The Open Weekly: Kohmann wins at TerraNova and Tryon draws a big field

Dressage: Kohmann & Famous win at TerraNova on a borrowed freestyle 

Next Qualifier: Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival (May 14) | The Final: Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November 13)

Kevin Kohmann & Famous won Saturday's Grand Prix Freestyle at TerraNova with 74.635% - a personal best for the horse and a six-point lift over their Grand Prix score the day before. The field had narrowed considerably by then: Monica Burssens and Sahar Daniel Hirosh were both eliminated in the Grand Prix, and Susan Dutta withdrew before the freestyle, leaving Kohmann and Micah Deligdish to contest the class. Deligdish & Carpe Diem De Massa finished second at 69.610%, also a personal best for the horse. 

Needing a freestyle for Famous, Kohmann went looking through old music. Normally, he’d borrow his wife Devon Kane’s music, but that had already been given to Deligdish, who he was competing against. So, he landed on the original Avicii freestyle he rode at the World Cup Final with Duenensee. He rode it once at home, it fit, and he went for it. 

"I love the music and it worked out," he said afterward, noting that Famous handled the loud music and the looming storm without issue. The show adjusted the class time around the weather, and it stayed dry. Kohmann closed with one-handed passage into the final halt - a deliberate degree-of-difficulty play that paid off.

The result moves Kohmann to 9th in the Series with three qualifiers completed. Deligdish climbs to 27th, still well outside the top-18 finals cutoff.

The Series returns in two weeks at the Mid Atlantic Dressage Festival in Lexington, KY.

Eventing: Tryon’s big field makes this a key week in the Series

Next Qualifier: Tryon International (May 6) | The Final: Morven Park 4*-L, Virginia (October 8th)

With over 25 entries, the Tryon qualifier this weekend class reaches the higher points band meaning 50 points to the winner rather than 40. Last year, this event had just 16 starters. This year, it steps into a different category entirely. It is now one of the few qualifiers this season to exceed that mark.

A full preview article is coming later this week, but even an early look at the entries suggests a highly competitive field that will have an impact at the top of the leaderboard.

Off The Record & Will Coleman heads the entries and Win Chance. A combination that need no introduction, having finished second in last year’s Final, only missing the win with a rail on the final day. This will be his first international start of the season, likely part of a light campaign ahead of Aachen, but the quality is established.

Lucienne Bellissimo brings two entries, Dyri and Kitsch Couture HPK. She sits within reach of the top of the leaderboard and will be targeting points here. With two horses in a high-value qualifier, the opportunity is significant.

Last years Series winner Boyd Martin is entered with two rides, as well as the current Series leader Tamie Smith is also well represented. She has three entries in the field, including two rerouted from Kentucky. 

Jumping: Farrington wins again 

Kent Farrington needed sixth place or better in Monterrey to win the Major League series. He finished third. It secures his second Major League Show Jumping individual title and brings the season back in line with the underlying numbers. Farrington has been the most consistent rider across the series — more wins, more podiums — and the final result reflects that.

The Grand Prix itself went to Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Prins van’t Eigenlo, who proved untouchable in the jump-off. Marilyn Little finished second, just 0.13 seconds behind, while Farrington rounded out the podium in third-place. 

From a US perspective, three riders finished inside the top 10. Little (2nd), Farrington (3rd), and Natalie Dean (10th) — all of whom competed at WEF this winter — underline the strength of that Wellington group translating form onto a five-star final stage.

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