With the Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) behind us, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage shifts into a new phase. Riders now face geographically dispersed events, a significant mid-year break, and tough decisions around international competition.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c5764cda-d700-4051-93da-8bca9f1c478d.jpg?width=3157&amp;height=2128" alt="Sketch of riders at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival">
From the sketchbook of artist Cheri Isgreen.&nbsp;
<h3>The Geography Game: Moving Beyond the Palm Beach Bubble</h3>
The power of Wellington is hard to overstate. Of the 29 riders who have completed at least two qualifiers&mdash;the minimum needed to be eligible for the Finals&mdash;21 of them have competed in at least one AGDF qualifier. If the series ended today, a large percentage of qualified riders would trace their points directly back to Wellington. That density of opportunity gave early-season competitors a meaningful head start.
Now, with just five of the remaining eleven qualifiers taking place in Florida, the series shifts into a more decentralized phase.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">
Current series leader Anna Marek is perfectly poised to capitalize on this. Sitting at 88 points after five qualifiers, Ocala-based Marek is shifting her full focus to the series after missing a World Cup Finals berth. With one more high-performing qualifier, she could become the first rider to surpass 100 points, likely securing her spot as series leader heading into the Finals.
In contrast, Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger (85 points) may see her second-place standing slip as she heads back to Europe. Her points total is now fixed, leaving her vulnerable to riders who remain active domestically.
<h3>The International Gamble: Risks vs. Rewards</h3>
Several prominent contenders&mdash;including Adrienne Lyle (5th in the standings), Kevin Kohmann (8th), and Ge&ntilde;ay&nbsp;Vaughn (16th)&mdash;are currently in Basel for the World Cup Final, kicking off Europe's outdoor dressage season. For riders with aspirations beyond the US Equestrian Open, international competitions in Europe offer prestige and national team opportunities for events like the Pan American Games and the Olympics.
Yet, these benefits come at a cost. Series points can only be earned domestically, placing riders who choose extended European campaigns at significant risk. Vaughn, particularly, faces a pivotal decision: return to the limited West Coast events or potentially miss out on critical qualifying points.
<h3>On the Bubble: Who's Safe and Who's Not?</h3>
The Series Finals in Thermal, California, boasts a significant $200,000 prize pool, reserved for the top 18 riders after qualifying events. While riders like Marek, Eger, and Karen Lipp (70 points) seem securely qualified, several top-scoring riders face uncertainty.
Lyle, despite holding the series' highest freestyle score (80.600%), sits precariously at 57 points with only three qualifiers completed. Similarly, Kohmann (79.240% PB, 52 points) and Vaughn (75.150% PB, 40 points) should comfortably qualify based on their performances so far&mdash;but only if they return home to actively compete in series qualifiers. Without prioritizing stateside events, their impressive resumes alone won't guarantee a spot in the Finals.
Also at risk are Ecuador&rsquo;s Julio Mendoza Loor (78.520% PB, 37 points) and Sweden&rsquo;s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfv&eacute;n (75.515% PB, 42 points), both heading to Europe for the summer season.
<h3>Quiet Weekends, Big Implications</h3>
Qualifier 14 might not feature a star-studded lineup, but its outcome could significantly impact the standings. Eline Eckroth, currently tied 11th with 49 points, can vault into fifth place with a win. Such weekends, quieter on paper, often profoundly influence the final leaderboard.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-aZawz" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: TerraNova Dressage I" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/aZawz/1/" height="390" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
As the US Equestrian Open moves forward, adaptability, strategic insight, and careful planning will distinguish those who thrive from those who falter.
Tune in to Qualifier 14 this weekend&mdash;every point matters as riders navigate this new landscape. Catch all the action Saturday night on the USEF Network.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a>!
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
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;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

