<p dir="ltr">The 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage continues this weekend at Desert Dressage III, with the Grand Prix Freestyle set for Saturday, December 20, at 5:00 p.m. PT. As the second qualifier of the season, this marks the first opportunity for West Coast combinations to put points on the board.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The field is compact at just five entries, which places a natural ceiling on points. With five starters, the winner can earn a maximum of 15 points, highlighting the disadvantage smaller West Coast fields will have this season.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Many of these horses were last seen at this same venue just a month ago during the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-freestyle-finale-your-usual-suspects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2025 Final</a>, giving the weekend a familiar feel despite the calendar turning over to a new season.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Polishing Phase for Gino</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn</strong> and <strong>Gino </strong>enter the freestyle with the strongest average in the field, carrying a 73.758% across eight FEI Grand Prix Freestyles, alongside a personal best of 75.875%. The pair debuted a new freestyle floorplan at the Final last month, and while the performance lacked the polish they may have hoped for, the foundation is clearly there.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This weekend is one of refinement. With a new season underway and no pressure to chase big points early, Desert Dressage offers a low-stakes setting to continue smoothing out the details and letting the choreography settle.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Momentum Watch: Jorst and Zhapplin</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Charlotte Jorst</strong> and <strong>Zhapplin Langholt</strong> come in off a <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/whos-on-form-for-the-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strong showing</a> at the 2025 Final at this same venue, where they scored 73.305%, nearly two points above their career average. Though they&rsquo;re often associated with the Florida circuit, the pair has remained on the West Coast since Thermal, where they are based in Reno, Nevada when not in Florida. If they bring that same form back to the ring this weekend, they have a real path to the top in this five-horse field.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Familiar Names</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Brittney Simpson</strong> and <strong>Kartsevo Goldfinch</strong> bring a freestyle personal best of 72.010% into the weekend, though their average sits slightly lower at 68.613%. With nine freestyle starts behind them, this pair has enough mileage to make gains if things align.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, <strong>Patty Mayer</strong> and <strong>Pio</strong> are likely to catch some eyes &mdash; especially for those who remember seeing Pio&rsquo;s name last month. That appearance, however, came in a different discipline entirely, as Pio competed in the FEI Para Grand Prix test at Thermal. This weekend marks a return to the conventional Grand Prix freestyle stage for the horse, with this being his second FEI freestyle.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Series Implications</h2>
<p dir="ltr">With just five combinations, the points on offer this weekend are limited, and any real movement will require repeat appearances later in the season. Desert Dressage marks the first opportunity for West Coast riders to get on the board and establish a baseline, while offering an early look at how the new points system shapes Series positioning.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/472b60ac-2918-4b5b-b370-f6699e0cbf6b.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched2026"></p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

Charlotte Jorst rides Zhapplin Langholt in collected trot during Grand Prix competition.

Desert Dressage Hosts the First West Coast Qualifier of 2026

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<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">As 2025 wraps up, four US-based partnerships have emerged as potential contenders for next year's US Equestrian Open series. These seven-year-olds have cut their teeth at three-star level and could be ready to step up to the four-star stage in 2026.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Elo is EquiRatings' overall performance rating that measures a horse's performance across all three phases&mdash;the higher the number, the stronger the horse. Here are the top-rated US seven-year-olds heading into 2026.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/196fcbf6-b2d6-479e-ae45-a631473d37e8.png?width=1472&amp;height=922" alt="Qi Db9 the Highest Rated Us Seven Year Olds Based on the Equiratings Elo Nbsp "></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0a9efbdc-4f3b-42e5-b141-c8a987926093.jpg?width=4768&amp;height=4047" alt="C E5 A1840"></h2>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">Fernhill Bertus &amp; Madison Temkin (526 Elo)</h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Leading the class is <strong>Fernhill Bertus, </strong>who sits at 526 Elo. The seven-year-old gelding has a completely flawless record having never had a jumping fault&mdash;cross country or showjumping&mdash;across his eight international starts.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">At only 25-years-old, Maddy has piloted<strong> Fernhill Bertus </strong>to three top-10 finishes from four runs in 2025, including a strong performance at Maryland's CCI3*-L to finish 7th. Their partnership is built on consistency, with results that suggest they are ready to take the step up to four-star.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e18e8647-523c-4fef-8dfe-f92a98cd9530.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1242" alt="C E5 A1719"></h2>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">Kokoleka &amp; Kate Brown (460 Elo)</h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Kokoleka </strong>has already proven herself in the most demanding format, completing two three-star-long events this year. The mare delivered a double clear at Ocala's CCI3*-L in April for fifth place, then tackled the championship three-star at Maryland 5* in October, where two showjumping rails cost her from a top-five finish. She still placed 12th in a field of 53.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Kate has methodically developed the seven-year-old, building confidence through the levels. With long-format experience already under their belt, this partnership could be primed for the US Open's demanding tracks.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">Jag'Fly JS &amp; Elizabeth Stewart (450 Elo)</h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Jag'Fly JS </strong>took a more patient path than his peers, not attempting three-star until October. But when he did, he made it count - winning the CCI3*-S at Kentucky Horse Park in a field of 12.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The victory was particularly meaningful for Elizabeth, marking her first international win in 32 starts dating back to 2006. In a fitting full-circle moment, she claimed that maiden victory at the same venue where her international career began 19 years earlier.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/688b87c6-c484-4802-bf59-4c7bcc2e2849.jpg?width=5753&amp;height=4568" alt="C E5 A0642"></h2>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">Arden Augustus &amp; Sharon White (432 Elo)</h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Arden Augustus</strong> posted the highest-rated three-star performance by any seven-year-old on US soil in 2025, earning a HPR of 87 when finishing third at The Fork at Tryon's CCI3*-S in May. The gelding had already won three international events as a six-year-old, establishing himself as one to watch.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Sharon's 2025 campaign with Augustus has been slightly less consistent than his breakthrough six-year-old year but the horse's ceiling remains clear. On his best days, he's capable of winning.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold">Looking Ahead</h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">These four partnerships all represent different paths to the top but if they continue their upward trajectories, don't be surprised to see these horses contesting US Equestrian Open events in 2026.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

