier for the US Equestrian Open Jumping Final.
The competition runs over two rounds: every combination jumps Round 1, then the top 12 on faults and time come back for Round 2 to decide today’s prize money and ranking.
How to qualify for Saturday
Thirty of today’s 60 starters will book their ticket to the Final: the 12 who jump again in Round 2, plus the next 18 best-placed combinations from Round 1 who do not return.
Tomorrow night offers a second chance: another qualifier will add 10 more spots to complete the 40‑strong Final line‑up alongside any pre‑qualified riders.
That means some horses we see today are here purely to secure qualification; riders may swap to a different top horse for the Grand Prix itself once they are safely through.
Stars to watch
There is still plenty of star power on show: Laura Kraut brings the ultra‑consistent Bisquetta, Nina Mallevaey lines up with in‑form Dynastie de Beaufor, and Karl Cook partners the electric Caracole de la Roque.
These combinations arrive with strong recent CSI5* form and high Elo ratings in 1.55m classes, marking them out as serious threats for both today’s win and Saturday night’s spotlight.
Follow along
For the full picture on every horse and rider, check out the detailed Fan Guide for today’s qualifier on the US Equestrian Open site:
You can also dive into the complete start list and running order here.