black dressage horse wearing a double bridle 

After Wellington: Navigating the New US Equestrian Open Landscape

Main

Jess Phoenix reminded everyone of her class last weekend in the TerraNova 4*-S, delivering a 1-2 finish that places her <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard</a>. But this wasn&rsquo;t just a good weekend &mdash; it was one of the best in Jess's CCI4*-S career; a career that spans 164 starts at the level dating back to 2006.
<h1>One of Her Best Weekends Ever at 4*-S</h1>
From a field of over 20 starters, Phoenix and Freedom GS claimed the win, while Fluorescent Adolescent joined the party in second. It marked just the sixth time in recent history (2008 onwards) that a 1-2 finish has been achieved at a U.S. CCI4*-S from a field of over 20 starters &mdash; the last being Boyd Martin at Tryon in 2023.
<h2>Table-Topping Win Counts</h2>
The victory was Phoenix's fifth four-star win,&nbsp;more than any other Canadian rider of the last 18 seasons. And each win was with a different horse.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7316c1fa-fd9a-4e54-92e1-7f17744dbad4.png?width=1366&amp;height=1282" alt="Canadian riders with the most CCI4* wins between 2008-2025">
Looking at all international levels, TerraNova was Phoenix's 19th win which is a decidedly table-topping tally among her fellow Canadians. It's over twice as many wins as number two on the list.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5e0e6185-f26c-41ce-8f95-70c31cce3711.png?width=722&amp;height=892" alt="Canadian Riders With the Most International Wins Since 2008">
<h2>Top 10 Scores</h2>
Both of Phoenix's 1-2 placings also cracked her all-time top 10 CCI4*-S finishing scores:
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/fe9a813f-e3df-4c5b-afcf-4c5032678a84.png?width=1030&amp;height=1222" alt="Table showing Jessica Phoenix's all-time top 10 CCI4*-S finishing scores">
<h1>164 Runs, One Relentless Competitor</h1>
Jess has now competed 164 times at CCI4*-S since first appearing at the level in 2006, a stat that underscores both her longevity and commitment to the international stage <a href="https://app.datawrapper.de/edit/ZfP2D/visualize#refine">&mdash;&nbsp;</a>becoming Canada's most recognizable face in the sport.
We at EquiRatings have data on&nbsp;all international riders dating back to 2008 and between then and now, only six riders worldwide have more CCI4*-S runs than Phoenix's 161 (three of Jess' 164 were pre-'08).
As Diarm put it on the <a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast/episode/aaf0749ae6d497a4c2c2e9f78129b3c1c4950cf5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">podcast</a>: &ldquo;Jess has always had firepower. In my time in the sport, she&rsquo;s just remained constant.&rdquo;
Annie added:&nbsp;&ldquo;She's a national treasure. They call her the smiling assassin!&rdquo;
<h1>Climbing the Open Leaderboard</h1>
<blockquote>
"Form, confidence, and experience. That&rsquo;s a scary combination if you&rsquo;re chasing her.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
With her 1st and 2nd at TerraNova, Jess has jumped to 75 Series points and now sits third in the Open standings &mdash; just behind Emma Klugman (80 pts) and Phillip Dutton (175 pts). While Philip has already banked his six counting scores, Jess has more to come...
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about the leaderboard,&rdquo; Annie noted. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about how she&rsquo;s doing it &mdash; form, confidence, and experience. That&rsquo;s a scary combination if you&rsquo;re chasing her.&rdquo;
<h2>Series Standings after this weekend:</h2>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4d962986-f5c0-4bc8-a00d-81fb962eed30.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Eventing leaderboard after qualifiers 6 &amp; 7">
<h1>Freedom GS &amp; Fluorescent Adolescent: One Win, Two Big Futures</h1>
Both mares are Kentucky-bound, with Freedom GS set for the CCI4*-S (which is another Open Qualifier), and Fluorescent Adolescent aimed at the CCI5*. Their TerraNova form gives real cause for optimism:
<ul>
<li>Freedom GS: Boasts two of Jess's best-ever finishing scores at CCI4*-S (TerraNova Mar 2024 &amp; Mar 2025).</li>
<li>Fluorescent Adolescent: Clocked in just behind her stablemate, helping secure the historic 1-2.</li>
</ul>
<h1>What&rsquo;s Next?</h1>
 Jess Phoenix has made a statement: not just that she&rsquo;s back on form, but that she never left. With the Morven Park Series Final in her sights and Kentucky just around the corner. As Diarm says:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;A strong Jess Phoenix is good for Canada &mdash; and great for the Open.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<h1 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h1>
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"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Instagram. </a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
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;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
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;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Jessica Phoenix fist pumping after a show jumping round with Freedom GS

Phoenix Rising: Jess Climbs to Third in the Series Standings with a TerraNova 1-2

