Reliability or Flash: Which Will Marek Choose?
Depth may be her biggest asset, but it’s also her hardest decision.
By nearly every metric, Anna Marek wins the inaugural $200,000 US Equestrian Open of Dressage Finals.
And fortunately for her, Marek has options when it comes to vying for the title. She’s the only rider in the Series with two serious Finals horses. That gives her a rare question: Who should she bring?
Scores and stats matter, sure, but this decision goes beyond math — live sport doesn’t always respect the numbers (which is why we love it, right?).
So the question is:
Which horse gives Marek the best shot at top prize?
Fayvel – A Premium Ride with Predictable Returns
If Fayvel were a vehicle, he’d be a Lexus RX. Utterly dependable. Subtly sophisticated. Always smooth. Always simple to handle. The ride may not blow your hair back, but it’ll get you there in comfort and style, every time.
Fayvel has a strong record both in the series and out. When he trots into the arena, you know what you’re going to get: 75-77 percent, clean, technical execution, and a fighting shot at a podium. He’s even logged international mileage with a World Cup Finals appearance in 2024. He is probably the safest choice — but not the most dangerous. When you stack up the numbers, his personal best trails Fire Fly’s, but his career average edges him out.
Fire Fly – A Turbo Engine with Temperamental Timing
If Fayvel is Anna’s reliable premium ride, then Fire Fly is her Maserati GranTurismo — built for power, stunning to watch, but demanding to handle. When he’s dialed in, he’ll blow past anything. But if you miss a gear, he’ll stutter along at a pedestrian pace.
Fire Fly holds the highest personal best of the two — an 81.305% earned at the 2023 Pan American Games. He also leads Fayvel in Series average, but his lower career mark reflects a volatility that still shadows him.
As Marek explained earlier this year, he didn’t arrive in her barn as a finished Grand Prix horse. Despite his immense talent, he faced mental roadblocks — particularly in the piaffe, which happens to be the one movement where Fayvel scores higher. So Marek has had to adapt, finding a communication style that works specifically for him. As a sensitive horse, the atmosphere of the Final could work against Anna.
He’s not a sure bet, but he does have the best scoring power. When he’s on, he flies. When he’s off, he falters.
Either Way, It’s No Done Deal
Stats don’t always hold. Predictions fall apart. Especially in horse sports. Challenging Marek will be the likes of Kevin Kohmann and Dünensee. Marek has a winning record against Dünensee with both her horses. But Fayvel is the more consistent scorer and he holds the stronger freestyle head-to-head. If the Final turns into a reliability contest, Fayvel may be the one who carries her to a win.
The last time Fayvel and Dünensee shared a Finals stage — at the 2024 World Cup — Marek placed 8th, Kohmann 13th.
Still, the strategy under this scenario is not without risk. Fayvel might not lay down a convincingly field-topping score while, if Fire Fly stays on the rails, he could not only win, but win big. His scoring power and proven ability to deliver under pressure could give him the edge.
So for Marek, it comes down to this: Reliability or flash. Which will it be?
