The Open Weekly: Smith and Holzer take the Series leads

Eventing: Tamie Smith makes it two in a row to take the Series lead

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

Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 won the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at Kentucky to secure back-to-back wins for Smith following her Ocala victory a week earlier. After dressage she sat third on 29.7. It was cross-country that changed the picture. Lillet 3 added just 1.6 time penalties (the fastest round of the day from 31 starters) to move into the lead heading into show jumping. From there, she held it. Smith and Lillet 3 were the only combination to jump clear within the time. A 31.3 final score and 50 points banked.

Two wins in two weekends saw a huge points boost. She now leads the 2026 Series on 205 points, 20 clear of Caroline Pamukcu on 185. For the full picture on why everything points firmly in her direction for the rest of the season, read our feature here: Tamie's on top and has a West Coast advantage

The Podium

Second place went to Will Coleman and Very Dignified — a mare produced in Ireland with Robbie Kearns and is now who showing real promise for the Coleman Team. Will and 'Dora' are still building their partnership, but she is a horse to keep a close eye on as that relationship develops. Third went to Mia Farley and Invictus, who delivered a strong show jumping clear to complete the podium on 38.3. 

 

 

 

Dressage: Williams wins and Holzer leads after WEC Ocala

Next Qualifier: TerraNova (April 30) | The Final: Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November 13)

Jennifer Williams & Joppe K won the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle at WEC Ocala with a 75.460%. Ashley Holzer & Hawtins San Floriana finished second at 74.880%, enough to take the lead in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. Frederic Wandres, not competing, watched the Series lead pass to Holzer: 51 points to his 49.

Holzer not only needed a top-two finish to take the Series lead, but also needed Claire Darnell to finish outside the top 3. She got it. Hawtins still hasn't won a Grand Prix Freestyle, but second place accomplished what mattered this week. Williams, meanwhile, posted another score squarely in her recent range. Her 41 points move her into sixth on the leaderboard.

Darnell and Harrold S finished sixth at 68.425%, well below the form she's shown this season. It didn't affect her Series total — she'd already completed four qualifiers, so the score didn't count — but it didn't help, either. She sits third at 47, two points behind Wandres and four behind Holzer, with her window to change that narrowing. Jordan LaPlaca & Gold Play posted a 72.250% in their Grand Prix Freestyle debut together.

Jumping: Farrington does it again and introduces a new star

Kent Farrington won the $340,000 Kentucky International CSI5* Grand Prix on Saturday night but the headline wasn't just the result. It was the horse.

Descartes SR is nine years old and this was his first five-star Grand Prix. Farrington set the pace going first in the jump-off, stopping the clock at 39.92 seconds. From there, no one could catch him. McLain Ward  & High Star Hero pushed hardest at 40.42, with Shane Sweetnam & James Kann Cruz completing the podium in third at 40.71.

The context around all three results adds texture. Ward was making his return from injury - his first competition in seven weeks after a fall in Week 10 at Wellington, by his own admission "mildly against doctor's orders." Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz, secure another podium to continue to prove themselves as the most consistent five-star combinations in the world.

But the story of the night was Farrington's newly minted five-star Grand Prix horse. Descartes SR was sourced from Mexico on the recommendation of Francisco Pasquel. Nine years old, first five-star, and he won it. 

"He has an incredible stride. He covers ground like a racehorse and still has the power to give a lofty jump at the final fence, which is a rare combination of attributes in a horse. I had a lot of trust in him to the last fence.”

There will be more to come from this one.

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