<h2 dir="ltr">Dressage: Werth Rewrites the Record Books in Wellington</h2>
Next Qualifier: Palm Beach Derby 2/25 + Del Mar Dressage Opener 2/26 | The Final: Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November)
Isabell Werth returned to Wellington for the first time in 16 years and immediately rewrote the record books. The World No. 2 and Special Blend 3 scored 82.660% &mdash; the highest mark in US Equestrian Open of Dressage history &mdash; on the partnership's FEI Grand Prix Freestyle debut, backed by a 90.120% artistic score and 10s from three judges for music.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8d90e1c0-c60c-404d-b125-e3c0f01ccc41.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Snap Insta.to 640935575 17936794482171204 7782157409439030159 N">
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Jaccardo earned second on 79.250% in the 12-year-old's first Friday night, and Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel's Goldstrike rounded out the podium at 78.165%.
"This freestyle is really, really difficult and I was not sure what Special would do because he's not experienced in these kinds of atmospheres, but he was very focused," said Werth. "This crowd was so supportive and started to clap, which is something special. That end to a test is a feeling I really enjoy, and it's how you know why you're still in the saddle in a competition."
Read the full AGDF 7 recap &rarr; <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/isabell-werth-sets-new-us-equestrian-open-of-dressage-record-in-wellington">https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/isabell-werth-sets-new-us-equestrian-open-of-dressage-record-in-wellington</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/275c4b1f-9268-4fdb-b93c-66c1be8b798b.png?width=1240&amp;height=714" alt="Tbu9b Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage "></a>
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">Show Jumping: McLain Ward and High Star Hero Light Up WEF Week 7</h2>
The US Equestrian Open Final: Wellington, Week 12 | Countdown: 4 Weeks
The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) has passed its halfway point, and the picture at the top of the sport is coming into sharper focus. Saturday night's CSI5* $500,000 Modon Grand Prix produced a winner who needs no introduction on home soil and results that will echo all the way to Week 12.
<h3 dir="ltr">McLain Ward &amp; High Star Hero&nbsp;</h3>
McLain Ward claimed the Week 7 Grand Prix aboard High Star Hero, a result that lands him in rare company even by his own exceptional standards. This is the fourth time Ward has won this exact Grand Prix with his previous three victories all coming with the iconic HH Azur (2016, 2017, and 2020). As a combination, this was Ward and High Star Hero&rsquo;s fourth CSI5* 1.60m win together, following previous victories at the World Cup of Arcada and two Grand Prix Qualifiers in the Hamptons.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c3eee625-2e89-4d77-bc2d-c701ab0ef05e.jpeg?width=1600&amp;height=1326" alt="Img L7339">
With just over four weeks until the Rolex US Equestrian Open Final, Ward will be defending momentum and arriving with a horse in form. Home advantage, a proven track record at this event, and a clear jump-off performance on Friday night: this combination are going to be major contenders for a home win.
<h3 dir="ltr">Mark Bluman &amp; Landon de Nyze</h3>
Second place went to Mark Bluman and Landon de Nyze and the story behind it makes the podium even more impressive. Bluman and Landon only became a combination in December, less than two months ago. They have already won two 1.55m classes together. Friday night was their first 5* Grand Prix together, and they walked away with a podium finish.
New partnerships at the 5* level rarely produce results this quickly. The jump from building a partnership to landing a top-two finish in a Grand Prix of this calibre in under two months warrants close attention heading into the back half of the WEF season.
<h3 dir="ltr">Shane Sweetnam &amp; James Kann Cruz</h3>
The bronze position went to Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz. Friday&rsquo;s result was their 20th individual 5* 1.60m podium finish together, with eight of those arriving in the past twelve months alone.
Their jump-off record borders on the extraordinary: 18 clears from 21 rounds at the 5* 1.60m level (86%), translating to 19 podium finishes from those jump-off appearances. When Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz make it to a jump-off at this level, a top-three finish has become the expectation rather than the exception.
<h3 dir="ltr">The Bigger Picture</h3>
There are four CSI5* Grand Prix during the WEF season: Weeks 5, 7, 9, and 12. With Weeks 5 and 7 now complete, there are just two more chances to win big before the Final. Saturday night marked another pit stop but Week 12 remains the ultimate destination.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eeee484b-ef16-4e10-9de3-6d72b0a7f0c7.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Eventing: The Countdown to Bouckaert Begins</h2>
Next Qualifier: Bouckaert Equestrian | Countdown: 1 Week
The first qualifier of the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing is one week away, and the anticipation building around the CCI4*-S at Bouckaert Farm is well earned. The<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> entry list has been confirmed,</a> and with 28 combinations set to line up in Georgia, this is already shaping up to be one of the stronger editions of this event.
Bouckaert Farm has been hosting the CCI4*-S since 2013. Across 15 previous runnings of the class, exactly 280 horses have started. That means the venue is set to welcome its 300th (and beyond) CCI4*-S starter in the coming days. For an event that describes horses as being at its heart, it is a milestone worth marking.
The 28-entry field clears the 25-combination threshold required for a high-scoring qualifier and provides some cushion against the inevitable pre-event withdrawals. Last year&rsquo;s running of this event drew 19 starters, which means this year the field is deeper and the stakes are correspondingly higher.
No name carries more significance into this weekend than <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-flag-for-the-frontrunner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lucienne Bellissimo.</a> The Series leader arrives at Bouckaert with two horses and a lead to defend.&nbsp;Bellissimo brings Kitsch Couture HPK and four-star debutant Qatar M. It is a debut that Bellissimo herself has been building toward, and her excitement ahead of the run has been visible.&nbsp;
<div style="max-width: 540px; margin: 1rem auto;"><iframe src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVCKJupkVIN/embed" width="100%" height="780" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucienne_bellissimo?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@lucienne_bellissimo </a>'Qatar M' gearing up for his first run of the season this week, looking forward to trying to get him to his first <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@usequestrianopen</a> this April.&nbsp;
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Just over one week out, and the road to the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series title picks up speed from here.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/eventing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/254e09dd-d92e-4194-986b-baf0dbd8460b.png?width=1080&amp;height=158" alt="Read More Eventing"></a>
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<h2 data-path-to-node="4">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-path-to-node="4">Stay in the Loop with The Open Weekly</h2>
Thanks for joining us for this week's edition! Don't forget: a fresh update of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/the-open-weekly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Open Weekly</a>&nbsp;drops on this site every Tuesday.
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">Join the Conversation</h3>
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<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast</a>.

