Will Coleman, Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton, and Caroline Pamukcu - four of the USA&rsquo;s top riders contested this year&rsquo;s CHIO Aachen CCI4*-S.&nbsp;
All four also have previous form at Morven Park CCI4*-L which, in the context of this year&rsquo;s US Equestrian Open Final, is very interesting.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3af96702-3e61-4506-958f-7485e233b15e.png?width=1130&amp;height=1196" alt="Previous Morven Park Cci4*-L Results of the Usa's 2025 Chio Aachen Riders">
Who of the four will target the $200,000 CCI4*-L Final at Morven Park this October? Who will they bring? Will they replicate their previous efforts in the class (if so, each would land well within the prize money)?
<h2 dir="ltr">Will Coleman &amp; Off The Record</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/cec4cf5d-c58c-488e-a77f-9c37a308d7de.jpg?width=4256&amp;height=2832" alt="The bay horse Off The Record and rider Will Coleman during the prize ceremony of CHIO Aachen 2021. Will smiles broadly and pats Off The Record between the ears. A winner's rubbin hangs from the horse's bridle.">
Will Coleman &amp; Off The Record winning CHIO Aachen 2021 - the first and only US winners. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Will and his 2021 CHIO Aachen winner Off The Record were the highest placed US pair at Aachen this weekend, finishing fourth after adding just 0.8 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score. They were the second fastest round of the day (after New Zealand's Monica Spencer &amp; Artist who added 0.4 time penalties).
Off The Record first stepped up to the CCI4* level in April 2018. Since then, he has tackled 24 top-level cross-country courses (CCI4*/5*). He has jumped clear in all but one (CHIO Aachen 2023). On metrics, he is ranked in the top 1.0% of CCI4*-L cross-country jumpers and the top 1.3% on speed. A record like that is always a leaderboard threat when cross-country day rolls around, making sure we all remember it&rsquo;s not a dressage competition.
Not particularly known for producing super low dressage scores (unlike his stable mate Chin Tonic HS), Off The Record has nonetheless been competitive with his most recent CCI4* tests. These are his last five CCI4* dressage scores:
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2025 - Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S (Qualifier 11): 21.8 (went on to win)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Sep 2024 - The Fork at Tryon 4*-S: 30.1 (went on to win)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2024 - Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S:&nbsp;30.1 (finished 3rd)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2024 - Stable View 4*-S: 31.2 (finished 4th)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Jun 2023 - CHIO Aachen 4*-S: 28.1 (finished 38th)</li>
</ol>
Of all four previous runnings of the Morven Park CCI4*-L, winning scores have ranged from 29.4 to 34.5. In Off The Record's international career, he's produced 12 top-level finishing scores in that range (and lower). If we do see the US stalwart - and 2022 World team silver medalist -&nbsp; in October, Off The Record will challenge for the top spot. He usually does.
<h2 dir="ltr">Boyd Martin &amp; Commando 3</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/23338cba-f6dd-4f51-ae1a-3ee18a422a9d.jpg?width=5464&amp;height=5504" alt="Boyd Martin smiling while riding Commando 3 in the arena after the prize ceremony at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2024. Commando 3 wears a red ribbon on his bridle and has a pleasant, ears-pricked expression.">
Boyd Martin &amp; Commando 3 placing 2nd at the 2024 Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Boyd and Commando 3 finished fifth in Aachen by adding just 3.2 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score. The result boosted Commando 3 to the number four horse for the US right now according to the EquiRatings Elo rating as he holds 721 Elo points.
Currently fifth in the US Equestrian Open standings, Boyd earned 50 of his 135 Series points by winning Stable View (Qualifier 8) with Commando 3. That Qualifier win was the latest of Commando 3&rsquo;s four career international wins, all at CCI4*:
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2025 - Stable View 4*-S (Qualifier 8)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2024 - Stable View 4*-S</li>
<li dir="ltr">Oct 2023 - Morven Park 4*-L</li>
<li dir="ltr">Sep 2023 - The Fork at Tryon 4*-S</li>