Christian Kukuk, who is coming off an incredible 2024 competition season with Checker 47, hoisted the US Equestrian Open trophy atop the podium in the inaugural US Equestrian Open Jumping Final, etching their names into history. Laura Kraut (USA) and Bisquetta finished as the highest-placed U.S. combination on the podium, earning second overall, while Ashlee Bond (ISR) and Donatello 141 rounded out the top three.
The beautiful course design by Guilherme Jorge (BRA) showcased the athleticism, scope, and smarts of the 40 qualified combinations, putting top sport on full display in the final major grand prix of the winter season at Wellington International. A total of 14 different nationalities were represented in the class list attesting to the range of international participation during the winter season in Florida. &ldquo;Checker and I have known each other for five years. We&rsquo;ve created a relationship full of success and disappointments." said Kukuk, "It&rsquo;s been two years now since I have learned every single one of his 'buttons' you could say.&nbsp;I know exactly what I can ask of him and what I cannot. He knows me, he trusts me, and we trust each other. To be consistent in this level of competition, it&rsquo;s all about creating a deep relationship with your horse.&rdquo; The class saw rails fall throughout the track, with combinations challenged by the technical precision demanded by the course design. Early in the order, Ashlee Bond (ISR) and her longtime partner, Donatello 141, earned the first clear round of the night, followed quickly by Carly Anthony (USA) and Heavenly W, who also notched a clear round within the first four rides of the class to guarantee an exciting jump-off right from the start of the evening. The first half of the order saw some class favorites drop from contention with world number one-ranked Henrick Von Eckermann (SWE) and King Edward adding an early four faults, while U.S. talents Karl Cook (USA) and Caracole de la Roque just nudging&nbsp;out the B element of the Rolex triple combination late in the class to also add four to their score. Jordan Coyle (IRE) guided Chaccolino to a clear round as the thirteenth combination to test the track, followed shortly by Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) also pushing his name forward into the jump-off with his Paris Olympic mount, Major Tom. &ldquo;To have the quality of riders we have now &ndash; Olympic champions, world champions, world number one - and to draw the crowds we have,&nbsp;it just shows this sport is a spectator sport and there are fans that want to be a part of this,&rdquo; said Michael Stone, President of Wellington International. &ldquo;
"To see the kids get so excited to get autographs and photographs with athletes like Laura [Kraut] and Christian [Kukuk] is special. It&rsquo;s so important that we bring the sport to everyone. We want to help in growing the sport and this event has set an incredible mark for how we can do that and the kind of people and passion we can get behind it.&rdquo; Following the ring maintenance break halfway through the class, U.S. veteran Laura Kraut stamped her mark aboard the quick and feisty Bisquetta, producing a fast clear ensuring two U.S. combinations would move forward to the jump-off. Just on the foot of Kraut&rsquo;s clear, Bertram Allen (IRL) and Qonquest de Rigo, produced another efficient effort, bringing the jump-off total to six&nbsp;combinations. &ldquo;I have to say the crowd here has been amazing all season, but tonight was just extra electric,&rdquo; said Kraut. &ldquo;When we did the autograph signing after the awards, I was thanking everyone &ndash; they were just the best fans tonight. We all felt it and it&rsquo;s fantastic show jumping. Gui [Jorge] did an incredible job with this course and there were just tremendous combinations out here tonight. This was really a highlight class for all of us.&rdquo; The second half of the class proved to challenge many of the seasoned favorites coming later in the order with McLain Ward (USA), Kent Farrington (USA), and Ben Maher (GBR) all finishing with a heartbreaking four faults in the first round. After a drought of clears midway through the order, Olympic individual gold medalists Christian Kukuk (GER) and trusted partner Checker 47, also the winners of last year&rsquo;s Rolex Grand Prix in Wellington, produced a valiant and impressive clear&nbsp;as they looked to match McLain Ward as the only other athlete&nbsp;in history to win the class twice. The final pair to move on to the jump-off came with a spectacular round from Daniel Coyle (IRL) and his Paris 2024 mount, Legacy, pushing the second round to a total of eight combinations to return for the fast track. In the jump-off, Bond and Donatello 141, a 2011 Westphalian gelding (Diarado x Lamoureux I) owned by Ashlee Bond Show Jumpers, LLC, and cared for by Zoe Hatgi, set a fast pace as the first combination out of the gates, crossing through the timers in 40.41 seconds. Anthony and Heavenly W, a 2011 KWPN gelding (Calvaro F.C. x Quidam de Revel) owned by Portfolio Horses