Open Weekly Promo Graphic of Isabel Werth and  Special Blend 3

The Open Weekly: Werth Breaks Records While Ward Wins at WEF

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Main

Two thousand people packed the stands at Wellington on Friday night to see Isabell Werth.&nbsp;
She arrived with Special Blend 3, the youngest horse in the field making his FEI Grand Prix Freestyle debut. They left with an 82.660% &mdash; the highest score in US Equestrian Open of Dressage history. The artistic mark alone was 90.120%, drawing 10s from three judges on music. The freestyle was originally composed for Emilio, Werth's Olympic team gold medal-winning horse, which tells you something about the ambition of the choreography. Special answered it. Twenty-two one-tempis. Strong piaffe with genuine lift. A 9.5 degree of difficulty. For a first Friday night in Wellington, the horse more than delivered and earned his standing ovation.
"This freestyle is really, really difficult and I was not sure what Special would do because he's not experienced in these kinds of atmospheres, but he was very focused," said Werth. "This crowd was so supportive and started to clap, which is something special.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;That end to a test is a feeling I really enjoy, and it's how you know why you're still in the saddle in a competition."
</blockquote>
Werth, who last competed in Wellington 16 years ago, also had something to say about what she found when she returned.
"I'd like to thank the show team because it was pretty impressive here," said the seven-time Olympian. "I didn't expect that it would be like this. There's a huge improvement in the whole environment here &mdash; the horses, the riding &mdash; which is great to see. We have to make dressage more global and for sure here there is a lot of energy and enthusiasm, which I love to see and be a part of. I'm pretty sure that I'll come back next year."
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Jaccardo posted 79.250% for second. At 12, Jaccardo is one of the younger Grand Prix horses in the field, with forward, expressive gaits that suggest the scores will only climb from here. Their freestyle featured seven Britney Spears songs, and Jaccardo played the atmosphere like he's been doing Friday nights his whole life.
"This was Jac's first Friday night, and he'd never been into an atmosphere like this, so I was a bit nervous because there were so many people," said Fraser-Beaulieu. "But he came into the arena and was like, 'Let's go!'"
Third went to Julio Mendoza Loor and the 15-year-old Jewel's Goldstrike, who scored 78.165%. After the final salute, Mendoza Loor wrapped his arms around Goldstrike's neck and wiped a tear from his eye.&nbsp;
"Riding 'Goldie' is a joy every time," said Mendoza Loor. "I paid $20 for this horse, and he's taken me to the Olympics, taken me here, and every time he gives me 100%. He never lets me down, and that's why I cry all the time because this horse has made me who I am.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;There aren't enough words to explain how good he is and how much I love him."
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-werth-breaks-records-while-ward-wins-at-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>