</ol>
We can&rsquo;t gloss over that Morven Park CCI4*-L win two years ago. It was Boyd on Commando 3 winning what this year will be the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Final. Can they replicate in 2025?
<h2 dir="ltr">Phillip Dutton with Possante &amp; Denim</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eff45000-f571-4933-845e-d57611d71c22.jpg?width=4256&amp;height=2832" alt="Black &amp; white image of Phillip Dutton walking toward the camera in his show jumping attire, carrying his show jacket over his forearm and wearing his helmet with the chin-strap undone. He bears a focused expression. ">
Phillip Dutton. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
With&nbsp;Possante, Phillip placed 11th at Aachen. It was Possante&rsquo;s third international appearance this season after finishing third at TerraNova CCI4*-S (Qualifier 6) and second at the Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S (Qualifier 11). At the CCI4*-L level, however, Possante&rsquo;s show jumping has been a challenge; on both of his appearances at the level, he had two rails down on the final day (Boekelo 2024, Tryon 2024).
With Denim, Phillip finished 14th in Aachen. Though younger than Possante (12 YO),&nbsp;Denim (10 YO) has had better CCI4*-L results. Two of his three appearances at the level include an eighth place finish at Blenheim last year after a fifth at Tryon - both times adding just time penalties to his dressage score.&nbsp;
The Blenheim result - eighth out of 78 competitors - was especially impressive and contributed to Denim&rsquo;s rank as the number two 10-year-old in the US right now according to the EquiRatings Elo Rating. The only 10-YO ahead of him is Paris Olympian HSH Blake (Caroline Pamukcu).&nbsp;
Right now, Phillip is our Series leader on 215 points. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/theres-still-a-big-chance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">If he is still atop the leaderboard come season-end</a>, he will earn $25,000 before the Final even rolls around. It&rsquo;s been four years since Phillip has contested the Morven Park CCI4*-L but maybe this year he's planning to carry his Series momentum into even more winnings.
<h2 dir="ltr">Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Blake</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ee69af69-6c83-4f34-a7bb-0e04703d3444.jpg?width=5728&amp;height=5345" alt="The dark bay horse HSH Blake with Caroline Pamukcu exiting the Kentucky Horse Park dressage arena after their test. Caroline smiles and Blake has a pleasant, ears-pricked expression.">
Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Blake. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Two rails down on Friday and 18.0 time penalties on Saturday saw Caroline and HSH Blake finishing 27th in Aachen. The pair did however produce the lowest first-phase score of the US combinations and they reclaimed their clear-jumping ways across the country after penalties at the Paris Olympics and 2025 Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S.&nbsp;
When HSH Blake was selected for Paris, it wasn&rsquo;t a big surprise for those of us on the EquiRatings team. We&rsquo;d seen him climbing up our ratings and, as a young horse,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxfc7yjIuPe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">we had him pegged for LA 2028</a> but Paris 2024 was no stretch either. So, because it seems like he&rsquo;s been on our radar forever, it feels weird that Blake has &ldquo;only&rdquo; done eight top-level (CCI4*/5*) events in his career. Starting with TerraNova CCI4*-S in March 2023, he's done six CCI4*-S events including this weekend, the Olympics, and just one CCI4*-L at Tryon 2024.
That one CCI4*-L outing happened to be a 28.6 finish-on-dressage score to secure the win. According to the EquiRatings High Performance Rating (HPR) which quantifies the quality of any given result, it was the pair&rsquo;s best-ever performance (HPR of 98). So, will Blake go to Morven Park 2025? It&rsquo;s a data-set of one, but so far CCI4*-L looks good on him.
<h2>Series Standings as of July 8th, 2025 (After Qualifier 14):</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/d157fc24-3f4a-4051-97fd-f08a6dbc9f19.png?width=675&amp;height=844" alt="Current Series Leaders after Qualifier 14 (Maryland Int.)">
<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;
<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>
&nbsp;
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>.

