<p dir="ltr">Qualifier 3 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage takes place this week in Wellington, with nine combinations set to contest the freestyle. The field includes the winners from both December qualifiers, bringing <strong>Christian Simonson</strong> and <strong>Indian Rock</strong> together with <strong>Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn</strong> and <strong>Gino </strong>in the same class. The points available are modest, but the field is strong enough to make this a useful early-season reference.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This is the first Wellington qualifier of the 2026 season. The calendar says &ldquo;Qualifier 3,&rdquo; but the context feels closer to that of an opening weekend. The Adequan Global Dressage Festival is where winter campaigns actually begin, and the scores posted here hold their relevance longer than anyone plans for at the start of January.</p>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-dPK15" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: AGDF 1" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/dPK15/1/" height="831" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Indian Rock Sets the Bar (Again)</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Christian Simonson and Indian Rock enter as the clear statistical leader. Winners of Qualifier 1, they also hold the highest freestyle average in the field at 79.871 percent, supported by a personal best of 82.095.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That makes the framing simple: Qualifier 3 is Simonson&rsquo;s to lose. Another test in the low 80s would also lift Indian Rock&rsquo;s career freestyle average to 80 percent, a mark no other Series horse has reached. The pair is only eight months into their partnership, but they&rsquo;ve clicked quickly. Many riders struggle to access a horse&rsquo;s previous peak; Simonson appears to have found it almost immediately.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The field size this weekend caps the points for a win at twenty, but it would make Simonson the Series&rsquo; first two-leg winner of 2026. As long as he continues to perform at this level, Indian Rock remains very good at making life inconvenient for everyone else.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Gino Steps Back Into the Florida Conversation</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn&rsquo;s return to Florida is one of the more telling developments this week. She and Gino arrive off a win at Qualifier 2 in California, where they set a new personal best of 76.415 percent. That score raised their freestyle average to 74.053 percent.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Vaughn has wintered in Florida before, but she skipped the circuit last season. Being back now reads as a clear intention for the season&mdash;she&rsquo;s gunning for something big. Instead of easing into the year regionally, she&rsquo;s opting to line up against the strongest domestic combinations right away.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A solid mid-70s score here would suggest the California result was not simply a product of geography, which is often the unspoken question.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Lord Django&rsquo;s Question of Form</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Caroline Darcourt</strong> and <strong>Lord Django</strong> remain the obvious wildcard. They hold the second-highest freestyle average in the field at 75.382 percent and the second-highest personal best at 78.170.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That personal best came at this venue in 2023, in Lord Django&rsquo;s Grand Prix Freestyle debut, but he has not returned to that scoring potential since. Results since then have been more uneven, though recent form suggests some upward movement. Their most recent freestyle, a 75.135 percent in Stockholm last November, points to a combination working its way back toward that earlier standard.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It&rsquo;s the kind of record that invites pause. The ability is clearly there. But whether Wellington in 2026 becomes the place where Lord Django reconnects with his peak&mdash;or simply confirms steady upward progress&mdash;will be one of the more interesting threads to follow this weekend.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Filling Out the Class</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Several experienced combinations round out the field. <strong>Chloe Gasiorowski</strong> and <strong>Sam Donnerhall</strong> bring a freestyle average of 73.372 percent with a personal best of 77.160, suggesting both range and variability. <strong>Ashley Holzer</strong> and <strong>Hawtins San Floriana</strong> sit at a 72.571 percent average from a smaller sample, which at this stage mostly means &ldquo;still defining the baseline.&rdquo;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Susan Dutta</strong> and <strong>Don Design DC </strong>arrive with one of the deeper records in the class, logging 13 freestyle starts and a 71.611 percent average. <strong>Tiago Ernesto</strong> and <strong>Hobbit Interargo</strong> are earlier in that process, with limited FEI freestyle data but a personal best of 70.575 percent that at least puts a number on the board.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Michael Klimke&rsquo;s</strong> start aboard <strong>Harmony&rsquo;s Fado</strong> marks the horse&rsquo;s FEI debut. The goal here is experience, not heroics. Everyone involved would likely settle happily for &ldquo;uneventful and informative.&rdquo;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What This Weekend Is (and Isn&rsquo;t)</h2>
<p dir="ltr">With nine competitors, Qualifier 3 is not a points bonanza. Anyone with real leaderboard ambitions will still need repeat appearances later in the season.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What Wellington does offer is clarity. It gives early comparisons, sets reference scores, and starts answering questions that will come up again in March, April, and beyond. For an early January stop, that&rsquo;s doing its job.</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>

A dressage rider pats his horse’s neck after a freestyle test at WEC Ocala in December, wearing a black tailcoat and helmet as the horse lowers its head in the arena.