LLC, and cared for by Pauline Homer, hit heartbreak in their course, as they were matched with Bond up until the last fence, when the pair encountered a miscommunication at the final oxer and ultimately needed to reapproach. As the first Irish combination back for the jump-off, Coyle and Chaccolino, a 2011 Australian Warmblood gelding (Chacco Blue x Heartbreaker) owned by Elan Farm &amp; Jordan Coyle, and cared for by Jorge Jimenez, rode tight to Bond&rsquo;s pace-setting performance, but finished just three-hundredths of a second behind, crossing through the timers in 40.44 seconds to move into second. In the last opportunity for a U.S. combination to take the win, crowd-favorite Laura Kraut and Bisquetta, a 2014 Belgian Warmblood mare (Bisquet Balou C x Takashi van Berkenbroek) owned by Cherry Knoll Farm Inc. and cared for by Margo Thomas, gave their all, with Bisquetta showing off her determination and fight, marking the fastest time yet and dashing through the finish in 39.49 seconds. Bertram Allen and Qonquest de Rigo, a 2016 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Fantomas de Muze x Indoctro) owned by Ballywater Stables LTD, and cared for by Lovisa Munter, had an early rail in their jump-off, but finished as the fastest four-fault combination to take fifth overall. Christian Kukuk and Checker 47, a 2010 Westphalian gelding (Comme Il Faut 5 x Come On) owned by M.H. &amp; Partner Gbr, and cared for by Sofie Karlsson, showed the depth of their incredible partnership together. The pair put on a masterful navigation of the short track to just nudge Kraut from the top of the leaderboard and stopping the timers in 39.2 seconds, earning them the win. Daniel Coyle and Legacy, a 2010 Zangersheide mare (Chippendale Z x Bon Ami) owned by Ariel Grange and cared for by Sue Braund, set out at a quick pace, but ultimately added 12 to their score to finish in eighth overall. "It is a pleasure to ride Checker. There is something special between him and this arena. Every time I come into the ring with him, I get the feeling that he has an extra gear, he feels so comfortable here [in Wellington.] Sophia takes care of him every day &ndash; she and Checker have such a great relationship &ndash; and all this combined has made me the happiest man on the planet tonight.&rdquo; Kukuk also noted that he and his wife, Veronica, welcomed their first child, a daughter named, Lila, into the world in the early morning hours of Saturday before the class, which is a moment that will memorialize this victory. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m really happy about the win today, but what happened this morning was a little more special. All of it together made this day something I will never forget.&rdquo; Learn more about the US Equestrian Open by visiting the&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://usef-website-gold.vercel.app/">US Equestrian Open microsite, powered by EquiRatings,</a>&nbsp;to follow all of the qualifying and story-telling action throughout the year. The US Equestrian Open Jumping Final is the first of the three finals to be hosted as part of the new innovative US Equestrian Open Series. The next final will be the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final hosted at Morven Park International in Leesburg, Va. from October 9-12, followed by the US Equestrian Open Dressage Final to be hosted at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, Calif., from November 13-16. The US Equestrian Open is proudly supported by Great American Insurance Group (GAIG), the official equine insurance agency of the US Equestrian Open Series. <a href="https://wellingtoninternational.com/showgrounds/classes/detail?cid=200005338&amp;sid=200000013">Results</a> Stay Connected For the most&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">up-to-date series calendar</a>,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open">latest standings,</a>&nbsp;podcasts, original content and more, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usequestrianopen.org/">www.usequestrianopen.org</a>. Stay connected with the latest news and standings on&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen">Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian">Facebook,</a>&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://x.com/usequestrian">X</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation. US Equestrian Open Technology &amp; Content Partners The US Equestrian Open Series is proudly supported by industry-leading technology, utilizing data-driven insights and real-time results to enhance the fan experience. In collaboration with&nbsp;<a title="https://www.equiratings.com/" href="https://www.equiratings.com/">EquiRatings</a>, the premier data and analytics firm in the industry, and&nbsp;<a title="https://blackhorse-one.com/" href="https://blackhorse-one.com/">Black Horse One</a>, one of the pre-eminent technology and scoring providers across the equestrian disciplines, the US Equestrian Open is revolutionizing the way audiences view, interact with, and follow equestrian sport.