Close-up of the bay horse Off The Record & rider Will Coleman galloping on a cross country course during competition. Both have a look of concentration.

From Germany to Virginia? The USA's CHIO Aachen riders all have previous form at Morven Park CCI4*-L.

Main

During this brief break in the US Equestrian Open calendar, all three of our Series leaders are competing on the world stage at CHIO Aachen (Germany) this week. Aachen, like all of the US Equestrian Open qualifiers, is a CCI4*-S and its one of the toughest CCI4*-S events in the world. How might our Series leaders fare abroad?
<h3>Series Standings as of July 4th, 2025 (After Qualifier 14):</h3>
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/d157fc24-3f4a-4051-97fd-f08a6dbc9f19.png?width=675&amp;height=844" alt="Current Series Leaders after Qualifier 14 (Maryland Int.)">
<h2>Phillip Dutton with Possante and Denim</h2>
Current Series leader (in the $25K position) | 215 points
Possante&nbsp;and Phillip&rsquo;s last international run was a second-place finish in the Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S (Qualifier 11) where they earned 45 Series points. It was the pair&rsquo;s third top-three placing at the level of their five CCI4*-S appearances together. CHIO Aachen is known for a cross country-course that surprises even the world&rsquo;s best but if anyone knows how to handle whatever a cross-country course throws at you, it&rsquo;s one Phillip Dutton.
Plus, together, this pair have never had a CCI4*-S cross-country jumping fault so there is a big opportunity for them to move up the Aachen leaderboard come Saturday.&nbsp;
Possante&rsquo;s younger stablemate at just 10 years-old, Denim finished fourth in this year&rsquo;s Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S which was also his latest international outing. He is ranked as a reliable cross-country jumper and is the most-reliable show jumper in the field.
<h2>Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS</h2>
Currently second place in the Series (in the $15K position) | 185 Points
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d03b7e99-5f24-43a0-a2c0-abaa556da494.jpg?width=4914&amp;height=3592" alt="Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS at the Paris Olympics. Photo by Tilly Berendt.">
Jessica Phoenix &amp;&nbsp;Freedom GS at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Paris Olympians&nbsp;Jess and Freedom GS are both making their CHIO Aachen debut. Freedom has earned Jess 80 of her 185 total Series points so far, doing so with a win at TerraNova this spring (Qualifier 6) and a third in the Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S (Qualifier 11).
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/well-take-almost-every-horse-weve-got" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jess is seriously targeting her string for the Series Final this October (Morven Park CCI4*-L)</a> and this additional appearance on the European stage (after Paris) will only add even more valuable experience under Freedom&rsquo;s belt, a horse who is a top contender for the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Series-ending $200,000 prize pot</a>.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Blake</h2>
Currently third place in the Series (in the $10K position) | 155 Points
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/106c84f1-3bb2-49f9-a493-049709f09149.jpg?width=null&amp;height=null" alt="HSH Blake and Caroline Pamukcu at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo by Tilly Berendt.">
Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Blake at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
With She&rsquo;s The One, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLiOgDtN2Go/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caroline won the latest Series qualifier at Maryland International</a> (Qualifier 14) last weekend. Thanks also to a fifth place finish with HSH Tolan King, Caroline added 60 total Series points at that event, moving from fifth to third in the standings (and into the money positions).
Now, with her Paris Olympic mount and Pan American Champion, Caroline will want to get her groove back with her special HSH Blake:&nbsp;At Paris, they incurred 20 cross country points; they returned to international competition with a CCI3*-S in Carolina this spring - no issues there; but then they contested the Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S (Qualifier 11) in April and got a 15-point flag penalty. A clean cross country round here will be particularly important for this pair. HSH Blake is rated as one of the fastest horses in the CHIO Aachen field and it's typically tight for time at the venue. Blake's speed will be of great advantage on the Aachen leaderboard if paired with a clear round, which their both well-able to produce.&nbsp;
<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;
<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>
&nbsp;
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>.

the dark bay horse HSH Blake and Caroline Pamukcu leave a dressage arena after completing a dressage test. HSH Blake has a content, ears-pricked expression and Caroline smiles.