Isabell Werth riding Special Blend 3 at AGDF 7

Isabell Werth Sets New US Equestrian Open of Dressage Record in Wellington

The Winter Equestrian Festival is at its halfway point. Tonight brings the second CSI5* 160 Grand Prix of the season to the International Arena, and while the spotlight is firmly on this evening's class, the bigger picture is already coming into focus. Five weeks from now, the Rolex US Equestrian Open Final of Jumping will take centre stage in Week 12. For the athletes lining up tonight, every round between now and then is a building block.
<h2>What to expect tonight</h2>
This is one of the toughest five-star tracks on the global circuit. The Round 1 average clear rate here is just 16% - compared to 28-35% at many other CSI5* 1.60m shows worldwide. From a field of 32 combinations tonight, EquiRatings is predicting just six clear rounds. Once riders make the jump-off, the picture improves. Historically, 58% of those who qualify go on to jump clear. But getting there is the challenge.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3750cd06-5287-4387-aae9-d8274b5b6e12.png?width=930&amp;height=756" alt="Ghs Media Guide (1)">
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">So which US riders are making a case?</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">McLain Ward &amp; High Star Hero</h3>
Three time winner of this class, McLain Ward has chosen High Star Hero as his weapon of choice tonight. They carry a 71% jump-off clear rate with three wins from seven jump-off appearances.&nbsp;
Ward's predicted clear chance tonight sits at 33%, with a 4% win chance. Those numbers are modest on paper, but once he's in a second round, the conversion is ruthless -&nbsp; nearly a 50% win rate in jump-offs tells you everything about how this pair handles pressure.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Lillie Keenan &amp; Fasther</h3>
Keenan has been quietly assembling one of the most consistent five-star profiles for Team USA. Fasther carries a 50% clear rate across 12 CSI5* 1.60m rounds in the past 12 months. Her predicted clear chance is 40%, with a 6% win chance.&nbsp;
The jump-off record makes for even better reading: six clears from ten jump-offs, six podium finishes. When this pair reaches a second round, they land on the podium.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Katie Dinan &amp; Out Of The Blue SCF</h3>
Dinan and Out Of The Blue SCF carry a 30% clear chance tonight and a 3% win chance &mdash; sitting at the competitive edge of the field rather than among the headline names. But that's often where Week 12 stories begin. A 5th place finish with a time penalty at the World Cup of Ocala last week shows they are operating at this level and improving. Five weeks is enough time to build.
<h3 dir="ltr">Natalie Dean &amp; Acota M</h3>
Back in five-star competition after a seven-month absence, Dean and Acota M carry a 30% clear chance and a 2% win chance tonight. Having jumped double clear at this venue during WEF Week 5 last year, they may rediscover that form tonight. A name to keep on your radar as the season builds toward the Final.
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The International Names They'll Have to Beat</h2>
The American riders aren't building toward Week 12 in isolation. Three names in tonight's field are impossible to ignore.
WEF Week 5 winners, Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir, arrive with only four rounds at CSI5* 1.60m. But they have produced four clears. A 100% clear rate. The sample size is small but so is the fault count. Keep an eye out for this ten-year-old tonight.
Runners up in this class last year, Darragh Kenny and Eddy Blue enter as the statistical favourites. a 56% predicted clear chance, a 14% win chance, and a 67% clear rate over the past 12 months. They jump last tonight.&nbsp;
Then there's the streak. Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour have cleared 11 consecutive CSI5* 1.60m rounds. They are only the 8th combination since 2010 to manager 11 consecutive clears in a row. EquiRatings gives them a 55% clear chance and a 13% win chance tonight. With top-five finishes in their last nine five-star Grands Prix, this partnership represents the standard every American will need to meet come Week 12.
<a href="https://jumping-prediction-centre.equiratings.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e5b9121-00b3-4de0-886e-9d63c69f9641.png?width=1228&amp;height=1432" alt="Gg Yej Wef 7 Win Chances "></a>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Bigger Picture</h2>
There are four CSI5* Grand Prix in the WEF season: Weeks 5, 7, 9, and 12. Week 5 is done. Tonight is Week 7. Two more chances to win big before the Final.
In a class where only one in six combinations is expected to go clear in Round 1, the combinations that arrive in Week 12 in contention will be those who have proven they can handle this level consistently, not just occasionally.
Tonight is the next data point. Week 12 is the destination.

Mcclain Ward looking at camera while riding a horse

WEF Week 7: Who's Building Toward the Open Final?