Future Stars: America's Rising 7-Year-Olds Eyeing the US Equestrian Open

<p dir="ltr">As expected, <strong>Christian Simonson </strong>and<strong> Indian Rock</strong> opened the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage with a win, topping the class on a 78.840%. It marks their second World Cup qualifier victory in the past three months and moves Simonson into third in the FEI World Cup standings&mdash;behind Benjamin Ebeling and Kevin Kohmann&mdash;as the race intensifies for one of North America&rsquo;s three qualifying spots for the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, four months from now.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Wide Spread on a Clean Test</h2>
<p dir="ltr">While this weekend&rsquo;s score sits a few percentage points below the pair&rsquo;s debut earlier this fall, it remains a strong result. Still, a closer look at the score sheets reveals a striking judging spread.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Simonson and Indian Rock delivered what was, by any measure, a fault-free test. Yet the difference between the high and low marks totaled more than ten percentage points. Gabriela Valeri&aacute;nov&aacute; (H) awarded an 83.525%, while Brenda Minor (B) scored the ride at 73.225%.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Interestingly, the variation did not come from the individual movements themselves. Across the panel, most marks stayed within a reasonable range, rarely differing by more than a point and often not involving Minor at all.The divergence emerged almost entirely in the artistic scores, each carrying a 4x coefficient. While the rest of the judges rewarded the performance with consistent 8s and 9s, Minor stayed firmly in the 7 range, only reaching an 8.9 for degree of difficulty. The result was an unusually low overall score from a single judge, despite broad agreement elsewhere.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That lack of alignment extended down the leaderboard. While the final placings appeared relatively consistent, the scorecards revealed a different pattern. Overall totals from judge to judge were notably closer than in Simonson&rsquo;s case, but the individual movement marks showed significantly more variation. A canter pirouette might earn a 7 from one judge and a 4 from another. Two judges could award 7s for piaffe while a third landed at a 5. Notably, the lowest mark rarely came from the same judge, making it clear that the variation was not driven by a single consistently harsh scorer.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Quiet Start for the Defending Champion</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Defending Series champion <strong>Benjamin Ebeling</strong> and <strong>Bellena </strong>finished fifth on a 71.790%&mdash;a result below their recent average, but not one that raises alarms. The pair have been remarkably consistent over the past season, and this performance reads more like a let-up on the gas than a red flag as they ease into the new year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Instead of their usual run of 7.5s and 8s, the score sheet leaned heavily on 6.5s and 7s, and errors in the one-tempis proved costly. Those details made the difference this time, but unless they start to repeat, they are unlikely to be cause for concern. Ebeling remains a proven contender and is well positioned to make a World Cup run in Wellington early next season.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Westward Bound</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The Series heads west next weekend for the first West Coast qualifier of the 2026 season, which also doubles as a World Cup qualifier. Expect a smaller field but no shortage of quality.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It will also offer the first real look at the new points system in action. With historically leaner West Coast entries, next week&rsquo;s winner is unlikely to earn the same haul of points as Simonson did in Ocala, reflecting a system that now rewards how many riders you beat rather than simply where you place.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c3546a81-b82e-4bd7-940c-bd104895ed19.png?width=1253&amp;height=794" alt="Screenshot showing the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings after Ocala, with Christian Simonson leading the leaderboard."></p>

Close-up portrait of a dressage horse in bridle and crystal browband.