Our Series Top Three are Among the World's Best in Europe this Weekend

To make this list, strong averages alone weren&rsquo;t enough. We also factored in leaderboard standing, qualification status, and whether a rider is realistically expected to attend. That means a few impressive combinations didn&rsquo;t make the cut due to international residency or uncertain participation (see &ldquo;Who&rsquo;s Missing and Why?&rdquo; below). These five, though? They&rsquo;ve proven themselves, they&rsquo;re eligible, and they&rsquo;re on track to deliver in Thermal.
<h2 dir="ltr">1. Adrienne Lyle &amp; Helix</h2>
No surprise here&mdash;Adrienne Lyle and Helix are leading nearly every statistical category. They&rsquo;ve posted the two highest scores of the season and average nearly 80%. Even their &ldquo;off day&rdquo; at the World Cup Finals landed them a 71.255%. To put that number in perspective, 71 percent is higher than the average scores for four of the riders in the top 18, and it&rsquo;s higher than the averages of 34 riders who have competed in at least one Series qualifier.
That said, Helix is a sensitive type, and all of his standout tests came at Wellington. The Final will be held at Thermal, a venue he&rsquo;s never seen. It&rsquo;s a small question mark for an otherwise dominant pair. 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Series Avg: 79.402% | Series PB: 80.600% </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why she&rsquo;s in: Tied for 14th with 57 points, already qualified. World Cup Finals and Paris Olympic partnership.</li>
</ul>
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-2YSPE" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Adrienne &amp;amp; Helix's Career Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/2YSPE/1/" height="423" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">2. Kevin Kohmann &amp; D&uuml;enensee</h2>
Kohmann and the 16-year-old D&uuml;enensee have been a model of consistency all season, often going head-to-head with Anna Marek. They peaked at the Palm Beach Derby, posting a career-best 79.240% under pressure to clinch the final World Cup Finals ticket, where they went on to become the highest-placed American pair.
Their freestyle is creative and technically ambitious, including unexpected choreography like piaffe pirouettes during the walk section. They&rsquo;ll test their international mettle again next week as part of Team USA at CHIO Aachen. 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Series Avg: 77.917% | Series PB: 79.240% </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why they&rsquo;re in: World Cup Finals appearances, top scores, and a record of peaking at the right time.</li>
</ul>
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-gFfFi" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Kevin Kohmann &amp;amp; Duenensee's Career Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/gFfFi/1/" height="423" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">3. Anna Marek &amp; Fire Fly / Fayvel</h2>
Anna Marek leads the series, and she&rsquo;s done it with two different horses. Between Fire Fly and Fayvel, she&rsquo;s consistently posted top-five scores and podium finishes. Her average across both horses ranks just behind Lyle and Kohmann, and both are individually capable of winning the Final.
The only question left: which one will she bring to Thermal? 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Series Avg (across both horses): 77.130% </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Fire Fly Series PB: 77.755%</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Fayvel Series PB: 78.785% </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why she&rsquo;s in: Series leader, multiple wins, and qualified on two different mounts.</li>
</ul>
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-IjXn7" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Anna Marek's 2025 Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/IjXn7/1/" height="430" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h3 dir="ltr">4. Benjamin Ebeling &amp; Bellena</h3>
A late arrival to the series, Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena made an instant impression with a win on debut and a new personal best just six weeks later when they beat Series leader Marek in a head-to-head competition.&nbsp;
Still young and trending upward, Ebeling will join Team USA at CHIO Aachen next week in his first major international appearance with Bellena. It&rsquo;ll be an important pressure test ahead of November&rsquo;s Final. 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Series Avg: 75.305% | Series PB: 76.190% </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why he&rsquo;s in: Three scores above 75%, rapid rise into contention, and confirmed qualification.</li>
</ul>
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-MYm9P" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Benjamin Ebeling's Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MYm9P/2/" height="423" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">5. Genay Vaughn &amp; Gino</h2>
No rider has been more dominant on the West Coast than Genay Vaughn. With four wins in four outings, she&rsquo;s the only undefeated rider in the Series. Her lowest score? 73.765% earned at the World Cup Finals in Basel, where she made her debut on the international stage.
Gino, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding, has been with Vaughn since he was six. Their long partnership shows in their polish and trust. And with the Final taking place in their home state, this pair has both the record and the venue advantage. 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Series Avg: 74.859% | Series PB: 75.875% </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why she&rsquo;s in: Four-time qualifier winner, confirmed for the Final, and has a homefield advantage.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-6sQB2" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Ge&ntilde;ay &amp;amp; Gino's Career Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6sQB2/2/" height="424" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h3 dir="ltr">Who&rsquo;s Missing and Why?</h3>
Four series riders have higher averages than some on this list, but they&rsquo;ve been excluded due to to qualification or likelihood of attendance: 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Julio Mendoza Loor &amp; Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike &ndash; Third by average (77.190%) but ranked just 25th on the leaderboard. Not currently qualified. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Felicitas Hendricks &amp; Drombusch OLD &ndash; 11th overall with a 76.533% average, but no confirmation that she&rsquo;ll return from Germany for the Final. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Kasey Perry-Glass &amp; Heartbeat W.P. &ndash; A brilliant pair with a strong PB, but sitting 27th in the standings. She&rsquo;d need two more appearances to break into the top 18 which is unlikely at this stage. They will, however, represent the US in Aachen next week. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Evelyn Eger &amp; Tabledance 3 &ndash; 4th on the leaderboard and sixth by average, but like Hendricks, her status for the Final is unclear.</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr">Next Up: CHIO Aachen</h2>
Next week, we&rsquo;ll preview CHIO Aachen. Although the competition won&rsquo;t affect the Series standings, all four of the American team members&mdash;Kevin Kohmann, Benjamin Ebeling, Kasey Perry-Glass, and Jennifer Williams&mdash;have made an impact on the US Equestrian Open. Their results next week may just predict how they&rsquo;re likely to perform on a Final&rsquo;s stage.

