Small But Mighty: Qualifier 20 Carries Weight Beyond Its Size

This weekend's US Equestrian Open of Dressage Qualifier 20 may feature just three combinations in the Grand Prix Freestyle, but its impact runs far deeper than the scoreboard. Held at the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage Competition in Sherwood, Oregon, the show stands as a testament to how grassroots passion and community investment can shape the future of dressage in the US.

Noah Rattner and his twin brother are carrying on the legacy of their late mother, Ginny, who built Devonwood in 1998 with a vision for a safe, welcoming, high-quality dressage venue in the Pacific Northwest. That vision has grown into a FEI 3* competition that plays a key role in the Series' West Coast calendar. 

"We might be small, but we’re mighty," Rattner said.

"The athletes competing here are all in the top 18, and the points they earn this weekend will reshape the leaderboard. That matters."

Devonwood embodies one of the US Equestrian Open's founding principles: that the sport's growth depends on accessibility and opportunity across all regions, not just within the elite circuits in Florida or California. "This isn’t just someone throwing prize money at the sport," Rattner explained.

"It’s a long-term investment in growing dressage in North America."

He’s not wrong. The Ginny Rattner Memorial has become a vital stop for riders looking to earn series points without making the costly trek to the East Coast. But even before the Open series, Devonwood served a critical purpose: giving West Coast and Canadian riders access to high-quality international competition without the logistical and financial strain of traveling to Florida or California. It continues to attract athletes from as far as Calgary, maintaining a cross-border tradition that stretches back decades.

The Unbeaten West Coast Queen

The unquestioned favorite this weekend is Genay Vaughn and her 14-year-old gelding, Gino. Since debuting their freestyle at TerraNova last May, they have won four of their last five freestyle starts. The only exception was their debut appearance at the World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland, where they finished 14th in a world-class field.

With three Series wins already under her belt, Vaughn is the only rider in the series with a perfect record. She currently sits tied for 10th on the leaderboard, but a win this weekend would launch her into a comfortable 5th place.

She began the year with an average of 70.990% and a personal best of 72.615%, numbers she’s steadily raised through each 2025 appearance. Her current freestyle average stands at 73.22%, with a personal best of 75.150%, putting her in contention with top East Coast combinations.

Her results are a reminder that the West Coast isn’t a side act—it’s a serious threat.

Riders Earning Their Place

While Vaughn eyes the upper tier of the leaderboard, both Brittney Simpson (CAN) and Nadine Schwartsman (USA) are fighting to stay above the qualification line. The two riders are currently part of a three-way tie for 18th place, which is the final qualifying position for the Series Final in November.

This weekend, simply earning a podium finish could separate them from the cutoff line and secure a safer path to Thermal. It's a quiet but gritty kind of determination: early mornings, long drives, and the kind of commitment that doesn’t make headlines. They're chasing points, building day by day, and proving that you can mount a Finals campaign from anywhere.

Access is the Point

Small shows like Devonwood don’t always get the spotlight, but they’re essential to the sport’s health. Take them away, and the path to the top narrows. Suddenly, Florida isn’t just one option. It’s the only option. And success depends less on talent and more on geography.

The US Equestrian Open pushes back against that kind of centralization. By valuing points equally no matter where they're earned, it invites a broader and more diverse dressage community to take part. That inclusivity comes with tradeoffs. Riders like Eline Eckroth, who rank high on the leaderboard despite lower averages, are making smart use of smaller venues. Others—like Genay Vaughn—face small fields too, but their scores show they can contend with the East Coast’s best.

It raises a question without a clean answer: should leaderboard rank reflect consistency, competitive depth, or degree of difficulty?

If the Series weighted points based on field size, it would risk becoming a Florida-dominant leaderboard that rewards density but sidelines regions like the West Coast. Equal-point allocation may not always reflect head-to-head competition strength, but it protects the geographic and financial accessibility the Series was designed to promote.

That’s why the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage Show matters. Not just because it fills a calendar slot, but because it fills a gap. It gives riders like Vaughn, Schwartsman, and Simpson a platform to build upon. 

Because not everyone has the resources to chase full fields across the country. 

But anyone who’s ever hauled twelve hours for six minutes of feedback and a ‘6 for impulsion’ has earned the right to chase something bigger.