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<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The US Equestrian Open of Eventing is reshaping elite competition in the United States. Launched in 2024 by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), this season-long championship series offers a structured points race across 20 qualifying events, culminating in a $200,000 final.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">For new fans discovering the sport in 2026, here's everything you need to know about how the series works, why it matters, and what makes it one of the most significant developments in American eventing.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
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<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h3>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>What is the US Equestrian Open of Eventing?</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The US Equestrian Open of Eventing is a season-long championship series organized by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Think of it like a points race across multiple competitions, similar to NASCAR or professional golf tours, where athletes accumulate points throughout the season to qualify for a winner-takes-all finale.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The series is part of a broader US Equestrian Open initiative that also includes Dressage and Jumping disciplines, all designed to build momentum and mainstream excitement ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h3>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>How Does The US Equestrian Open of Eventing Work?</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The format is straightforward: there are 20 qualifying events which are held at venues all across the United States at the CCI4*-S level.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">At each qualifier, riders earn points based on their final placings. The more competitive the field (qualifiers with more than 25 starters award higher points), the more points are up for grabs. After the qualifying season concludes, the rider who accumulates the most points from their best six qualifier results wins the series and claims a $25,000 prize, with second and third place earning $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">But that's not all.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4d7a4cd4-8c72-44a6-8990-0fd99b9284be.jpg?width=2704&amp;height=2134" alt="Img 5414 (2)"></strong></h3>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>The Big Finale</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Riders who complete at least one series qualifier with a Minimum Eligibility Result (MER) can qualify for the US Equestrian Open Final or they can buy into the final for $5,000, which gets added to the prize pot. The final is a CCI4*-L competition held each October at Morven Park International in Leesburg, Virginia, featuring a staggering $200,000 in prize money.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">That's right: $200,000 - the highest-ever prize pot offered at this level of eventing.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h2><strong>Why Does The US Equestrian Open Matter?</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Historically, American riders seeking tough top-level competition often traveled to Europe. The US Equestrian Open creates a world-class alternative on home soil, keeping elite talent stateside while providing fans with a structured season they can follow from start to finish.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The series creates an opportunity for fans to create a deeper connection to equestrian sport by delivering a premier, unified championship series that engages a broader fanbase through top-level competition, storytelling, and dynamic entertainment. Real-time leaderboards track the season-long race, creating narratives fans can follow as riders climb the standings toward that $200,000 finale.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The series also marks eventing's push toward mainstream sports visibility. The finals are broadcast on ESPN and the USEF Network, bringing the sport to audiences who might never have watched eventing before.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7654c5c3-bc6e-4fb1-8053-85a096ae56ba.jpg?width=3328&amp;height=4160" alt="Boyd Martin With Us Open Trophy.. Credit Devyn Trethewey Us Equestrian. From Open Final 2025 (1)"></strong></p>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>The Inaugural Champion of the US Equestrian Open</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The first-ever US Equestrian Open Final took place October 9th-12th 2025 at Morven Park. Four-time Olympian <strong>Boyd Martin</strong> rode <strong>Miks Master C t</strong>o victory, edging out <strong>Will Coleman </strong>and <strong>Off The Record </strong>after they had a single rail in the final show jumping phase. The dramatic finish showcased exactly the kind of high-stakes competition the series was designed to deliver.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Boyd Martin</strong> also won the overall series title, earning the $25,000 series prize in addition to his final victory.&nbsp;<strong>Phillip Dutton </strong>claimed second place in the series standings ($15,000), with <strong>Caroline Pamukcu</strong> rounding out the podium in third ($10,000).</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h3>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"><strong>Following the 2026 Series</strong></h2>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">With two qualifiers happening at the end of the 2025 season, this year's qualifying events will kick off again with Bouckaert International on March 5th and run through early October, culminating in the final at Morven Park October 8-11, 2026. Real-time leaderboards track point standings throughout the season, making it easy for new fans to follow the championship race as it unfolds.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Whether you're completely new to eventing or a longtime fan looking for elite competition, the US Equestrian Open offers an accessible entry point to one of equestrian sport's most demanding disciplines&mdash;with prize money, prestige, and the coverage to match.</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>

New Year, New Fans: What Actually is the US Equestrian Open of Eventing?

<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 8-Year-Olds Eyeing the US Equestrian Open

<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

<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.

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