Individual Olympic Gold Medalists Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 Capture $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix CSI5*

Wellington&rsquo;s winter circuit drew to a close this weekend, marking a turning point in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. While the Series standings held mostly steady, the podium featured fresh faces and standout performances. Kasey Perry-Glass led an all-female top three with power and poise&mdash;each rider showcasing a partnership built on feel, finesse, and growing trust.
2016 Rio Olympian Kasey Perry-Glass sat atop the podium on Heartbeat W.P.&mdash;a mount she debuted at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival a year ago. Although their final score of 75.915% was not a PB, it was three points above their average, showing that the pair is starting to figure one another out. She and the 13-year-old KWPN gelding rode to a cinematic soundtrack featuring a heartbeat motif that nodded to the horse&rsquo;s name. The heroic music fit Heartbeat&rsquo;s powerful movement. At 17.1hh, he is a large horse for any rider, but especially for 5&rsquo;4&rdquo; Perry-Glass.
&ldquo;To be able to make him a small woman&rsquo;s ride has been a journey. There was a lot of power and a lot to contain, but I&rsquo;m starting to be able to manage it,&rdquo; explained Perry-Glass. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about figuring out what works for him, but once I get in the ring, he&rsquo;s a true showman.&rdquo;
The idea of learning to speak a horse&rsquo;s language&mdash;and figuring out what works for them&mdash;was a thread that connected all three riders on this week&rsquo;s podium.
&ldquo;[Hawtins San Floriana] is really the first trained horse I&rsquo;ve taken over the ride on, and I found that a bit tricky,&rdquo; said Ashley Holzer, a four-time Canadian Olympian who now rides for the United States. Despite riding to freestyle music they received just three days before the class, they earned on a combination-best score of 74.840%. Although Holzer initially struggled to find a bond with the mare, she felt they started to find their groove in recent weeks.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve started to feel that she&rsquo;s speaking my language,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;She really tries so hard, and it&rsquo;s special when you feel a horse start to become your teammate.&rdquo;
Camille Carier Bergeron and 15-year-old mare Finnl&auml;nderin&rsquo;s strengthening partnership came third on a score of 73.370%. The 25-year-old rider explained last month that after the Paris Olympics, this year has been all about fine-tuning the freestyles and having fun in the process. She&rsquo;s been a steady presence in Wellington this season, consistently scoring well. She currently sits seventh on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard with 54 points from four out of six possible qualifying results.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5f272c11-abe5-4d5a-b837-ccd222a08c3f.png?width=496&amp;height=522" alt="Screenshot of the leaderboard for spots 1 thru 10.">
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next</h2>
April kicks off its weekly qualifiers at TerraNova, an equestrian facility in Myakka City, Florida. The CDI3* follows last weekend&rsquo;s US Equestrian Open of Eventing qualifier, also held at the venue.
With just three combinations entered in the freestyle, it&rsquo;s a smaller field&mdash;but not an irrelevant one. A strong result could vault a lesser-known rider into the top five of the overall Series standings. And with Wellington now behind us, the second half of the season begins under a new set of conditions&mdash;shaped less by winter circuit regulars and more by who keeps showing up throughout the rest of the season.

