Who's On Form for the Final?
Nearly every rider outscored their season average in Friday's Grand Prix, setting the stage for a nail-biting freestyle showdown.
The first night of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final delivered exactly what it was supposed to. Clarity.
Anna Marek and Fayvel captured the Grand Prix win on a 70.804%, edging out Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena (70.522%) and Felicitas Hendricks and Drombusch OLD (70.500%) in a top three separated by just 0.304%.
Behind them, the rest of the field surged, too. Laura de Cesari led the field in improvement, scoring a personal best of 67.304%—a full 3.1 points above her average. Kristina Harrison-Antell followed suit with a 2.3-point gain, and Charlotte Jorst, Brittney Simpson, and Geñay Vaughn all clocked in at least 1.4 points above their norm. The result? A leaderboard where 12 of 15 combinations beat their own FEI average.
Close Enough to Make You Nervous
None of the four heavy hitters rode a flawless test, but that’s what makes live sport so exciting. It’s the drama and the unexpected that makes it so fun to watch… and so hard to predict.
Although Fayvel broke into canter in the very first extended trot, Marek still beamed after her test. “I did have a very excited Fayvel when I first started the test,” she said. “But I love that. He knows that test so well. I said, ‘okay, let’s put a lid on it,’ and he did.” Fayvel settled as the ride went on. Marek rode smartly but not cautiously, opting to push for expression in later extensions rather than back down. That balance of containment and boldness earned her the top score of the night. With the energy dialed in and Fayvel familiar with the arena, Marek will be free to ride boldly tomorrow.
Right on her heels, Ebeling and Bellena delivered one of the most technically sound tests of the evening. They led through most of the ride until a bobble in the one-tempis and a miscue in the final piaffe-passage line opened the door for a reshuffle. Still, they came second by just 0.282%. At this point in the season, there’s no question of whether Ebeling can win. Based on how attentive the mare looked in the ring and how well they recovered from minor mistakes, they’ve got everything they need to take the title.
Geñay Vaughn and Gino were nearly the surprise winners of the Grand Prix, but a few communication errors in coefficient movements kept them from catching Marek. Nevertheless, the test showed a combination that’s in sync and hungry for more. The ride was confident, the horse looked sharp, and Vaughn now has a clear read on what’s underneath her. If they’ve managed to raise their degree of difficulty since the spring, this is a pair with podium potential and then some.
Felicitas Hendricks took a different approach: steady, thoughtful, and just a touch reserved. Drombusch OLD didn’t quite have his usual fire, but Hendricks didn’t ask for it either. “He might have been a little tired tonight,” she said after the ride, “but that’s good because it means he’ll have more spirit tomorrow.” With one of the most technically difficult freestyles in the field and a proven record over 79%, Hendricks remains very much in the hunt.
Ready or Not, Here Comes the Final
Statistically, the average freestyle score trends 3–5 percentage points higher than the Grand Prix, meaning tomorrow’s results will likely crest well into the mid-70s, if not higher. That leaves the door wide open for comebacks, breakthroughs, and title-defining performances.
No one’s walking away with this one. And that’s exactly how the first Final should end.
Don’t miss a moment of the US Equestrian Open Final. Watch live on USEF Network, dive deeper with the complete Fan Guide, and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for updates, results, and behind-the-scenes coverage.