Isabell Werth is in Wellington.&nbsp;
I could, frankly, end the preview there. Place your bets on the German "Queen of Dressage" &mdash; World No. 2, the most decorated Olympic equestrian athlete of all time, holder of 14 Olympic medals across seven Games, eight of them gold. That&rsquo;s a pretty safe bet, right?
It is, but it comes with a small caveat. Werth has not arrived on an Olympic-tested mount. If she had, the preview would end here and the story would write itself. Instead, she rides Special Blend 3 who is making his FEI Grand Prix Freestyle debut this week. What we know of their potential comes from a single German national freestyle in 2025: 79.850%.&nbsp;
Because Werth is campaigning Special Blend 3, the "Isabell Factor" is less a guaranteed victory and more a legendary bomb dropped into an already volatile field.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Rest of the Field</h2>
The field itself would be notable without Werth in it. All 11 horses have scored over 70% in the Grand Prix Freestyle at least once. Two have cleared 80%: Jewel's Goldstrike with Julio Mendoza Loor (PB: 84.230%) and Harmony's Giulilanta with Susan Pape (PB: 81.745%). Three more are within one percent of that line &mdash; Bellena with Benjamin Ebeling (79.930%), Duenensee with Kevin Kohmann (79.240%), and Special Blend 3 (79.850%, national competition). Five combinations have reached ten or more Grand Prix Freestyle starts.&nbsp;
The predictions this week are, to be direct about it, a genuine mess.
Who wins depends on which metric you trust most. By averages, it's Pape. By ceiling, it's Mendoza Loor. By starts and venue familiarity, it's Kohmann. By rider experience, it's Werth. And none of that has touched the reigning US Equestrian Open of Dressage champion, Benjamin Ebeling. While his December performance was below average, his trajectory since last June has been consistently upward. Writing them off because of a December result would be a mistake.
That's five legitimate arguments for five different winners. In the same class.&nbsp;
And that's before we get to Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Caroline Darcourt, who are perfectly capable of making Friday's podium more complicated.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Case for Each</h2>
Susan Pape and Harmony's Giulilanta lead the field on averages &mdash; just under 80% in the freestyle &mdash; and Pape holds the US Equestrian Open of Dressage record score outright: 81.745%, set at AGDF 3 in January. Her freestyle body of work with this horse is small (three starts), but the direction of travel is unmistakable: 78.290% in November, 79.805% in December, 81.745% in January. The pair are technically very strong, and in freestyle, that's the best position to be in. The choreography bonuses are there to reward good work, not paper over bad.
Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel's Goldstrike have the highest personal best in the field &mdash; 84.230% &mdash; which is nearly two and a half points above anyone else's personal best. His average of 77.6% sits below Pape's, but his ceiling is a reminder that averages don't always determine outcomes.&nbsp;
Kevin Kohmann and Duenensee bring 20 starts together, the most of any combination entered. Twenty starts is a kind of knowledge that doesn't show up in raw data. That&rsquo;s experience, mileage, and familiarity with atmosphere. They average 75.4% &mdash; lower than the leaders &mdash; with a PB of 79.240%, and Kohmann knows this horse and this venue as well as anyone in the ring.
Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena are the defending champions. Ignoring their outing in December, they&rsquo;ve been on a consistent upward trajectory since last June. Their average is 76%, their PB is 79.930%, and their partnership isn&rsquo;t yet a year old.&nbsp;
Then there is Isabell Werth and Special Blend 3. The pair have no prior freestyle data at the FEI level which means no average to anchor the prediction &mdash; just a national score of 79.850%, a partnership that is clearly still developing, and one of the most accomplished riders in the history of the sport. They do, however, have a body of four FEI Grand Prix Specials, the test unequivocally known to be the most difficult test of the dressage discipline. Horses and riders consistently score below their Grand Prix average in the test. Isabell and Special Blend 3 average 71.3% in the Grand Prix. The Special? 72.4%. A full percentage point higher than the basic Grand Prix test. If that&rsquo;s what they can do with a test of technical landmines, imagine what they can do when they can choreograph the moves to the horse&rsquo;s strengths.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">A Personal Pick</h2>
From a strictly data-driven standpoint, you can argue this class five different ways. So who the heck is the pick for favorite?
If I have to pick a name, I&rsquo;m giving the nod to Susan Pape. The averages are hers, as is the momentum.
The 81.745% personal best is both the highest recent score in the field and backed by a clear progression: 78% in Germany in November, 79% in Britain in December, then 81% in Wellington less than a month ago. Her Grand Prix scores consistently land in the 70s providing the technical foundation needed to let the freestyle choreography shine. And her Grand Prix Special scores, too, trend slightly above the Grand Prix.&nbsp;
Whether she can keep her momentum &mdash; and whether I've just made the most moronic prediction in equestrian sport &mdash; with the "Queen of Dressage" breathing down her neck is a question for Friday night.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Watch the Action</h2>
Watch all Friday Night Stars action on <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18412/adequan-global-dressage-festival-vii">USEF Network</a>. The freestyles begin Friday at 7:00 ET. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.