The Fab Five: Who’s Realistically Headed to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final?

Maryland International at Loch Moy kicks off tomorrow for the 14th qualifier of the US Equestrian Open. It is a stacked field and with a good amount of entries, it is looking to be a hot competition.
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Prediction Centre&nbsp;</h3>
The<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/maryland_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> EquiRatings Prediction Centre</a> gives Caroline Pamucku a 50% overall win chance at Maryland. But don't count out Jennie Brannigan and Connery &ndash; the 2023 winners are back after having the fastest cross-country time of day. Hard ground is forecast this weekend, so a quick cross country round will be key &mdash; minimising time penalties could really shake up the leaderboard.
<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/maryland_4s_2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ac7f2c40-61f4-41e3-a4ec-c14d1ae02c76.png?width=775&amp;height=916" alt="Screenshot 2025 06 26 102919"></a>
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Maryland Fan Guide</h3>
If you want to know more on the competitors&mdash; from the best dressage horses to the fastest cross-country combinations &mdash; check out the <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/maryland-lochmoy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maryland Fan Guide</a>. It breaks down all the must-know stats and stories to follow this weekend. <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/maryland-lochmoy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/14ce1955-86c7-497c-ac17-e7090d244d73.png?width=484&amp;height=658" alt="Screenshot 2025 06 26 105115"></a>
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Maryland Preview Podcast</h3>
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37111980/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/1787d4/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne dive into the entries, tactics, ground conditions, and more on this week&rsquo;s podcast &mdash; from Jennie Brannigan stepping up with Kismet for their four-star debut to Caroline Pamukcu and Arden Wildasin, who could make a serious push for the podium with their speed. Tune in to the US Equestrian Open podcast for all the details. 
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<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
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Maryland CCI4*-S Preview