Simonson and Indian Rock Start 2026 on Top

<p dir="ltr">The first freestyle of the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage kicks off tomorrow in Ocala, and it&rsquo;s nothing short of a proper season opener. A deep field, the reigning Finals champion, and the highest-scoring pair of 2025 all converge, giving us an early look at the storylines that may shape the months ahead.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Indian Rock&rsquo;s New Era</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Few combinations in the world enter 2026 with more intrigue than <strong>Christian Simonson</strong> and <strong>Indian Rock</strong>. Simonson took over the ride on the Dutch stallion last May, taking the reins of a horse with Olympic mileage, an <strong>82.095%</strong> personal best under <strong>Emmelie Scholtens</strong>, and an <strong>81.750%</strong> finish at the Paris Games. It&rsquo;s a major inheritance for any rider, let alone one who is only 23.</p>
<p dir="ltr">But from the moment Simonson swung a leg over, the results spoke for themselves. Their first Grand Prix together was a <strong>70.543%</strong>, followed by a <strong>74.277%</strong> Grand Prix Special, the sport&rsquo;s most demanding and unforgiving test. Then in October, they debuted their freestyle: <strong>81.405%</strong>, the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/simonson-shakes-the-series-at-terranova" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highest score recorded</a> in the entire 2025 Open season.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Transitions like this don&rsquo;t often come together so quickly. Many riders never access a horse&rsquo;s previous peak, yet Simonson already has. Tomorrow&rsquo;s freestyle offers the next glimpse of where this young partnership is headed&mdash;and a chance for spectators to simply enjoy two genuinely exciting performers do their thing.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Champion Returns</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The last time <strong>Ben Ebeling</strong> and <strong>Bellena </strong>rode under a spotlight, they walked out of the arena as the inaugural <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-and-bellena-save-their-best-for-last">US Equestrian Open Final champions</a> with a personal best of <strong>79.930%</strong>. It was the culmination of a year in which they built their entire Grand Prix career inside the Series: from their freestyle debut in April to that electric November finish, they grew sharper, braver, and more expressive with every start.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Bellena originally competed under Ebeling&rsquo;s father, Jan, before Ben took the reins in early 2025. Their very first freestyle together was a 75.740%, and the rise since then has been unmistakable. They broke their personal best <em>four times in six months</em>, won three qualifiers, and ended the year as Final champions&mdash; all before the partnership reached its first anniversary.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After the season they had, they don&rsquo;t need another career-defining ride tomorrow. This weekend just gives us a sense of how they&rsquo;re carrying that momentum into 2026.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Watch List</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Behind the two headliners sits a group of combinations worth watching for very different reasons.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu</strong> and <strong>Jaccardo </strong>arrive with limited freestyle mileage but meaningful promise. Their two FEI freestyles averaged <strong>76.823%</strong>, with a <strong>77.520%</strong> personal best, and they were poised for a strong showing at Devon before an elimination took them out of contention. With so few data points, Ocala might give us the first real sense of where this pair fits in the broader 2026 picture.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For <strong>Erin Nichols</strong> and <strong>Elian Royale</strong>, the numbers are fuller: a <strong>72.266%</strong> average and a <strong>75.975%</strong> PB, plus a consistent trend upward throughout last season. Elian Royale is a horse who tends to shine in freestyles, and Nichols has shown she can coax quality out of high-energy environments. If they open the season in the mid-70s, that would signal a continuation rather than a reset.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And then there&rsquo;s <strong>Jennifer Williams</strong> with <strong>Babylon Berlin</strong>, a horse she seriously considered taking to the Final last year. With just one FEI freestyle on the record &mdash; a <strong>74.005%</strong> &mdash; Babylon Berlin is still developing, but Williams clearly believes in his future. He reads like championship material once the strength and polish come together, and this weekend might tell us whether that maturity is arriving early in 2026 or building more gradually. Either way, it&rsquo;s always compelling to watch an experienced rider guide a young Grand Prix horse into his next stage.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Opening Bars of 2026</h2>
<p dir="ltr">It&rsquo;s only Qualifier One, and no one is crowning a champion this early. The fun of early-season qualifiers is getting these combinations back in the ring, checking in on familiar faces, and seeing the first hints of what 2026 might hold. Between a world-class young rider on a world-class horse, a Finals champion on a sharp rise, and the middle of the pack with genuine potential, Ocala offers a strong opening frame for the season.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Good horses, good riders, and good music. Hard to argue with that.&nbsp;</p>

Christian Simonson smiles while riding Indian Rock in competition at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.