A black horse in a dressage bridle with US Equestrian Open branding

Werth is in Wellington — Here's Why It's Not a Foregone Conclusion

Megan McIver sat down with Annie Bishop on this week's US Equestrian Open podcast to talk horses, risk-taking, and the goal she's finally saying out loud. Find the full episode <a href="https://pod.fo/e/391d1f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>
<h3 dir="ltr">A California Beginning</h3>
Megan is a California rider through and through. She grew up riding at Webb Ranch in Portola Valley after convincing her dad that she needed to ride horses. Eventually, beach trail rides weren't enough. Lessons followed. Then competition. Then a life built around the sport.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1f650059-afad-4973-ab64-eab1ac417343.png?width=1080&amp;height=546" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (1)">
Like many eventers, she didn't come from a deep equestrian background. What she had was work ethic. In high school, she rode multiple horses a day, then came home to finish homework late into the night. At Cal Poly, she balanced a full-time degree in accounting , a sorority, and worked for former Olympian Gina Miles and Bec Braitling. Megan was Gina&rsquo;s assistant trainer and it was here that she got really serious about the sport.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/633ba413-a437-4bd6-a476-dcb349134dff.png?width=1080&amp;height=537" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (2)">
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<h3 dir="ltr">Building Something of Her Own</h3>
After formative years with Gina Miles, Bec Braitling and Brian Sabo, Megan returned to Northern California to build something of her own. She established McIver Equestrian at the Horse Park at Woodside; a serious base with four-star events on site, world-class facilities and the infrastructure to match her ambitions.
Just 15 minutes away is Eric Duvander, with whom she works and trains full time. The support system is intentional, the set-up is strategic, and her business is growing due to it.
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<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">Igor B: The Risk&nbsp;</h3>
If there's one horse Open fans will recognise, it's Igor B. He is known at home as Rupert but was originally named Cuddles by the breeder's daughter.
However, they are a partnership that almost didn't happen. Megan saw him in the UK while trying a different horse. The video didn't sell her and she couldn't afford him. But when she watched him walk just three steps in person, she knew.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/37be393b-6ec2-4171-8e7c-8af90c3225a5.png?width=1080&amp;height=555" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (3)">
Buying Igor B meant risk. Loans. Stretching beyond what felt comfortable.
But Megan leaned on the advice of long-time supporters&nbsp;Leo Wang: life is about taking risks and sometimes you have to get uncomfortable to move forward.
So she bought Rupert.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0700936a-24d0-421e-a5d8-08421bf5c3c0.jpeg?width=4000&amp;height=2665" alt="9 F9 A0 E34 6 B38 413 D B68 F A3110 D C141 Ea (1)">
Now, after two full seasons together, which included Megan&rsquo;s first step up to four-star level, a seventh-place finish in the inaugural US Equestrian Open Series of Eventing signals that the foundations are firmly in place. The process is starting to pay off.
The next step? Go faster. When it feels right, be braver against the clock.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/37d43b11-df0f-42ed-8440-3db7a4990398.png?width=1080&amp;height=570" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (5)">
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<h3 dir="ltr">Kapitan Sparrow XII: The Journey</h3>
Kapitan Sparrow XII might be the most meaningful horse in the barn. He arrived hot, spooky, running through fences, and definitely not an obvious four-star prospect. But Megan saw something worth the investment.
They've worked through setbacks (including a colic episode en route to competition). They've managed quirks. They've grown up together.&nbsp;Last season saw their step up to four-star where he jumped clear cross-country in both of his two starts at the level.&nbsp;
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<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 dir="ltr">The Goal on the Wall</h3>
In her tack room, Megan keeps written plans for each horse - two years out, three, five. At the top of her own list sits something bigger.
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For a long time, she kept that quiet. Now she is practising saying it out loud. Because saying it makes it real.
The US Equestrian Open is part of that picture. Not as a stepping stone, but as a championship in its own right. For combinations like Megan and Rupert, it is both opportunity and objective. A structured season to measure progress.
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
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.
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;
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For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
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;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Image of Megan McIver jumping Igor B cross country

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