The five highest-scoring tests of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage season all took place under the lights in Wellington, Florida, with top marks earned by Adrienne Lyle, Kevin Kohmann, Anna Marek and Julio Mendoza Loor. But with Mendoza Loor currently sitting 25th on the leaderboard and not yet qualified for the Final, this list focuses on the top-scoring American combinations we know are heading to Thermal. These freestyles showcased depth, difficulty, and the kind of creative ambition that has defined this year&rsquo;s Series. If this is what spring looked like, what might we see in November?
<h2 dir="ltr">1. Adrienne Lyle &amp; Helix &ndash; 80.600%</h2>
Event: Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10 Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.26
Adrienne Lyle&rsquo;s 80.600% at the only CDI5* on the US Equestrian Open calendar made history. It was the highest score of the season, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-helix-soar-to-five-star-victory">her personal best with Helix</a>, and the first time since 2021 that an American topped the podium at the AGDF 5*.
From the opening halt, the freestyle rode with ease and fluidity. Helix&mdash;a chestnut gelding by Apache&mdash;moved through the test with such grace that judge William Warren praised the effortlessness of their performance. High-difficulty transitions&mdash;like piaffe to extended trot and canter pirouette to extended canter&mdash;helped deliver an average difficulty mark of 9.26.
&ldquo;It felt easy, which is exactly what I was hoping for,&rdquo; Lyle said after the test.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">2. Adrienne Lyle &amp; Helix &ndash; 80.325%</h2>
Event: Global Dressage Festival 5 Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.18
A month earlier, the same duo put the Series on notice with <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-marek-and-rizvi-deliver-a-thrilling-night-of-freestyle-dressage">their first 80% of the season</a>. Set to a nostalgic mix of Stand By Me, Sweet Child O&rsquo; Mine, and The Way You Move, the freestyle was polished, powerful, and technically demanding.
Their average difficulty score of 9.18 reflected that ambition, and one judge gave a rare perfect 10 for musical interpretation. Even more impressive? Coming off a January score of 77.280%, this three-point leap showed just how much potential is hovering just below the surface.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">3. Kevin Kohmann &amp; D&uuml;nensee &ndash; 79.240%</h2>
Event: Palm Beach Dressage Derby Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.2
With the final World Cup ticket on the line, Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee delivered a career-best freestyle when it mattered most. Riding to Kygo&rsquo;s Stole the Show and Avicii&rsquo;s Wake Me Up, Kohmann opened with canter pirouettes directly from the halt and dropped a piaffe pirouette into the walk tour.&nbsp;
It was a freestyle that blended risk with rhythm, earning an 80% from the judge at B and an overall average difficulty of 9.2. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/a-cool-breeze-a-fiery-freestyle-kohmann-and-dnee-shine-in-wellington">Under the lights</a>, it felt more like a quiet schooling session than a pressure ride. D&uuml;nensee looked relaxed, Kohmann composed. If they can stay above the cutoff line this fall, this pair will arrive in Thermal as both a crowd favorite and a serious threat.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">4. Anna Marek &amp; Fayvel &ndash; 78.785%</h2>
Event: Global Dressage Festival 5 Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.56
With an average difficulty score of 9.56, Anna Marek and Fayvel delivered one of the most <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-marek-and-rizvi-deliver-a-thrilling-night-of-freestyle-dressage">ambitious freestyles of the year</a>. It was bold, technical, and downright fun.&nbsp;
Choreographed to BOOM by X Ambassadors and Coincidance by Handsome Driver, the test featured technical risks: a half-circle of two-tempis straight into ones, followed by pirouettes into extended trot. A small mistake in their final extension likely kept them just shy of the 80% mark.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s so easy to ride,&rdquo; Marek said after the test. &ldquo;I have to ride the brake a little bit and say, &lsquo;Not so much, buddy!&rsquo;&rdquo;
If Marek decides to bring Fayvel to Thermal, she may want to ease off that brake and let the gelding&rsquo;s explosive power shine through.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">5. Anna Marek &amp; Fire Fly &ndash; 77.755%</h2>
Event: Global Dressage Festival 3 Degree of Difficulty Average: 9.0
Rounding out the top five is a <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/us-riders-marek-and-kohmann-dominate-a-chilly-night-in-wellington">theatrical crowd favorite</a>. This Stranger Things-themed freestyle turned heads early in the season, and earned Marek her first Series win. Fire Fly&rsquo;s expressive gaits paired perfectly with a cinematic rendition of Running Up That Hill, and the routine scored as high as 80.075% from one judge.
&ldquo;This is my favorite freestyle venue,&rdquo; Marek said after the test. &ldquo;You can feel the atmosphere, and the horses get excited in a really good way.&rdquo;
The choreography walked the line between dramatic and disciplined, and for a horse that once struggled under pressure, this ride showed that Marek can now tap into his brilliance without the worry of him boiling over.
<h2 dir="ltr">Looking Ahead</h2>
These five rides were early markers of what the US Equestrian Open of Dressage is capable of delivering: high-level execution, creative risk, and scores that push into the 80s. They set the standard for the kind of riding it will take to win in Thermal.
Next week, we shift the spotlight from freestyles to the athletes themselves. Who&rsquo;s building the strongest case for the Series title? Who&rsquo;s averaging the highest scoring rides?&nbsp;
Spoiler alert: every rider on this list will be there.

Composite image of Anna Marek, Adrienne Lyle, and Kevin Kohmann

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