Dressage horse and rider riding an extended trot

Perry-Glass Closes AGDF with a Win on Heartbeat

Tonight's highlight competition will begin with the first horse on course at 8:15 p.m. and the inaugural winner of the US Equestrian Open Jumping Final crowned at the conclusion of the evening. The event will stream live for free on USEF Network, as well as air on ESPN3 and ESPN Player. Numerous world-class combinations including Paris 2024 Olympic individual gold medalist Christian Kukuk (GER), reigning world number one-ranked Henrick Von Eckermann (SWE), and U.S. stalwarts Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, and McLain Ward will all contest the highly anticipated feature class of the season. Several young and upcoming talents such as Alex Matz (USA), Mimi Gochman (USA), and Alessandra Volpi (USA), will also throw their names into the pot, as they look to secure one of the biggest wins of their career under the lights. Ben Maher (GBR) and Point Break were victorious in the first qualifying opportunity of the week, notching a major win in the $116,000 Adequan WEF Cup Challenge, besting a jump-off of 16 combinations to secure their spot in Saturday evening&rsquo;s main event. Kent Farrington (USA) and Touylana stopped the timers in 38.75 seconds to finish second overall, while Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Legacy booked their spot in the final with a third-place finish. The top 30 combinations from the class secured a starting position for the Grand Prix on Saturday. The final qualifying opportunity finished this afternoon in the International Ring, with the $62,500 Bainbridge Companies 1.50m Classic CSI5* determining the remaining combinations who would move forward to contest the Grand Prix. Abdel Said (BEL) and Calvaro earned their ticket, topping the speed class in 62.71 seconds to take the win. Combinations who were not previously qualified via Thursday&rsquo;s class and finished inside the top ten of the 1.50m Classic were booked into the finale class, while the remaining four slots were allocated to the next four best finishers from the WEF Challenge Cup. In total, 14 different countries will be represented in tomorrow&rsquo;s highlight event. The start list for the class is determined by the order in which combinations qualified into the class, meaning Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Esi Ali will lead off the evening as the first combination, while Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly will conclude the first-round. The US Equestrian Open Jumping Final is the first major discipline Final for the new championship concept launched in 2024. The US Equestrian Open Series is designed increase viewership and fan participation around the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of dressage, eventing, and jumping, while building a stronger mainstream presence and championship-like product for top horse and athlete combinations in the U.S. and on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.&nbsp; The US Equestrian Open Jumping Final is the first of the three finals to be hosted as part of the new innovative US Equestrian Open Series. The next final will be the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final hosted at Morven Park International in Leesburg, Va. from October 9-12, followed by the US Equestrian Open Dressage Final to be hosted at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, Calif., from November 13-16. The US Equestrian Open is proudly supported by Great American Insurance Group (GAIG), the official equine insurance agency of the US Equestrian Open Series. Tune in to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/15330/csi5-wef-week-12-rolex-us-equestrian-open-qualifiers-and-grand-prix-a-rolex-series-event">USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorseTV</a>&nbsp;to watch all of the action live with a free fan membership. Learn more about the US Equestrian Open by visiting the&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://usef-website-gold.vercel.app/">US Equestrian Open microsite, powered by EquiRatings,</a>&nbsp;to follow all of the qualifying and story-telling action throughout the year. <a href="https://digital.equiratings.com/view/64858650/">View Fan Guide</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://wellingtoninternational.com/showgrounds/classes/detail?cid=200005338&amp;sid=200000013">Start List</a>&nbsp;|<a href="mailto:https://wellingtoninternational.com/showgrounds/classes/detail?cid=200005338&amp;sid=200000013?cid=200005338&amp;sid=200000013">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://wellingtoninternational.com/showgrounds/classes/detail?cid=200005338&amp;sid=200000013">Results</a> Stay Connected For the most&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">up-to-date series calendar</a>,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open">latest standings,</a>&nbsp;podcasts, original content and more, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usequestrianopen.org/">www.usequestrianopen.org</a>. Stay connected with the latest news and standings on&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen">Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian">Facebook,</a>&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://x.com/usequestrian">X</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation. US Equestrian Open Technology &amp; Content Partners The US Equestrian Open Series is proudly supported by industry-leading technology, utilizing data-driven insights and real-time results to enhance the fan experience. In collaboration with&nbsp;<a title="https://www.equiratings.com/" href="https://www.equiratings.com/">EquiRatings</a>, the premier data and analytics firm in the industry, and&nbsp;<a title="https://blackhorse-one.com/" href="https://blackhorse-one.com/">Black Horse One</a>, one of the pre-eminent technology and scoring providers across the equestrian disciplines, the US Equestrian Open is revolutionizing the way audiences view, interact with, and follow equestrian sport.

White horse jumping US Equestrian Open fences

After Wellington: Navigating the New US Equestrian Open Landscape

Top Stories

After Wellington: Navigating the New US Equestrian Open Landscape

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Individual Olympic Gold Medalists Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 Capture $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix CSI5*

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Field Set for $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix Following Two Intense Qualifying Competitions at Wellington International

Qualifiers

US Equestrian Open Final Partner Venues

Series Partners