Unwrapping the 2026 Season

<p>Last week, we looked at the big picture of the inaugural US Equestrian Open series - <strong>349 runs, 179 horses, 115 athletes, and 8 nations.</strong> This week, we're going deeper into how some of the best performances unfolded across the three phases.</p>
<p>Because while knowing who won matters, understanding how they won tells the real story.<br><br></p>
<hr>
<h2><br>The Dressage Leaders</h2>
<p>Of those 349 runs, the dressage phase set the tone for what was possible. <strong>Will Coleman</strong> and <strong>Off The Record</strong> delivered the series' best mark&mdash;21.8 at Kentucky&mdash;proving that an elite first phase is often the foundation for victory. They went on to win that qualifier and ultimately, finish second in the final at Morven Park.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/41905f3e-23f6-46f6-bc3d-e0ed5287ae3f.png?width=1312&amp;height=1202" alt="Jlej W Top Ten Dressage Scores of the 2025 Series Qualifiers  (1)"></p>
<p><strong>Tamie Smith</strong> and <strong>Mai Baum </strong>weren't far behind at 22.0 at Rebecca Farm, also converting that performance into a win. <strong>Phillip Dutton</strong> appeared three times in the top 10 dressage scores with two different horses -Possante and Denim.</p>
<p>The standout? Only six combinations scored sub-25 and 40 combinations scored sub-30 across all 349 runs of the series.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Jumping Phases</h2>
<p>Of 349 runs, only 83 show jumping rounds finished clear and inside time - less than 24% of the runs. The optimum time proved harder to achieve than many anticipated, even at this level.</p>
<p>Cross-country was even more selective. Just 9 combinations went clear inside the time - that's 2.6% of all starters. <strong>James Alliston</strong> is the only rider who did it twice (and with two different rides - <strong>HMR Rolan</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Karma</strong>). When you're two of nine in a group of 349, you've done something exceptional.</p>
<p>And then there were the FODs (Finish on Dressage.) Only four combinations managed it.&nbsp;Four FODs from 349 runs. That's 1.1%.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0b6afe0a-ba95-4eba-9149-aeae4a1c25dd.png?width=1748&amp;height=614" alt="W A0 Jf the Four Fod S From the 2025 Series Qualifiers Nbsp "></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>The Finishing Scores</h2>
<p>The best finish of the series? Two combinations tied for first at 26.9 - <strong>Phillip Dutton</strong> and <strong>Possante</strong> at Plantation Field and <strong>Tommy Greengard</strong> and<strong> Joshuay MBF</strong> at Aspen Farms.&nbsp;<strong>Tamie Smith </strong>and <strong>Mai Baum's</strong> 27.6 at Rebecca Farm rounds out the top three finishing scores.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aa517b9c-71a6-4b7c-bc4a-4ba123c7cb10.png?width=1312&amp;height=1202" alt="H3 Ya Q Top Ten Finishing Scores of the 2025 Series Qualifiers "></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The Highest Rated Performances</h2>
<p>EquiRatings' HPR system measures performance relative to variables such as field strength,&nbsp;difficulty, scoring etc. <strong>Phillip Dutton</strong> and <strong>Possante</strong> topped the list with an HPR of 99 at Plantation Field - the only performance to break into the upper 90s all season.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/174f4230-1f00-44c9-9419-6e5d25be819e.png?width=1368&amp;height=1202" alt="W4asl Top Ten Highest Rated Performances of the 2025 Series Qualifiers "></p>
<p><strong>Boyd Martin </strong>(<strong>Commando 3,</strong> 94 HPR at Plantation Field) and <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> (<strong>HSH Blake</strong>, 94 HPR at Plantation Field) had the second and third best performances (separated by decimals!)</p>
<p>The variety in riders and venues reinforces what we saw throughout the year: excellence wasn't limited to one location or athlete. This was a true season-long series.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>What It All Means</h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal ">The US Equestrian Open isn't just about creating a new series, the prize money, or the trophy&mdash;it's about establishing a national standard. Being able to quantify and compare results across the season and across the country creates a benchmark that drives improvement. Better data means better preparation, sharper competition, and ultimately, a stronger Team USA.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal ">This series is showcasing elite sport at its most demanding and 2025 set the bar for everything that comes next. 2026 and beyond!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar"></p>
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<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

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